Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry: Fare costs & timetable
The Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry costs $6.43 using Sydney’s Opal system. On weekdays, the Rose Bay ferry timetable has departures every 20 minutes. Journeys take 13 minutes.
The Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry connects Sydney Cove to one of the wealthiest harbourside suburbs.
Circular Quay is the central hub for Sydney’s ferry services. Most routes start or end here, including the service to Rose Bay Wharf.
You might struggle finding information about the Rose Bay ferry, however. That’s because it’s the Watsons Bay ferry, and it just stops at Rose Bay Wharf on the way to Watsons Bay.
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- Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
- Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
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- Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
- Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.
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F9 ferry from Circular Quay
The Watsons Bay Ferry – also known as the F9 service – departs from Wharf 2 at Circular Quay. On weekdays, it departs every 20 minutes for most of the day. That means it’s usually quicker to get to Rose Bay by ferry than by bus.
According to the Sydney Ferries timetables, the Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry journey takes 13 minutes.
Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry timetable
Full Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry timetables are available on the Transport for NSW website. But on weekdays, the first ferry is at 06.05. They run every 20 minutes until the 18.45 departure, with frequency then dropping to every half hour. At 20.45, it becomes every hour, with the last Rose Bay ferry departing at 23.45.
At weekends, the Rose Bay ferry starts at 07.45, with the final departure at 21.45. They’re less frequent, however, with departures from Circular Quay every half hour for most of the day.
Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry fare costs
Using the Opal payment system that is essentially unavoidable on Sydney public transport, the Circular Quay to Rose Bay ferry costs $6.43. That’s for a one-way fare. Don’t worry about buying an Opal card, however – you get the same price by tapping in and out with your debit or credit card.
Once in Rose Bay, activity options include scenic seaplane flights, gazing at the Point Piper mansions, dining at Catalina and kayak hire. You can also tackle the Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk.
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.
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- 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.
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