On this sequence, Lonely Planet’s staff of writers and editors solutions your journey issues and gives ideas and hacks that will help you plan a hassle-free journey. All-around journey knowledgeable and native Aussie Tasmin Waby helps a reader with the Sydney-related query beneath.
Query: There are such a lot of ferry companies in Sydney. Which boat presents the most effective views of the harbor?
Tasmin Waby: We’ve excellent news for you, expensive traveler: all eight of Sydney’s major ferry journeys – certainly among the best issues to do on the town – depart from (and return to) Round Quay. Which implies you’ll take pleasure in beautiful views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera Home regardless of which boat you board.
Since Round Quay is on Sydney’s south facet, you’ll be heading north after which both east or west (relying in your vacation spot). Within the mornings, the solar will likely be behind the opera home; within the afternoon it’s setting behind the bridge. Plan your images accordingly.
A variety of personal ferry corporations run barely dearer journeys targeted on both faster journeys (just like the My Quick Ferry to Manly) or sightseeing with extra commentary. Personal operators additionally take passengers to off-the-beaten observe locations – we love the Captain Prepare dinner Cruises ferry to Shark Island (the nationwide park entry payment is included in your ticket). And keep in mind that you would be able to pay for all of your ferry journeys, public or personal, with an Opal card in addition to a contactless card or smartphone.
Planning tip: Smaller ferryboats again out from Round Quay and spin round earlier than heading off – so take note of which finish is the bow earlier than grabbing your seat for the journey.
The ferry to Manly (F1)
Presumably probably the most iconic ferry journey in Sydney, the Manly ferry takes you thru the harbor and previous North and South Head, the place the protected harbor swirls into open ocean. (The waves across the heads can get a bit uneven – so when you get seasick take your medication effectively earlier than you depart.)
After you permit the slower-paced space of Round Quay, busy with boats and typically big cruise ships, the tempo picks up for many of the journey till you method the vacation spot wharf at Manly.
You’ll zoom previous harborside residences at Kirribilli, the lighthouse at Cremorne Level and the terraces of Taronga Zoo earlier than cruising by Center Harbour. The ultimate a part of the journey is characterised by forested reserves and a nationwide park, giving a momentary sense that you just’ve left Sydney and are within the countryside. (You haven’t, and also you aren’t.) Manly is a worthy day journey for both catching some surf, snorkeling at Shelly Seashore or taking a hike round Sydney Harbour Nationwide Park.
The ferry to Watsons Bay (F9)
This ferry journey sticks to the salubrious south facet of Sydney, taking you to the upmarket enclave of Watsons Bay by way of a cease at Rose Bay. It’s one other glorious tour from Round Quay – so enable loads of time for exploring earlier than heading again. You’ll be able to stroll the mile or so from Watsons Bay wharf to Hornby Lighthouse and its historic lighthouse-keeper’s cottage for views again to the spires of Sydney’s metropolis skyline. Proceed round to The Hole to soak up the drama of the Pacific Ocean pounding into the cliffside right here. Watsons Bay additionally has pocket-sized harborside seashores good for a swim, plus glorious locations to eat or take pleasure in a waterside drink earlier than you head again to Round Quay.
The ferry underneath Sydney Harbour Bridge to Cockatoo Island (F8)
A post-industrial web site that’s been reimagined with installations highlighting artwork and historical past, particular occasions, and a tenting web site, Cockatoo Island is a vacation spot in itself. This journey by ferry takes you proper underneath Sydney Harbour Bridge, providing you with an excellent higher sense of its measurement and scale.
As you go underneath, look as much as see the unimaginable engineering and metal work from the Nineteen Twenties. The bridge’s two sides had been constructed individually then joined within the center in 1930, earlier than the bridge was formally opened in 1932. A short cease on the former working-class suburb of Balmain provides you extra possibilities to {photograph} the bridge from a special angle. Then it’s on to Cockatoo Island, the place you’ll be able to alight and discover, and take within the harbor views over a picnic.
The ferry down the Parramatta River (F3)
Not like different Sydney ferry journeys, the journey on the Parramatta ferry service runs on the RiverCat, a ship designed for clean river cruising. First, you’ll head underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Cockatoo Island by way of the terminal at Barangaroo (significantly spectacular at evening in your return journey, because the lights of Darling Harbour twinkle round you). On a sunny day, count on a reasonably tranquil 50-minute journey previous waterside suburbs. With seating inside in addition to on deck, this can be a funds journey that reveals you one other facet of Sydney.
The Parramatta RiverCat heads towards Sydney’s west by way of the extensive river estuary to the Sydney Olympic Park terminal. From right here, the river narrows and your journey continues underneath highway bridges and previous salt-marsh mangroves, proper as much as the high-rise middle of Parramatta. From the ferry terminal it’s a brief riverside stroll to Parramatta Park, with colonial-historical remnants together with Outdated Authorities Home, a dairy courting from 1813, a ruined observatory and a chic former bathhouse.
The ferry to Mosman Bay (F6)
This journey takes you up near Sydney’s inner-north-shore suburbs, stuffed with harborside mansions and small crusing golf equipment. There aren’t any main websites to go to at Mosman Bay, however when you have time it’s value alighting right here and strolling across the harbor again to the wharf at Cremorne earlier than catching the ferry again to Round Quay.
Cremorne Level reserve is one other spectacular place for taking pictures of the Sydney Opera Home, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s singular skyline. You’ll be able to picnic on the purpose the place Robertsons Lighthouse marks the tip of the peninsula. One other five-minute stroll past Cremorne wharf is Maccullum swimming pool, a small harbor pool good for summer season dips (simply carry your individual swimsuit and towel).
