What is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney?

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney is a sandstone bench carved out of the sandstone rock at the northern end of the Royal Botanic Garden.

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is a historic landmark located in Sydney, Australia. It is a sandstone bench that was carved out of a rock ledge on the eastern edge of the Royal Botanic Garden, overlooking Sydney Harbour.

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Skip the queues – and get the best prices – with mobile-friendly advance tickets for these top Sydney attractions.

Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.

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History of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair

Mrs Macquarie’s chair was originally hand-carved in 1810 by convicts under the orders of Governor Lachlan Macquarie as a gift to his wife, Elizabeth, who loved to sit and admire the panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. Over the years, the chair has become a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors one of the best vantage points of Sydney Harbour.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

What can you see from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair?

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair faces north-east looking out towards Fort Denison. For views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, walk a little further round Mrs Macquaries Point, the peninsula at the end of the Royal Botanic Garden.

How to get to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair?

You can get to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair by driving along Mrs Macquarie’s Road. But by far the most enjoyable way to get there is a 2km walk from Circular Quay that approaches the Opera House, then skirts the edge of the Royal Botanic Garden, hugging the harbour shoreline.

Other good things to do around Sydney Harbour include sunset dinner cruises, sailing lessons and the Hermitage Foreshore Walk via Milk Beach.

Then again, you might prefer a tall ship cruise, a scenic helicopter flight or a kayaking adventure through some of the harbour’s lesser-known reaches.