Darling Harbour Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Darling Harbour. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Sydney Bike Tours

• Morning or Afternoon Half-Day Sydney City Sightseeing Tour

• Luxury Sailing Cruise on Sydney Harbour with Lunch

• Sydney's Chinatown Street Food and Stories Walking Tour

• Sydney Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems with a Local

There’s no cost just to visit Darling Harbour, but many guided tours of Sydney begin or pass through here. Tour costs vary—expect to pay US$50 or more for a small-group walking tour or lunch or dinner cruise, US$65 for a kayaking tour of the harbor, and upwards of US$150 for a private half-day walking tour.

Aside from an array of upmarket accommodations and dining, Darling Harbour is known for plenty of other attractions. Check out the IMAX Sydney theater, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Tall Ship James Craig, and the SEA LIFE® Sydney Aquarium. Tumbalong Park and the Chinese Garden of Friendship are also a short walk south of the water.

For views of Sydney from the water, take a ferry from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour, getting off at Barangaroo Wharf (on the eastern side of the harbor) or Pyrmont Bay Wharf (on the western side). You can also get to Darling Harbour by bus, though this is less scenic than the ferry. Many buses stop along the streets surrounding the harbor.

Yes, Darling Harbour is a very family-friendly part of Sydney. The major attractions here are ideal for kids, including the IMAX Sydney theater, the Tall Ship James Craig, the SEA LIFE® Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and Tumbalong Park, which has a playground. There are also eateries that cater to families, though the area has a high proportion of upscale restaurants.

Yes, you can catch lots of seasonal events throughout the year at Darling Harbour, especially in the summer. These include live music, outdoor movies, fireworks, weekend markets, exercise classes, and food fairs. The harbor also hosts festivities such as Lunar New Year celebrations and Christmas displays, including a floating Christmas tree. Also during the holidays is a famous Sydney highlight—the family-friendly New Year’s Eve fireworks at 9pm.