Page 137 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

GE T TING AROUND SY DNEY  135

Travelling by Ferry
and Water Taxi

For more than a century, Sydney ferries have been a
picturesque, as well as a practical, feature of the Sydney
scene. Travelling by ferry is both a pleasure and an efficient
way to journey between Sydney’s various harbour suburbs. A water taxi on Sydney Harbour
Sightseeing cruises are operated by various private
companies, including whalewatching excursions beyond Water Taxis
the harbour. Water taxis can be a convenient and fast Small, fast taxi boats are available
alternative, although they are more expensive. for hire to carry passengers
around the harbour. You can
flag them down like normal
road cabs. Try King Street Wharf
or Circular Quay, near the
Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Water taxis will pick up and
drop off passengers at any
navigable pier. However, they are
not cheap. Rates vary, depending
on the distance. Fare estimates
are available online. A short trip
such as Darling Harbour to
Circular Quay costs about $70–
90 for a short, 10-minute journey
for two to four people, and $10
for each additional passenger.
Sydney ferries coming and going at Circular Quay Ferry Terminal
DIRECTORY
Using Sydney’s Ferries
online or at the ticket office at
There is a steady line of Sydney Wharf 6 Circular Quay or Pier 26, Ferry Companies
Ferries crossing the harbour shop 2B, at Darling Harbour. Captain Cook Cruises
every day between 6am and Tel (02) 9206 1111 or
midnight. They service most of Sightseeing by Ferry 1800 804 943.
Sydney Harbour, Manly and ∑ captaincookcruises.com.au
stops along the Parramatta River. Sydney Ferries’ wide network
The state-government owned offers an affordable alternative Manly Fast Ferry
ferry network operated by to commercial harbour cruises. Tel (02) 9583 1199.
Harbour City Ferries has seven Although there is no commen- ∑ manlyfastferry.com.au
lines covered by the Opal net- tary, a ferry trip is a very cost- Sydney Ferries and
work. A number of private lines effective and pleasant way to Transport NSW
and Fast Ferry services also experience Sydney Harbour. Tel 131500.
operate but require a separate Tour operators offer ∑ transportnsw.info
ticket. The Transport NSW webTransport NSW webTransport NSW - sightseeing cruises from Circular
site has trip-planning information Quay and Darling Harbour, as Water Taxi Companies
including timetables and fares. well as hop-on/hop-off tickets
While most ferry routes start and two- to four-hour whale- H2O Water Taxis
or end at Circular Quay, you can watching cruises (Jun–Oct). Tel 1300 420 829.
board and disembark at any Travel to Fort Denison in the ∑ h2owatertaxis.com.au
stop along the route. Electronic middle of the harbour is only Water Taxis Combined
destination boards at the available through Captain Cook Tel (02) 9555 8888.
entrance to each wharf indicate Cruises, with tickets sold at ∑ watertaxis.com.au
the wharf from which your ferry Circular Quay.
will leave. You will need an Opal
card or single-journey Opal
ticket to use the Transport NSW
ferry network.
Manly’s ferry terminal is
serviced by regular ferries and
the Fast Ferry service that runs
during peak hours on weekdays.
Fast Ferry tickets can be bought Electronic destination board for all ferries leaving Circular Quay