Sydney Sightseeing by Boat
Save Time, Save Money, Explore Australia's Top Harbor in the Bargain
,Sydney Harbor,Cremorne,Darling Harbour,Circular Quay,Opera House, Taronga Park Zoo, Manly,Sydney Aquarium and Chinatown are just a few of Sydney Ferry System sights.
Sydney’s ferries make it possible for tourists to see much of Australia's largest city by boat without spending a lot of money. As a matter of fact, Sydney's 250-mile shoreline, formed by 80 or so coves and bays, makes travel by boat the most practical way to get around. The big plus is that the rides offer 360 degree views of one of the world’s most gorgeous harbors.
Wide Array of Routes
All of the ferries depart from Circular Quay ferry terminal at the foot of George Street on the edge of downtown. With 11 routes, there’s almost always a ferryboat boarding at one of the Quay’s wharfs. One of them leaves every half hour or so from wharf #3 for the 33-minute trip to the beach-resort suburb of Manly -- a honky-tonk kind of place, smelling of fish and chips, sea breezes and cotton candy.
Another ferry’s route includes a stop near Taronga Park Zoo, where the giraffes and chimps have a marvelous view of the Opera House and Sydney's skyscrapers. Especially interesting to North American travelers is the world's largest collection of native Australian animals -- kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and other fascinating reptiles.
Sightseeing Options
One of the most interesting routes includes Darling Harbour where attractions include the Powerhouse Museum and the Sydney Aquarium. In the former, five groups of exhibits showcase everything from miniature paperweights to full-scale locomotives.
At the Aquarium, visitors walk through perspex tunnels that give a fish-eye view of the sea creatures swimming about. With more than 5,000 fish, the water museum offers the most diverse display of Australian aquatic life in the world. It's also a short stroll from Darling Harbor to Chinatown, where you'll find many of Sydney's oriental restaurants.
For days of rewarding Sydney sightseeing, to Circular Quay, choose whichever boat that's about to leave, and ride it for the entire route or get off and explore any place that strikes your fancy.
For free information on water transport, stop at the Sydney Ferries Information Centre opposite wharf #3. Publications include a great guide, "Go Walkabout with Sydney Ferries" which describes 12 walking tours you can take, beginning and ending at ferry wharves.
Circular Quay Attractions
In addition to being a terminal, Circular Quay is a social experience. Mimes, street musicians, and fire- eaters perform. Vendors hawk everything from vegetable peelers to Mickey Mouse dancing toys. Food stall counters brim with dishes from around the world. Newsstand racks are filled with dozens of domestic and foreign publications. So don't worry about arriving too early. You'll have no trouble filling the time while you're waiting for your particular ship to come in. One of the great hotels nearby, the Park Hyatt Sydney, is expensive. But the views from its guest rooms are priceless.
Though Sydney’s weather is mostly pleasant, best times to see Sydney by boat are during spring and autumn. And be sure to bring your sun-block.
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