| A must-see course during your trip to Sydney | |
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| The prettiest accommodation during my trip to Sydney | |
| Sydney's Sunset and Night View Spots | |
| Great tourist destinations to visit while traveling together | |
Ryoha~~ Today, I was thinking about how to get from McMahons Point to Circular Quay. Initially, I planned to take the bus, but the timing didn’t work out, so I heard there was a ferry that would take you directly to Circular Quay, a short distance away. So, I headed to McMahons Point to catch the first ferry in Sydney.
In Sydney, you can use your Opal card at various locations, including McMahons Point, the ferry terminal, bus stops, and train stations. We used our Travelcard and Samsung Pay for our trip, and we were able to use public transportation and make payments in Sydney without any inconvenience.
When using public transportation, you’ll find the Opal card symbol on poles near the entrances to the piers and bus stops, which are marked “Tap On” and “Tap Off.” Simply tap your card to the symbol and use the card to pay.
While there are various types of public transportation, I was worried about not knowing how much the fares would be. Using Samsung Pay on Sydney’s public transportation, I found that, except for Uber and special ferry services, all fares were charged at AUD 1, making it much cheaper than in Korea. This was quite appealing.
When I first saw the ferry from McMahons Point to Circular Quay, I was surprised by the size of the ferry despite its small number of passengers. I was also impressed by its comfortable appearance.
Before boarding, the crew disembarks first, secures the ferry with ropes, and creates a bridge for passengers to pass through, making it easy to move luggage, including suitcases. The destination was written on a sign above the ferry entrance, so I didn’t feel any confusion.
Even though the ferry is easy to board without a bridge, the crew’s constant attention to safety naturally fostered a sense of security.
The first thing that struck me upon boarding the ferry was the comfortable ride, with its clean, spacious seats and clear ocean views from the windows. The ferry has two decks. While the first deck is bus-like, the second deck offers seating on the open deck, giving it a cruise-like feel.
The second deck offers ample seating, with even side seats available if you move slightly toward the bow. Unless the weather is bad, I personally highly recommend taking the second deck, as it offers stunning views of Sydney’s clear skies and refreshing ocean.
Departing from McMahons Point, the ferry stopped by the Ferris wheel and Luna Park Sydney, a Sydney landmark, before heading to the next stop, Circular Quay.
Since it was my first time on a ferry, I was worried about getting seasick. However, the hull itself was quite large, and even I, who used to get seasick just from being on a boat, felt that even a short trip wouldn’t cause me any seasickness. So, I highly recommend anyone considering taking a Sydney ferry to give it a try.
The ferry passed Luna Park Sydney and passed under the Harbour Bridge. While I had the opportunity to walk across the bridge and admire it from afar, I didn’t think I’d be able to truly appreciate its grandeur while passing under it.
Taking the ferry from McMahons Point to Circular Quay was a new experience, and it felt like a cruise, so I was glad I did.
Furthermore, seeing the Opera House right in front of me was another highlight of the ferry ride. Most ferries in Sydney stop by the Opera House, so I always wanted to experience the experience of taking in the sights from a ferry on a clear day.
While it’s wonderful to admire the majestic Opera House from up close, I also felt that admiring the building from a distance is another must-do experience in Sydney. And with the option of taking in the entire building for just 1 AUD, the ferry ride felt like a must-do during my Sydney trip.
The ferry passed Luna Park, the Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House before finally arriving at Circular Quay, where it was easy to spot people waiting to head to their next destination, McMahons Point.
When I first visited McMahon’s Point, I thought it was just a small station for transfers from Blues Point to Circular Quay. However, my timing was perfect, and I realized that while there were only a few ferry passengers, there were many visitors. I even suspected that these people were also heading to Blues Point.
Arriving at Circular Quay, I had to tap my Opal card, Samsung Pay, and Travelcard again, just as I had done at the ferry boarding station, and then I was greeted by the ticket gates. At first, I wondered why no one checked my ticket while boarding the ferry, but seeing the gates made sense. I realized I could avoid free rides without having to check my ticket.
While I’ve seen many stunning views during my trip to Sydney, the ferry was even more enjoyable because it allowed me to sequentially explore the city’s major attractions, starting from Blues Point and continuing on to McMahon’s Point. This made me think it was a must-use mode of public transportation for any Sydney trip. You’ll experience many things while traveling in Sydney, but why not plan a Sydney ferry trip where you can experience it all for just 1 AUD?
