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Australia

Sydney

Australia's harbourside gateway. Ferries are part of the commute here, so getting around is sightseeing in itself.

Sydney Ferries (F1-F10)

Tap on at the Opal reader on the wharf - there are no gates, and no readers on board. Private fast ferries out of Circular Quay take the same Opal card but charge their own fares, outside the caps and transfer discounts.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Tap on at the wharf before boarding
    Tap your card on the Opal reader on the wharf before you board - there are no readers on the boat.
  2. 2
    No card? Use the machine on the wharf
    At wharves with a machine you can buy an Opal card or a single trip ticket - smaller wharves have none.
  3. 3
    At Circular Quay, check the wharf number
    Departure and arrival wharves can change at short notice - check the indicator boards and announcements.
  4. 4
    Get through the gate two minutes early
    Gates for the Manly ferry (F1) close two minutes before the scheduled departure, so don't cut it fine.
  5. 5
    Tap off with the same card when you land
    After you get off, always tap off at the wharf reader - miss it and you're charged the highest fare.
  6. 6
    On private boats, tap on board
    On private fast ferries and cruise boats you tap on the operator's own device as you board.

Fares

Single fares3

Sydney Ferries single trip (0-9 km)
Distance is straight-line between wharves; the 30% off-peak discount doesn't apply to ferries
7.35 AUD ≈ $5
Sydney Ferries single trip (over 9 km)
The Trip Planner tells you which band a given trip falls into before you go
9.2 AUD ≈ $7
Opal single trip ticket (paper)
Only at wharves with a machine; valid until 4am the next day, no transfers, no caps or discounts
8.8〜11 AUD ≈ $6–8

Card itself1

Minimum Opal card top up (Adult)
From $10 online or in the app; retailers and wharf machines start at $20, machines cards only
10 AUD ≈ $7

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

An Opal top-up machine on a wharf, marked Card only — no cash. Taken Dec 2022 © Nick-D・CC BY-SA 4.0

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardAmex
Tap at the wharf reader before boarding; charged the Adult fare
IC card
The Opal card - required for Child/Youth fares
App tickets
Opal Travel is for balance and top-ups; it doesn't sell tickets
Paper tickets
Single trip tickets only at wharves with a machine; not on private boats
Cash
Cash top-ups at shops only - wharf machines take cards

Quick facts

Hours
5:30 to just past midnight
Frequency
Main routes every 20-30 min
Fares from
7.35 AUD+

Heads-up

  • Mixing Opal and contactless cancels your fare caps

    Mixing an Opal card with contactless payments cancels your daily and weekly fare caps. Stick to one card - or one device - for every tap of your trip.

  • Private ferries charge their own fares outside the caps

    Private fast ferries and cruise boats take your Opal card but charge their own fares, and those trips count towards neither the daily and weekly caps nor transfer discounts. Paper single trip tickets are not accepted.

  • The wharf at Circular Quay can change at short notice

    Circular Quay has several wharves and the one your ferry uses can change at short notice. Check the indicator boards and listen for announcements.

  • On low-tide days some upriver sailings become buses

    On low-tide days some services between Parramatta and Rydalmere are cancelled and replaced by buses. If you are heading upriver to Parramatta by boat, check that day's sailings first.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:30 to just past midnight
Typical duration Circular Quay to Manly takes 22-30 minutes - the ride itself is the harbour tour
Check the official site for the latest times and service status