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 Sydney is built around a beautiful natural harbour, with much of the foreshore being dedicated as National Park. Easy walking trails abound, and some of the best views of the city can be had from the heights around Vaucluse (on the route of the blue Bondi & Bay Explorer) or from Bradley's Head, near Taronga Zoo. But you don't have to just look at the harbour from the shore, because Sydney is well-served by a wide variety of excellent harbour cruises and ferry services.
Most scheduled cruises depart from Circular Quay or from the eastern side of Darling Harbour near the Sydney Aquarium. The choice ranges from short jaunts of about one hour to cruises lasting a whole day or evening, from simple cross-harbour ferry-boat rides to luxury excursions on million-dollar yachts. We've listed a selection of the best we could find below.
 Whether it’s a day trip to Taronga Zoo, a seafood lunch off Watsons Bay or an elegant dinner for 2 or 2000, there is a Captain Cook Cruise for every budget and every occasion. Sydney’s largest fleet of cruise boats, sailing catamarans and rocket ferries offers a choice of over 20 cruises daily from No 6 Jetty, Circular Quay and Pier 26, Darling Harbour. The award-winning Coffee Cruise to Middle Harbour, featuring personalized commentary and morning or afternoon tea on board, is justifiably world famous. It departs every day at 10am and 2.15pm. The Sydney Harbour Explorer cruise combines the ease and comfort of a cruise with the flexibility of a ferry. The all-day Explorer ticket lets you hop on and off at any of seven harbourside attractions – including Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Fort Denison, Shark Island, Luna Park and Darling Harbour. And there’s an extensive range of big-cat sailing cruises, cocktail cruises, luncheon cruises and whale-watching excursions in season. Click here for more details
 But if you are a keen yachtie or a would-be sailor you'll probably jump at the chance to see the wonders of Sydney Harbour from aboard the famous America's Cup racer 'MPI Spirit'. Normally the preserve of only the highest echelons of competitive sailing, the sleek black 75ft 'MPI Spirit' now takes up to 30 passengers on 3-hour cruises every Friday and Saturday. Experience is unnecessary as there's a small crew of professional sailors on board, but if you do want to get involved in the sailing you are very welcome to join in. Or you can just sit back and enjoy the ride - it's completely up to you. All you need is a pair of soft white-soled shoes, a hat, some sunscreen and a camera. Morning or afternoon tea is included. 'Spirit' sails from the wharf in front of Star City Casino on the western side of Darling Harbour.
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 The MV Sydney 2000 takes Sydney Harbour dining to an impressive level. Sydney’s most prestigious cruise ship offers a comprehensive range of lunch and dinner options from seafood buffet lunches to elegant seven-course degustation menus. Over the three dining decks the entertainment varies from dancing to opera, or for the romantics, the silent symphony of the sparkling city lights. Click here for more details
 Situated right on the shore of Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is known worldwide as "the zoo with a view". Its beautifully-manicured grounds offer breathtaking Harbour panoramas as well as the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New South Wales. You'll see koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and frilled lizards, plus the amazing Kodak free-flight Bird Show. Taronga Zoo also houses over 2000 rare and endangered animals including a breeding herd of Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers and Kodiak bears and a growing family of man's closest relatives, the chimpanzee.
The latest attraction at Taronga Zoo is called Great Southern Oceans. This spectacular new 1.2 hectare exhibit allows you to come face-to-face with an amazing array of seals, sea lions, penguins and all the other precious creatures that inhabit the waters around Australia. The little penguins seem to be ‘flying’ as they swoop and glide through the water when seen through the big viewing windows in their specially-designed pool, and the antics of the seals and sea lions as they frolic and play their way through the show at thenew Seal Discovery Theatre is simply a joy to behold. The easiest way to get to Taronga Zoo is by boat from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. Regular commuter ferries operate all day, and the Zoo is also on the route of Captain Cook Cruises’ Sydney Harbour Explorer round harbour service.
As an added bonus What's On in Sydney readers will receive 20% off the price of general admission with the coupon on this site. Taronga Zoo is open from 9am till 5pm every day of the year. For more information phone 9969 2777.
 Magistic Cruises luxurious multi-million dollar catamarans,the newest on Sydney Harbour, offer sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises every day. The one-hour sightseeing cruise takes in all the harbour’s main attractions, and can be extended to a two-hour luncheon cruise incorporating a superb hot and cold buffet with a seafood platter upgrade option. The evening Magistic dinner cruise captures the true essence of harbour dining and features an amazing abundance of Australia’s best seafood – including the freshest prawns and juiciest Sydney rock oysters. And What’s On in Sydney readers can save up to 35% off any Magistic Dinner Cruise until December 24 by booking online. But you’ll need to book early as these cruises are very popular in summer. Click here for more details
 And while you're around the harbour make sure you leave time for a visit to Sydney's much loved fun park - Luna Park at Milsons Point. As you walk through the famous face you'll enter the magical world of a 1930s amusement park. Take on crazy rides such as the Tango Train and Tumble But, and nostalgic favourites like the superbly restored Carousel. The littlies just love the Space Shuttle and everyone will have the time of their life on the Giant Slides and all the other rides in Coney Island.
Then you can try your luck at a range of old-time slideshow games like the Laughing Clowns, or test your strength on the High Striker - there are fabulous prizes to be won. And the views of the Opera house, harbour, city and North Sydney from the top of the gigantic Ferris Wheel are truly spectacular.
Luna park is next to the northern pylon of the Harbour Bridge. It's easy to get to by bus, train, ferry or car and, best of all, entry is free. You just pay for the rides and games you want. Click here for more details
 You can also explore Sydney Harbour with Sydney Ferries. You'll wander past the Opera House and Fort Denison and cruise upstream to see the bright lights of Darling Harbour. You can join any of Sydney Ferries cruises as part of your 3, 5 or 7-day SydneyPass.
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 Another great thrill these days is to be right amongst
the giant whales as they migrate up and down the coast off Sydney from June to November. One of the most experienced whale-watching operators is Bass and Flinders Cruises, the only people who have won a NSW Tourism award and are fully-certified for ecologically sustainable tourism. Bass and Flinders have a 98% success rate in spotting whales and offer a Whale Guarantee – in the rare case of no whales being sighted they’ll happily give you a free return trip. And this year Bass and Flinders offer you a choice of short trips on their new 50-knot rigid-hulled inflatable so you can get out there and back in around two hours and still have a full hour among the whales. Of course they still offer half-day cruises on their big 115ft catamaran. Click here for more details .jpg) You can explore Sydney Harbour in great luxury, you can cruise it sedately under sail, or you can flash around at up to 80km/hr wave-riding and doing wild fishtails with Sydney’s most experienced jet boat operator Oz Jet Boating. You’ll get to see all the harbour’s main sights while the driver performs amazing extreme turns, power-brake stops and 270 degress spins – there’s nothing on the harbour like it! Oz Jet is Sydney’s most popular jet boat, having carried nearly 200,000 passengers since beginning operations in 2000, and this is Australia’s most powerful jet boat. They offer a range of trips – from a 30-minute thrill ride to a full 1-hour adventure out to Sydney Heads and back – every day of the year. Oz Jet departs from the jetty on the eastern side of Circular Quay, from 10am between November and February and 11am between March and October. But they’re extremely popular so bookings are advisable. Click here for more details
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Around
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