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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ten minutes by ferry. Neutral Bay services depart Wharf 4 approximately every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and approximately every hour on Sundays.
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 
The second part of this walk takes you from surburban
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
Ferries depart every 30 minutes for the 30 minute trip to Manly. Food is 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, parasailing, 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.
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 1300 886 875 or (02) 9399 3931.
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 everday and admission is free. The Visitor Centre is open 10.00am to 4.00pm daily (closed Good Friday). Visit the North Head Sanctuary website.
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 Wynard 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.
Thirty minutes by ferry. Ferries depart from Wharf 4 about every 30 minutes during peak periods and about every 40 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 Portugese 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 harbourside 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 40 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.
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.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!
Catch the ferry to Garden Island to explore the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre has a display of more than 250,000 items from Australia’s naval history which rotate on display. 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, entrance to the museum is free.
Six minutes by ferry. You can catch the Darling Harbour, Parramatta River, Balmain or Woolwich ferries to or from Milsons Point. Parramatta River services do not set down passengers at Milsons Point.
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 (02) 9929 7580 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.
Ten minutes by ferry. Catch a ferry from
Wander up
Twenty-five minutes by ferry. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 5 approximately every 30 minutes between 10.15am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday, and every 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays until 7.15pm.
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.
Thirty minutes by ferry. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 5 approximately every 30 minutes between Monday to Friday, and every 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.
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 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.
About 20 minutes by ferry.Plan your day carefully as the ferry stops at Birkenhead Point at odd times and only between Monday to Friday. Ferries depart Circular Quay Wharf 5.
If you are not so interested in the shopping, take your time to explore Birkenhead and the relaxed residential suburb of Drummoyne. In the early 1800s, Birkenhead was known as Kangaroo Point. The site of the shopping centre has changed hands a number of times but was most notably the site of the Dunlop Rubber Factory.
Fifteen to 25 minutes by ferry. Ferries depart from Wharf 4 approximately every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday and public holidays and services depart Wharf 5 every 60 minutes on Sundays.
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.
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 02 8969 2131. 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.
Fifty-five minutes by ferry. Ferries depart Circular Quay Wharf 5 for Parramatta about every hour. This service only makes one other stop at Rydalmere. The first service departs Circular Quay at 7.00am Monday to Friday and 8.00am on weekends and public holidays. The last service departs Parramatta at 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 7.00pm on weekends and public holidays.
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 15 minutes in peak periods and about every 30 minutes at other times Monday to Saturday and on public holidays. Services depart about every 40 minutes on Sundays