Things to do on Sydney Harbour
The best things to do on Sydney Harbour include kayaking tours, taking the ferry to Manly or Watsons Bay, the Hermitage Foreshore Walk and sailing lessons.
Sydney Harbour, also known as Port Jackson, is one of the most visually stunning places on earth. It’s the centrepiece that Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is formed around.
The hub of Sydney Harbour is Circular Quay. To the east lies Sydney Opera House at Bennelong Point and the Royal Botanic Garden, which eventually merge into Woolloomooloo and Elizabeth Bay. To the west is the historic Rocks district, which is full of heritage buildings, fancy restaurants and tourist-centric shopping. The Rocks Market opens here at the weekend.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge also has its southern foot in the Rocks. The Bridgeclimb is one of the classic Sydney activities, and offers mesmerising views out over the harbour. It is expensive, though, and arguably a Sydney tourist trap. Especially when good views are also available from the considerably cheaper Pylon Lookout.
To the west of the Rocks are Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and Pyrmont – home of the Sydney Fish Market.
Things to do on Sydney Harbour: Sydney ferries
Taking a scenic flight over Sydney Harbour is another good way to see it, but most visitors opt for exploring by boat. Sailing cruises around the harbour islands are a nice introduction, while sailing lessons exist for the more determined. The cheapest option is to take a ferry, however.
The ferry to Manly (whether the slow or fast ferry) is the most popular route – take a tour of the Quarantine Station while there. But other options include the ferry to Watsons Bay, the harbour islands (the Cockatoo Island ferry is the best bet for a Cockatoo Island ghost tour) or Taronga Zoo. The Taronga Zoo ferry takes just 12 minutes.
Sydney Harbour walks
From Watsons Bay, a walk through Sydney Harbour National Park takes you to the Hornby Lighthouse at South Head.
It’s also possible to walk down via the Hermitage Foreshore Walk to Rose Bay via Parsley Bay and Milk Beach. The seaplane terminal is here, as is romantic restaurant Catalina. Anyone wishing to paddle on the harbour can rent a kayak from Rose Bay or neighbouring Point Piper, although the best harbour kayaking tours depart from the Spit Bridge on the North Shore.
The Spit is also the starting point for arguably Sydney’s best walk – the trail from Spit to Manly, via national parkland, Aboriginal rock art and cute cove beaches.
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