Last updated: November 22, 2022
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Sydney Harbour is by doing one of the many scenic and practical ferry trips with Sydney Ferries.
We have selected 7 of the best Sydney Harbour ferry rides that offer fantastic views of the Harbour and bring you to exciting destinations.
Why pay for an expensive Sydney Harbour cruise if you can experience the best of the Harbour by simply using public transport?
Top 7 Sydney Ferry Rides
In no particular order, here are the seven best Sydney ferry trips to various exciting destinations with great Harbour views to enjoy along the way.
1. Circular Quay to Manly
Let’s kick off with the most scenic and most popular ferry ride that is very much a tourist attraction in itself. Manly is a must-visit for every tourist coming to Sydney, but the ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly is half the fun.
This ferry trip passes all the sights that make Sydney Harbour so unique, such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bradleys Head, South Head, Manly North Head, Dobroyd Head, and of course Manly Cove.
If weather permits, try to get a seat outside at the front of the vessel for the best views. Otherwise, pick one side of the vessel on the way to Manly, and grab a seat on the other side when returning to Circular Quay.
There are lots of things to do in Manly, with several beaches, many cafes and restaurants, and great walking tracks to enjoy. Both the Manly to Spit Bridge walk and the Manly North Head walk are two beautiful hikes.
| Circular Quay to Manly | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F1 Manly |
| Duration: | 30 minutes |
2. Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island
Visiting Cockatoo Island may not be on top of everyone’s wish list, but we think it’s a must-visit for tourists as well as for local Sydney-siders.
Situated right in the middle of beautiful Sydney Harbour, Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World-Heritage and National Heritage Listed island. This unique island has a rich history as a shipbuilding yard, Commonwealth naval base, and even as a convict island.
Upon arrival, score a free map from the visitor center and enjoy a fantastic day out exploring the historical precincts on the island.
Or, if you’d like to enjoy two days on Cockatoo Island, book yourself a luxury tent on the camping site for a relaxing weekend away.
| Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F8 Cockatoo Island |
| Duration: | 30 minutes |
3. Pyrmont Bay to Watsons Bay
The ferry trip from Pyrmont Bay to Watsons Bay via Circular Quay combines two ferry services; the F4 Pyrmont Bay ferry service and the F9 Watsons Bay ferry service, with a change-over at Circular Quay.
The F4 service also stops at the brand new and modern ferry wharf at the Barangaroo foreshore, which means you can also alight there to have a look around.
You can, of course, also catch this ferry at Circular Quay, but it’s much more fun to do the whole trip between Pyrmont Bay and Watsons Bay, as it covers most of Sydney Harbour.
Watsons Bay is one of Sydney’s most popular tourist and weekend destinations, home to an exciting circuit walking track, lots of cafes and restaurants, several beaches, and a beautiful park to relax and have a picnic.
| Pyrmont Bay to Watsons Bay | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F4 Pyrmont Bay and F9 Watsons Bay |
| Duration: | 40-60 minutes |
4. Circular Quay to Parramatta (Via Olympic Park)
The longest ferry trip in this list is the one from Circular Quay heading out to Parramatta in the west along the Parramatta River.
This ferry ride is a pleasant experience with many things to see along the way. And once you’ve arrived at your destination, it’s time to explore Sydney’s second major residential and commercial hub, Parramatta.
The Westfield Parramatta shopping mall, Church Street’s trendy bars and eateries, riverside cycle paths, and historic colonial sites like the 18th-century Old Government House; Parramatta has a lot to offer.
| Circular Quay to Parramatta | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F3 Parramatta River |
| Duration: | 30 minutes |
5. Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo
While Taronga Zoo certainly has car parking areas available, the best and most convenient way to visit Taronga Zoo is actually by ferry.
Not only is the ferry trip a great warmup for what’s to come, but the ferry wharf is also right at the entrance to the cable car, which takes you directly up to the entrance to the zoo.
This is the only cable car in Sydney and offers excellent views of Sydney Harbour while flying above the zoo animals.
But you don’t need to visit Taronga Zoo to enjoy this scenic ferry ride. The ferry wharf at the zoo is also the starting point of the popular walking track from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach.
| Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F2 Taronga Zoo |
| Duration: | 12 minutes |
6. Circular Quay to Balmain
Situated 6 km west of the Sydney CBD on the other side of the Harbour Bridge, Balmain is a friendly inner-west suburb with a vibrant cafe, restaurant, and pub scene.
Old sandstone workers’ cottages and impressive Victorian-style mansions line the leafy streets of Balmain, revealing the rich history of this once important, working-class industrial hub.
Saturday is a great day to visit Balmain, as you get to enjoy the Balmain Markets, one of Sydney’s oldest markets located at the historic St Andrews Congregational Church grounds.
Handmade arts and crafts, beautiful jewelry and giftware, trend-setting fashion and homewares; Balmain Markets has something for everyone.
| Circular Quay to Balmain | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F8 Cockatoo Island |
| Duration: | 10 minutes |
7. Circular Quay to Cremorne Point
The shortest trip in this list of Sydney ferry trips is the one-stop ride to Cremorne Point departing from Circular Quay.
This short trip deserves a mention because Cremorne Point is home to one of the prettiest bay walks in Sydney Harbour National Park.
The Cremorne Point circuit walk is an easy 3 km foreshore circuit trail in the lower north shore, with beautiful views of Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour, and the city skyline.
Discover Robertsons Point Lighthouse, Cremorne Reserve, and the MacCallum swimming pool as you wander past picturesque gardens and impressive old mansions, only a short ferry trip away from Circular Quay.
| Circular Quay to Cremorne Point | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Service: | F6 Mosman Bay |
| Duration: | 10 minutes |
About Sydney Ferries
Sydney’s iconic green-and-gold ferries bring local commuters and tourists to all corners of the Harbour, with most services starting and ending at Circular Quay, Sydney’s major ferry transport hub.
Circular Quay also has a train station that connects with all other Sydney CBD train stations, including Sydney Central.
This makes the weekend travel cap on the Opal card even more appealing, allowing Opal card holders to use all public transport services for as little as $8.40 for the whole day.
Owned by Transport for NSW, Sydney Ferries is the public transport ferry network with services operating on Sydney Harbour and the connecting Parramatta River. Established in 2004, the network now has nine lines and more than 30 vessels in use.
Ferry Fares
Not only is traveling by ferry a fantastic way to get from A to B, but it’s also surprisingly affordable. The most convenient way to pay for any Sydney Ferries service is with an Opal card.
If you don’t have an Opal card, you can purchase an Opal single ticket (more expensive) or use Contactless payments with your Credit or Debit card.
A single ferry trip is currently well under $10, with trips shorter than 9 km slightly cheaper than those longer than that distance.
The Opal card has a daily travel cap of $16.80 on weekdays and $8.40 on Saturdays and Sundays. This means you can travel as much as you like on metro, train, bus, ferry, and light rail services within the Opal network without paying more than the cap.
Overall, travel with Sydney Ferries is reasonably affordable and can make for a great day out and about in Sydney Harbour.
Love Sydney, grew up in Kurnell Botany Bay, ferry rides are contagious, just amazing, thank you.
Thanks so much Richard, ferries are a fantastic way to get to see the best of Sydney.
Thank you for such an informative article. I LOVE boat rides and cruises and I’m coming to Sydney soon!
Thanks so much, Melissa! Definitely do one or more ferry rides because it’s the best way to see the Harbour and they get you to beautiful destinations.
I am interested in a hop on hop off ferry with taronga zoo entrance and cable car ride. Is there such a package, and what is the cost in January/February?
Hello Debbie,
Captain Cook currently offers a hop-on-hop-off style Harbour cruise with the option to include Taronga Zoo tickets.
However, our recommendation would be to purchase your Taronga Zoo tickets separately (online) and then catch a regular ferry from Circular Quay that goes directly to the zoo. At the zoo ferry wharf, you’ll be going into the cable car (included in ticket) to access the zoo, which is a pretty smooth process.
Once you’ve completed your visit to the Zoo, simply catch the ferry back to the city or anywhere else in the Harbour.
Edit: Sadly, the cable car has now closed, but it’s still possible to catch a ferry and access the zoo from the wharf.
Oh yes, I love Sydney ferries, ride them whenever I come up to visit from Adelaide. I could do it all day long, the Harbour truly is the best in the world!