• Home
• Things to do in Sydney
• Getting around
• How to use this website
• Sitemap

Bypass Activities and Attractions menu

Things to do in Sydney

Arts and culture

• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Customs House
• Dendy Opera Quays
• Sydney Opera House
• Sydney Theatre Company
• The Rocks Discovery Museum
• The Garrison Church
• Conservatorium of Music
• Government House
• Hyde Park Barracks
• Justice and Police Museum
• The Macquarie St Historic Precinct
• Museum of Sydney
• St James & St Marys
• State Library NSW
• State Parliament House
• Sydney Town Hall

Outdoors

• Royal Botanic Gardens
• North Head Lookout
• The Rocks Self Guided Walking Tour
• Bridge Climb and The Sydney Harbour Bridge Visitor Centre

On the harbour

• Manly Ferry
• Cruise Sydney Harbour
• Fort Denison
• Sydney Fish Market
• Whale Watching

Darling Harbour

• Darling Harbour
• Chinese Gardens of Friendship
• IMAX Theatre
• Australian National Maritime Museum
• Powerhouse Museum

St Mary's Cathedral

View of St Mary's Cathedral from Hyde Park
Image: Patty Mazza

Why go there

St Mary's Cathedral represents the spiritual origins of the Catholic Church in Australia. Dedicated to Mary Help of Christians, it is regarded as one of the finest examples of English-style gothic churches in the world. Constructed from Sydney sandstone, it was finally completed 100 years after the death of architect William Wardell, with the addition of the two new spires at the southern end.

Don't miss

• The magnificent Sydney sandstone exterior and façade,
• Breathtaking sweep of the arches in the main cathedral,
• Magnificent stained glass windows,
• The History of early Sydney Church exhibited in St Mary's Cathedral Crypt.

Access for all

Note: no accessible toilet

The formal entry into the cathedral is via the stairs fronting St Mary's. Level access is then available within the main cathedral. A wheelchair Accessible entry is provided at the rear of the cathedral. It is accessed via a short stone ramp leading from a pathway at the corner of the property. A door bell is located to the right of the door. Access to the Crypt is available via a concrete threshold ramp.

Rear entry to St Mary's, press the door bell for access
Image: Patty Mazza

Getting around

Note: no accessible toilet

Tours and programs

Free Tours, lasting one hour are conducted on Sundays after Mass, approximately 11.30am. Groups of 10 or more visitors, may book a free, guided tour lasting 1.5hrs, at least one month in advance on 9220 0400

An exhibition entitled The First Australian Catholics - from convict ships to the great fire, detailing a history of the early Sydney Church is located in the St Mary's Cathedral Crypt.

Eating and shopping

The Cathedral Store is open 9am-5pm weekdays and reduced hours on weekends. Eating options vary amongst the cafes outside St James Church, Hyde Park Barracks and the café in Hyde Park.

How to get there

Public transport

Buses travelling along Elizabeth St, Castlereagh St and George St., all within easy walking distance of St James'. The St James underground train station is less than one block away, with a lift to street level.

Parking

There is no specific St Mary's parking. However, two signed dedicated access parking spaces are provided in College St. Visitors with mobility difficulties can be dropped-off on College St and make their way to St Mary's Rd, and the wheelchair accessible entry. Other parking is available in the Sydney Eye Hospital commercial car park accessed from Hospital Rd.

Map

Download the Sydney CBD and Circular Quay access map (PDF, 1.52MB)

To view the map, you need Adobe Reader