SYDNEY HARBOUR OVERVIEW. This photo taken from North Head. 151 degrees east, 34 degrees south (approx). Looking to west.
Left : Hyundai 202 dropping pilot - South Head - shipping channels - Eastern Suburbs.
Right : Middle Head bushland - Bradleys Head - city, Centrepoint Tower tallest structure.
Top of Sydney Harbour Bridge visible to right. 8K in direct line to bridge, 10k via shipping channels.
Note need for two sharp turns by shipping entering and leaving.
Prevailing swell from left (south east).

See Google Earth, zoom out from 33°49'29.79" S 151°16'40.65" E (between North, Middle and South Heads)

Below is information about Sydney shipspotting locations prepared for visiting friends :


SYDNEY SHIPSPOTTING LOCATIONS
Prepared by Clyde Dickens
25 January 2016 version

Sydney ports are not busy by European standards. Check the Ship Schedule below. But the locations shown are all good tourist visits. Most of them face south with the sun thus behind the camera. Many are on high ground looking down on ships’ decks.

SHIP SCHEDULE (Check each day and before leaving home/hotel)
- See https://www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/sydney-harbour/daily-vessel-movements/
- Arrivals time is for Pilot pick up, sometimes off Botany Bay (check Marine Traffic)
- 45 minutes to Prince of Wales Drive, Botany Bay.
- 1 hour to Sydney Heads
- 30 minutes from Sydney Heads to Brahttps://www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/sydney-harbour/daily-vessel-movements/dleys Head, (south tip of Ashton Park)..

- Departures time is for commencing dropping mooring lines.
- In Sydney Harbour, half hour + from then to Bradleys Head (south tip of Ashton Park).
- In Botany Bay (Port Botany), half hour + from then to Prince of Wales Drive

FOR LOCAL GEOGRAPHY,
Search Google Maps or Google Earth with the co-ordinates given.
Or
Use http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/
Go to Port = Sydney, or Go to Port = Botany.
Then Use street maps for land navigation.


FOR TRANSPORT INFORMATION, go to https://transportnsw.info/routes#/


SHIPSPOTTING LOCATIONS THAT CAN BE REACHED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

Circular Quay ferry wharf
33°51'37.95" S 151°12'38.59" E
Part of bus, train and ferry interchange. Take pics from ferry, or wharf, or Circular Quay East.
Car parking in The Rocks and under Opera House
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1262370

Cahill Expressway/Harbour Bridge reached by lift/elevator at east end of Circular Quay
33°51'41.13" S 151°12'46.18" E
Go right from lift
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1258318
Further right to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge, near south east pylon
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1230895
Further north to north east pylon
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1535550
and http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2123051

Woolloomooloo Bay (Navy Fleet Base Garden Island)
Walk around Farm Cove from Opera House, or across Domain from CBD.
Check with driver of hop on hop off Sydney Explorer bus.
33°51'39.49" S 151°13'22.41" E
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1600608
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=986926

Milsons Point/Luna Park.
33°50'58.62" S 151°12'39.47" E
Ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain East/Darling Harbour. First stop.
By car. Towards Harbour from Kirribilli. Picnic areas, parking metres. Cafes.
From west of the Bridge
see http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1323359
and http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=852241
From east of the Bridge
see http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1326032

McMahons Point/Blues Point
33°50'56.40" S 151°12'23.02" E
Ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain East/Darling Harbour .Second stop. Walk 400 metres west to Blues Pt.
By car. South end of Blues Point Road, North Sydney
Picnic areas. Toilets. Parking spaces. Restaurant
Looking west http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1307243
Looking east http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1262000

Balls Head Reserve
33°50'44.81" S 151°11'38.19" E
From Waverton railway station walk 500m (50m past SES turn off), veer right then follow one way road.
Looking south to Morts Bay See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1358276
Looking west to Gore Cove See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1353777
By Car. In North Sydney, off Pacific Highway turn at Bay Street to drive to Balls Head Reserve. After Gore Cove to right oversight, continue 1km on loop road to view Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour and Mort Bay.
Picnic areas, toilets, parking spaces.

Bradleys Head.
33°51'12.56" S 151°14'46.92" E
Taronga Zoo ferry from Circular Quay. Then 20 minute bush track walk from wharf, keeping water on right.
By car. Military Road to Bradleys Head Road, after zoo take left turn off to Bradleys Head (in Ashton Park).
Parking metres. Picnic areas, toilets.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1339189
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1325308
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1323358
Steps down to Taylors Bay 200m east.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1138286
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1113147

Headland Park Lookout.
33°50'13.22" S 151°15'32.38" E
Bus Route 244 City to Chowder Bay. After passing Mosman, 15 minute walk from Suakin Road bus stop,.
By car. Military Road to Middle Head Road, turn right at Suakin Drive. At Gunshot Alley, right then left to parking spaces. Picnic areas. No toilets. 270 degree views from City to Heads to Manly
Location for shots of vessels in shipping channels, and at Chowder Bay Naval Wharf, and Bank Anchorage.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2183632
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1258944
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1300751
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1320885

Middle Head.
33°49'38.43" S 151°16'06.57" E
Bus Route 244 City to Chowder Bay. After passing Mosman, exit bus at HMAS Penguin then 15 minute walk east.
By car. Military Rd to Middle Head Rd. After HMAS Penguin, straight ahead to car park, then 5 minute walk
Picnic areas. No toilets.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1334832
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1334996

Middle Head / Chowder Bay
Bus Route 244 City to Chowder Bay (bus terminus).
33°50'19.20" S 151°15'20.50" E
Café, toilets. About 1 hour bush walk west to Bradleys Head and Taronga Zoo ferry wharf, keeping water on the left.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1823557#

North Head.
33°49'22.88" S 151°17'53.53" E
Fast ferry or Freshwater class ferry from Circular Quay to Manly
Then bus route 135 outside wharf and 1 km walk from North Fort Museum terminus.
Two car park viewpoints before headland viewpoints
By car. From Esplanade outside ferry wharf, left Stuart, left Marshall, right Darley, right fork Scenic Drive
Picnic areas. No toilets. Parking metres. Two car park viewpoints before headland viewpoints
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=510326

Pyrmont Point Park
33°51'50.41" S 151°11'29.68" E
Bus route 443 from Queen Victoria Building York Street city to National Maritime Museum.
Alight at end of Harris Street
By Light Rail. From Central Station to John Street Square station.
By car. Around Darling Harbour, turn right at Murray past National Maritime Museum, then left past Casino
Or go to North end of Harris Street Ultimo and Pyrmont, then right
Picnic areas. Toilets. Parking metres. Cafes.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1300747
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1265720


Balmain for Svitzer tugs and Sydney Ferries bases.
33°51'22.96" S 151°11'18.35" E
By car. At north end of Colgate Avenue, East Balmain
Ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain (Cockatoo Island route)
Bus route 442 (Sydney Buses) from QVB, York St Stand B to Darling St Nr Colgate Av, Balmain
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1295957

Botany Bay, La Perouse above Bare Island.
33°59'23.69" S 151°13'55.83" E
Bus route 394 City to La Perouse
By car. At end of Bunnerong Road Parking spaces with views. Picnic areas and toilets. Cafes.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1283128
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1279649
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1329422



SHIPSPOTTING LOCATIONS REQUIRING CAR

Botany Bay. South end of Prince of Wales Drive.
33°59'02.24" S 151°12'45.95" E
Via either Bumborah Drive off Botany Road, or Military Road off Bunnerong Road
Parking spaces. Picnic area, no toilets. Café with toilet opposite cemetery in Military Road
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1288660
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1329432

Manns Point Park Greenwich.
33°50'34.97" S 151°11'14.04" E
Greenwich Road off River Road North Sydney, left Manns, left George, right Victoria, left Prospect.
Parking spaces. Picnic area, no toilets
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1339193
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1234740

Ballast Point for overview of Tugs and ferries in Mort Bay, and north to Snail Bay and Gore Cove
33°51'08.62" S 151°11'23.80" E
Left off Darling Street Balmain at Rowntree Street or Short Street.
Right at Ballast Point Road to Ronald Street. Navigate one way areas.
See http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1340896
And http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1235272



FOR HISTORY ENTHUSIASTS

Museum of Sydney
33°51'48.10" S 151°12'42.74" E
One block up Phillip Street hill from Circular Quay. Corner of Bridge Street.
Excellent set of scale models of the First Fleet which brought original English settlers in 1788.
Concise overview of Sydney history.
See https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/museum-of-sydney4

Australian National Maritime Museum. Includes on water exhibits.
33°52'10.73" S 151°11'54.59" E
Walk,OR
Ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain East/Darling Harbour.
First stop at Darling Harbour is King Street for Aquarium. Stay on board to cross water to ANMM.
See https://www.sea.museum/

Sydney Heritage Fleet shipyard. James Craig Road Rozelle
33°52'12.40" S 151°10'37.38" E
Bus from Queen Victoria Building near Town Hall,
(alight Victoria Rd near Lilyfield Rd - search Route 441 or 442) + short walk (5 min)
Light Rail from Central Station (alight Rozelle Bay) + short walk (5 min)
See http://www.shf.org.au/index.html

Cockatoo Island
33°50'49.40" S 151°10'17.89" E
Ferry from Circular Quay
Part of the Sydney Harbour Heritage Trust. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and was completed in 1857. Maritime industrial activity ceased in 1992.
See the menu on About Cockatoo Island page at http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/en/