Visit Sydney Australia

Sydney Cove was named by Gov. Arthur Phillip in honour of Lord Sydney, Secretary of State for the Home Department, who had chosen him for the task of establishing a penal settlement in New South Wales. Lord Sydney never visited the cove or the city that would later be named after him. The wharves built around the three sides of the cove are known as Circular Quay, and were thus named because the original wharves lining the cove were circular in their aspect (or more accurately, semi-circular).

In years gone by, Circular Quay was the focal centre of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour. It was here that the tall ships of the 19th century unloaded their cargoes, that thousands of migrants - convict and free - got their first sight of Australia, and from here that many troops went off to war. Today, its maritime activity centres around pleasure craft and ferries taking residents and tourists to a variety of locations around the harbour, though every once in a while Circular Quay is graced by the presence of a cruise liner.

This terminal was built to provide better accommodation for the many larger passenger ships being built after World War II which brought thousands of migrants to Australia from Europe. By the time it was completed, the move away from sea to air travel had already begun and ironically, the first ship to use the terminal was the cruise liner, SS Oriana. The terminal was rebuilt on a smaller scale in 1988 at a cost of $16 million to a rather austere Structuralist style design. The stark look of the complex was tempered in another refit prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Sydney Harbour Bridge



Acclaimed as one of the most remarkable feats of bridge construction in the world at the time it was built, until recently the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the longest single span steel arch bridge in the world and is still in a general sense the largest. Since its completion in 1932, it has been an icon and an internationally recognised symbol of the the city of Sydney.

The first sod was ceremoniously turned on the site of the North Sydney Railway Station on 28th July 1923. The acquisition and demolition of buildings in the path of the new bridge and its approaches on both the northern and southern shores commenced on 28th July 1924.

The bridge was opened to roadway, railway and pedestrian traffic by the then Premier of New South Wales, Mr JT Lang, on Saturday 19th March 1932. The time taken to complete the whole work, including bridge and approaches was eight years. The contract for the bridge construction provided for six months' maintenance by the contractors from the date of opening, after which maintenance became the responsibility of the State.

Built at a cost of $20 million, it was only paid off in 1988, much of the cost being raised by tolls placed on vehicular traffic using the bridge. Tolls collected after the bridge was paid for has gone towards the cost of the construction of the harbour tunnel.

The first suburb to the west of the Harbour Bridge is Kirribilli, one of the city's most established and affluent neighbourhoods. Kirribilli is one of Australia's older suburbs, with the first land grants in the area being granted by the colonial government during the 1790s. The name Kirribilli is derived from an Aboriginal word Kiarabilli, which means 'good fishing spot'.

Admiralty House can be seen on the Kirribilli headland on the left hand side of the ferry after it has left Circular Quay. Because of its strategic location opposite the entrance to Sydney Cove, the Government of 1856 decided to take temporary control of a house built in 1842 by Sir George Gipps to take advantage of the sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. Cannons were mounted in the grounds though they were never used. Built on the site of the fort, Admiralty House is the larger of the two gracious houses which occupy the prominent north shore headland opposite Sydney Cove.
A single storey sandstone residence built by merchant Robert Campbell, in 1874 it was known as Wotonga. The house was extended and renovated in 1885 in order for it to serve as the residence of the commanding officer of the British Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron. The fancy upper floor lacework was added at this time. Believed by many Sydneysiders to be the city's finest address, Admiralty House is today the Sydney home of Australia's Governor General.

Kirribili House can be seen on the Kirribilli headland on the left hand side of the ferry after it has left Circular Quay. This gracious home built by Lieut. Col. J.G.N. Gipps. Because of its strategic location opposite the entrance to Sydney Cove, the Government of 1856 decided to take temporary control of the house and use it as part of its harbour defence system. Cannons were mounted in the grounds though they were never used. For some time, the house was used as the official residence of Admirals commanding the British Naval Squadron stationed in Sydney and became known as Admiralty House. It has remained Commonwealth Government property ever since and is now the Sydney residence of the Prime Minister of Australia.

The ferry's first stop is at Cremorne Point Wharf, located near the tip of the Cremorne Peninsula at Robertsons Point. Cremorne Reserve stretches around the entire shoreline of Cremorne Point in a mix of bush and formal gardens, providing unrivalled public access to the harbour shores. It is a special reserve with a fascinating history in a spectacular environment.



The suburb of Cremorne derived from the name of an amusement park at the location operated by two promoters, Clarke and Woolcott, between 1856 and 1862. It recalls the famous Cremorne Gardens in London.

The peninsula was originally named Careening Point as it was near Careening Cove where early sailing vessels were beached to clean barnacles from their hulls. It was then named Robertson Point after it was granted to the father of parliamentarian Sir John Robertson in 1826. There is a popular foreshore walk around Cremorne Point, commencing at the ferry wharf. On the way you'll pass Kurraba Point Reserve which is the site of a quarry from which 8,000 tonnes of sandstone was extracted and used to build Fort Denison. It was later used as a shipbuilding yard.



Cremorne Foreshore Walk: The walk is a loop track which can be started at any of the three main entrance points Bogota Avenue, at the bottom of the steps at the eastern end of Hodgson Avenue and above Cremorne Wharf. Trackhead information signs with maps and general information are placed at each of these entrances. Toilets are located in the picnic area at the end of the Point, near the Cremorne Wharf trackhead sign.

Along this excellent loop walk, enjoy a picnic, a children's  playground or a swim in its harbourside pool with an amazing view. The interpretative signs will help you to discover something of its original Aboriginal inhabitants, the early Cremorne Gardens, the fine architectural heritage, the impact of development on the Reserve s flora and fauna and the work being done to bring back the bush. Access to Cremorne Point is convenient by both public and private transport.



MacAllum Pool: Located on the western side of Cremorne Point, Maccallum Pool is a unique harbourside pool with heritage character and superb views. Its waterside timber deck is an unparalleled sun bathing spot - especially on winter afternoons. It was originally just a rock pool created by local residents to form a safe harbour swimming hole. The architectural style of the current pool dates back to the 1920s and was restored in keeping with this heritage theme by the local council in 1985-86.

Beyond Robertsons Point is the entrance to Mosman Bay on the left hand side, and Little Sirius Cove on the right. The Mosman Bay ferry travels up Mosman Bay, the first stop being South Mosman, close to the tip of Curraghbeena Point. The ferry stop is used mainly by local residents. Musgrave Street leads to the main shopping area 2km to the north. There is a steep flight of steps to Raglan Street and Curragbeena Park, with views across Little Sirius Cove to the site of the Curlew Camp.



Little Sirius Cove: A small and sheltered corner of Port Jackson, Little Sirius Cove has shaded grassed areas, toilets and picnic tables and offers good harbour views. Like all the northern Sydney Harbour beaches, it is relatively safe to swim here in under normal low wave to calm conditions. Little Sirius Cove is a dog-friendly beach, meaning dogs can be let off-leash all day during the week and before 9am and after 4pm on weekends. This makes it a popular place for an early morning or afternoon stroll with the kids and pets. Facilities: childrens playground, toilets, picnic tables. Little Sirius Point and Little Sirius Cove were named after the flagship of the First Fleet, HMS Sirius, which was careened here in 1789.


Whiting Beach

To reach Little Sirius Cove from South Mosman Wharf, walk up to Musgrave Street, turn left and follow it as far as McLeod Street. Turn right, following McLeod Street to its end then use the stairs to access the Foreshore Track and Little Sirius Beach. An alternate was back to the city is to continue along the Foreshore Track passing Little Sirius Beach, Little Sirius Point and Whiting Beach before reaching the Taronga Zoo ferry. Take the Taronga Zoo ferry back to Circular Quay.

Arthur Streeton's Sirius Cove (c. 1890) shows the eastern shore of Little Sirius Cove where Curlew Camp was located.

Curlew Camp: The eastern shore of Little Sirius Cove is the site of what was known as the Curlew Camp, where several famous Australian artists, including Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Sidney Long, used to come in the late 1800s for sketching opportunities. One of the artists had obligingly marked the spot by carving the name and the year into a nearby sandstone rock. At Curlew Camp, Streeton, Thomas and their bohemian friends lived in tents for several years, painting some memorable images of the area. Sirius Cove (c1895), by Streeton is perhaps one of the most adventurous, showing a long 'slice' of the harbour and its sandstone rocks.

On the headland a narrow signposted path leads down to the shoreline camp where the artists stayed. 'The Camp, Sirius Cove (1899)', by Roberts, shows the collection of huts and tents nestled in the bush that was Curlew Camp. Both Streeton and Roberts nostalgically returned to the themes they explored during their time at Curlew Camp in later years. In 1897, Streeton (possibly during a stay in London) painted Sydney Harbour: A souvenir. The final painting Tom Roberts completed before his death in 1931, Ring a Ring a Roses, is a version of a landscape he originally painted of Cremorne, during his time at Sirius Cove.
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Curlew Camp Artists' Walk: Camp Curlew was abandoned after the siting of Taronga Zoo in the area in 1912. In 2007 the Curlew Camp Artists' Walk was developed by Mosman Council and Taronga Zoo. The walk is over 1.6 km long and extends from the South Mosman ferry wharf at Musgrave Street and continues along to the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf, following the route used by visitors to the Camp during the 1890s. To reach the walk from South Mosman Wharf, walk along Musgrave St, left into McLeod St., cross Raglan St to the Foreshore Track which leads to Sirius Cove Beach. The walk starts from the Sirius Cove Walkway at the head of Sirius Cove.

If staying on the ferry, the next stop is Old Cremorne Point on the east side of Mosman Bay in the suburb of Cremorne Point. For those who'd like to do only a section of the Cremorne Point Foreshore Walk, this ferry wharf is located on the walk, so it is possible to alight at the Cremorne Point wharf, walk back around Robertson Point (from the wharf, turn left into Kareela Road, follow it into Green Street, right into Cremorne Road) to the Old Cremorne wharf and board the ferry again there.


Hunts Lookout

Alternatively, turn right into Kareela Road and follow Mosman Bay towards Mosman and catch the ferry back from Mosman Bay Wharf. At the end of Kareela Road is Lower Spofforth Walk Reserve and Hunts Lookout - pass 5 Bromley St, down the steps and follow the path across the timber bridge over a gorgeous rainforest-filled ravine.


Lower Spofforth Walk Reserve

Follow the path for 250 metres, enjoying the water views to your right. The path passes a 'Harnett Park' sign (ignore the upper track on your left), then heads down some steps and turns left. Follow the walk past the Rowers Restaurant to a car park and the Mosman Bay Marina. Continue around the head of Mosman Bay to the Mosman Basy Wharf for the return ferry trip to Circular Quay.


Cremorne Road test site

The area bounded by Rialto Avenue, Cremorne Road and Milsons Road was the site of a test coal mine bore sunk in 1890. At 861 metres the drill reached a 3 metre thick seam of coal which had unfortunately been turned into cinder by a volcanic dyke. The coal was part of the Bulli Seam which extends south from Newcastle to the Illawarra.

The south side of Hodgson Avenue between Kareela and Cremorne Roads was the site of a second test coal mine bore sunk in 1892-93. The bore reached a good 3 metre seam at around 900 metres, proving the existence of coal, however the company did not go ahead with mining on the site due to opposition by local residents. The company finally settled on Birchgrove near Balmain as the site for their mine.

• Comprehensive Guide to Cremorne and Cremorne Point

The Mosman Bay ferry service terminates at Mosman Wharf, at the end of Avenue Road. It is a 1.5 km walk up the hill to Mosman's shopping precinct, or if you prefer, you can catch a bus which operates regularly throughout the day. There is a very popualar cafe at the wharf which makes a good place to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat if you are spending a day ferry hopping around the harbour.

Mosman Bay was originally named Careening Bay as it believed HMS Sirius was careened (beached and its hull cleaned of barnacles) here in 1789. It was then variously called Sirius Cove, Careening Cove and Great Sirius Cove; most of these names are still in use but for other locations. The first subdivision of land for residential development took place in 1853. Taronga Zoo was established between 1912 and 1916 on land previously set aside for a coal mine. The venture did not proceed due to complaints by residents so the company s mining activities were transferred to Birchgrove.



Located on the shores of Port Jackson on Sydney's Lower North Shore, with Middle Harbour to the north and north east, and Sydney Harbour to the south, Mosman is a charming residential suburb set amidst beautiful bushland surrounds.

Mosman forms a peninsula between the two Harbours and features a number of popular beaches on both harbours. Small arcades, restaurants and exclusive boutiques give Mosman an almost village atmosphere, although the area feels very much alive. Attractive modern townhouses stand shoulder to shoulder with large Federation era houses and Californian bungalows.



Taronga Park Zoo: set in a magical location on the shores of Sydney Harbour, Taronga Park Zoo was established on Bradleys Head in 1912 when Sydney's Zoo was moved from Moore Park. It is one of sydney's most popular attractions for visitors and locals alike. Unless you are happy to make the long walk, Taronga Park Zoo is not in walking distance of Mosman Bay wharf. The zoo has its own dedicated ferry service that departs regularly from the Circular Quay Ferry Terminal.



The Barn: It was on the shores of Mosman Bay that Archibald Mosman (1799-1863) established Sydney's first whaling station. The facility was a successful venture, but its operations were wound down on his retirement because its proximity to a growing residential area and its closeness to the city of Sydney was considered inappropriate. The main objection the locals had, however, was to the smell.

In 1831 Mosman built what is now called The Barn at the head of the bay at 3a Avenue Rd, Mosman, as a whaling boat servicing facility. It was part of Mosman's grand scheme for centralising whaling ship servicing. It is thought to be the oldest stone building surviving in the lower North Shore and is claimed to be the last maritime industrial structure remaining in Sydney dating from the early Colonial period. The Heritage listed building was subsequently acquired by The Scout Association of Australia NSW Branch for use a scouts and girl guides hall.