Parramatta River Ferry

Dawes Point, NSW, Australia; Sydney, NSW, Australia; Milsons Point, NSW, Australia; North Sydney, NSW, Australia; McMahons Point, NSW, Australia; Barangaroo, NSW, Australia; Balmain East, NSW, Australia; Balmain, NSW, Australia; Birchgrove, NSW, Australia; Greenwich, NSW, Australia; Woolwich, NSW, Australia; Drummoyne, NSW, Australia; Huntleys Point, NSW, Australia; Gladesville, NSW, Australia; Canada Bay, NSW, Australia; Abbotsford, NSW, Australia; Cabarita, NSW, Australia; Mortlake, NSW, Australia; Putney, NSW, Australia; Rhodes, NSW, Australia; Meadowbank, NSW, Australia; Wentworth Point, NSW, Australia; Rydalmere, NSW, Australia; Parramatta, NSW, Australia; Rosehill, NSW, Australia; Harris Park, NSW, Australia; North Parramatta, NSW, Australia
Est. 86.7km / 2 days
Map

A journey on the RiverCat up the Parramatta River is quite different to any other ferry ride in Sydney. The beginning of the journey is what one expect - the Harbour Bridge, the grinning mouth at the entrance to Luna Park, the rows of wharves around Walsh Bay and Pyrmont. But once you get past Balmain and Cockatoo Island there are no ocean going vessels to avoid, or choppy waves to cut through, just a lot of pretty waterside suburbs that most Sydneysiders don't even know exist. Before too long the multi-level houses suddenly end, and it's nothing but mangroves and the RiverCat breaking the stillness as it glides through the water. As you pull into Parramatta, it's hard to believe that 50 minutes have passed since you hopped aboard at Circular Quay, proving that time does fly when you are having fun.

There are plenty of things to see and do when you are in Parramatta, and when its time to head back, you can take the return journey on the RiverCat or take a train. To fit it all in, allow a full day.

The Day 1 itinerary covers the journey to Parramatta by Ferry.

The Day 2 itinerary is a Heritage walk or Parramatta and neighbouring Harris Park

by Stephen Yarrow
Stephen is the editor of a number of websites about Australia, his home website being Pocketoz.

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