5 Best Ways to Explore Sydney Harbour From the Water

The best way to explore Sydney Harbour is to get out on the water and see it from as many angles as you can. If you think the harbour is just about snapping a photo of the Opera House, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many different ways there are to experience it.​

In this guide, you’ll find five of the best ways to explore Sydney Harbour from the water – from riding the Manly ferry like a local, to jet boats, tall ships, kayak tours and hop‑on hop‑off ferries. Whether you are a budget‑conscious first‑timer, travelling with kids or looking for something a bit special, you’ll be able to choose the Sydney Harbour experience that suits you best.​

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This guide focuses on ways to explore Sydney Harbour from the water; if you prefer to stay on land, my Sydney Harbour walks guide covers 11 of the best foreshore routes with harbour views.

The Best Ways to Explore Sydney Harbour

There’s no single “best” way to explore Sydney Harbour – it depends on how much time you have, your budget and how adventurous you feel. To make things easier, this guide focuses on five of the most popular and practical ways to explore Sydney Harbour from the water: public ferries, jet boats, tall ships, kayak tours and hop‑on hop‑off ferries. Each option gives you a different perspective on the harbour, so you can mix and match or choose the one that suits your style.

If you’ve already decided on a harbour cruise and just want help choosing the right one, head to this detailed guide to Sydney Harbour cruises and whether they’re worth it.

Explore Sydney Harbour on a Ferry

The best budget‑friendly way to explore the harbour

Riding a public ferry is by far the cheapest and easiest way to explore Sydney Harbour from the water. You can tap on with your credit card or digital wallet, or use an Opal card, and if you plan your day carefully your ferry rides could end up half‑price or even free once you hit the daily travel cap.

You may also like to check out my views on which is a better choice: a Sydney Harbour cruise or a public ferry.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, unlimited travel on all public transport is capped at $8.90, which makes ferries one of the most affordable ways to explore large stretches of the harbour in a single day. To help you make the most of this, there’s also a detailed guide to my favourite Sydney ferry rides you can string together for a DIY harbour “cruise”.

I think the best ferry routes for visitors are:

• Manly Ferry – The iconic harbour ride, a 30-minute trip past the heads to beautiful Manly – also the beginning of the Manly to Spit Bridge walk.
  
• The Watsons Bay Ferry – From Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay, this harbour trip travels past the homes of the rich and famous to Watson’s Bay. Have lunch at the famous Doyles Seafood restaurant (or wharf take away) and take a walk out to South Head and see the Hornby Lighthouse. If you are lucky, you might get to watch a seaplane take off from Rose Bay en route.
  
• Parramatta Rivercat – a 55 minute ride that heads under the Harbour Bridge and up the Parramatta River to Parramatta, site of Sydney’s second settlement and worth a visit on an extended trip to Sydney.
  
• Taronga Zoo – if you are short of time in Sydney this covers two bases, the zoo and some time on the harbour. It’s also the starting point for the walk to Balmoral beach, one of the most rewarding harbour walks in the city.

Join a jet boat tour on Sydney Harbour

The most thrilling way to explore the harbour

If Speed is your favourite film and you have always wanted to feel like you’re in an action movie, a jet boat tour is a fast, splashy way to explore Sydney Harbour and tick off the big sights in under an hour.

In 30 to 45 minutes you’ll blast past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and harbour islands at high speed, with plenty of spins, slides and drifts thrown in, but you still slow down long enough to grab those “I was really here” photos

That said, these are great fun and a good idea if travelling with teens.

A few tips

• If you want to get wet, sit at the back of the boat
• If you want to be scared, sit at the front!
• Rides are between 30-60 minutes long

I can’t recommend one of these over the other as I have not been on them all, but I had a really fun time with Oz Jetboating and the shark’s teeth on the front of the boat make fun photos!

If you’re visiting over New Year’s Eve, some of these operators also run NYE harbour cruises – you can compare the main options in my detailed guide to Sydney New Year’s Eve cruises.

Sail on a Tall Ship on Sydney Harbour

A slower, more nostalgic way to explore the harbour

For something a little more romantic, a tall ship cruise is a wonderfully nostalgic way to explore Sydney Harbour. You sail past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison on a traditional wooden tall ship, reminiscent of those that first navigated these waters in 1788, with the option to help hoist the sails or simply relax on deck and soak up the views.

It’s incredible to think people spent months on a boat this size in open seas. I am sure I would not have made it! This is a real eye-opener and one of my favourite way to spend a few hours on the harbour.

There are two excellent tall ship operators in Sydney Harbour:

Sydney Heritage Fleet

For a full-day adventure, hop aboard this historic ship operated by the Sydney Heritage Fleet. It’s a gorgeous 1874 ship that will transport you to another era. You can book full days sail a couple of weekends each month (but you need to book in advance). Tickets start at $180.

If you’re visiting during Vivid Sydney, you can also explore the harbour at night on a Vivid cruise – this guide walks through whether a Vivid harbour cruise is worth booking and how to choose one

Sydney Harbour Tallships

Sydney Harbour Tallships operates the Southern Swan, the Coral Trecker and the Soren Larsen. Most tours run for 2 hours, which is probably long enough for the average “sailor”.

Choose from the following cruises:

• Lunch cruise – 2 hour cruise from 1pm most days in summer
• Afternoon cruise – a budget friendly 1.5 hour cruise leaving around 3.45pm
• Twilight Dinner cruise – a 3 course meal and drinks from 5.45pm

If you are on a budget, their afternoon discovery cruise is a good choice with tickets from $69.

I did the sunset cruise with Sydney Harbour Tall ships on the Southern Swan, which included drinks, finger food, and some fun sing-along time. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a lovely way to spend 2 hours soaking up the harbour

If you fancy a unique stay in Sydney, you can spend a night sleeping on the harbour in a tall ship!

Kayaking on Sydney Harbour

The best way to explore hidden corners of the harbour

If you’re the adventurous type, kayaking is a brilliant way to explore Sydney Harbour and get into the little coves and beaches you’d never see from a ferry or big boat. Early morning tours are especially magic – calm water, soft light and front‑row views of the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the city waking up around you.

Starting your day with an early morning kayak is an incredible way to see the harbour wake up. The calm, the quiet, and the gentle rhythm of the paddle make for an unforgettable moment.

Guided Kayak Tours of Sydney Harbour

A guided tour of Manly Cove is perfect for all skill levels. After a coffee or tea and a short safety briefing and paddling demo you will set out to explore Manly’s small beaches and coves. Visit four beautiful beaches, passing picturesque caves, unique rock formations, and small waterfalls.

You’ll stop at a secluded beach for a break, where you can enjoy juice and snacks and, if you’d like, take a swim. The tour offers both single and double kayaks, making it easy to share the experience or paddle solo, with all gear provided.

Ideal for families, children under 10 can join on double kayaks with an adult, while those 10-18 can paddle solo when accompanied. Small group sizes ensure you’ll get plenty of assistance if you need it.

For more experienced or those with decent fitness, there are also tours that will take you under the bridge.

If you are more experienced, you might like to hire a kayak and head off alone. The best places for hiring them are Balmoral or Manly, depending on which part of the harbour you would like to explore.

If you’d rather explore Sydney Harbour from the sand than from a boat, here’s a local’s guide to hidden Sydney Harbour beaches that are perfect for a post‑cruise swim. There is also a guided tour perfect if you want a local so show you the way.

Hop On Hop Off Cruise

The most flexible way to explore multiple harbour precincts

Operating just like HOHO bus services, a hop‑on hop‑off ferry pass is one of the most flexible ways to explore Sydney Harbour from the water. You cruise between Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Manly and a handful of smaller stops, jumping off where you want to explore on land and hopping back on when you’re ready to move to the next view.

• Captain Cook – 24 or 48 hour hop on hop off pass – 6 stops around the harbour and an app that gives commentary as you ride.

With any of these hop on hop off services, I recommend you study the timetable and plan your stops according to the schedule. If not, you could find yourself stuck somewhere for much longer than you would like.

If you are considering the Hop on Hop off bus too, take a look at our guide to the best way to use your Sydney Hop on Hop off bus ticket.

How to choose the best way to explore Sydney Harbour

If you’re on a tight budget, public ferries are the most affordable way to explore Sydney Harbour and still see all the icons. For maximum flexibility, the hop‑on hop‑off ferry lets you combine harbour cruising with stops at key precincts like Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay and Manly. I

f you’d rather add some adrenaline or romance, jet boats and tall ships give you very different but equally memorable ways to explore Sydney Harbour from the water.

Sydney Harbour FAQ: planning how you’ll explore

The harbour covers about 55 square kilometres and has roughly 240 kilometres of shoreline, so you could easily spend a week just exploring its nooks and crannies. Here are some of the most common questions that have come up in the Sydney Expert Facebook group when people start planning how they’ll explore Sydney Harbour.

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