Vaucluse

History & heritage

Vaucluse House is a colonial mansion-turned-museum, set in a picturesque garden estate. It began life as a cottage but when colonial explorer William Charles Wentworth bought it in 1827, he built it into a stately home.

Pleasure Garden and Fountain at Vaucluse House in Vaucluse, Sydney East

Vaucluse House, Vaucluse - Credit: James Horan

Take a guided tour of Australia’s first official house museum, then enjoy high tea in the garden tearooms, available Wednesday to Sunday.

High tea at Vaucluse House Tearooms in Vaucluse, Sydney East

Vaucluse House Tearooms, Vaucluse

Things to do

Vaucluse is known for its sheltered harbour beaches. Shark Beach in Nielsen Park is popular with families, home to an enclosed swimming area, park and cafe. Divers will want to head east towards Bottle and Glass Point.

Crowds gathered at Shark Beach to watch the start of the 2018 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in Sydney Harbour

Nielsen Park, Vaucluse

Nearby Parsley Bay is an enclosed swimming area, crossed by a pretty bridge and surrounded by bushland. While the small, sandy Milk Beach is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets.

Parsley Bay, Vaucluse

Nielsen Park is also where the Hermitage Foreshore walking track begins, winding through bushland and past the heritage-listed Strickland House to Milk Beach (this is the easiest way to access the beach). The walking track offers stunning harbour views, including of Shark Island and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Vaucluse

Another wonderful walking track is the 5km Federation Cliff Walk along rugged sandstone cliffs, connecting Dover Heights and Watsons Bay, and providing postcard views of the Pacific Ocean. Stop along the way at Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia’s oldest lighthouse designed by convict architect Francis Greenway.

Eat & drink

Nielsen Park is a great picnic spot, while The Nielsen comprises a waterfront restaurant and casual takeaway kiosk, located in the restored 1914 Nielsen Park Kiosk. The Botanica is a farm-to-table fine dining restaurant and home to Sol Spa, if you’re after some extra indulgence. For coffee and casual café fare, visit The Trail, Belle Café or The Grumpy Baker.

The Botanica Vaucluse Menu in Vaucluse, Sydney east

The Botanica Vaucluse, Vaucluse

Getting there

Located in Sydney’s east between Rose Bay and Watsons Bay, getting to Vaucluse is easy by public transport. Take a bus from the city centre or Bondi Beac h. For fabulous views of Sydney Harbour, hop on a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay and then take a bus or walk south for around 30 minutes, via Parsley Bay’s 1910-built cable footbridge to Vaucluse House.