Circular Quay Wharf 5 — Local services in Sydney

Wharf 5 at Circular Quay has an easy rhythm that makes getting on the harbour feel simple. You step off the concourse and the view widens in both directions, ferries easing across water that flashes between deep blue and green. Digital boards list departures in big, legible type, crew marshal the queues with a light touch, and the soundtrack is a mix of buskers, gulls and hulls nudging the pontoon. Even when it is busy there is room to breathe, and you get that small thrill of being right on the edge of the city with the water almost at your feet.

Boarding is straightforward. The ramp meets the deck cleanly, staff call instructions you can actually hear, and tapping on with Opal or a contactless card takes seconds. Shade covers most of the waiting area and there are rails and benches to lean on while you watch boats turn. Prams and wheelchairs roll through without drama, and the crew are quick to offer a hand if someone needs it. If the breeze is up, choose a seat inside once you are aboard, preferably toward the middle or rear, and you will feel less motion. On calm days, standing on the open deck is half the fun, you get a salty burst of air and a clear sweep of skyline as the ferry swings out.

A few handy hints. Keep payment ready before you reach the reader, it keeps the line moving. Bring a light layer since the temperature drops as soon as you leave the quay, and sunglasses help on bright afternoons when glare bounces off the water. Coffee and snacks sit a short walk back on the concourse, toilets are signposted near the station, and trains and light rail are right behind you if you are changing modes. Whether you are commuting or taking visitors for a first look at the harbour, Wharf 5 makes the whole process smooth and...

Easter Saturday, is no doubt a big day on the yearly calendar for Sydney ferries. My wife and I decided to leave the car at home and enjoy our magnificent Harbour on a trip to Manly to meet friends for lunch. Arriving about 10:55 we were disappointed to find that the gates had closed for the 11am service but were confused as to why passengers weren't boarding Freshwater that was sitting at the wharf. It turned out that the new ferries were doing the hard work but with limited capacity, we thanked ourselves for not going off for a coffee whilst waiting for the next one as the queue had already stretched well beyond the wharf. Anyway, my dissatisfaction was not so much the wait but once on board it was the speed of these new little ferries, hitting 20+ knots once underway and making it less than enjoyable sitting outside in the breeze created by this unseemly haste on what is after all a holiday for most. On the way back later in the day we were shunted onto the Fast ferry that we learned now costs no more than the new little ones, I guess because they are only a couple of knots faster than the new ones. On both trips I noticed that most passengers don't seem to be interested in enjoying the beauty of the Harbour which I think is because these ferries are no longer providing an enjoyable cruise and now are nothing more than a commuter trip that might as well be...

Decided to go for a walk down to circular quay after watching a film at Palace near Central station and dinner in Haymarket. Staying in. North Sydney we thought we'd take a stroll before walking back to Wynyard and getting a train over the bridge. It was 9:23pm and as we walked past the ferry terminal we saw there were still ferries going and one was leaving in two minutes to Neutral Bay. Not having been on a Sydney ferry for many, many years, we impulsively decided on a late night ferry trip with the idea of getting off at Kirribilli and then walking to Milsons Point Station. Next minute we were passing through the most beautiful harbour in the world on the water, the bridge and the opera house on either side. It was amazing, never gets old. We ended up getting off at north Sydney wharf and walking 25 mins back to our rental apartment. What a great end to a wonderful night! If you visit Sydney, taking a ferry...