Sydney Harbour: Hop On Hop Off Ferry Pass 1 or 2-Day

Six Harbour Stops Without Planning the Route Yourself

You board ferries at Circular Quay or Darling Harbour and travel to six major Sydney Harbour destinations (Taronga Zoo, Manly, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and more) staying as long as you want at each stop before catching the next boat. Geo-tagged commentary in seven languages plays on your phone, indoor and outdoor seating keeps you comfortable, and the pass covers unlimited travel for either one full day or two consecutive calendar days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sydney Harbour by ferry

• Start at Circular Quay
• Visit The Rocks and Opera House
• Hop to Darling Harbour
• Explore restaurants and nightlife
• Ferry to Taronga Zoo
• See wildlife and animal shows
• Travel to Watsons Bay
• Walk to beaches and lookouts
• Ferry to Shark Island
• Picnic and swim at Shark Island
• Head to Manly Beach
• Enjoy Northern Beaches
• Return to Circular Quay

The experience

So you're standing at Circular Quay and you realize you could spend the whole day just hopping between ferries instead of figuring out which bus goes where. That's the whole thing. You buy a pass, any boat heading to Taronga Zoo or Manly or Watsons Bay is yours to board, and you get off whenever the view or the mood says so. The commentary comes through your phone in seven languages, geo-tagged so it only plays when you're actually looking at something, which means you're not stuck listening to a guide talk about a building you passed ten minutes ago.

The ferry stops hit all the places you'd end up anyway: Circular Quay where the Opera House sits, Darling Harbour if you want the museums and the markets, Taronga Zoo across the water with the animals and the view back to the city, Watsons Bay for the cliffs and the fish and chips, Shark Island if you want to actually get off the boat and walk around, and Manly Beach because it's Manly. You can spend three hours at the zoo, twenty minutes at Shark Island, or just ride the loop twice and call it a day. The boats run all day, so there's no schedule pressure. You miss one, another one comes.

Pick the 1-day pass if you're doing this in a single afternoon or morning, or the 2-day pass if you want to spread it across two calendar days and not feel rushed. Indoor and outdoor seating means you're not getting rained on or baked, and the ferries leave from both Circular Quay and Darling Harbour so you can start wherever you already are. The pass itself is the ticket: no separate entry fees to the attractions, no printing anything, just show it when you board.

What’s included

• Unlimited ferry travel between Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and Manly Beach.
• geo-tagged commentary in seven languages accessible on your smartphone.
• indoor and outdoor seating on all ferries.
• choice of 1-day pass (same-day travel) or 2-day pass (two consecutive calendar days).
• convenient departures from both Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.

Options for this experience

2 options

One-day Hop On Hop Off passNo fixed timeOne-day Hop On Hop Off Explorer: a hop-on, hop-off cruise lasting one day, with stops at as many as six well-known harbour attractions

Two-day Hop On Hop Off passNo fixed timeTwo-day Hop On Hop Off Explorer: a hop-on, hop-off cruise lasting two days, with stops at as many as six well-known harbour attractions

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Audio guideEnglish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese and Korean

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Captain Cook Cruises

Is this one for you?Best for travellers who want to see multiple Sydney Harbour landmarks without arranging separate tickets or transport between each one. The pass lets you move at your own pace and spend as long as you want at whichever stops interest you most.

Traveler reviews

4.15★★★★★★★★★★

265 verified traveler reviews

5 ★137

4 ★66

3 ★37

2 ★14

1 ★11

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4): free.

Can I get on and off the ferry as many times as I want?

Yes. With either the 1-day or 2-day pass, you can board any ferry heading to any of the six stops and disembark whenever you choose, then catch another boat to your next destination.

What are all the ferry stops included?

Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and Manly Beach.

Do I have to pay extra to enter Taronga Zoo or other attractions?

The ferry pass covers unlimited travel between the harbour stops. Entry fees to attractions like Taronga Zoo are separate and not included in the pass.

Is the commentary available in other languages?

Yes, the geo-tagged commentary is available in seven languages and plays on your smartphone whenever you want to listen.

How long is the 1-day pass valid for?

The 1-day pass is valid for same-day travel only. The 2-day pass is valid for two consecutive calendar days.

Can I bring a stroller or pram on the ferry?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on the ferries.

Where do the ferries depart from?

Ferries depart from both Circular Quay and Darling Harbour, so you can start your journey from whichever location is more convenient.

Is there seating on the ferries?

Yes, there is both indoor and outdoor seating available on all ferries, so you can stay comfortable regardless of the weather.