Sydney Ferries - Itineraries

Itineraries

Please click on the location names below to discover some of the many secrets of Sydney Harbour. These itineraries are a great starting point when planning your day, holiday or weekend exploring the harbour.

Circular Quay

Bordered by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay is the iconic gateway to Sydney. This is where Governor Phillip and the First Fleet anchored and gave birth to the colony of New South Wales. The settlement centred on the freshwater Tank Stream which flowed here from what is now Market Street. All Sydney Ferries services arrive and depart from Circular Quay. You can catch any one of the eight ferry services to 38 destinations around Sydney Harbour.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world's largest steel arch bridge and Sydney's most photographed landmark. Built by 1400 men over eight years, the bridge was constructed from six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel at a cost of £4.2 million. Fondly known to locals as 'The Coathanger', the Sydney Harbour Bridge reduced the city's dependence on ferries, which was the only way to cross the harbour before the bridge was built. You can now climb to the top of the bridge through BridgeClimb Sydney, or take in the views from the Pylon Lookout at the South Eastern Bridge.

The Sydney Opera House

The famous world heritage listed Opera House designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon is one of the most iconic buildings on the Sydney Harbour Skyline. The distinctive roof comprises sets of interlocking vaulted 'shells' set upon a vast terraced platform and surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. Sydney Opera House offers a unique opportunity to experience some of the best presenters and live performances in the world across a variety of genres. Why not catch a show and then unwind afterwards with a drink and some food at the ocean adjacent Opera Bar. Visit the Sydney Opera House website for details of upcoming shows and events.

Cahill Walk

Allow at least two hours or take the whole day. Easy paved walkways. Swimming pool.

From the Opera House, walk the paved pathway passing Government House on the right and around Farm Cove to Mrs Macquarie's Point to find Mrs Macquaries' Chair - a favourite place of Governor Macquaries' (Governor 1810-1821) wife, Elizabeth. From here you can wander up into the splendour of The Royal Botanic Gardens. Alternatively keep walking along the foreshore past the Boy Charlton pool in Woolloomoolloo Bay and up along Art Gallery Road. The NSW Art Gallery is on the left hand side. The gallery is home to the Archibald Portrait Prize announced every March and a remarkable display of Indigenous and Pacific art. At the end of this road, turn right onto Macquarie Street. On the walk back to Circular Quay, you will discover Sydney's impressive Georgian sandstone buildings. The colonial Hyde Park Barracks, the Mint, Sydney Hospital, Parliament House and the Library of NSW were the result of Macquarie's vision for Sydney. Stop to rub the nose of Il Porcellino for good luck.

Neutral Bay

Ten minutes by ferry. Neutral Bay services depart Wharf 4 approximately every hour Monday to Sunday and more frequently in peak times.

As your ferry crosses the Harbour, two significant landmarks are on your left - Admiralty House, the Sydney residence of the Australian Governor-General, and Kirribilli House, , the Sydney residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. Kirribilli is derived from the Aboriginal word `Kiarabilli' meaning a `good fishing spot'. From Neutral Bay Wharf walk up Hayes Street, right onto Wycombe Road to 'Nutcote' home of renowned children's author May Gibbs, the creator of Australia's Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

Choose to walk a short way or take the day to discover the harbour's northern shores. You can stroll easily along the pretty foreshores of Shell Cove and Mosman Bay stopping for tea or coffee along the journey at the Cremorne Point Wharf or Mosman Bay Wharf and you can enjoy a meal overlooking the bay on the deck of the Mosman Rowing Club. Mosman Bay provided early settlers with heavy timber and became a whaling centre of the South Pacific up until 1840. Take a peek at The Barn - five stone buildings built by Archibald Mosman in 1831 to support his whaling business and from 1925, this has been Mosman's local scout hall.

The second part of this walk takes you from suburban Sydney into rich, natural bushland. Good footwear will make this walk more enjoyable. Sirius Cove Reserve is a popular picnic spot for locals with its tidal swimming pool and adventure playground. Sirius Cove has long been an artist's haven. The renowned Heidelberg School which included such greats as Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton set up an artist's camp here more than 100 years ago, hidden in dense bush on the eastern side. At Athol Bay you will find Taronga Zoo where you can spend the rest of the day or continue walking out to Bradley's head.

Bradleys Head was a strategic artillery post during wartime over the past two centuries. A tribute to the ships and veterans of HMAS Sydney stands here along with the mast of the first HMAS Sydney atop a convict parapet built in 1839. A stone column from the Old Sydney Post Office stands alongside which measures one nautical mile from the tower on Fort Denison. Taylors Bay is where one of the three Japanese midget submarines was found after they entered Sydney Harbour on May 31 1942. Relax near the baths at Clifton Gardens before turning back to Taronga Zoo Wharf. If you are still up for more, continue past Clifton Gardens Beach, cross Chowder Bay Road and make your to pretty and historic Balmoral Beach. From here catch the Route 230 bus to take you to Milsons Point and change to a ferry to get you back to Circular Quay or to Darling Harbour.

North Shore Walk

Walkers should wear good footwear. Not suitable for wheelchairs due to steep inclines, suitable for off-road all terrain prams. Swimming locations, playground and cafes. Connected by Neutral Bay, Mosman and Taronga Zoo services. Services to Mosman take up to 20 minutes by ferry. Services depart every 20 minutes in peak periods and about every 60 minutes at other times Monday to Sunday and on public holidays.

Manly

Ferries depart approximately every 30 minutes for the 30 minute trip to Manly. Food and drinks are available for purchase onboard Manly ferries.

Seven miles from Sydney, a thousand miles from care' is the catchphrase coined by the early Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company, which operated ferries from Manly Cove to Sydney Cove for 67 years. This is a phrase which now belongs to the people of Manly and when you get to this seaside town you will quickly realise why. The world class surf beaches, lively pub and restaurant scene, Saturday markets, sea breeze and quiet, secluded coves seem a thousand miles from busy Sydney city. Some fun activities you can pursue while in Manly include a visit to Oceanworld, fish and chips on the beach, para sailing, surfing lessons and whale watching. Experience typical Aussie beach culture in Manly or follow the coast north to, Curl Curl, Dee Why, Narrabeen and the home of hit TV series Home and Away at Palm Beach.

North Head Walk

Allow two to four hours. The Fairfax Track on North Head is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers but parts of the walk are not suitable due to steep hill and beach sections. Alternatively, you can reach the Old Quarantine Station, North Head Sanctuary or National Artillery Museum via Sydney Buses Route 135.

One of the most spectacular walks around the Harbour is along the Fairfax Walking Track on the top of North Head. If you have the time, stop in at the National Artillery Museum and the intriguing Old Quarantine Station. The National Artillery Museum is open on Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays from 8.00am to 4.00pm (except Anzac Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Last café orders at 3.00pm. The Old Quarantine Station is a maze of interesting buildings and an interesting history.From the 1830s to 1984 migrant ships arriving in Sydney stopped inside North Head and passengers would enter into quarantine to prevent the spread of unwanted disease or infection among the local population.The Old Quarantine Station hosts a number of interesting tours including a nightly ghost tour. To book call or .

While at North Head explore North Head Sanctuary, just across from the Old Quarantine Station. Once a School of Artillery where Army gunners lived and trained, the headland is now a sanctuary. Explore pristine heathland, patches of rare banksia scrub and a hanging swamp. Walking tracks lead to hidden vantage points offering dramatic ocean vistas where you could spot a whale or two! North Head still retains much evidence of its military past, including Art Deco barracks and a grand parade ground. Drop by the Gatehouse Visitor Centre which includes an exhibition about the site and a Kids Discovery Room where kids can do free craft activities. Visitors can pick up self-guided walks brochures to take on their wanderings. North Head Sanctuary is open everyday and admission is free. The Visitor Centre is open 10.00am to 4.00pm daily (closed Good Friday). Visit the North Head Sanctuary website.

Manly to the Spit Walk

Enjoy gorgeous views, secluded coves and diverse native flora and fauna. Allow at least five hours for this walk - the track is about 10 kilometres long. Not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Some steep inclines, and rough track which can sometimes be overgrown. Wear good footwear and pack your swimmers.

This walk is not a circuit, so you need to plan your day carefully. If you are starting out in the morning you can catch a bus to The Spit from Wynyard Station or Circular Quay, walking to Manly for lunch or the afternoon before catching a ferry back. This guide however, will start the walk in Manly and finish at The Spit where can grab a cold drink from the Middle Harbour Yacht club before catching a bus back to the city or to return to Manly. By following the walking trail on the map, you will find pretty secluded coves, great lookout points and discover local flora and fauna as well as some interesting indigenous sites.

Watsons Bay

Thirty minutes by ferry. Ferries depart from Wharf 4 about every 30 minutes during peak periods and about every 30 minutes to an hour during off peak periods and on weekends and public holidays. This trip is a must!

Named after the quartermaster on board the HMS Sirius, Watsons Bay has a quaint seaside fishing atmosphere. An early colonial settlement it was also home to Portuguese deserters from an American whaling ship which came to Sydney in1847. Home to the famous Doyle's fish and chips restaurant, Watsons Bay is a must on a sunny day for lunch, for a swim and for a harbour side walk.

South Head Walk

Allow at least one to four hours. Mostly paved footpaths but steps make it difficult for wheelchairs and strollers.

From Watsons Bay Wharf explore the quaint village streets of Watsons Bay to the top of South Head where you will get a spectacular 270 degree view of out to the Pacific and west down the stretches of Sydney Harbour. On your way stop by Green Point where the submarine boom net stretched to Georges Point on the opposite side of the Harbour, during World War II - the same boom net breached by three Japanese midget submarines in 1942. On a nice day take a swim at Camp Cove and imagine back to 1788 when Governor Phillip and members of the first fleet walked ashore to explore prospects for a new colony. You will find a marble monument on the hill paying tribute to their arrival.

Watsons Bay to Rose Bay to Double Bay

Take the whole day to enjoy or only go as far as you prefer. Ferries depart from Watsons Bay, Rose Bay and Double Bay about every 30 minutes during peak periods and about every 30 minutes to an hour during off peak periods and on weekends and public holidays. Be sure to plan your day carefully. The five to six kilometres to Rose Bay is a little challenging but the walk from Rose Bay to Double Bay is much easier.

Photo of a young girl enjoying a trip on a Sydney Ferry

If you are joining the walk from Watsons Bay Wharf, start by turning right along Marine Parade, and walk along the waterfront until you get to Parsley Bay. If you are joining the walk from The Gap, you can get to Parsley Bay by again joining Old South Head Road and turn right down Village High Road. Cross over the Parsley Bay suspension bridge or stop for a picnic and a swim on a nice day. Make your way to Vaucluse House, an interesting colonial home which offers Devonshire Tea. Vaucluse House is open from Friday to Sunday, 9.30am to 4.30pm (daily in January, daily in NSW School Holidays and open on Public Holidays). Resume the walk and admire more impressive Vaucluse homes along Coolong Road, which leads down to Shark Bay and Neilsen Park. Here you will find a popular picnic spot, swimming beach and beach kiosk. Continue on along the track passing through the gate and onto Vaucluse Road. On your right you will pass Strickland House, a women's convalescent hospital during World War One.

Up the hill to Kincoppal, you can stop to catch your breath and grab spectacular views across the Harbour. This was Rose Bay convent built in the late 1800s and established by an order of French Nuns, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Start down the hill along Vaucluse Road which runs into New South Head Road. This is known as Heartbreak Hill in the annual 14 kilometre City to Surf fun run. At the bottom you will find yourself in Rose Bay. At Lynne Park you can choose to catch the ferry home from Rose Bay Wharf located near the Woollahra Sailing Club and Rose Bay sea planes. Or you can walk on past Lynne Park, beyond Point Piper to Double Bay.

Rose Bay is thought to have once been an Aboriginal battleground. The local Iora people called it Pannerong, meaning 'blood'. In the 1900s, Rose Bay became a flying boat base with the first commercial flights from Australia to Sydney departing from here in 1938. Once you have finished admiring the planes and expensive yachts and cruisers moored in Rose Bay, take the road for Seven Shillings Beach and Redleaf Pool, a nice diversion. Seven Shillings Beach is reportedly named after the seven shillings paid to a local Aboriginal man by a Mrs Busby for fishing rights. Back onto New South Head Road, turning right into Beach Street you don't have far to go to Double Bay Wharf. If you are not ready to leave ritzy Double Bay, explore the exclusive shopping streets and flashy restaurants, while being careful not to max credit card!

Garden Island

About six minutes by ferry. Catch the Watsons Bay ferry, departing Wharf 4 about every 30 minutes during peak periods and about every 30 minutes to an hour during off peak periods and on weekends and public holidays.

Catch the ferry to Garden Island to explore the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre. The Centre's 'In Peace & War' exhibition displays thousands of rare and nationally significant items sourced from Navy's Heritage Collection. Open from 9:30am to 3:30pm daily except for Australia Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. There is a $5.00 adult entry fee to the Main Gallery. All other areas are free.

Milsons Point/ Luna Park

About six minutes by ferry. You can catch the Darling Harbour service to or from Milsons Point. The Darling Harbour service operates every 30 minutes or so during a weekday and every 20-30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.

The first permanent settlement was established at Milsons Point in 1806, when James Milson quarried sandstone and farmed the area supplying vegetables, milk and spring water to Sydney. Milsons Point became the preferred access point to ferry across the Harbour before the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Ferries Limited workshops and depot was based here along with a north shore tram and train terminus to enable passengers to ferry across to the city. In 1935 the site was transformed into Sydney's Luna Park. You can safely spend half a day here or book the kids and their friends in for birthday parties on any day of the year. For a whole lot of fun, head to Luna Park for Friday Night Lunacy - for only $30.00 you can enjoy five hours of fun with a Classic Unlimited Rides Pass. For bookings please telephone or visit www.lunaparksydney.com. To access the business district of North Sydney head up the hill along Alfred Street from Milsons Point. You can also go for a swim at North Sydney pool and enjoy a harbourside lunch or dinner at The Deck Bar and Brasserie or Ripples BYO restaurant.

McMahons Point

Ten minutes by ferry. You can catch the Darling Harbour service to or from McMahons Point. The Darling Harbour service operates every 30 minutes or so during a weekday and every 20-30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.

Wander up Blues Point Road to find an interesting array of cafes, restaurants, pubs and boutiques. A ferry service has been operating to McMahons Point and the neighbouring Blues Point since the early 1800s. Appointed by Governor Macquarie, Billy Blue, a Jamaican seaman ferried passengers across the harbour, rowing from Dawes Point to the north shore.

Darling Harbour

Photo of the Aquarium display at Sydney Aquarium

Twenty-five minutes by ferry. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 5 approximately every 30 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 20-30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.

Sydney's premier entertainment precinct offers a range of attractions for people of all ages and for any time of day. Star City Casino and popular harbourside bars and restaurants are open until late. The James Squire brewery, Cargo Bar, Bungalow 8 and the old pubs in the back streets bring people back to Darling Harbour over and over again. One old pub now known as the Slip Inn is where the Danish Prince Frederik met his future wife, Princess Mary of Tasmania, during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. You can also enjoy some of the heyday of Sydney Ferries dining on board the South Steyne - the biggest steamship ferry to sail to Manly. Family attractions such as Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium are also open late until 10.00pm.

Pyrmont Bay

Thirty minutes by ferry. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 5 approximately every 30 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 20-30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.

Photo of the National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour

Alight here for the Australian National Maritime Museum - what better way to experience all things maritime than to arrive by ferry! The museum includes floating attractions such as the ex Royal Australian Navy Oberon class submarine Onslow, not to mention the replica HMS Endeavour - the first English ship to visit Australia's eastern shore with Captain James Cook at the helm. Another museum well worth a visit, is Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. Found further down Darling Street, past the Convention Centre and the Exhibition Centre, the Powerhouse Museum is Australia's largest and most popular museum with a collection spanning a range of interesting subjects such as space, music, transport, industry, design, science and technology - a favourite for all the family.

Traditionally Pyrmont was a heavily industrialised area of Sydney. You will see remnants of the large woolstores such as the Goldsbrough Mort Woolstores, to cater for what was then Australia's number one export. There were also major quarry sites in the area, power generation plants and industrial shipping wharves lending to the commercial growth of Sydney and the nation.

Balmain

Between ten and twenty minutes by ferry. You have the choice of two stops in Balmain - Balmain (Thames St) and Balmain East (Darling Street), and occasionally Balmain West. Balmain Wharf is serviced on the Woolwich / Balmain route, and Balmain East on the Darling Harbour route.

Balmain is a vibrant and artistic suburb known for its lively pub culture. Darling Street, which runs uphill from Balmain East Wharf is a charming colonial avenue at the bottom end, and a bustling shopping and café precinct at the top end. Markets in the St Andrew's Church grounds are popular on a Saturday between 9.00am and 4.00pm, and live pub music brings people to Balmain on any night of the week. The London Hotel, Unity Hall, The Royal Oak and The Cat & Fiddle are but a few feel good pubs in the area. You can also enjoy food of any description in Balmain - Thai, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, French, Greek and Indian are all on offer, alongside the trends of Modern Australian cuisine.

Woolwich

Fifteen to 25 minutes by ferry. Ferries depart from Wharf 4 approximately every 60 minutes Monday to Sunday and slightly more frequently in peak hour.

Woolwich borders the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. It was cleared for farming and settlements by the Clarke family, and for many years it had the largest working dock in Australia. The story of architecture in Hunters Hill is a French and Italian story. Wealthy French settlers Didier and his brother Jules Joubert bought a large area of land and recruited stone masons from France and Italy to build the homes of the area.

You can discover the beautiful homes of neighbouring Hunters Hill by either hiking up the hill of Valencia Street, or you can catch the Route 505 or 538 to the Hunters Hill Public School in Alexandra Street. The school itself is an impressive colonial building, constructed of stone and a slate roof opened in 1870. You will find 'Lyndcote' built in 1858 by another Frenchman, E.C. Jeanneret on Stanley Road, the first right from the bus stop. Almost opposite is 'Eulbertie' a doctor's house built in 1857. In Mount Street you will notice 'The Gladstone' standing proudly on the corner. At the next corner turn right into Madeline Street to admire yet more fine homes. On the corner of Ferry Street is 'Garibaldi' where many Italian stonemasons lived in the attic rooms. Toward the end of Passy Avenue is 'Passy' home of the French Consul. Buses along Woolwich Road can take you back to Woolwich Wharf if you have walked enough, or you can continue down to Kelly's Bush Reserve. You will pass pioneer John Clarke's house built in 1834 on Alfred Street. Following the harbourside path you will get to the old Woolwich dock carved into the sandstone cliff. The Point Road will bring you to the top of Valencia Street and down to the ferry wharf. Be sure to watch the time and check the ferry timetable to avoid having too much time to wait.

Cockatoo Island

Twenty minutes to half an hour by ferry. Catch the ferry to Cockatoo Island on the Woolwich / Balmain ferry. Cockatoo Island is also serviced by the Parramatta River service. View departure times from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island.

An interesting history is on display at Cockatoo Island. A convict prison for re-offenders, the sandstone buildings can be explored on a self guided tour or you can book tours by calling . You can also wander through the quarry, the large ship yards and engineering factories which until the 1980s built some of Australia's biggest navy warships and other merchant vessels. Pack a picnic and enjoy the harbour scenery on a fine day. You can also camp overnight at Cockatoo Island for a really special treat! More information about camping at Cockatoo Island can be found at the Cockatoo Island official website.

Parramatta

Fifty-five minutes by ferry. Ferries depart Circular Quay Wharf 5 for Parramatta about every hour between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and 7.30am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays. This service only makes one other stop at Rydalmere. Some services may start at Darling Harbour, please check the Parramatta River timetable.

Known as the 'cradle city' Parramatta has had a checkered history and has recently undergone a revival in business and residential development. The pretty, relaxing journey along the Parramatta River is a must for anyone who is looking beyond the regular tourist attractions for a way to experience Sydney. Once you reach Parramatta, enjoy a leisurely stroll through historic streets and landscapes.

Sydney's survival depended on the farmlands of Parramatta. It had the first successful farm, the first vineyard, first legal brewery, jail, orchard, tannery, horse race meeting, first road link to Sydney city and the first ferry. Known as 'The Lump' by convicts, the first ferry was launched in October 1789 and took a week to get from Sydney to Parramatta, yet it began the lifeline that sustained the starving colony. To discover the city make your way to Parramatta Park, Old Government House and the contemporary cultural precinct at Riverside Theatre. Lennox Bridge on Church Street, was built by more than 300 convicts in chain gangs. Across the bridge you will find the bustling culinary high street and playground of Parramatta, as well as the Parramatta tourism information office and heritage centre. Australia's oldest cottage is at Elizabeth Farm, at the opposite end of George Street. Built for John and Elizabeth Macarthur in 1793, the Macarthurs started the Australia's agricultural and wool boom with the development of the Merino wool industry.

Sydney Rowing Club, Abbotsford

Thirty minutes by ferry from Circular Quay or Parramatta. Ferries depart every 30 minutes during peak periods and about every 30 minutes to an hour during off peak periods and on weekends and public holidays. This trip is a must! Some services may start at Darling Harbour, please check the Parramatta River timetable for details.

Rowing Club

Catch a ferry along the Parramatta River to the Abbotsford Wharf, home of the famous Sydney Rowing Club. Established in 1870, SRC is the oldest rowing club in NSW with past members including A.B. “Banjo” Patterson and the first Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Edmund Barton. Completing a full redevelopment in November 2007 Sydney Rowing Club has since won many awards including ClubsNSW Awards for “Best Club Development” (2009), “Best Restaurant” - Dedes Restaurant (2009 and 2011) and “Best Casual Dining Venue” - Watergrill (2009, 2010 and 2011), Inner West Weekly Awards for “Best Wedding Services” (2009) and the Restaurant and Catering Associations “Best Restaurant” (2008, 2009 and 2010) – Dedes Restaurant.

Rowing Club Indoor Seating With multiple dining options, uninterrupted 180 degree water views, live entertainment, a variety of indoor and outdoor seating and located only a 50 metre stroll from the Abbotsford Wharf this is truly the perfect venue to enhance your ferry experience.

For more information visit www.sydneyrowingclub.com.au

Welcome to Sydney Ferries

Itineraries

Circular Quay