Sydney Sydney Surrounds North Coast South Coast Snowy Mountains Heart of Country Outback Lord Howe Island Inner Sydney Greater Sydney Back to main Sydney map Northern Beaches Manly Mosman Sydney Harbour The Rocks Darling Harbour Balmain Leichhardt Glebe Newtown Chinatown City Centre Kings Cross Double Bay Darlinghurst Paddington Moore Park Coogee Bondi Back to main Sydney map Hawkesbury Valley Hawkesbury River Penrith Parramatta Cabramatta Sydney Olympic Park Picton Macarthur Cronulla
Sydney

The London Hotel, Balmain (Photo: J. Morgan/Tourism NSW) Balmain One of Sydney's oldest suburbs, now a vibrant and artistic community.

Bondi Icebergs Swimming Pool, Sydney. Bondi One of Sydney's most eclectic and exciting precincts.

Cultural activities in Cabramatta, Sydney Cabramatta An authentic slice of South-East Asian sights and tastes.

Strolling in Chinatown, Sydney Chinatown and Haymarket Asian streetlife with a bit of Spanish pizzaz.

An aerial view of Sydney's Central Business District City Centre A beautiful harbourside capital, with historic precincts and cosmopolitan style.

Family fun on Coogee Beach, Sydney Coogee and Randwick Classic Sydney surf scene popular with everyone

Bushwalking in Maianbar, Cronulla, Sydney Cronulla Coast Sydney's longest beach is just a ferry ride from the Royal National Park.

Darling Harbour, Sydney Darling Harbour A lively harbourside precinct that throbs with activity day and night.

Cafes on Victoria Street, Darlinghurst (Photo: Tony Yeates) Darlinghurst Boutiques and bookshops by day, bars and nightclubs by night.

Dee Bee's Café, Double Bay, Sydney Double Bay Fashion central and the playground of Sydney’s beautiful people.

Waterside strolls at the end of Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Sydney Glebe is one of Sydney's most vibrant alternative areas.

Explore the Hawkesbury River (Photo: P. Blackmore/Tourism NSW)Hawkesbury River A fascinating mix of natural attractions and a peaceful country ambience.

Tizzana Winery, Ebenezer, Hawkesbury Valley (Photo: P. Blackmore/Tourism NSW) Hawkesbury Valley The Hawkesbury River winds its way through a fertile valley.

Dining on Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, Sydney (Photo: F. Quimby) Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo This lively entertainment area buzzes with nightclubs, bars and...

The Leichhardt Forum, Sydney Leichhardt Sydney's Little Italy, the place to go for all things Italian, from gelato to espresso.

St John's Anglican Church, Camden, Sydney Macarthur A vibrant, bustling area with country charm

Manly BeachManly 

Nestled between the harbour and a surf beach – a quintessential Sydney experience.

Bent Street, Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney Moore Park Major sports stadiums, entertainment venues and an expansive park.

Taronga Zoo, Sydney Mosman and Balmoral Beach Harbourside suburbs blessed with great cafes, shops and views

One of Newtown's many café spots on King Street, Sydney (R. Billington/Tourism NSW) Newtown Colourful, unconventional and gay-friendly with a strong arts culture, great shopping and dining.

Manly Walk, Sydney (H. Lund/Tourism NSW) Northern Beaches and Pittwater Peninsula with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Pittwater on the other

Shopping for the latest trends in Paddington, Sydney (J. Morgan/Tourism NSW) Paddington Stylish terraces, a great shopping precinct lined with cafés and restaurants.

St Johns Cathedral, Parramatta, Sydney (3stroke Photography/Tourism NSW) Parramatta Parramatta is a city of historic charm with a multicultural footprint.

Overlooking the Nepean River, Penrith precinct Penrith Valley An aquatic playground at the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

George IV Hotel in Picton, Sydney Picton and Surrounds All the charm and tranquillity of the country.

Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour (Photo: Hamilton Lund / Tourism NSW). Sydney Harbour and Islands All kinds of water craft jostle for a piece of the world's best harbour.

Biking around Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney. Sydney Olympic Park Home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, major social and sporting venue.

Some architectural details in The Rocks, Sydney The Rocks and Circular Quay Historic harbourside area with shops, pubs and restaurants.

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Sydney Harbour & Islands

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Fast facts

  • Sydney’s harbour highlights
  • City centre
  • 15-minute or overnight adventure around Sydney Harbour

Why go there

Sydney Harbour is alive with ferries, yachts, launches, ocean liners and kayaks jostling for a piece of the world’s best harbour. 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 and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands – have 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.

Extending over 30 hectares, the Royal Botanic Gardens occupy one of Sydney’s most spectacular locations, right on the edge of the harbour.

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 and sail around Sydney Harbour.
  • Take one of 16 walks along the harbour foreshore, including the easy 1.5-km Hermitage Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse and the walk from Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay.
  • Dine at a harbourside restaurant – revel in the view while sampling modern Australian cuisine.

Don’t miss

  • Seaplane flights departing from Rose Bay or helicopter flights from Sydney Airport.
  • A heritage tour of Fort Denison, runs daily.
  • Sydney Harbour island tours, run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, departing daily from Circular Quay.
  • Kayaking on the harbour, departing from Rose Bay.
  • Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race, 26 December.
  • The Ferrython race on Australia Day, 26 January.

  • Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour (Photo: Hamilton Lund / Tourism NSW).

    Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour (H. Lund/Tourism NSW)

Federation Cliff walkFederation Cliff Walk 

The sandstone cliffs that guard the approaches to Sydney Harbour...

Sweeping views, Sydney Harbour National Park (Photo: Hamilton Lund / Tourism NSW)Sydney Harbour National Park

The glorious harbour at Sydney’s heart, with its dark green sea, iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House...

Weather

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