Getting to the aquarium by Ferry

Just one of the many things that is so great about SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium being located in the heart of Darling Harbour, is that you can skip the traffic and catch a ferry right to our front door. What better way to start a fantastic day out at the aquarium than hopping on a ferry? On your way, you can take in famous Sydney sights and soak up some sunshine and fresh air as you glide across the water.

Depending on where you’re coming from, there’s three different types of ferry’s you can catch to SEA LIFE Sydney. Each take different routes and offer different stops and sights along the way. We’ve popped them below so you can start planning your trip to the aquarium and ensure you make the most of your day out.

Sydney Harbour Eco Hopper

If you’re heading in from Manly, you are able to catch the Sydney Harbour Eco Hopper. Before 9am it only takes 35 minutes to get to Darling Harbour as it makes limited stops. The peak hour ferries stop at Milson’s Point and Pyrmont Bay and of course Darling Harbour, but after 10am it also makes additional stops at:
Q Station, Watson’s Bay, Rose Bay, Taronga Zoo, Fort Denison, Circular Quay, Milson’s Point, Pyrmont Bay.

You can find the full timetable here.

If you’d love to explore somewhere else on your way to or from the aquarium with the Eco Hopper, but only have time for one extra stop, we recommend Watson’s Bay. This cute little fishing village is now one of the most favoured picnic and family fun zones in Sydney, with lots of grass and sand on which to enjoy your fresh fish and chips. There’s also many cafés and restaurants to have something to eat or drink at and watch the world go by, and a bustling beer garden in the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. If you’re keen to stay a little longer, there’s also several charming and scenic coastal walks around the cliffs.

Captain Cook Cruises

This red and white fleet of ferries are very easy to spot cruising along the “harbour highway”. With many daily departures from many different locations, such as Darling Harbour, Lane Cove, Shark Island and White Bay to name a few, this is certainly one of the best ways to get out and see more of the amazing locations that Sydney has to offer.

They even offer a two day pass that stops at eleven different stops, which are:

Manly, Watson’s Bay, Shark Island, Fort Denison, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour ICC, Darling Harbour Pier 28, Barangaroo, Sydney Fish Markets, Luna Park and Taronga Zoo (take a look at the timetable to plan your trip here).

Why not stop over at Shark Island for a picnic after your visit to SEA LIFE Sydney and have a lazy afternoon with incredible views of Sydney Harbour all around you. Take a refreshing swim in the calm waters and visit the magical grottos that date back to the 1900’s.

 

Transport NSW Ferries          

Transport NSW has a network of ferries that can connect you to absolutely anywhere in Sydney, from Manly, Mosman and Neutral Bay on the Northern Beaches, across to Double Bay in the Eastern Suburbs, through the city and right out west past Sydney Olympic Park, to Parramatta. You can find the full timetable here.

You could easily spend the morning on Darling Harbour visiting SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and then head over to Cockatoo Island and explore the island’s convict and ship building history. You can even stay overnight in one of the luxury houses or apartments or camp on the harbour's edge in what can only be described as one of the world's most spectacularly located campsites.