Sydney By Ferry - Ettalong

Ettalong

The Palm Beach ferry is a trip with great views across the mouth of Broken Bay - a crossing that takes about half an hour by ferry, but would take several hours by road.

Once upon a time, the ferry went only to Patonga - a nice little village, but with few places to eat and limited onwards public transport. That changed long ago, and provided that the channel hasn't silted up yet again, the ferry now goes to Ettalong (usually via Wagstaffe). From Ettalong wharf, the foreshore walk leads to Ettalong shops, with many places to eat, and plenty of buses connecting to Woy Woy station and beyond - or you can walk up to the next street, and find quite a few more places to eat on the way to the shops.

Ettalong town centre is easy to spot from the water - it has the only high rise building in town, the Mantra Resort, with the Ettalong Beach Club (actually the RSL club) located on the ground floor. There are plenty of cafes around the local shops, and there is the nearby Bowling Club.

Palm Beach Ferries is operated by Fantasea, who have been bought by NRMA. The ferries don't take Opal card, instead the deckhand will come around to collect your fares. There are half fares for children, seniors and pensioners, Ettalong can be done as a ferry day trip in two different ways - either as a return ferry trip, or a round trip by train.

As a return ferry trip, you can use the 199 or L90 bus to Palm Beach wharf, or drive. If you drive, please allow enough time to find car parking nearby - the wharf's paid car park is usually full, and the free street parking is a couple of blocks back towards Sydney. And make sure that at Ettalong, you are in time for the last ferry back. otherwise you have a long bus & train trip to do.

As a round trip, you can catch the L90 or 199 bus to Palm Beach wharf (and get off at the park opposite Barrenjoey House). Return from Ettalong by bus to Woy Woy and then train, which rewards you with the trip along Mullet Creek past the oyster beds, and the crossing of Hawkesbury River - which is the longest rail bridge in NSW - Heritage Listed, and Australia's only civil project constructed during World War II.

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