Due to the manufacture of Agent Orange and other "nice" stuff by Union Carbide in Homebush Bay over 40 years ago, the NSW Government has issued a warning about eating fish from anywhere in the main harbour. Fish caught west of the harbour bridge should be thrown back, while it is permissible to eat 150gm of fish per month if caught on the east side of the bridge. The levels of dioxins are well over recommended dosages in most cases, especially close to the source of this contamination.
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Further details can be found by following [http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/keeping-food-safe/special-care-foods/sydney-harbour-seafood this link]
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==Anchorages==
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Details of all safe anchorages in the area:
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{{Note}}Sydney Harbour has pretty good holding all around, but is quite deep. Typically 25 meters or so in the main channels, and can be up to 15 meters deep even quite close to shore. So you have to get well in and look around for anchoring spots. Sydney Harbour is littered with bays and small coves, so many that it's almost impossible to list them all here.
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{{poi | lat= -33.844186 | lon= 151.279571
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| type= anchorage
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| name=Watsons Bay
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| altname=
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| url =
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| zoom= 15
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| image=
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| imagetext=
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| text= I really like [http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-33.844186,151.279571&spn=0.009731,0.014591&z=16 Watsons Bay]. Deceptively sheltered for just inside the heads, and you can usually find an anchoring spot just outside the moorings or tie up to an unused mooring for a very short period of time (long enough to grab some fish and chips from ''Doyle's'' on the Wharf -- tell them I sent you, although don't tell them I told you to grab someone else's mooring). --[[User:Delatbabel|Delatbabel]]
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}}
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{{poi | lat= -33.860616 | lon= 151.218052
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| type= anchorage
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| name= Farm Cove
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| altname=
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| url =
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| zoom= 15
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| image=
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| text= [http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-33.860616,151.218052&spn=0.009729,0.014591&z=16 Farm Cove] is OK for anchoring, good holding in sand/mud, nice and close to the city with plenty of places to pull up the dinghy alongside, and a 24 hour time limit. Don't overstay your welcome, you're between the water police and the naval base. Also don't be tempted to anchor too far out into the bay overnight as commercial harbour cruise boats do tend to circle the bay and some of them aren't very manouverable.
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}}
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{{poi | lat= -33.85748 | lon= 151.211808
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| type= anchorage
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| name=Sydney Cove and Circular Quay
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| altname=
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| url =
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| zoom= 15
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| image=
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| imagetext=
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| text= {{Warning}}If you miss Farm Cove, don't even think about anchoring in the next bay along -- [http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-33.85748,151.211808&spn=0.009729,0.014591&z=16 Sydney Cove] and Circular Quay, unless you happen to like the water police impounding your boat.
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}}
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{{poi | lat= -33.77929 | lon=151.23113
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| type= anchorage
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| name=Bantry Bay
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| url =
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| zoom= 16
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| text= One of the more picturesque anchorages in Sydney is [https://maps.google.com/?ll=-33.780503,151.233888&spn=0.026717,0.039783&t=h&z=15 Bantry Bay] at the north end of Middle Harbour. You need to pass the Spit Bridge to get there, so [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/spitbridge/index.html check the opening times]. There are 8 free public moorings as well as ample anchoring space. During most of the year a mooring should be available if you arrive early in the day, they tend to fill up by evening and are often full all weekend in the summer. In the absence of a free mooring, anchoring space is plentiful on the west side of the bay, away from the moorings.
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}}
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Other popular anchoring spots for long distance cruisers are:
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{{poi | lat= -33.872429 | lon= 151.187046
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| type= anchorage
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| name=Blackwattle Bay
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| altname=
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| url =
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| zoom= 15
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| image= Blackwattle_Bay_Sydney.jpg
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| imagetext= Blackwattle Bay Anchorage
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| text= [http://maps.google.com/?ll=-33.872429,151.187046&spn=0.006521,0.011061&t=m&z=16 Blackwattle Bay] -- and the nearby '''Rozelle Bay''' are very popular anchorages with visiting cruisers. There is a very tight marked anchoring area, easy dinghy landing on a pontoon (although not safe for long stowage periods and you might want to consider locking your dinghy) and right near the fish markets for a good feed. The nearby Glebe offers a wonderful collection of restaurants and coffee shops. Sadly the anchorage is usually filled with long term liveaboards, some of who have been there for years, leaving limited room for visitors.
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}}
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{{poi | lat= -33.8408 | lon= 151.191734
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| type= anchorage
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| name=Balls Head Bay
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| altname=
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| url =
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| zoom= 16
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| image=
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| imagetext=
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| text= [http://maps.google.com/?ll=-33.8408,151.191734&spn=0.006523,0.011061&t=m&z=16 Balls Head Bay] as mentioned above. Beware of the detritus littering the bottom of the bay, it has been known to foul anchors. In fact an old Sydneysider's story is that to anchor in Balls Head Bay you merely lower your chain, snorkel down and shackle it to whatever you find on the bottom. Other than that holding is pretty good. Note that you should avoid the next (sub-) bay to the west, '''Gore Cove''', because of regular traffic from oil tankers.
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}}
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These offer no-time-restricted anchoring for boats that are '''not''' registered in NSW. If your boat is registered in NSW you must use a marina or mooring for long term storage.
Sydney is Australia's largest city, and largest / principal sea port. It is the capital city of New South Wales, and located on the East Coast of Australia roughly half way between Brisbane to the north and Melbourne to the south.
Charts
Charts of Sydney Harbour are readily available, but the harbour pilots contained in the cruising guide mentioned above, along with a depth sounder, are your best guides. Sydney Harbour is wide and deep throughout, and except at the far reaches of Middle Harbour or the Lane Cove River there is very little to hit.
NSW Road and Maritime Transport publish boating maps for NSW which are also available online for free. The relevant maps for Sydney Harbour are:
Most areas of Sydney have one or more coin-operated laundromats, or more frequently bag wash services where you can drop a bag of dirties and pick it up clean the next day. Check with the marina or other locals as to where you might find the nearest.
Garbage
Garbage disposal in Sydney is always a problem -- check with the marina or nearby locals as to where council bins might be located. Councils usually only clear away rubbish left in specific bins by residents, and the residents are often on the look out for any unwanted dumper
Supplies
Fuel
Fuel docks are available at many places around Sydney Harbour, some of the ones I have frequented include the following:
Baileys Marine Fuels at White Bay, on the south side of the harbour just past the Harbour Bridge. They have the cheapest prices on the harbour that I have encountered, as well as free water, pump-out facilities, and they are open 24x7 if you have a credit card.
Clontarf Marina just before the Spit Bridge in Middle Harbour. Because of its location it's probably the most stable and sheltered fuel dock in inclement weather.
d'Albora Marinas at Rushcutter's Bay also has a publically accessible fuel dock that is available 24x7. There was once a pump-out station on the fuel dock, last time I checked it had gone although there were rumours that it was about to be replaced.
Bottled gas
?
Chandlers
Whitworths is the best known marine chandlery in Sydney, and operates 5 stores.
BIAS Boating Warehouse is also a good supplier of all marine equipment. Their showrooms are more widely distributed than those of Whitworths.
Bargain Boat Bits sell boat bits, sometimes at a bargain price. Caveat: shop around, as the name of the store may not reflect any relation to having consistently the lowest prices.
Classic Boat Supplies Operates from a shop in Belrose, but also accepts online orders. Has a good range of bronze deck hardware and bits for wooden boat repair, epoxy, etc. Australian distributor for Davey & Co.
The Boat Warehouse Online-only chandlery although they do allow pickups from their Sydney depot, but you need to order ahead. Has a wide range from many of the major brands such as Harken, Ronstan and Oceansouth. Will send orders internationally.
Aquatronics in Brookvale are probably the best suppliers / installers / repairers of anything electronic on your boat.
Oceantalk have a good range of specialist electronic equipment. Although they are distributors they are usually able to be spoken to on the phone, and will offer product advice and let you know where to purchase the gear they distribute. Norm Bretherton was the guy to talk to last time I dealt with them.
Services
Repairs
There are many repair yards around Sydney, mostly are of generally OK quality but the prices are somewhat higher than others in the region. Some that I have frequented include:
Sydney City Marine almost directly under the Anzac Bridge at the entrance to Blackwattle Bay.
Treharne's Manly Boatshed at North Harbour -- however last I heard from them they were no longer slipping boats for repair due to damage to the slipway. Hugh Treharne is one of the most respected shipwrights on the harbour, having had the distinction of being the tactician on Australia II when it won the America's Cup in 1983.
Internet
It's quite tricky to find free or even cheap WiFi in Sydney although many cafes now provide free WiFi with purchase. MacDonalds are one restaurant chain that always has free WiFi, and Burger King/Hungry Jacks have it in most stores as well.
Mobile connectivity
?
Vehicle rentals
Nearly all major car rental companies are represented in Sydney, from the executive fleet to rent-a-ruffy. Some picks include:
In addition, Sydney has an innovative car share scheme called goGet. For a membership fee of approx. $25 per month you get to rent cars by the hour, paying only an hourly fee. Fuel is paid for, and the cars are serviced regularly. Inner city and harbour areas of Sydney have many goGet cars located on the streets, check out the web site for your nearest car.
Provisioning
Australia has a duopoly of major grocery stores, those being Coles and Woolworths. Ask any local where the nearest Coles or "Woolies" is and you'll get directions, usually to a major shopping mall many of which are scattered throughout Sydney.
It's worth checking out some of the other smaller stores such as:
IGA -- usually can be found in large and small centres, and often carry a range of more exotic lines spurned by the major supermarkets.
Sydney has an excellent train network, a passable ferry and bus network, and many other forms of public transport. Taxis are easy to find but somewhat expensive.
Sydney is served by Kingsford Smith Airport which has separate international and domestic terminals (connected by the Sydney train network) with flights to most domestic locations and connections to many international locations. This includes daily flights to the USA West Coast, SE Asia, Europe and South Africa.
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the port.
Places to Visit
There are many things to do ashore in Australia's largest city, many people live their entire lives there and never leave. To attempt to list them all here would be futile -- check some of the "what's on" type links in the links section, check out the happenings in the local newspaper (Sydney Morning Herald) and also check one of the tourism web sites such as sydney.com or Destination NSW (both run by the State Government).
Visit:
Bondi Beach
Kings Cross
Sydney Opera House
The Rocks
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
Sydney is a popular tourist, business, and cultural destination being the largest city in Australia and the largest in the region. There are a great many sites offering everything from a "quickie" to 5 star escorted tours of the city and hinterlands. Here is a small selection of the most appropriate sites:
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Travels with S/Y Thetis
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