Visit Sydney Australia
Cremorne Point Ferry and Walk
Start: Circular Quay, Mosman Ferry Wharf
Finish: Circular Quay, Mosman Ferry Wharf
Transport: Ferry
Duration: Two hours
Points of Interest: Ferry ride; Harbour views; Cremorne Point walk
The ferry trip to Cremorne Point is relatively short - Cremorne Point Wharf is in fact just 10 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay - so this trip is perfect for someone who finds themselves in Central Sydney with an hour or two to fill. Ferries leave Circular Quay every half hour during daylight hours, Cremorne Point Wharf is the first stop is near the end of Cremorne Point. This is around the midway point along the foreshore walk. After leaving the ferry you simply follow the path in either direction - turning left follows the shoreline of Shell Cove with views across the cove to Neutral Bay. Turning right follows the shoreline of Mosman Bay with views across the bay to Mosman.
Cremorne Reserve, through which the walk passes, stretches around the entire shoreline of Cremorne Point in a mix of bush and formal gardens, providing unrivalled public access to the harbour shores. It is a special reserve with a fascinating history in a spectacular environment. The reserve is a perfect spot for a picnic, there is a children's playground or and a harbourside pool with an amazing view. Toilets are located in the picnic area at the end of the Point, near the Cremorne Wharf trackhead sign.
The interpretative signs will help you to discover something of its original Aboriginal inhabitants, the early Cremorne Gardens, the fine architectural heritage, the impact of development on the Reserve's flora and fauna and the work being done to bring back the bush. To make it a loop walk, when you reach the northern end on the Shell Cove side, turn right into Bogota Avenue, then continue along Hodgson Avenue. Steps lead down to the reserve at the end of Hodgson Avenue.
On the Mosman Bay side of Cremorne Point there is a second ferry wharf named Old Cremorne Wharf where the Mosman ferry also stops, but on its way back to Circular Quay after leaving Mosman. You can catch the ferry back to Circular Quay from Old Cremorne Wharf. If you'd like to extend your ferry ride to include Mosman, stay on ferry at Cremorne Point Wharf, journey up Mosman Bay, staying on board at South Mosman Bay and Mosman Bay Wharves, and alighting at Old Cremorne Wharf. After your walk, if you'd rather have your ferry ride after your walk, get on and off the ferry at Cremorne Point Wharf.
Shell Cove has the honour of being home to the closest waterfall to the Sydney central business district. These days, due to extensive development of the Cremorne peninsula, the natural drainage patterns have been destroyed and rainwater no longer flows over the falls naturally. Instead it is captured in stormwater drains and channeled over the falls. It s not quite the same as in its natural state the water flowing over the falls appears from underneath a clifftop house and only flows after heavy rains, but at least it still flows and give Cremorne a unique attraction. Though it is located in the heart of the Lower North Shore, Shell Cove is not directly on the Cremorne Point walking path and thus misses much of the walking traffic on this popular walk.
