Sydney Harbour cruise help
 

What do you recommend for a harbour cruise? Just the cruise, lunch cruise? I am on my own so the dinner cruise didn't seem as appealing. As well the lunch cruises seem to be seafood buffets, and I don't care for seafood. Thanks in advance!

Hi Canuck,

I think just taking a Sydney ferry is enjoyable without paying for food that may be overpriced or something not to your liking. Pick up a sandwich or salad on your own and enjoy one of the most beautiful harbors in the world!

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Sydney harbour is absoluteley wonderful and you don't want to miss being on the water, but why don't you take a ferry to the Taronga Zoo and/or to Manly (Beach)-plenty of nice places to eat there; or if a long cruise is what you want: take a round trip ferry to Parramatta.

A "harbour cruise" is certainly nice, but is mostly for tourists (and if I remember correctly, priced as such).

just my opinion, I don't live there-but been a few times.

Just one thing in favour of a tour... I live in Sydney but went on a tour once associated with an exhibition about the old industrial sites on the harbour.

The thing I found really interesting about having a tour guide--in this case two architects--was they were able to bring the history to life and identified sites I didn't know or couldn't identify from the perspective of the harbour. Maybe a visitor to Sydney will know which of the many tours is better...

I am going to sydney in dec and have also looked at the harbour cruises/ferries (found a great website to downloead the ferry times - i like to be organised) anyway i think i will do both a ferry to manly and then a harbour cruise, i know they are for tourists but after all i am going to be one!!! (think i'll give the ones with food included a miss. Melodies idea sounds much better!)

Take the round trip to Parramatta by all means, but you need to also go to Manly, and perhaps Mosman or Taronga Zoo to see the real harbour.

I have heard about a harbour tour which features dinner in the evening with opera singers? Anyone know anything about such a tour and where I could book?

Thanks Masha

Definitely take the ferry to Manly. It's cheap and totally stunning. We did harbour (tourist) tour and this and we definitely preferred ferry tour!

Ditto, going to Manly was one of the highlights of our stay in Sydney

Thanks for all of you help everyone!

If you take the ferry over to Manly, you can lunch on the ferry as there is a kiosk selling light meals on board. Manly is a beach suburb with the Harbour on one side and a short walk to the Pacific Ocean beach on the other.
The ferry is part of the public transport system so the fares are affordable to the general public.
Try and time your return trip just before the sun goes down and prepare your self for some magic.
The sun will set over the bridge, and they the lights will come on. The bridge is lit up and the Opera House and the ferrys are covered in fairy lights. All the coloured lights are reflected in the water and it is truly beautiful. Sydney Harbour is the most breathtaking harbour in the world.
Alternatively, you could do the Captain Cook Coffee Cruise which is about $A24 for a three hour cruise into all the little nooks and crannies of the harbour with an excellent commentary. Half way through the cruise, you will be served coffee, tea and (gigantic) muffins. V. good value.

Excellent advise so far - especially about timing at least one trip at dusk. If you here in winter one I would recommend is Darling Harbour back to the city (Circular Quay). All that glass in the wall of office buildings in the CBD catches the dying rays of the sun - spectacular. It is also a very, very good time to be at the SOH.

Any time of year - a ferry to Mosman and return is good value - daytime you can walk a bit and catch a return from Cremorne Point. Nighttime - you don't need to get off - it's just for fun and so see all the other boats on the harbour.

I'm a ferry addict (can you tell?) but having said that - the ferries don't go everywhere and to visit some of the other small bays and coves on a cruise for $24 is good value too.

Have fun.

I live in Manly and definately suggest just catching the Manly Ferry from Sydney ($6.80 one way) and spend the day in Manly for a truly beautiful beach (ocean or harbour). You see the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and all the gorgeous houses along the harbour. You can drink and eat on the ferry and it takes about 30 mins (40 by the time you get on and off). They run every half an hour and there is also a fast one called the Jetcat which is more expensive ($8.20 one way) but will get you back to the city quickly (15 minutes)