Circular Quay is a central location for a number of areas in the Sydney Harbour.  Visitors to Circular Quay can catch ferries, buses, trains and taxis in this area to take them to other parts of the harbor.  Mahalo travel expert Asha K compares Circular Quay to a Grand Central Station on the water.  She recommends using Circular Quay to get to and from the north shore and the city’s business district.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrY9yzLuoPo&feature=fvst   

Circular Quay offers views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrY9yzLuoPo&feature=fvst   A walkway from the south side of the quay offers a path to the Opera House and the Royal Botanical Gardens.  By going north, visitors can take landscaped walkways to the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks.http://www.sydney.com.au/quay.htm      

The original inhabitants of the area were the native Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora people.  Once the area began to be colonized by Europeans in the late 1700s, the native population was virtually wiped out.http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Australia_and_Oceania/Australia/State_of_New_South_Wales/Sydney-1869538/Things_To_Do-Sydney-The_Rocks_and_Circular_Quay-BR-1.html  However, some descendants do still live in the Sydney area.                                                                                                                                           Circular Quay was one of the earliest colonial settlements, and was used as for commercial shipping. Today, Circular Quay is used as a transportation hub.http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=2431182 

Circular Quay is an area and not an attraction.  As such, it has no set hours but is open all hours of the day and all days of the year.  There is no fee for entering Circular Quay.  However, most attractions in the area will charge an entrance fee.

Ferries leave Circular Quay frequently to other parts of the harbour such as Manly, Watsons Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo.  Circular Quay is by the business district, and buses run from the area to Bondi.http://www.sydney.com.au/quay.htm