The Manly Ferry: How to Do Sydney Harbour Without the Tourist Trap Prices

The trip from Circular Quay to Manly is what people actually mean when they tell you to "do the harbour" in Sydney.

It is a thirty-minute ferry ride that cruises right past the Opera House, under the Harbour Bridge, and out towards the heads of Sydney Harbour. Sightseeing cruises will try to charge you 90 dollars for this exact same view, but they don't really know how to charge. The standard adult public transport fare is around 10 dollars one-way.

If you are looking for the best things to do in Manly, here is how to spend a day there without wasting your time or your budget.

1. The Manly Ferry Sydney Harbour Experience

The ferry itself is half the experience. You don't need a private cruise to get the ultimate Sydney Harbour views. Just tap on with your contactless card or Opal card.

Local tip: Sit on the top deck, port side (the left side when facing forward) on your way back to the city. The view of the city skyline as you ferry in at sunset will be the best photo of your entire trip, and you didn't pay a cent extra for it.

2. Walk the Corso to Manly Beach

Manly Beach is wider, calmer, and generally less crowded than Bondi. Bring a towel, go for a swim, and walk the Corso—the main pedestrian street that connects the ferry wharf directly to the ocean.

3. Snorkel at Shelly Beach

If you want one of the best free things to do in Manly, take the twenty-minute coastal walk around the headland from Manly Beach to Shelly Beach. The water at Shelly is a protected marine reserve, meaning it is calm enough for swimming and clear enough for snorkelling. You can actually see the fish, and it costs nothing.

4. Hike to North Head

If you have a half-day to spare, walk or catch the local bus up to North Head. The sheer cliffs at the southern point of the Manly peninsula look back across the entire harbour to the city. It is quiet, dramatic, and most travellers never make it up there.

5. Find the Best Cheap Eats Manly Has to Offer

Skip the flashy seafront restaurants facing the beach. If you want a meal for under 20 dollars, look for the takeaway food shacks tucked around the ferry wharf or grab a massive pie from the bakeries along the Corso.

6. The Weekend Fare Cap Trick

Here is the ultimate budget travel hack: If you tap on with an Opal card or contactless credit card on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, your daily transport fares across Sydney are capped at just $9.65 total. That means a round-trip Manly Ferry Sydney ride, plus the local bus up to North Head and back, will all cost you less than 10 dollars combined for the entire day.