Rose Bay

Take to the skies

In the era of flying boats, Rose Bay was an international water aerodrome until 1974. Today its seaplane heritage is alive and well, with Sydney Seaplanes and Sydney by Seaplane offering scenic harbour flights, taking off and landing on the harbour at Rose Bay. For a romantic day trip, take a seaplane to one of the Hawkesbury's waterside restaurants, such as Berowra Waters Inn or Cottage Point Inn, or explore the beautiful Palm Beach.

Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay

Adventure activities

You can hire equipment for all your harbour adventures, from full-size sailing boats to smaller stand-up paddle boards and kayaks from Rose Bay Aquatic Hire or Point Piper Kayaks. Embark on sailing tours run by Sydney Harbour Escapes or Dreamtime Girl Charters and experience the magic of a day on the harbour.

Explore Sydney Harbour offers a faster-paced ride, where you can pilot your own speedboat and zoom to iconic attractions such as the Sydney Opera House. This self-driving tour doesn’t require a license or boating experience, you’ll be provided with safety instructions before the tour and follow a qualified guide on the tour.

Friends enjoying a day of kayaking, Sydney Harbour 

Enjoy the outdoors

Rosebay Beach is dog-friendly, so is a great spot to have a dip with pooch in tow. In between Double Bay and Rosebay is the popular Redleaf Beach. Murray Rose Pool (formerly Redleaf Pool), can be found at the western end of the beach and provides swimmers with a safe harbourside tidal enclosure, as well as a wrap-around pontoon which makes for a lovely walk.

Harbour views from Murray Rose Pool at Redleaf Beach, Double Bay

Rose Bay makes a great starting or finishing point for the Hermitage Foreshore Track, one of Sydney’s great coastal walks. En route, enjoy stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Shark Island, check out the grounds of the heritage-listed Strickland House, and have a swim or picnic at pretty Nielsen Park.

Hermitage Foreshore Track, Vaucluse

Wine & dine

Choose from a delicious range of eateries overlooking the bay. Catalina Rose Bay is a fine-dining restaurant right on the water known for its upmarket seafood dishes. The Boathouse Rose Bay is housed in the Rose Bay Marina and features a kiosk dishing up cafe classics and a stylish upstairs eatery with a Modern Australian menu. Meanwhile Empire Lounge serves seafood banquets with harbour views. The lush Lyne Park has casual options, including Sugar and Spoon, while the Plumer Road Chicken Shop opposite the Woollahra Golf Club is a local institution. 

Empire Lounge, Rose Bay

Getting there

Getting to Rose Bay is easy by public transport. A ferry ride across the spectacular harbour from Circular Quay, via Garden Island and Double Bay, is only 20 minutes. From Double Bay, walk down New South Head Road to Point Piper, then stroll along the Rose Bay foreshore and heritage-listed seawall, built in the 1920s, for gorgeous harbour vistas.