Sydney Heads to the Bridge

Sailing in through Sydney Heads is a hard arrival to beat, and the main channels inside are deep and well marked. TfNSW calls it an extremely busy waterway: ships, high-speed ferries, seaplanes, yachts and kayaks all share it, with naval waters and security zones in the middle of it. This page covers the run from the Heads to the Harbour Bridge and the eastern bays where most visiting yachts end up.

At a glance

Coming in through the Heads

The channels. NGA says the old bar, with the Sow and Pigs shoals, once ran nearly across the harbour between South Head and George Head. Western Channel, used by most ships, has at least 13.7 m. Eastern Channel is dredged to 12.2 m on the leads.

The Sound. Just inside the Heads, NGA describes The Sound branching north to Spring Cove, North Harbour and Middle Harbour. It's open to the ocean swell, so it's only a temporary anchorage in offshore winds.

Bradleys Head. TfNSW says that since September 2024 the old safe-water mark off Bradleys Head has been replaced by a special mark about 200 m further east. Ships pass between Bradleys Head and the mark; ferries and other commercial boats leave it to port.

Don't anchor here. NGA says there's unexploded ordnance in the anchorage west of Gap Bluff in Watsons Bay and in Deviation Cut. It's safe to sail over but not to anchor, trawl or work the seabed.

Anchoring and moorings

• Near wharves. NGA says anchoring is prohibited within 0.1 mile of any wharf, jetty or bridge, or anywhere it blocks the approach to one, or near a cable or pipeline.
• Courtesy moorings. Map 9D shows pink courtesy moorings around the eastern bays.
• Rose Bay. Rose Bay is a seaplane take-off area. TfNSW has a best-practice guide for sharing the bay; keep well clear of seaplanes.

The Bridge and Sydney Cove

• Bridge transit zone. You can only pass through the zone around the Harbour Bridge, between Bennelong and Kirribilli points and Millers and Blues points. No more than 15 knots and no anchoring or drifting except in an emergency (TfNSW).
• Sydney Cove. Map 9D says Sydney Cove is closed to all recreational and unauthorised commercial vessels.
• Security zones. The map says waterside restricted security zones exist at key sites in the port.

Sydney Harbour rules in brief

• No PWCs, no kiteboards. TfNSW says you can't drive a personal watercraft anywhere on Sydney Harbour, including its bays, the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers and Middle Harbour. Kiteboards are banned too, and sailboards are restricted in many areas.
• Ferries. By day, ferries showing an orange diamond have priority over sail. Sailing boats keep at least 200 m off their bow and 30 m off their sides and stern. High-speed ferries show an all-round flashing yellow light when travelling fast.
• Ships. Keep well clear of ships in the channels, keep to the starboard side and give way. Sydney VTS broadcasts safety messages and ship movements every 2 hours on VHF 13 (and 16), starting at about 1 am. The Port Authority asks recreational boaters to listen on 13 in the harbour and 12 in Botany Bay.
• Naval waters. TfNSW map 9D says no anchoring in naval waters, and to keep clear of Garden Island by staying outside the Man of War yellow buoys. NGA warns of hazardous work with explosives in naval waters; keep away from warships and ammunition barges flying flag B.
• Moorings. Pink courtesy moorings are free for vessels under 20 tonnes for up to 24 hours unless a sign says otherwise. Blue emergency moorings are for TfNSW and police only (map 9D).
• Swimmers. Powerboats keep at least 60 m from designated swimming areas (map 9D).
• Survey work, 27 Oct to 27 Nov 2026. Port Authority local marine notice 030-2026 says a survey boat (a Zodiac) is surveying Port Jackson, mostly in naval waters, weather permitting. Keep clear of it.

Facilities

• Rescue. Marine Rescue NSW answers 24/7 on VHF 16 or (02) 9471 8300; its Middle Harbour and Port Jackson units both work the harbour.
• Marinas. OpenStreetMap shows marinas at Rose Bay, Point Piper, Double Bay, Rushcutters Bay and Elizabeth Bay; see the map above.

Ashore

What's within about a 15-minute walk (1.2 km) of each marina, ramp or landing on this page, measured along streets and footpaths in OpenStreetMap. Addresses are from OpenStreetMap where it has one; where it doesn't, we show the name and distance only. Listings as fetched from OpenStreetMap on 27 October 2026; check opening hours before you walk.

From Elizabeth Bay Marina (marina)

From Double Bay Marina (marina)

From Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Marina / d'Albora Rushcutters Bay Marina (marina)

From Watsons Bay Wharf (boat ramp / dinghy landing)

From Rose Bay Marina / Point Piper Marina (marina)

Places, types, addresses and walking distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), fetched 27 October 2026.

About this page

These are free planning notes written by a working delivery skipper from public sources. They are not for navigation. Use the official chart, current Transport for NSW marine notices, Port Authority notices, official tide tables and local advice. Spotted something out of date? Please use Report a correction below.

Official links

Check these before you go. They beat anything on this page.

• Transport for NSW: rules for boating on Sydney Harbour
• Port Authority of NSW: Sydney Harbour & Port Botany local marine notices
• Port Authority of NSW: Sydney Harbour information for recreational boaters
• Transport for NSW: exclusion and restriction zones
• Port Authority local marine notice 030-2026: bathymetric survey (PDF)
• Transport for NSW boating maps (index)
• Transport for NSW marine notices (current)
• Transport for NSW: crossing coastal bars
• Marine Rescue NSW: log on and plan your trip
• Bureau of Meteorology: tide predictions
• Bureau of Meteorology: NSW coastal waters forecasts
• Bureau of Meteorology: NSW warnings (incl. marine wind warnings)

Sources & credits

Need a delivery skipper for this coast? Get a quote from Capt. Garry Hartshorne, AMSA Master <45.