From 11 September until 6 October, travelling on Sydney’s public ferries won’t cost you a cent.
Few things feel more quintessentially Sydney than hopping on a yellow ferry on a sunny afternoon, drifting past the Opera House as the skyline unfolds across one of the world’s most beautiful harbours.
And from this Friday until Tuesday 6 October, you can do just that without spending a cent. The Maritime Union of Australia says it will be switching off Opal card readers, meaning passengers can travel on Sydney Ferries services free of charge for nearly four weeks, whether you’re cruising to Manly for the day, stopping by Taronga Zoo or simply taking the scenic route across the harbour.
The catch? Not every ferry is included, and some services may look a little different while the free-fare period is in place, with some disruptions likely to occur.
Still, with spring bringing longer, brighter days, it’s a pretty good excuse to explore a new pocket of the city or make your commute to work feel like a movie. Here’s how the free ferry travel works, why it’s happening and the best routes to take for a fabulous Sydney day trip.
How it works
Travel free on Sydney Ferries for most of September and start of October. (Credit: Eleanor Edström)
The fare-free period runs from 11 September until 11.59pm on 6 October and applies to all 10 of Sydney Ferries’ public routes. This includes services to Manly, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Watsons Bay, Double Bay and Cockatoo Island.
Importantly, the free ferry services do not include Manly Fast Ferries, which are privately operated.
The Maritime Union of Australia has announced it will switch off Opal card readers, meaning there is no need for ferry passengers to tap on and off when boarding at the terminal.
Why are Sydney ferries free?
Ferry workers have been lobbying for better working conditions and pay. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The decision to operate Sydney Ferries free of charge is part of ongoing industrial action by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) against Transdev, the foreign-owned private operator running Sydney Ferries services. Last Wednesday 2 September, MUA members held a short strike where ferry employees lobbied for better working conditions and a pay rise.
“By switching off Opal readers, our members are making sure commuters are not out of pocket because of this dispute. For nearly four weeks, ferry passengers will be able to get where they need to go without paying a fare," says MUA Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett.
Transport for NSW has warned passengers that disruptions could happen on short notice and passengers should allow extra travel time and to check the latest service information before travelling.
“While most ferry services are expected to operate, passengers may notice changes to some timetables and services during this period," Transport for NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins said in a press release.
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AI Prompt
The best Sydney ferry day trips
With Sydney ferries free for the month, why not make a day trip out of it? Here is our pick of the top places in Sydney you can get to on the public ferry network. Keep up to date with potential disruptions and timetable changes on the Transport NSW ferry webpage.
F1 Manly
Enjoy a waterfront meal at Felons Brewing Co. (Credit: Felons Brewing Co.)
Arguably the most iconic Sydney ferry day trip, the 30-minute journey from Circular Quay to Manly promises unparalleled Opera House and Harbour Bridge views. Once you arrive in Manly, head out for a surf, explore the weekend markets, take a dip in the stunning Fairy Bower Sea Pool or enjoy beers and bites at the waterfront Felons Brewing Co. – located right next to the ferry terminal.
F9 Watsons Bay
Camp Cove is a great spot for a swim. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Grab a drink at Watsons Bay Hotel. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Explore Camp Cove. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Hornby Lighthouse is set on a headland, a 3km walk from Watsons Bay wharf. (Credit: Destination NSW)
A day in Watsons Bay is always a day well-spent. Grab a spritz at the lively Watsons Bay Hotel, paddle in the calm turquoise waters of Camp Cove with the city skyline behind you, or wander up to the headland to see the bright red Hornby Lighthouse, which looks as though it’s been plucked directly from a Wes Anderson film.
Cremorne, F6 Mosman Bay
Take a dip in Maccallum Pool in Cremorne. (Credit: Eleanor Edström)
Served by the F6 line, Cremorne Point Wharf is a wonderful launching pad for exploring the locally loved northern Sydney suburb of Cremorne. Walk just five minutes and you’ll find Maccallum Pool, one of Sydney’s most scenic harbourside pools (alongside the newly reopened North Sydney Pool). BYO picnic to enjoy on the grass, or take advantage of the beautiful flat walking trails that lead to Mosman Bay.
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F2 Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is a family favourite. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Take the scenic F2 service to northern Sydney’s Taronga Zoo to meet a range of adorable animals with a side of harbour views. Or set off directly from the ferry terminal and follow the waterline towards Bradleys Head for a scenic bushwalk packed with Indigenous and naval history. You can even continue on to the calm waters of much-loved Balmoral Beach (6km one way), stopping for a coffee at Chowder Bay’s Cafe La Mer on the way.
Balmain, F8 Cockatoo Island
Stop in for a pint at The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room, Balmain. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Sitting along the F8 Cockatoo Island line just 10 minutes from Circular Quay, Balmain makes for a worthy stop. The upscale suburb boasts a close-knit village feel with historic and artistic charm, classic pubs, cute-as-a-button bookstores and leafy parks. Stroll the shops and cafes on Darling Street before settling in for a waterfront meal in an 1880s stone building at The Fenwick or The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room.
F8 Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO-listed site. (Credit: Emily Murphy)
History buffs should make a beeline for Cockatoo Island, just a 10-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay. Set in the middle of Sydney Harbour, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is home to a fascinating former convict gaol and shipyard. Visitors can wander through 19th-century convict ruins and tunnels, either independently or with a guide, before settling in at a waterfront cafe – or staying the night in a campsite or heritage accommodation.
More Sydney Ferries services you can take
F3 Parramatta River
F4 Pyrmont Bay
F5 Neutral Bay
F7 Double Bay
F10 Blackwattle Bay
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.
Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.
The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.
Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.
1. Check in
Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.
After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.
2. Hunt for treasure
Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.
Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.
3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery
Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.
Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.
4. A taste of France
Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.
For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.
Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.
5. Indulge in a tipple
Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.
This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.
6. Blend your own gin
Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)
Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.
7. Go for a walk at dawn
Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.
8. Cosy up by the fireplace
Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.
A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.
At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.
