Best Locations to Photograph Sydney Harbour

Looking for the best spots to photograph Sydney Harbour? I’ve spent 15+ years testing photography locations around the harbour and this guide shares exactly where to stand for the best angles of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge—whether you’re shooting on your phone or a DSLR. You’ll find classic tourist viewpoints and hidden locations most visitors never discover.

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All photos below were taken on my Samsung S21-S23 phones or Canon EOS camera. I’m not a professional photographer—these are shots any visitor can get with basic equipment and decent weather.

Cahill Walk

Best for: Elevated Opera House views without crowds
Best time: Morning (8-10am) | Difficulty: Easy walk, elevator access available

The Cahill Walk sits above Circular Quay Station on the old expressway, putting you at eye level with the Opera House sails while Circular Quay ferries move below. Most tourists never think to walk up here, which means you’ll often have the footpath to yourself even on busy days. On New Year’s Eve, the expressway closes to traffic and becomes premium viewing for the harbour fireworks.

Photography tips: The elevated position lets you zoom in on ferries, buskers or the Museum of Contemporary Art without crowds blocking your frame. Shoot in the morning when light hits the Opera House from the east. The glass elevator near Wharf 1 makes a good background element for harbour shots.

Get there: You can reach the footpath via stairs on Macquarie Street, just past Albert Street, or via a glass elevator near Wharf 1. The exit stairs on the western side will take you to the backstreets of The Rocks near the Sydney Youth Hostel. Walking time from Circular Quay: 3 minutes.

Where to stay: The Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is located steps from the Cahill Walk entrance, you can shoot the morning commuter ferries and be back for breakfast in under 10 minutes.

Harbour Bridge Footpath

Best for: Unique elevated (free) harbour views
Best time: Morning (7-9am) | Difficulty: Moderate (20-minute walk across bridge)

The Harbour Bridge footpath runs along the eastern side of the bridge, 50 metres above the harbour. The wire fence blocks some angles, but you can still shoot through the gaps to capture ferries passing below, the Opera House from an unusual height and the harbour stretching out toward the Heads.

Walking the full bridge length takes about 20 minutes and gives you constantly changing perspectives as you move across the water.

Photography tips: Shoot in the morning when the sun lights the Opera House from behind you. Press your phone or lens against the fence wire to minimize the mesh in your shot. The middle of the bridge gives you balanced views of both harbour shores.

Note: The eastern pylon lookout (which normally offers 360-degree views above the fence line) is closed for renovations until mid-2026.

Get there: You can join the footpath at either end of the bridge. The city side steps are in ‘Bridge Stairs’ in Cumberland Street, The Rocks and the northern steps are near Milson’s Point Station.

Where to stay: Stay at YHA Sydney Harbour. The Rocks location means you can walk to the bridge entrance in 5 minutes and then spend your afternoons exploring the cobblestone streets and weekend markets.

Mrs Macquarie’s Point

Best for: Opera House and Harbour Bridge in one frame
Best time: Sunrise (check times for pink light on Opera House) | Difficulty: Easy walk, accessible 24 hours

Mrs Macquarie’s Point gives you the most complete view of both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in a single frame. The sandstone bench here, known as Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, was carved in 1810 for Governor Macquarie’s wife who would sit and watch for ships from Britain. The spot sits just outside the Botanic Gardens gates so you can shoot here at any hour, critical for catching sunrise.

Photography tips: Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise for pink light on the Opera House sails. The concrete wall near the bench works as a camera rest if you don’t have a tripod. Everyone shoots landscape here but try portrait orientation to capture the full harbour sweep from bridge to Opera House.

Get there: You can walk or drive to the point via Art Gallery Road (there is limited metered parking here) or walk through the gardens along the harbour path. The 441 bus from York Street in the city will drop you on Art Gallery Road. Mrs Macquarie’s point is also a stop on the Sydney Explorer bus. Walking time from Circular Quay: 20 minutes through Botanic Gardens.

Where to stay: Ovolo Woolloomooloo guests get harbour-view rooms within 15-minute walk of Mrs Macquarie’s Point and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Observatory Hill Park

Best for: Harbour Bridge with historic Rocks foreground
Best time: Late afternoon/golden hour (4-6pm) | Difficulty: Easy, short uphill walk

Observatory Hill is the highest natural point in central Sydney, giving you an elevated view most tourists never find. From here you’ll frame the Harbour Bridge with the historic Rocks neighbourhood—sandstone buildings, narrow lanes and the old garrison wall—in your foreground. The rotunda and fig tree add foreground interest if you want to avoid standard bridge shots.

Photography tips: Late afternoon light works best here. The western-facing view means you’ll get golden hour light on the bridge and Rocks buildings. Use the rotunda’s columns to frame your shot, or shoot through the fig tree branches for texture.

Get there: A staircase from either the Cumberland Street or from Argyle Road opposite the Garrison Church.

Where to stay: Hotel Palisades sits directly below Observatory Hill—you can capture sunrise from the park, then return to your room for breakfast in under 5 minutes.

Milson’s Point

Best for: Harbour Bridge from below, Luna Park photos
Best time: Sunset at Blues Point Reserve (walk 10 minutes west) | Difficulty: Easy, flat waterfront walk

Milson’s Point sits at the northern end of the Harbour Bridge, where Luna Park’s massive smiling face gives you a Sydney photo most tourists miss. The foreshore walk here frames the bridge from below and Wendy’s Secret Garden (a hidden community garden built on old railway land) offers quiet harbour views away from the crowds. Ferries run from here to Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Balmain.

Photography tips: The ferry wharf gives you low-angle bridge shots with water reflections. For sunset, walk 10 minutes west to Blues Point Reserve—the park faces directly west for golden hour shots of the city skyline and bridge together. This photo was taken from the ferry heading to Darling Harbour.

Get there: Take a train to Milson’s Point, walk across the Harbour Bridge, or catch a ferry to Milson’s Point wharf.

Where to stay: View Hotel Sydney is near North Sydney station and the location means 5-minute walks to both Milson’s Point and Blues Point Reserve, plus convenient ferry access to the city.

Kirribilli

Best for: Under-bridge perspectives, Opera House with departing cruise ships
Best time: Golden hour (5-7pm) at Mary Booth Reserve | Difficulty: Easy, 20-minute waterfront walk

Kirribilli’s foreshore path runs from directly under the Harbour Bridge around to Mary Booth Reserve, where you’ll stand almost opposite the Opera House. The Prime Minister’s residence sits on this peninsula, so the gardens and streets here are immaculate.

Late afternoon cruise ships pass close to shore on their way out of the harbour—often between 5-7pm—and their size against the Opera House makes for dramatic shots.

Photography tips: Under the bridge, shoot upward to capture the steel arch against blue sky. At Mary Booth Reserve, use a telephoto lens to compress the Opera House and passing ferries. The reserve faces west, so golden hour light hits the Opera House perfectly. Check cruise schedules online if you want to catch the big ships departing.

Get there: Take the train to Milson’s Point or walk across the bridge from Observatory Hill. Find the exact location of Mary Booth Reserve here

Where to stay: Carnarvon Lodge is a good budget option. The Kirribilli location means you can walk the entire foreshore path and return to your room in less than 20 minutes.

Cremorne

Best for: Harbour lifestyle photography, tidal pools with city skyline
Best time: Dawn (6-7am) for pool swimmers | Difficulty: Easy, 30-minute loop walk

Cremorne Point’s harbour walk takes you past the yacht clubs, rock pools and Federation-era mansions that define Sydney harbour living. This isn’t about the Opera House or bridge—it’s about capturing how Sydneysiders actually use the harbour. Lex and Gwynne Reserve has harbour pools where locals swim laps against a backdrop of city towers, and the paths here are lined with native plants and sandstone outcrops.

Photography tips: Shoot the harbour pools at dawn when serious swimmers do their morning laps—you’ll get misty water and soft light on the city skyline. The mansions along the point have spectacular gardens that overhang the water; shoot from the path to capture how nature and architecture interact here.

Check out our photo guide of the walk for our favourite spots along the way.

Get there: Take the Route F6 – Circular Quay to Mosman or F2 Taronga Zoo Ferry.

Where to stay: Cremorne Point Manor is a beautiful heritage style affordable property that gives you quick ferry access to Cremorne Point and the other North Shore harbour walks.

Mosman

Best for: Historic harbour landscapes, art history locations
Best time: Late afternoon (3-5pm) for lit sandstone cliffs | Difficulty: Moderate, 45-minute walk to Taronga Zoo

The harbour walk from Neutral Bay to Taronga Zoo passes through Sirius Cove, a sheltered bay that’s barely changed since the 1880s when Australian painters Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts set up camp here. Roberts’ 1899 painting of this cove hangs in the Art Gallery of NSW. Standing at the same spot shows you why early painters chose this location: the light, the bush coming down to the water, the protected anchorage for yachts.

Photography tips: Shoot Sirius Cove in late afternoon when the western sun illuminates the sandstone cliffs and bush. The walking track to Taronga gives you elevated angles of moored yachts and the city in the distance. Look for the small beaches along the way—they make good foreground elements with the harbour behind.

Get there: Take the ferry to Mosman Wharf or the 230 bus from Milson’s Point or North Sydney. You can find the exact map location here.

Bradley’s Head

Best for: Long-distance harbour icon compression shots
Best time: Sunset (Opera House, bridge and city together) | Difficulty: Moderate, 15-minute walk from Taronga Zoo wharf

Bradley’s Head juts into the middle of the harbour between Taronga Zoo and Balmoral Beach, giving you unobstructed views across to the city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge from a distance most tourists never reach. The stone wharf here dates from the 1930s and now serves as a fishing spot and wedding venue. The walking track from Taronga to Balmoral passes through here, offering changing harbour perspectives as you move around the headland.

Photography tips: The distance from the city skyline lets you use telephoto compression to stack the Opera House, bridge and city towers together. Shoot from the wharf at sunset when western light hits all the icons at once. The track around to Taylor’s Bay gives you foreground elements—native bush, sandstone rock platforms—to frame harbour shots. The amphitheatre steps work well for elevated angles.

Get there: You can walk from Taronga Zoo Wharf, about 15 minutes around to Bradley’s Head. You will find the exact location here

Where to stay: The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo will allow you to access the zoo before opening hours and have you just a short walk from the unspoilt harbour bushland.

Prefer a guided experience?

To help you plan your own shoot (or just enjoy the views), here are four of the most highly rated Sydney photography tours that visit many of the locations featured in this guide.

Sydney Harbour Sunset Photo Tour & Cruise

Capture Opera House and Harbour Bridge views over one golden‑hour evening, with a small group, guided photo stops at several harbourside viewpoints, plus a 30‑minute harbour cruise and a handful of professionally shot images of you. Find out more about this 4 hour tour

Premium Sydney Travel Photography Workshop

Full‑day, small‑group travel photography workshop covering multiple Sydney city and harbour locations, with hands‑on tuition on light, composition and storytelling, meals and snacks included, and consistently high 5‑star guest reviews.

Private Photo Tour at Sydney’s Most Iconic Locations

Customisable premium private photo tour that focuses on icons like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and The Rocks, combining coaching on camera settings and composition with time at each spot to shoot your own images (or have the guide shoot you). Or alternatively a budget option with 3 locations for groups of up to 8 people for less than $250.

Make the Most of Your Harbour Photography

These locations work year-round, but Sydney’s clear winter months (June-August) often give you the sharpest light and cleanest harbour views. Summer brings afternoon storms that create dramatic cloud formations—keep shooting even when the weather changes.

Most tourists photograph the harbour from Circular Quay and miss these alternative angles entirely. Spending a morning at Mrs Macquarie’s Point for sunrise, then walking the north shore locations in the afternoon gives you a complete range of harbour shots in a single day.

Common Questions About Photographing Sydney Harbour

What’s the best time of day to photograph Sydney Harbour? Sunrise (6-7am in summer, 7-8am in winter) gives you soft light and fewer crowds at most locations. Mrs Macquarie’s Point and Bradley’s Head work best at sunrise. For golden hour shots, Observatory Hill and Blues Point Reserve face west and look spectacular 30 minutes before sunset.

Can I photograph Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge together? Yes. Mrs Macquarie’s Point is the classic spot for both icons in one frame. Bradley’s Head also works if you use a telephoto lens to compress the distance.

Do I need a professional camera for good harbour photos? No. Modern phone cameras handle harbour photography well, especially in good light. The locations in this guide work for any camera—I’ve taken the example photos here on both Samsung phones and Canon DSLRs.

Which harbour photography spots have the fewest tourists? Cahill Walk, Observatory Hill, Cremorne Point and Bradley’s Head see significantly fewer visitors than Circular Quay or Mrs Macquarie’s Point. Early morning (before 8am) at any location gives you empty viewpoints.

How do I get to these photography locations without a car? All locations in this guide are accessible by Sydney’s public transport. Circular Quay is the main ferry hub—from there, you can catch trains to Milson’s Point, buses to Observatory Hill or ferries to North Shore locations like Cremorne and Mosman.

Do you have a favourite photo of Sydney Harbour? Where did you take it from?