Sydney Harbour - A Guide for Visitors

By far the cheapest and easiest way to get out on the harbour. You could do a couple of trips in a day using the "My Multi day pass" which is a good ticket for travellers who are in Sydney for just a few days. If you are here on a longer visit you might want to consider a weekly ticket.

The best trips for visitors are

• Manly Ferry - The iconic harbour ride, a 30 minute trip past the heads to beautiful Manly - also the beginning of the Manly to Spit Bridge walk.


• Watson's Bay - a short harbour trip - home of the famous Doyles seafood restaurant and cafe and another great walk


• Parramatta Rivercat - a 55 min ride that heads under the Harbour Bridge and up the Parramatta River to Parramatta, site of Sydney's second settlement and worth a visit on an extended trip to Sydney.


• Taronga Zoo - if you are short of time in Sydney this visit covers two bases, the zoo and some time on the harbour

If thrills and spills are more you thing a jet boat ride on the harbour might suit. There are numerous operators leaving from both Darling Harbour and both sides of Circular Quay. The jet boat rides cover the main attractions in the harbour but at a mighty pace so are more about a fun ride rather than exploring... That said they are great fun and a good idea if travelling with teens.

A few tips
If you want to get wet sit at the back of the boat... if you want to be scared sit at the front! Most rides are between 30-60 minutes long.

Main operators

The 2 hour Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Culture Cruise from Captain Cook Cruises is a great way to see the harbour and learn about the Australian Aboriginal people's traditional lifestyle. This cruise combines an island visit and traditional dance with a commentary that focuses on the Aboriginal history of the harbour.

The tour is available Wednesday to Sunday at 1pm or 3pm depending on the time of year. It leaves from Jetty number 6 at Circular Quay.

If you are interested in other Aboriginal tours and attractions visit my Aboriginal Sydney page
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Possibly the most romantic way to see the harbour... if you don't suffer sea-sickness that is ;-)

There are 2 main operators on Sydney Harbour

James Craig - If you want to spend a whole day at sea this is probably the boat for you. Built in 1874 this beautiful old ship takes 200 on the harbour or 90 passengers if they go out to sea. You can book a full days sail a couple of weekends each month (but you need to book in advance).

Svanen - Sydney Harbour Tallships operates the Svanen. They have a variety of cruises to choose from. Most are 2 hours which is probably long enough for the average "sailor" My pick of their cruises would be the Twilight BBQ cruise, all you can eat buffet, champagne and a Sydney sunset!

If you are an outdoors type you might like to try kayaking on the harbour. Some operators offer trips suited to those who have little or no experience but you do need a reasonable level of fitness. You can also just hire a kayak and take off on your own if you prefer.

Tours
For beginners I would recommend Sydney Harbour Kayaks eco tours that explore Middle Harbour. These run for about 4 hours and explore some really beautiful and off the path spots. They also offer a shorter "coffee" paddle that is 2.5 hours.

Experienced or fit - There are also tours that will take you under the bridge and around the Sydney Opera House but I would not suggest these for the faint hearted. The ferries use this part of the harbour a lot and it can get a bit scary. I have heard and read good things about Natural Wanders

Kayak Hire
Another option if you have kayaked before is to hire one and head off alone. The best places for hiring a kayak are probably Balmoral, Rose Bay or Manly.