Christina R.

Getting on a ferry in Sydney should be on your list of things to do. We took the ferry from Circular Quay to Many Wharf and it was just stunning. The views are to die for and the ride is nice. Buying a single ride card from the kiosks was extremely easy. You also have the option to just tap with your phone or card if you want to go that way. I scrapbook so getting the little one time slip was the way to go for me. The ferries have great timing, with the people who work here being very efficient and skilled at their jobs. Also, the ferries were very clean (I thought this would be less so because humans are humans but I was nicely surprised by the cleanliness). There was also a lot of room to choose whether to sit indoors or outdoors.

John C.

Great way to get around on the waterway and see the sights for a much better price than the tours. You can pick up a multitude of Ferries by the Opera House and take them all over the Sydney harbor. Go up top for great unobstructed views. You will not get the tour guid talk but you get the views.

Andrea U.

There were many ferries that crossed the harbor & went to many beaches and islands. The ferries moved quickly, were immaculate and felt very safe. There was indoor & outdoor seating, clean restrooms & helpful staff. We tapped credit cards before embarking & at one point someone came around to be sure we paid. There is an honor system, if we didn't pay the fine would be $400.

Laurie V.

What's not to love? Easy, inexpensive, convenient, and an absolutely beautiful ride. You can simply use your credit card to tap for your fare and you don't even need to purchase an Opal card. It is a beautiful and fast ride from Darling Harbour over to the Opera House/Rocks area. I really appreciated the efficiency and the gorgeous ride.

Terry O.

Sydney has an excellent public transportation system. Besides buses, there are also trains, light rail and ferries. I recently rode on a ferry three times-- two for pure pleasure and one for getting from point A to point B. Sydney Harbour and surrounds is magnificent, so naturally it abounds with water-based tourist applications including ferries. I also discovered that if I use the right app, I can use the trains, ferries, and buses to go just about anywhere in the CBD (Central Business District and many outlying areas. One recent trip took me from Pyrmont Bay across the Harbour and up the Parramatta River to the city of Parramatta. It was a beautiful cruise for me, stopping to pick up and deposit passengers at various wharves along the way. A highlight was seeing pelicans in their natural state. Another sightseeing trip circled the Harbour and a third was to take the ferry to get close to a train station. All the ferries were extremely clean and comfortable. In fact, all mass transit I used was always clean, comfortable and safe. No need to have a car unless you're planning a trip out of town.I

Jennifer K.

If you want to have a little harbour cruise experience without paying big bucks? I suggest you take advantage of the Sunday $2.50 ride all day special using your Opus Card. We did a sunset "cruise" from the Circular Quay to Manly Wharf, which give you a great view of Sydney Opera House and Habour Bridge. It was quite enjoyable but was a little windy during spring time. If you want to avoid the crowd, you might have to pay $15+ for a round trip fare.

Jon L.

Like in Hong Kong, one of the best ways to see Sydney is by taking a ferry. Ferries are great as they offer you a different vantage view of this city. It also helps to accentuate the beauty of notable landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. You don't get the same view of them up close as you do by water. The Circular Quay Ferry Terminal is a short walk away from Circular Quay Station. Sydney Ferries offers 7 different ferry routes from this terminal. The two routes that are particularly popular are the ones to Manly and Taronga Zoo. On my second day in Sydney, I decided to take a ferry trip to Manly. The ferry ride takes 30 minutes. For most of the day, ferries also run every 30 minutes on this route. To buy tickets for the ferry, there is a ticket stand by the platform. If you have the Opal card, you can swipe the card at the platform when boarding to pay for the fare. You don't need to tap out upon getting off the ferry like you do on the train. If you need to top off your card to pay for your fare, there are some Opal machines nearby to add money to your card. I had thought of going to Manly on Monday as I thought it would be less crowded then. But I decided to push up my trip to Sunday as I learned of a great Opal card promotion. On Sunday, you can take unlimited rides on the bus, ferry and train for $2.50! If you are going to Sydney Airport by train, you are still subject to the airport station surcharge fee. But this means that you can take a round trip ferry ride for only $2.50 as opposed to paying $15.20 regularly. After swiping the Opal card at the entrance, I waited in a holding area to board the ferry boat. The ferry has two levels and is passenger only unlike the ferry boats in Seattle which allow for cars. However like the ferries in Seattle, there is a cafe onboard. Though I believe this is available only on the Manly route. There is outside seating around the boat if you want to enjoy the ocean breeze. There is also an outside deck seating area at the front of the boat which is great if you want to take pictures of your journey. The trip to Manly goes by the Sydney Opera House and travels north through Sydney Harbour to Manly passing along several northern Sydney coastal suburbs. Taking a ferry on one of the Sydney Ferries routes is a cheap way to take a cruise through Sydney Harbour. I recommend this highly if you are visiting Sydney as you will see a different perspective of the notable landmarks. It also allows you to get to some of the other notable areas in Sydney more quickly.

Belle B.

This is a fun way to gain a different perspective of the Sydney. The ferries can take you near or far to the different ports in the area. You can buy a ticket by region with the further areas being more expensive. Day passes and multiple day passes are also available. Discounted tickets are available for children and seniors. It is rather exciting to purchase your ticket and jump on a ferry. We purchased our one way ticket at Circular Quay and found our way to the dock. Watching all the ferries coming and going from the area is very interesting. This seems to be a very popular way to travel around. At circular quay there are also a large variety of shops and eateries to enjoy and watch the ferries as well.

Justine C.

The Rivercat's are fast along the harbour; even travelling as far as Parramatta; although the Sydney Ferries key attraction would have to be the Manly Ferry. During high tides; you would be lucky to still be able to sit outside for the 30 minute boat ride (cruise) from Circular Quay to Manly. You need to be quick (especially on a warm day) to grab one of the coveted outside seats as they get snapped up real quick. Human nature is extremely funny during cold weather. Your first reaction is to grab a seat outside, and then near Bradley's Head (or even 10-15 minutes into the journey) many people get up and move inside; especially when it is raining. Sometimes you have no choice. I tend to avoid sitting inside as much as possible as it is quite stuffy; and outside you get some fresh air surrounded by tourists taking their happy snaps (especially when the Harbour Bridge is approaching) and gives the Manly Fast ferry a run for it's money. Its a great cruise, so why not pay a little less and extend your journey by another 10-15 minutes. Your at Manly (and back at Circular Quay from Manly) either way.

Paul J.

Don't even think about driving to Manly. Taking the ferry from Circular Quay is by far the most rewarding commute. The first time I went to Manly was in late September, when uncharacteristically hot weather made its way to New South Wales. My friends and I thought it would be a good day to go to the North Shore beaches by ferry, specifically so that I could catch unparalleled views of the harbor. Apparently, we weren't the only ones who thought that way. Boarding at Circular Quay, we waited on the 6th dock for our ferry, along with hundreds of other people. It was so crowded that people were shoving each other to board the boat first. Many people were rude and inconsiderate to some of the elderly who were waiting as well. Once on the boat, I ran straight to the back of the vessel. As the boat pulled away, the vast and unadulterated view of the skyline was laid out before us. It's about a 30-minute boat ride from Circular Quay to the Manly docks. The best of Sydney Harbor are right in front of you as the ferry heads East, then slightly North. When it's a sunny day, make sure that you get a seat on the ferry's stern or on the benches along the side. A one-way ticket will cost you $6.60.

Sally R.

Is there any better route to work in the world? No, seriously - I challenge you to find a more pleasant, relaxing and refreshing way to start and end your day. Jump on The Collaroy or The Queenscliff, and start to enjoy better living. Taking half an hour, the Manly Ferry only has one destination - Circular Quay. Step off into the corporate world, and feel relaxed by your journey to get there - it sure beats sitting in traffic or scrambling for a seat on the train. The ferry, operated by NSW's State Transit Authority, is a world beater. Although not as frequent as buses or trains, the Manly Ferry seats a huge crowd of newspaper readers, daydreamers and i-pad users on their way to work. Of course, the ferry is not just for commuters - many Northern Beaches residents use it as their primary means of reaching whatever compels them tothe city - social things, university or shopping Of course, nothing is perfect, and the Manly Ferry does have its downsides - it can get really rough coming through the heads. No, realllly rough. And coming to work with dried salt on your $3000 suit is rarely a good look. Plus, if you're not lucky enough to live in Manly, then finding a park can be a royal pain. But seriously - all these minor inconveniences are easily overlooked when you're sitting on the water, going to work by boat. See ya later, train!

Chandni S.

Parking in the city can be a bit of a problem, so I prefer to take a Ferry to the city. Plus I love water and the cruise feeling! Although the Manly route is the most popular, I prefer taking a ferry from Olympic park to Circular Quay. The route stops along plenty of local suburbs and the ride is quite long and a hundred percent enjoyable. Sydney definitely looks prettier from the water-side. As you approach Cockatoo Island, you can catch a glimpse of the Harbour Bridge and most passengers rush out for a seat on the deck to catch the best view. There are numerous opportunities to take a photograph and the view is breathtaking. The skyline from Darling harbour is impressive but the best moment is when the ferry travels under the bridge and you can see the Opera House in the foreground. The rivercat races along the water and on a particularly windy day, it's difficult to sit on the deck. The Rivercat from inside is neat and clean, especially the Fantasea ferries. Food is not allowed to be consumed, although I have noticed some cheeky families breaking rules. Forget paying big dollars to cruise companies, get on board the local ferry and enjoy the same view minus the commentary.

Boon Y.

This is a cheap and excellent way to view the magnificent Sydney Harbour. It is very convenient and you can take it from Circular Quay. There are handful of helpful staffs there if you are not sure of anything and need assistance. I think this is best way to explore the beauty of Sydney.