Our most recommended things to do in Circular Quay

From Sydney: Blue Mountains, Scenic World All Inclusive Tour

1. From Sydney: Blue Mountains, Scenic World All Inclusive Tour

Join a small group on this all-inclusive day trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains with a local guide. Gaze at the rainforest on a guided walk in Scenic World, see the iconic Three Sisters from Echo Point, and meet endemic animals at the Featherdale Wildlife Park or Western Sydney Zoo. Begin your tour early at one of the meeting points, then set off on your adventure ahead of large groups. Arrive at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains and experience all the rides with your local guide. Ride the Scenic Railway into the rainforest, take the Skyway across the valley and see magnificent views of the waterfall and enjoy the Cableway. Skip some of the general queues and head straight to the rides. Take a stroll on a boardwalk through the rainforest and hear all about its ecosystem. Then, follow your guide to a cliff lookout and soak in panoramic views of the Jamison Valley, with its pink sandstone cliffs and eucalyptus-bound forests. Next, walk down the road to Echo Point and admire sweeping views of the Three Sisters rock formation from the lookout. Learn about its cultural significance from your guide. Then, time permitting, enjoy some time on your own to wander around and take photos. After working up an appetite, tuck into lunch in the Blue Mountains. After your meal, continue to Featherdale Wildlife Park or Western Sydney Zoo to spend some time close to some of Australia's natives. Get a hands-on experience with native animals, including hand-feeding a kangaroo. After spending the day connecting with nature in the World Heritage-listed area of the Blue Mountains, Take a ferry back to Sydney along the Parramatta River. See landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and end the trip at Barangaroo. 

From Sydney: Blue Mountains Full-Day Trip

2. From Sydney: Blue Mountains Full-Day Trip

Enjoy an excursion from Sydney into the Blue Mountains. Visit Featherdale Wildlife Park and experience the amazing variety of Australian wildlife. Hand-feed kangaroos, see Koalas, and wombats, as well as many more native Australian birds and wildlife. Enjoy a visit to Leura Village, where you can buy your own lunch at a cafe or bakery. Your tour includes the 3 rides at Scenic World, Cableway, Skyway, and Railway. Stop at Echo Point to enjoy splendid views of the Jamison Valley and the 3 Sisters, a towering rock formation from the Dreamtime.  Bypass Sydney’s peak traffic on a Ferry cruise along Parramatta River into Circular Quay. From there you will make your own way back to your accommodation.

Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

3. Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

The 2hr Express Cruise is Sydney’s best value whale watching cruise. Reach the open ocean in only 20min from Circular Quay. Fantasea Crystal features an air-conditioned internal saloon with Lcd television screens, complimented by copious amounts of indoor and outdoor seating. Fantasea Crystal’s viewing areas are composed of a seated sun deck, covered rear deck and large windows along the internal saloon. Reaching top speeds of up to 20 knots, getting you from Circular Quay to the open ocean takes only 20min, leaving almost an hour and a half for whale watching. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase from the onboard bar. If no whales are successfully watched on your cruise, you receive a free return cruise.

Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

4. Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

Overlooking magnificent Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay and offers amazing wildlife experiences with stunning harbor views. Nestled on the shores of the world's most beautiful harbor, Taronga Zoo is surrounded by lush bushland of Bradley's Head National Park, popular for early morning walks. Ferries depart from Circular Quay every 30 minutes. The Zoo has many popular trails to explore including the Australian Walkabout, Kids' Trail, Reptile World, African Savannah, Rainforest Trail, Seal Walk, Seals for the Wild, and the iconic must-see Free Flight Birds presentations. Zoo entry includes keeper talks and presentations. The many exhibits in Taronga Zoo can be reached by footpaths, ramps, lifts and escalators. 90% of Taronga Zoo is fully accessible. Strollers can be hired from the Visitor Information Desk in the main entrance at a small fee and manual wheelchairs can be rented for free and should be booked in advance.

From Sydney: Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Tour

5. From Sydney: Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Tour

Depart Sydney and journey in a comfortable coach to the heart of the Blue Mountains, named for the blue tinge the mountain range takes on when viewed from a distance. Enjoy a guided bushwalk off the beaten track to a spectacular lookout, before exploring a mountain village at lunchtime. Visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney's leading animal attraction, where you can see a koala, feed kangaroos, and see other indigenous creatures such as wombats, Tasmanian Devils, Black-Breasted Buzzards and many more. Then, explore the Blue Mountains National Park on a guided bushwalk. See amazing waterfalls and rainforest flora, and discover secluded lookouts. Go to the Three Sisters rock formation, towering across the Jamison Valley at Katoomba. Return to the city in the comfort of your tour vehicle after a great day exploring the world heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park.

Sydney: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour

6. Sydney: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Benefit from access to 2 different routes with 30 stops on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. See all the sights of Sydney and Bondi Beach at your own pace. Learn about the local culture with audio commentary and unlimited rides while driving past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.  Savor the culinary delights of cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants, explore the city's maritime history at the Maritime Museum, take a stroll in the Chinese Gardens or shop for unique gifts in some of Sydney's finest shopping districts. Create your own itinerary around the city. Experience Sydney aboard the double-decker buses and see the Sydney Harbour, hidden beaches, pristine bushlands, botanic gardens, and islands to explore. Explore highlights of the city including Circular Quay, Hyde Park, and Sea Life Sydney Aquarium on the Red Route. Discover the Bondi Beach tour as a perfect introduction to Australia’s beach culture. Let Big Bus take you to the best shopping and dining precincts, plus Centennial Parklands, one of Australia’s most picturesque parks. Explore stops like Central Station, Sydney Tower Eye, and Bondi Beach.

Sydney: Harbour Dinner Cruise with 3, 4 or 6-Course Menu

7. Sydney: Harbour Dinner Cruise with 3, 4 or 6-Course Menu

Enjoy a unique dining experience aboard one of Sydney's premier vessels, the MV Sydney 2000 ship, as you sail around Sydney Harbour during an evening sightseeing cruise. Depending on the season and chosen departure, see the changing colours of a Sydney Harbour sunset, twilight, or night time city lights. Soak in the enchanting backdrop of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge and savour the delicious choices of a premium dinner selection and 5-star service. Choose from: The Sunset Dinner Cruise 3-courses chosen for you by our onboard chefs, the entrée, main and dessert are served alternatively. Entrée • Smoked salmon with herb salad of dill, capers, and cornichons (GF) • Crispy pear and garden leaf salad with toasted walnuts and Grana Padano (V, GF) (VG Available) Main • Gremolata rubbed barramundi with salsa verde, roast vegetable medley, and fried caper berries • Twice-cooked crispy skin chicken with creamy potato cake, roast pumpkin, baby spinach and honied carrots *Vegan available on request* Middle Eastern eggplant with zucchini, roasted capsicum, polenta and marinated semi-dried tomatoes (VG, GF) Dessert • Lemon and lime tart with a dollop of double cream (V, GF) • Chocolate raspberry coconut pebble with raspberry sauce (VG) The Starlight Dinner Cruise 4-course à la carte dining, course one being a chefs selection of canapes. A platter of chef's selection canapés to share Entrée - Smoked salmon with herb salad of dill, capers and cornichons (GF) - Crispy pear and garden leaf salad with toasted walnuts and Grana Padano (V, GF) (VG Available) - Pumpkin, ricotta and goats cheese ravioli with Napolitana sauce and topped with Italian aged Grana Padano Main - Black angus Riverina beef sirloin with creamy potato pave, baby beets, carrot batons and a shiraz jus (GF) - Gremolata rubbed barramundi with salsa verde, roast vegetable medley, and fried caper berries - Twice-cooked crispy skin chicken with creamy potato cake, roast pumpkin, baby spinach and honeyed carrots - Middle Eastern eggplant with zucchini, roasted capsicum, polenta and marinated semi-dried tomatoes (VG, GF) Dessert - Lemon and lime tart with a dollop of double cream (V, GF) - Malibu and coconut slice with mango coulis - Chocolate raspberry coconut pebble with raspberry sauce (VG) The Gold Penfold's Dinner Cruise 6-course degustation dinner with the option to add paired Penfold's wines. Course 1 Chef's selection of canapés served on arrival Course 2 Seared scallops w/ lime foam Course 3 Herb salad Course 4 Casarecce pasta with rocket pesto and aged Italian parmesan Course 5 Angus centre cut eye fillet with sautéed mushrooms and a rich jus Course 6 Black violet cheesecake Once you have indulged in the fantastic cuisine on offer, enjoy the fabulous live music on Saturday and Sunday nights. See the stunning Sydney Harbour by night aboard your premium dining cruise.

Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

8. Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

Experience the most fun way to travel to Taronga Zoo and save money with a return ticket on the rocket ferry Circular Quay. Once inside the zoo, take in as many of the exhibits as you like at your own pace. Explore 10 themed areas, including Wild Australia, Wild Asia and the Great Southern Oceans. Hear talks by the zookeepers and go to interactive shows, such as the free bird show and free seal show. See native Australian animals, including koala and platypus, along with creatures from around the world such as Asian elephants, lions and giraffe. Grab some lunch at one of the many cafés, or take your own picnic and find a nice spot in the shade. Once you've had your animal fix for the day, head back to the dock and get some amazing views of Sydney on the cruise back to Circular Quay.

Sydney: Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine Small Group Tour

9. Sydney: Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine Small Group Tour

Be part of a small group of no more than 11 travelers and journey by comfortable minibus, south along the beaches of Botany Bay and into the Royal National Park. Wind through the forest and stop at Bald Hill Lookout, which affords sweeping views of the Illawarra coastline and the famous Sea Cliff Bridge. Next, it's on to the family-run Symbio Wildlife Park, active in koala conservation. Find out everything you ever wanted to know about these fascinating marsupials during a private koala presentation with a keeper. Snap the ultimate selfie - just you and a koala. You’ll also be able to feed kangaroos and wallabies and get up close with native Australian wildlife. Continue to follow the scenic coastline of the Grand Pacific Drive across the Sea Cliff Bridge as it sweeps out over the ocean and on to Bulli Beach where you’ll enjoy lunch in a café popular with locals that overlooks the beach and an ocean pool. Bring your swimmers for a pre-lunch dip if the sun is out. In the afternoon head up through temperate rainforest into the Southern Highlands. An easy hike leads to viewpoints that take in the spectacular sandstone gorges and towering waterfalls of the Morton National Park. Finally, you’ll drive along country roads to a boutique winery to taste locally-produced, cool climate wine before returning to Sydney. Arrival back at Circular Quay is around 6:30 PM.

Sydney: Morning or Afternoon Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

10. Sydney: Morning or Afternoon Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Discover the sights of Sydney Harbour on this sightseeing cruise. See the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens and learn about the history of the city with informative live commentary. Along the way, help yourself to hot drinks and fresh fruits and cookies. Set sail from Eastern Pontoon in Circular Quay and choose from either a morning or afternoon sightseeing cruise. Pass by Sydney's most iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, and all the sights in between. Refresh with a tea or coffee from the drinks station and help yourself to cookies and fruit. Along the way, enjoy live commentary from a knowledgeable skipper and make sure to bring your camera as there will be countless photo opportunities along the way.

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What people are saying about Circular Quay

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 4,972 reviews

The trip was was excellent. Packed in so much for one day. The company Anderson’s where brilliant and our driver/courier was first class gave us so much information about what we were going to see, you couldn’t have seen places on your own. Highly recommended would advise anyone to book this trip, money well spent.

We had a great time, we recommend it. We had to rent a wheelchair for my Mum as she can't walk for too long. The zoo has wheel chair access however is a bit hard to get around when you go up hill, other than that the whole experience was good. Really nice views of the city.

Spectacular views. Fun rides in scenic world. Up close view of Australia animals at Sydney Zoo Our guide Lloyd was very knowledgeable and entertaining

We had a very good time, the whole trip was very well organised and fun. Noor was very entertaining, professional and funny. Thank you.

Excellent itinerary with time to visit each site and commentary by our tour guide. Nice lunch stop and ample free time.