Sydney Ferries are a great way to see Sydney’s iconic Harbor. The ferries offer quick, easy, cheap and reliable transport to many Harbor places of interest and tourist attractions, and run all day until late at night.

Enjoy a ride to Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, Darling Harbor, the seaside suburb of Manly, Watsons Bay, Sydney Olympic Park, or the historic city of Parramatta as well as many locations for scenic Harbor walks.

About the Ferries

The city’s ferry terminal is located at the busy transport and tourist hub, Circular Quay, where wharves 2 to 5 are devoted to the ferry fleet. Sydney Ferries are big and spacious. They are pram and wheelchair friendly, and pushbikes are allowed on board. The older ferries are double-decked and seating is available both inside and outside on the decking, offering great views of the Harbor.

Tickets can be bought as single, returns or ten rides on the same ticket that can be used at any time. All day travel and weekly tickets can also be bought that include travel on other Sydney public transport networks. Concession tickets are available.

Special tickets that allow discount travel are also on offer. Family Fun Day Sunday allows travel on the entire Sydney public transport network on Sundays for AUD$2.50 per person if traveling with a minimum of one adult and one child. A Sydney Ferry Zoo Pass offers return ferry travel (12 minute journey each way) and zoo entry for AUD$49.50 (adults) and AUD$24.50 (children), which saves 10% on ferry travel and zoo admission.

Sites on the Inner Harbor

Apart from Taronga Zoo, the ferries operate to Milsons Point (12 minute journey each way) where you can access Luna Park. This is the last remaining Fun Park in Sydney and has been renovated recently which has improved the features of the park. Restaurants, cafes, an ice creamery and an entertainment/music venue known as the Big Top now make a journey to the Park much more than ‘just for rides.’

Darling Harbor is a popular destination close to the CBD and can be accessed from Pyrmont Bay Wharf and Darling Harbor Ferry Terminal. Harbourside, Cockle Bay Wharf and King Street Wharf are some of the Darling Harbor hotspots that offer shopping, dining and entertainment. Tourist attractions including the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World and the Chinese Gardens of Friendship are located in the Darling Harbor precinct.

Sites Away from the City

The seaside suburb of Manly is located on Sydney’s North Shore. The Manly Ferry journey is possibly the best ferry voyage on the Harbor. The 30 minute trip takes you east and passes many iconic locations including Fort Denison, Woolloomooloo, Rose Bay and Sydney Harbor National Parks that are located on the North and South Heads.

The beautiful beaches and promenades in Manly offer a great place to swim and relax. There is also an excellent array of cafes, bars and restaurants situated at Manly Wharf, in The Corso thoroughfare and along the beachfront.

The salubrious Watsons Bay is situated south of Manly on the Harbor side of South Head. Enjoy a popular ferry ride that takes you almost to the door of the famous Doyles seafood restaurant where you can enjoy seaside fish and chips.

Sydney Olympic Park is a 50 minute journey by ferry along the Harbor and Parramatta River. The area was the heart of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and since then has been transformed into a centre for leisure, culture, music, sport and education with sporting arenas, showground’s and park areas.

An hours journey west on the ferry will take you to the historic city of Parramatta. The home of many heritage-listed buildings,
the suburb will be of interest to those with a keen interest in historical sites.

Sydney Harbor Walks

Many picturesque Harbor walks are also accessible using the ferry services. On the eastern side of the Sydney Harbor Bridge both the Harbor to Manly and the Harbor to South Head walks begin at Circular Quay, each taking approximately seven hours in total. On the western side of the bridge, the Harbor Circle walk takes approximately eight hours.

The walks pass many ferry wharves along the way and it is possible to shorten the walk if required, picking up a ferry along the route to continue taking in the landscape and waterways.

All up, whether you’re seeking entertainment, good food, site seeing or just a scenic ride, Sydney Ferries, a service that has been commuting passengers successfully around Sydney Harbor for over 200 years, offers maximum value and is a great way to travel.