Sydney

Sydney has two docking locations for all cruise lines, and each can accommodate 1 vessel at a time.

Together, the terminals make Sydney Australia’s largest cruise destination.

1. Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay: mainly used by tall ships unable to pass beneath the Harbour Bridge. It occupies a prime, city-centre position opposite the Sydney Opera House.

Public transport: Bus number 431 stops on George Street outside the OPT precinct. Circular Quay train station and Circular Quay Ferry Station are each a three minute walk from the OPT building; Wynyard Train station is 783m from the OPT Precinct. Taxis wait on George Street in front of the OPT precinct, and onsite parking is available at the OPT Wilsons Car Park.

From the airport, buy a Circular Quay train ticket at Sydney Airport Domestic or International Train Station, then take the train to Circular Quay. Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal is a very short walk from Circular Quay Station towards Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Free WIFI is NOT available at this terminal.

2. White Bay replaced the former Darling harbor location and has operated since 2013. Cruise lines offer airport-arrival coach transfers to the new terminal. P&O charges AU$22 per person each way and AU$15 per person for post-cruise ship-to-Central Railway Station transfers. Public transportation is currently an issue, and the terminal is 6km from the city center.

Reach White Bay by taxi, private transfer such as a limo or shuttle bus, or by driving and leaving your car at Wilsons long-term car park.

White Bay is around a 30-minute drive from Sydney Airport, 17km (11 miles) away. Some cruise lines run their own airport shuttle; contact your travel agent.

Beyond the two listed berths, cruise ships occasionally use the Garden Island naval base, slightly east of Circular Quay, particularly very large ships.

A printable map to take with you.

A webcam.

Nearly every cruise travelling Down Under calls at Sydney, which often also begins or ends itineraries visiting New Zealand. Australia’s largest city houses many of the nation’s cultural and financial institutions, but its dramatic natural scenery is the real attraction. Modern Sydney is strongly shaped by British roots and current American popular culture, yet its exotic setting and brash beauty define its true character. In the glass-and-concrete downtown, called the Central Business District, you could be in any other…

Hop-on Hop-off Sydney Explorer harbor Cruise.

A Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour.

Tour the world-famous Sydney Opera House. Options include backstage and historic tours, plus the "tour de force" for travelers especially interested in architecture, engineering or the arts. Guided tours run daily from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; schedules permitting, travelers can also see a show. The best way to see the harbor is from its top on a Sydney harbor Bridge Climb, giving a bird's eye view and far from an ordinary bridge stroll or an activity only for young, crazy people. The famous landmark’s 3.5-hour up-and-down trek is safe, slow and suitable for people of…

From Circular Quay dock, Darling Harbour is a 35-minute walk (2.6 km/1.6 miles) or a 10-20 minutes drive, traffic depending. The White Bay terminal is only a 5-10 minutes drive away. This waterfront destination contains major Sydney attractions: Wildlife Sydney Zoo, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussauds wax museum, Australian National Maritime Museum, Pyrmont Bridge and others.

Bondi Beach: Sydney’s closest ocean beach to the centre, at 7 km, it has become synonymous with the city’s beach lifestyle and is very popular with tourists, daytrippers, backpackers, residents and all Sydneysiders.

Hunter Valley Wine Tour: north of Sydney is one of Australia’s major wine regions, with a wine-making tradition from the early 1800s. Its many wineries include world-renowned brands and family-run wine cellars, offering vineyard and wine tasting tours.

For chi-chi designer stores, choose central Sydney locations including Pitt Street Mall, downtown and Castlereagh Street from Hunter Street to Goulburn Street. Other options are the aforementioned Rocks and Darling harbor, Oxford Street and Paddington’s Five Ways. Sydney also has excellent weekend outdoor markets: Glebe hosts one every Saturday and Bondi has a market each Sunday.

The Australian Dollar.

Monday to Friday, shops and services generally open 9am to 5pm, with Saturday trading until lunchtime. Many city and larger-town shops stay open all Saturday and late on Thursday or Friday evenings, usually until 9pm. Shopping malls often open on Sundays too.

Remote-country roadhouses supply all essential traveler services and, on major highways, usually operate 24 hours a day. Tourist offices are often open daily, or at least during the week plus weekend mornings, even in areas far off the beaten track; urban information centers tend to follow normal shopping hours.

Museums, galleries and attended historic monuments are tourist attractions often open daily, although rural communities may have erratic opening hours.