Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour & Islands

Fast facts
= Six harbour islands, one national park
= Stay overnight on the water or on an island
= 240 km of harbour shoreline

Why go there

Sydney Harbour is alive with ferries, yachts, launches and kayaks. Laze on a chartered yacht moored in one of the bays or unwind on a cruise vessel departing from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.

Sydney Harbour islands – Fort Denison, Shark, Clark, Rodd, Goat and Cockatoo – have great cultural and historical significance. Some of the sites resonate with Aboriginal history, while others reflect a European past with convict-built structures and old forts.

Extending over 30 hectares, the Royal Botanic Gardens occupy one of Sydney’s most spectacular locations, right on the edge of the harbour. Sydney Harbour National Park includes most of the harbour islands and large amounts of foreshore.

Things to do
= Join one of the scenic cruises departing from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.
= See an outstanding collection of native and exotic plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
= Charter a yacht from EastSail and sail around Sydney Harbour.
= Take one of 16 walks along the harbour foreshore, including the easy 1.5-km Heritage Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse and the walk from Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay.
= On Clark, Shark, Rodd or Cockatoo islands you can revel in the view while enjoying a picnic.

Don’t miss it
= A bird's eye view of the harbour – by seaplane from Rose Bay or helicopter from Sydney Airport.
= A cheese and wine tasting on Fort Denison or heritage tour of Cockatoo Island. Sydney Ferries and Matilda Cruises depart regularly from Circular Quay.
= An overnight stay at Q Station, North Head, site of the former quarantine station at Manly.
= Kayaking on the harbour from Rose Bay or at Middle Harbour.
= Camping overnight on Cockatoo Island.
= Guided shore dives and snorkelling tours in Sydney Harbour from Chowder Bay with Plunge Diving

Harbour events
= Sydney Harbour Week, 7-15 March
= Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 26 December
= New Year's Eve fireworks, 31 December