Must do
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. Cockatoo Island is one of 11 Australian Convict Sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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
Harbour events
