The Rocks? Where’s all the rocks?

But when it comes to some tourists’ takes on Sydney’s gems, it seems it’s not the city that has something wrong with it, it’s them.

From the Blue Mountains to Bondi, popular sightseeing sites are crawling with crowds wielding sunscreen and selfie sticks.

The Rocks — not so rocky.Source:Supplied

And while plenty of the happy horde pose for smiling photos in front of the sparking harbour, some landmarks are lost in translation, leaving perplexed tourists to take to website TripAdvisor to voice their confusion.

The Rocks is a wonderfully preserved example of a Sydney from a bygone era — but for one confused traveller there was one big thing missing.

Few could ever doubt the beauty of the Blue Mountains, surely? Picture: Destination NSWSource:Supplied

“Where is the rock??? A tad disappointing. No rocks to see. A little dead area,” user Punithakumar P wrote.

The Bondi to Coogee walk was crowned the number one tourist attraction in Sydney in 2015, but the stunning ocean panoramas and dramatic cliffs are not enough for everyone.

The Bondi to Coogee walk — often packed with tourists and Sydneysiders alike. Picture: Adam YipSource:News Corp Australia

Like so ... Picture: Bob Barker.Source:News Corp Australia

“Lovely views but there is only so much sea to look at before it gets repetitive,” one clearly miffed British man wrote.

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair cannot escape the criticism either, with some people decidedly underwhelmed despite its spectacular views — and the lack of chair.

“All it is a cut in the stone. Nothing too spectacular,” user bas0921 wrote.

“Not exactly a chair more a rock shelf,” golf 475 said.

Meanwhile Circular Quay’s shape was a bone of contention, “ironically Circular Quay is not round. It is a rectangle” and even the world-famous Opera House cops it, with holiday-maker griping TV shows give a false impression of the glistening sails.

“Dirty looking brown building that somehow always appears to photograph white,” someone called JuicyLucy2208 said.

“Wasn’t over impressed they make it look so good on telly but in real life could do with a lick of paint”.

Up close, the Sydney Opera House does look a little browner than ideal.Source:News Corp Australia

Cockatoo Island is also a disappointment for one man, who took its name all too literally: “The whole island is full of birds and bird poo, but no cockatoo’s like the name suggests.”

The Blue Mountains were a sore point for one reviewer.

“The Wentworth Falls didn’t t have water (beginning of January). The Three Sisters are three normal rocks . At the Echo Point there is no echo anymore. And the so called Scenic World is an excellent marketing gag. 2 minutes ride with a steep train (52 degrees) then 10 min walk (or 30 or 50 minutes) .”

But of course, most tourists — like seven-year-old Levi from China — love what Sydney has to offer. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts.Source:News Corp Australia

Originally published as ‘Dirty looking brown building’