Tickets
English
AUD
Language
Currency
Contents

How to reach your Sydney Harbour boat tour

Guide to reaching your Sydney Harbour cruise boarding point

Glide past the world-famous Opera House and the Harbour Bridge on a Sydney Harbour boat tour and you’ll see what a unique view that it makes for. Whether it’s a meal cruise, sightseeing cruise, or a special occasion cruise for Vivid Sydney, you have so many options to choose from that you’ll be left spoilt for choice. 

In this guide, you’ll find out all there is to know about the boarding points for your Sydney Harbour cruise for you to conveniently reach them on the day of the experience. Read on to get familiar with different ways to reach these boarding points.

Sydney Harbour Cruise

Sydney Harbour cruise boarding points

Circular Quay

Circular Quay

Circular Quay is an important international passenger shipping terminal, public piazza and heritage area. It is situated in Sydney Cove just north of the Sydney CBD. 

Address: Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: First Fleet Park

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour lies west of the Sydney CBD and is a lively area with large recreational spaces, shopping centers and tourist landmarks. 

Address: Darling Harbour, Convention Jetty, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Tumbalong Park

King Street Wharf

King Street Wharf

Situated on the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, this area is a hub for tourism, residential, commercial, retail and maritime development. It falls on the west of the Sydney CBD.

Address: King Street Wharf, The Promenade, Lime St., Sydney, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Jervis Bay Wild

Jervis Bay Wild

The Jervis Bay Wild area is an oceanic bay on the southern coast of New South Wales. It is just short of 3 hours away from Sydney.

Address: 15 Field St, Huskisson NSW 2540, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Jervis Bay Marine Park

Barangaroo Wharf

Barangaroo Wharf

This ferry wharf is on the eastern side of Darling Harbour and provides much-needed assistance to Circular Quay in supporting the Sydney Ferries network. There are two wharfs side by side and provision for a third. 

Address: Barangaroo, Wharf 1, New South Wales, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Watermans Cove

Campbells Cove

Campbells Cove

This is an inlet in the north-west of Sydney Cove. This waterfront promenade section links land-based and harbor activities along Walsh Bay, The Rocks and the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Address: 4 Circular Quay W, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Hickson Road Reserve

Man O’War Steps

Man O’War Steps

The Man O’War Steps are located on the eastern bank of Bennelong Point, close to the Sydney Opera House. It is a heritage-listed jetty built in 1810 that is owned by Transport for NSW.

Address: Farm Cove Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Sydney Opera House

Towns Place Wharf

Towns Place Wharf

This scenic waterfront area is located in Walsh Bay, just to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is close to Millers Point and is a 10-minute drive away from the Sydney CBD.

Address: 4 Towns Pl, Millers Point NSW 2000, Australia. Map link

Nearest landmark: Barangaroo Reserve

Note: While these are the most popular boarding points that Sydney Harbour cruises usually depart from, they are also just references on how to reach these locations. The exact boarding point and wharf number will be available in your voucher.




Book your Sydney Harbour cruise

Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
1 hr. 20 min. - 2 hr. 30 min.
Audio guide
More details
Multi-Course Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
2 hr. - 2 hr. 30 min.
Meals included
More details
Sydney Harbour Highlights Catamaran Cruise
Instant confirmation
Mobile ticket
1 hr.
More details
Sydney New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise with DJ & Fireworks
Mobile ticket
5 hr. 15 min.
More details
from
AU$1,250

Getting to Circular Quay cruise terminal

By Car
By Bus
By Train
Couple in back seat of the car on their way to Sydney Harbour cruise

Travel time: It takes about 10 minutes to reach Circular Quay Wharf 2 from Sydney CBD by car.

Parking: There are a number of parking facilities near Circular Quay. Some of them are -

You can get to the boarding point via King St and Phillip St or take Clarence St or Macquarie St. All of these will take an average of 10 minutes.

Bus to Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, light walking.

Travel time: By bus, it takes about 14 minutes to get to the boarding point from Sydney CBD.

Nearest stop: Circular Quay, Young St, Stand D is the nearest stand.

Take the 333 or 396 bus from the St James Station, Elizabeth St, Stand C and reach the Circular Quay, Young St, Stand D. After that, it is a 3-minute walk to the Circular Quay wharf.

Train to Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, moderate walking.

Travel time: It will take you about 13 minutes to get to the boarding point from Sydney CBD.

Nearest stop: Circular Quay Station is the nearest stop.

Take the T3 or T2 trains from the St James Station and you will reach the Circular Quay Station in 3 minutes. From there, it will take you 3 minutes to walk to the Circular Quay wharf.

Getting to Darling Harbour cruise terminal

By Car
By Bus
By Train
On Foot
Woman on her way to Sydney Harbour Cruise

Travel time: It takes about 5 minutes to reach Darling Harbour from Sydney CBD by car.

Parking: There are a number of parking facilities near Darling Harbour. Some of them are -

You can get to the boarding point via Market St or Sussex St. All of these will take an average of 5 minutes.

Family travelling bus to reach Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, moderate walking.

Travel time: By bus, it takes about 1 hr 16 mins to get to the boarding point from Sydney Airport.

Nearest stop: Town Hall House, Druitt St, Stand L is the nearest stand.

You can take buses 350, 396 and 500X to reach Darling Harbour from the airport. First, take the 350 from Sydney Airport, Terminal 3 Domestic and get off at Pacific Square, Anzac Pde. Take the 396 next and reach St James Station, Elizabeth St, Stand C. Lastly, take the 500X from Hyde Park, Park St, Stand C and get off at Town Hall House, Druitt St, Stand L. From here, it is a short walk to Darling Harbour.

Old man travelling by train to Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, moderate walking.

Travel time: It will take you about 40 minutes to get to the boarding point from Sydney Airport.

Nearest stop: Town Hall Station is the nearest stop.

Take the T8 train from the Sydney Domestic Airport Station and disembark at the Town Hall Station. From there, it is a 10-minute walk to the harbor.

People walking to Darling Harbour

Travel time: The Darling Harbour boarding point is a 13-minute walk away from the Sydney CBD.

Route: You can walk through Market St and Kent St to reach the jetty point.

Getting to King Street Wharf cruise terminal

By Car
By Bus
By Train
On Foot
Man on his way to Sydney Harbour Cruise

Travel time: It takes about 5 minutes to reach King Street Wharf from Sydney CBD by car.

Parking: There are a number of parking facilities near King Street Wharf. Some of them are -

You can get to the boarding point via King St or take Clarence. All of these will take an average of 5 minutes.

Women travelling by bus to reach Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, moderate walking.

Travel time: By bus, it takes about 1 hr 9 mins to get to the boarding point from Sydney Airport.

Nearest stop: St James Station, Elizabeth St, Stand C is the nearest stand.

Get onto bus no. 350  from the Sydney Airport, Terminal 3 Domestic stop and reach Anzac Pde at Garden Lane. From here, get onto the 396 from Maroubra Rd After Garden St and disembark at the St James Station, Elizabeth St, Stand C. Walk for 14 minutes and you’ll reach the wharf.

Woman travelling by train to Sydney Harbour

Best for: Budget travel, moderate walking.

Travel time: It will take you about 36 minutes to get to the boarding point from Sydney Airport.

Nearest stop: Wynyard Station is the nearest stop.

Take the T8 from the Sydney Domestic Airport Station and reach Wynyard Station. From here, you’ll need 11  minutes to reach the King Street Wharf.

People walking to King Street Wharf

Frequently asked questions about Sydney Harbour cruise boarding points

What is the best way to get to Circular Quay?

Get a train when you’re going to the Circular Quay if you are okay with some moderate walking. It takes 13 minutes and the nearest station is Circular Quay Station.

How do I know which wharf I’ll have to be at to board my cruise?

When booking your Sydney Harbour boat cruise tickets, look at the boarding information carefully. This will tell you which boarding point you should use.

What is the best way to get to Darling Harbour?

It is best if you drive to the Darling Harbour area from Sydney CBD. It is just 5 minutes away and you’d easily be able to find parking here.

What is the best way to get to King Street Wharf?

The best way to get to King Street Wharf is by car. The drive is just 5 minutes from Sydney CBD and parking is also easily available.

What kind of public transport is available in Sydney?

Sydney has a great public transport network that can take you around the city without hassle. You can avail of trains, light rail, buses, ferries and the Sydney metro to get to your destination.

Can I find a parking spot in the Sydney Harbour area?

There are a large number of parking spots near Sydney Harbour, mainly because it is a big tourist hub. However, keep in mind that most parking here is paid.

How much in advance should I reach the boarding point before my cruise?

You should reach your boarding point at least 15-30 minutes before the scheduled start of your cruise. This will avoid delays and unnecessary hassle.

Is Sydney a safe city for pedestrians?

Sydney is a very pedestrian-friendly city with wide sidewalks and great traffic control. You can walk around Sydney and access public transport points easily.