Watsons Bay ferry in Sydney: Fare prices and attractions

Take the Circular Quay to Watsons Bay ferry for Doyle’s fish and chips in Robertson Park, then stand-up paddle boarding lessons. If you don’t buy into the Watsons Bay fish and chips thing, go for a walk to South Head in Sydney Harbour National Park past the beaches at Camp Cove and Lady Bay.

On a sunny Sydney day, there are few greater pleasures than taking a ferry ride across Sydney Harbour. The Manly ferry is the best known public transport option from Circular Quay, but the charming yellow and green public ferries head to plenty of other places in the New South Wales capital.

These include Watsons Bay, near the South Head of Sydney Harbour.

Where does the Watsons Bay ferry depart from?

The Watsons Bay ferry heads to Watsons Bay from Circular Quay.

After leaving Sydney Cove, it passes the harbour islands and kayakers en route to the affluent beach suburb. It’s also the Rose Bay ferry, and stops at Rose Bay Wharf first.

Watsons Bay ferry for fish and chips

Watsons Bay (no, Australian place names don’t have apostrophes) is famous for its fish and chips. In all honesty, you can get better, cheaper fish and chips in other parts of the city, but the Watsons Bay fish and chips experience is something of an institution.

The Doyles at the Beach restaurant is the spot if you want table service. It’s cheaper, though, to buy from the Doyles at the Wharf takeaway stall next to the ferry terminal, and eat your fish and chips in Robertson Park.

The calm waters of Watsons Bay make it a good place to learn stand-up paddle-boarding. Watsons Bay Stand-Up Paddle Boarding offers SUP lessons for from $70 for a group session. Private lessons are also available. The tours start at a van parked on Military Road, outside the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. The latter is a popular wedding venue, and an option should you wish to stay at the beach while in Sydney.

You can also go for a swim at the somewhat disappointing Watsons Bay Baths.

Walks from Watsons Bay

The real reason to visit Watsons Bay on the Watsons Bay ferry, however, is the walks. One of the best walking routes in Sydney is the Hermitage Foreshore Walk. This trail heads south towards the seaplane launch site and posh seafood restaurants of Rose Bay. The walk heads past the rich mansions of Vaucluse. It also takes in plus a series of gorgeous swimming beaches such as Milk Beach and Parsley Bay.

There are more beaches to the north in Camp Cove and Lady Bay. The latter is notoriously Sydney’s nudist beach of choice.

You can continue the walk north to the South Head of the harbour, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. Here the Hornby Lighthouse stands tall, while the surf crashes into the towering cliffs. The most notorious cliffs are at The Gap. This becomes a good spot for land-based whale watching during the winter whale season.

So, while most people take the Watsons Bay ferry to eat fish and chips by the beach, the Sydney Harbour National Park is the star attraction.

Watsons Bay ferry prices

The Circular Quay to Watsons Bay ferry leaves from Wharf 2 – the same wharf as the Taronga Zoo ferries.

One-way tickets on the Watsons Bay ferry cost $6.21 using an Opal Card or contactless credit card.

Should you wish to pay more, there are always sailing cruises and sailing lessons available.

More New South Wales travel

Craft shopping at Glebe Markets in Sydney.

Cruise along the Nepean River in the Nepean Belle paddlewheeler from Penrith.

Go fishing at Chaffey Dam in Nundle, near Tamworth.

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