Circular Quay

Ferries from Circular Quay: where can you go?

The ferry wharves run along the front of the Quay. The departure screens show which wharf each ferry leaves from, as wharves can change. Tap on and off with an Opal card, or a contactless bank card or phone.

Would you rather have commentary and hop-on, hop-off stops? The Hop On Hop Off Harbour Ferry 1-Day Pass stops at Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Manly and Shark Island.

Getting to Circular Quay

• Train: Circular Quay station is on the City Circle, right above the wharves. T2, T3 and T8 services stop here, including trains to and from the Airport.
• Light rail: Circular Quay is the end of the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines, on Alfred Street near Pitt Street.
• Bus: the Circular Quay bus interchange is beside the station.
• Walking: Wynyard station is about 900 m away (around 13 minutes) and Martin Place about 700 m (around 11 minutes).

Plan the rest of your trip with our Getting Around Sydney guide and free Sydney travel maps.

Free things to do at Circular Quay

• Walk the promenade to the Sydney Opera House forecourt for a close-up look at the sails.
• Follow the Writers Walk: plaques set into the promenade with words from Australian writers and famous visitors.
• Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, right on the water. General entry is free (some special exhibitions charge).
• Step into Customs House, free to enter, to see the scale model of the city under a glass floor. It lights up at night.
• Stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for the classic Opera House and Bridge view.
• Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the eastern footpath, from the steps in The Rocks.
• Watch the ferries come and go, and catch the street performers along the Quay.

Plan your visit: quick answers

“We only have one afternoon in Sydney.” Start at Circular Quay, walk to the Opera House forecourt, then through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Come back for a cruise as the sun goes down. Book: Sunset Dinner Cruise. Or follow our half day Sydney itinerary.

“We’re travelling with kids.” Catch the ferry to Taronga Zoo: the ride is part of the fun. Book: Taronga Zoo Ferry Express, which includes zoo entry on the day you travel. More ideas: family-friendly Sydney.

“It’s raining.” Head into the Museum of Contemporary Art and Customs House. Both are free and both are right at the Quay. More ideas: Sydney on a rainy day.

“We want to see the harbour without spending much.” Take the F1 public ferry to Manly and back, paying the normal fare with Opal or contactless. It is one of the best harbour views in Sydney.

“We want to see the harbour properly, with lunch or dinner.” Book: Harbour View Lunch Cruise or Captain Cook Cruises Gold Dinner. See all Sydney harbour cruises.

“Is it worth going at night?” Yes. The Opera House and Harbour Bridge are lit up and the Quay stays lively until late. During Vivid Sydney it is one of the main light-show areas.

“Can we watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks from here?” Yes, and it is one of the most popular spots, so arrive very early. See our New Year’s Eve guide.

Best time to visit

• Early morning: calm water, soft light and few people. The best time for photos of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
• Middle of the day: the busiest time, with ferries coming and going and street performers out.
• Sunset and evening: the city lights come on across the harbour.

Check what to expect before you go in our Sydney weather guide.

A short history of Circular Quay

Circular Quay sits on Sydney Cove, known as Warrane, on Gadigal Country. The Gadigal people fished and made nawi (canoes) here for thousands of years. The Tank Stream, a freshwater creek that flowed into the cove, is the reason the First Fleet chose this spot in January 1788. Between 1837 and 1844 the southern shore was rebuilt as “Semi-Circular Quay”, and the Tank Stream now runs underground beneath Pitt Street.

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