8 Scenic Sydney Ferry Rides to Bays, Island Communities and Waterfront Walks

One of my earliest memories of Sydney – my adopted home after migrating from the UK many years ago – is catching the ferry from my new home in the North Shore suburb of Mosman into the city to start my new job.

Gliding upstream on the dazzling harbour as the unmistakable Opera House and Harbour Bridge filled the skyline ahead was an unforgettable sight.

Of course, I’ve caught the ferry hundreds of times since then, but the memory of the first time still remains with me. What’s more, I’ve discovered over time that there’s more to ferry travel than simply using it as a pleasant way of getting to work.

Sydney is a city bursting with energy and bonhomie and, hands down, the most popular city in Australia. But it has a population now approaching six million people and its roads are very congested. Train services are generally good, but there are some sizeable chunks of the metropolitan area – like the Northern Beaches – where they don’t run.

So if you want to avoid these hassles, jump on a ferry. According to Destination New South Wales, Sydney has more than 240 kilometres of shoreline and over 100 inner-city beaches, making Australia’s largest city ideal for exploring from the water.

From the inner harbour to the city’s outer fringes, here are eight of the best ferry rides to choose from and where they take you.

1. Circular Quay to Watsons Bay

Sydney’s Circular Quay is a major transport interchange where you can catch not only ferries but also buses, trains and light rail. It’s also where the main cruise-ship terminal is located. But ferries dominate the quay. These sturdy workboats fan out across Sydney Harbour, with world-famous landmarks, waterfront suburbs and historic islands all within easy reach.

On this route we travel to the south side of the harbour to Watsons Bay. Heading east from the quay, the ferry passes the exclusive harbourside suburbs of Darling Point, Double Bay and Rose Bay, where seaplanes and ocean-going yachts attest to the city’s enduring relationship with the sea.

At Watsons Bay, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood at Doyles on the Beach, a family-run restaurant and a Sydney institution that’s stood here since 1885. Want to stay the night? Try the Watsons Bay Hotel. Watsons Bay is also the starting point for the spectacular South Head Heritage Trail with its dramatic clifftop ocean views.

The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes each way and is a must for visitors staying in the city or Eastern Suburbs.

2. Circular Quay to Mosman Bay

For me, a ride today on this, my original route, is a dose of sheer nostalgia.

But for visitors the ferry ride is useful for gaining an overview of Sydney’s lower North Shore with stops at Cremorne Point, South Mosman and Old Cremorne. Some of these are ideal starting points for short harbourside walks, exploring the different suburbs.

One of these is the Middle Head – Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head walking track. It’s a three-kilometre easy walk and you can get a number 111 bus from South Mosman Wharf to the starting point at Middle Head. The bus ride takes about eight minutes.

Travel time on the ferry to Mosman Bay is about 20 minutes and the trip is ideal for those staying in the city or on the lower North Shore.

3. Barangaroo to Balmain East

It may only take five minutes, but the ferry ride between the city and Balmain East packs plenty of interest into a short crossing.

The starting point, Barangaroo, was once a working industrial waterfront but has been transformed into one of the city’s most attractive destinations, with sprawling parklands, waterfront promenades, world-class dining and lively bars overlooking the harbour.

The ferry passes Goat Island, a heritage-listed dot in the harbour that’s closed to the public but open to visitors on this small-group kayak tour, which paddles out from Glebe and includes a permit to land and explore the island’s convict-built sandstone buildings. Minutes later the ferry pulls into Balmain East, one of Sydney’s oldest and most charming waterfront suburbs.

Balmain‘s rich maritime history is reflected in its beautifully preserved streetscapes, heritage pubs and sandstone cottages. A short stroll from the wharf leads to a thriving village atmosphere filled with boutique shops, cafés, markets and some of those much-loved pubs.

Ideal for visitors staying in the city or the inner Western Suburbs.

4. Circular Quay to Parramatta

On this ride you swap the busy M4 motorway and the notorious Parramatta Road for a seat aboard a RiverCat and a cruise along the Parramatta River. This leisurely one-hour journey takes passengers from the heart of the city into Sydney’s “second CBD”.

Along the way the ferry glides past notable landmarks including Cockatoo Island and Sydney Olympic Park. Much better than travelling by road, the river offers uninterrupted views and a relaxing pace that allows passengers to fully appreciate the changing character of the city.

From waterfront homes and mangrove-lined riverbanks to modern developments and sporting precincts, the route tells the story of a city constantly evolving.

Upon arrival, visitors will see that Parramatta has emerged as one of Australia’s fastest-growing urban centres, featured in an earlier story.

Ideal for those staying in the city or Western Suburbs.

5. Church Point to Scotland Island

For a ferry trip that feels a world away from the city, jump on a bus or drive north to Pittwater and hop aboard the Church Point Ferry. Pittwater is a wide inlet that forms part of the northernmost region of Sydney, bordered by the Northern Beaches peninsula and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

It’s an area of breathtaking natural beauty where people learn to sail and where those who already have the skill race their yachts. Keep sailing north, turn right and you’re in the Tasman Sea.

The ferry route services four stops on Scotland Island, a tranquil residential island that feels more like a hidden holiday retreat than part of metropolitan Sydney. With no bridge connections and a relaxed pace of life, the island offers a unique glimpse into a waterside community unlike anywhere else in the region, with many waterfront homes accessible only by boat.

The journey continues to destinations including Morning Bay, Elvina Bay and Lovett Bay – famously associated with the late Susan Duncan, a former Australian magazine editor whose memoir, Salvation Creek, was set in the bay.

Each stop reveals spectacular natural scenery and a strong connection to the surrounding bushland.

Ideal for those staying on the North Shore.

6. Palm Beach to The Basin

This is a ride I’ve taken many times and the views are to die for. Palm Beach on the Northern Beaches peninsula is the starting point and the journey across Pittwater takes around 20 minutes. It offers stunning views of secluded coves, waterfront homes and lush bushland.

The destination, The Basin, is one of Sydney’s most idyllic hidden getaways. Accessible only by boat or on foot, The Basin combines a beautiful beach, sheltered swimming waters and a popular campground set within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Visitors can spend the day swimming, picnicking or relaxing by the water, while adventure seekers can tackle walking trails including The Basin Track and Mackerel Track.

Also ideal for those staying on the North Shore.

7. Cronulla to Bundeena

On Sydney’s southern fringe is a ferry crossing with more than a century of history. Departing from Cronulla, this timber ferry service is both Sydney’s oldest continuously operating ferry route and its most southerly.

The crossing may be relatively short, but the scenery is spectacular, with the calm waterways of Port Hacking framed by dense bushland and a pristine shoreline.

The destination is Bundeena, a laid-back coastal village that feels wonderfully removed from the pace of city life, despite being within reach of Sydney.

Bundeena serves as one of the main gateways to the 1879-proclaimed Royal National Park, the second oldest national park in the world – under the modern definition – after Yellowstone.

One of the region’s standout experiences is the famous Bundeena to Wattamolla Walk, part of the larger Coast Track through Royal National Park. The trail winds along dramatic clifftops, offering sweeping ocean views and encounters with native wildlife, and if you’d rather leave the logistics to a local guide, this private day tour follows the coastal track from Bundeena to Wedding Cake Rock with hotel pickup and a picnic lunch included.

In addition to road transport, you also have the choice of a train to Cronulla with frequent departures from Martin Place station in central Sydney. The journey takes about an hour.

Ideal for visitors staying in the city or to the south.

8. Circular Quay to Manly

Everybody knows about this one but no visit to Sydney is complete without boarding a passenger ferry to Manly.

The journey to Manly – arguably Sydney’s best known beach suburb after Bondi – is perhaps the city’s most spectacular ferry ride.

With the choice of regular ferry or the sleek Manly Fast Ferry, passengers enjoy unparalleled views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge before crossing the harbour entrance, where the swell increases and conditions can get quite rough, and then arriving at Manly Wharf.

You might want to get off here and stay awhile at this vibrant coastal suburb boasting a promenade lined with ornamental Norfolk Island pine trees, a three-kilometre-long beach and endless waterfront restaurants.

If You Go

Ferry routes, timetables and fares can be viewed here.

You only need to buy an Opal card to pay for fares if you want to claim a concession; otherwise, you can just use your contactless credit or debit card to tap on and off the ferries. Same goes for the buses and trains.

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Author Bio: Barry Barford is a seasoned travel writer and travel industry news reporter, published in both print and digital media. In 2024 he was shortlisted for the AITO Travel Writer of the Year Awards. A dual citizen of Australia and the UK, he is a member of the London-based International Travel Writers Alliance. He lives near Sydney.

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