There are many benefits to taking your boat out for a weekend adventure in Sydney. You can enjoy the stunning views of the harbour without spending a fortune on hotels, and you have the freedom to move around as you please.

We’ve created three different Sydney Weekend itineraries, all with convenient berthing/mooring locations central to the area’s attractions.

The Party Weekend

The Darling Harbour Marina is just minutes away from the city centre, making it the perfect place to stay if you want to be close to all the action. You can easily walk to nearby attractions like the Opera House, museums, and some of Sydney’s best cafes and bars.

Berthing fees will depend on the size of your vessel.  Click here for more information about reserving a berth with the Marina

Friday Evening

What better way to start your weekend than to indulge in a few cocktails while enjoying a stunning Sydney Sunset? For this experience, we highly recommend CIRQ Bar & Lounge, located on the 26th floor at the Crown Casino Building. It’s about a 700 meter walk from Cockbay Marina.  Click here for more information

You can either stay for dinner at the bar or venture out to the waterfront where you will find plenty of dining options, from fine dining to casual eats.

Our top recommendations:

Lotus

Nola Smokehouse and Bar

And we can’t wait to try Matt Moran’s Rekodo  Due to open September 16th

With so many great dining options, Barangaroo is the perfect place to explore Sydney’s culinary scene. Visit the Streets of Barangaroo website Here for more information.

Walking from Barangaroo to Darling Harbour is a great way to see the sights and sounds of the city and takes about 15 minutes.   If you want to end your evening closer to your vessel at the marina, there are many late-night bars you can visit opposite the Marina on the waterfront. The Pontoon Bar is open until late and is a great place to relax and enjoy a night cap.

Saturday

Darling Square is just a short walk from the Marina ( 400 meters). You can find a wide variety of dining and retail experiences here, as well as great coffee.

If you’re looking for a leisurely lunch, we recommend Mr Wong’s in Bridge Lane. Reservations are required, but same-day walk-ins are also welcomed.  Distance is about 20 minutes or 5 min in a taxi.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Cafe Graze is another great option for lunch! You can visit the Museum after you finish your meal.

The Sydney Opera House is the perfect place for a cultural experience. It’s only a 20 minute walk or a 5 minute cab ride away. Since most shows begin at 7:30 pm, a number of restaurants close by offer pre-theatre dining starting at 5:30 pm. Our recommendations are: Aria Sydney, Portside Sydney Opera and Bennelong.

If you wanted to dine aboard your vessel, Nicks Seafood on Darling Harbour has a delivery service to your vessel. There is an incredible display of fireworks at Darling Harbour every Saturday evening at 8.30 pm. Prime views of the fireworks can be seen from Darling Harbour Marina and many of the waterfront restaurants and bars on Cockle Bay Wharf and Barangaroo.

Sunday

After breakfast, why not take a peaceful stroll around the Chinese gardens? Located at the southern end of Darling Harbour, the gardens are a 5 minute walk from the Marina. On site, you can also enjoy tea and dumplings in a heritage-listed teahouse.

The Orient on the Rocks  is a great place to enjoy live music and tasty pub meals on Sundays. Surrounding the pub are some of the oldest streets in Sydney, which come alive with the weekend craft markets and street food.

If  you decide to leave Darling Harbour Marina and are looking for a place to have lunch, Woolloomooloo wharf has some of Sydney’s best waterfront eateries.. Both Otto ( 02 9368 7488) and Kingsleys ( 02 9331 7788) can provide berths that accommodate boats up to 13.5 meters long. You will need to call the restaurant ahead of time to make arrangements.

The Boat House restaurant in Rose Bay is a great option for lunch, and can also assist with berthing if you plan ahead.

As you leave the Marina, be sure to take advantage of photo opportunities of our iconic landmarks and send them to : info@rivierasydney.com.au 

The Nature Weekend 

Sydney is teeming with gorgeous anchorages offering sweeping views of the harbor and nature. You can dinghy ashore at these spots and take a lovely coastal walk through pockets of native bushland. You won’t believe you’re still in a major city!

If you’re the type who enjoys long walks in national parks, you’ll love our nature weekend itinerary.

Friday Evening

Enjoy watching a spectacular sunset with your favorite beverage to kick off your weekend. Our recommended spots are Watsons Bay or Cremorne Point. Providoor can pre-deliver all ingredients on the menu with instructions to cook from some of Australia’s finest restaurants, such as Rockpool, Fish Butchery, Chiswick and many more.  Click here for more information 

As the sun sets, take a leisurely cruise to Castle Rock beach, where you will anchor for the night and enjoy a delicious evening meal.

Saturday 

Remember to bring your water toys (kayaks, paddle boards, etc.) to enjoy the crystal-clear water and beautiful scenery at this beach.

Taking a dip in the ocean before breakfast is a great way to start your day. There are few coastal walk options you can enjoy. The Castle Rock to Grotto Point Walk, takes you to the Grotto Point Lighthouse. There are indigenous engravings along this track depicting kangaroos, fish, and boomerangs and the harbour views are stunning.

You can spend the day at Castle Rock Beach relaxing, taking in the scenery, and have a late afternoon picnic.

If you’re feeling energetic, take a walk on the Spit to Manly Walkway. This scenic route connects the Spit Bridge to Manly North Head and is widely regarded as one of Sydney’s best coastal walks.  Distance is approx 9 km each way.

To ensure the security of your vessel while you take the Spit to Manly walk, we recommend berthing your vessel at Fergusons Marina, Clontarf Marina or the D’Albora Marina in Middle Harbour, and starting your walk there.

Once you have arrived in Manly, there are many restaurants on Manly Wharf to stop for lunch. Sake, Hugos and Garfish are just a few that have a fabulous view.

The return walk from Spit to Manly is roughly 3-4 hours, and with a lunch stop, this will take up much of your day.

After your walk, take a 10-minute cruise from the Spit to Bantry Bay at the north end of Middle Harbour. (A little further if you’re spending the day at Castle Rock Beach and leaving from there.).  This is one of the more picturesque anchorages in Sydney and a great place to spend a relaxing Saturday evening and wake up surrounded by nature’s beauty. Click here to read a little about the history of this stunning location. 

Sunday 

The surrounding bushland and sparkling rockpools of Bantry Bay provide plenty of hiking trails to explore, as well as breathtaking views of the city.

We wouldn’t recommend a swim, but you could spend a lovely morning discovering the region by kayaking.

Just 300 meters further is Sugar Loaf Bay. Here you can enjoy an afternoon fishing, go for a bush walk ashore, or simply spend a relaxing time taking in the stunning scenery.

To end the day, you can book a berth back on the Spit and have Sunday dinner at a Oremeggio before you head for home

Explore the Inner West Weekend

Sydney Superyacht Marina and our office are a stone’s throw from Sydney CBD in Rozelle.

We have often enjoyed the company of Riviera owners on our wharf for overnight or weekend stays. This is always subject to availability. It is not a service we advertise, however if we cannot provide you with a berth, we may be able to point you in the right direction.

Affluent Rozelle and Balmain is home to a vibrant restaurant scene. The Victorian buildings along Darling Street are filled with relaxed pubs, cafes, boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants. The leafy streets are lined with restored sandstone workers’ cottages inhabited by well-heeled families, artists, and media figures. There are local markets that sell organic food crafts and fashion.

A weekend in the Inner West would be filled with exploration. There would be plenty of time to stroll through quaint neighborhoods, visit eclectic shops and restaurants, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.   And you get the chance to view our Riviera’s on display at our wharf.

Friday Evening

There are many dining options to choose from in the local area, and two of favourites is Totties at the Three Weeds Hotel Rozelle and a local Irish pub, The  Bald Rock Hotel.  

If you chose to visit the Bald Rock Hotel , we recommend a visit to the  White Bay Brewery on your way to dinner for a craft beer.   As part of an industrial precinct, the brewery is located in an old steel mill that dates back to 150 years ago.  It has great social atmosphere.

Saturday

The Yacht Club Chambers cafe at the Sydney Superyacht Marina is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and breakfast on Saturdays.

With retail shops and cafes nearby on Darling St, Rozelle/Balmain, you can make a day of it and explore the heart of the suburb.

The Farmers Market at Lilyfield is every Saturday from 7.30am – 2pm (15 minutes walk from our Marina) and is a great place to find fresh produce. Rozelle Market on Darling St (a collectors market) is also recommended for a unique shopping experience.

The Balmain/Rozelle peninsula was once home to over fifty pubs, but today only nineteen remain. Some of the old hotels that have since closed have been converted into residential and commercial properties.  There are so many beautiful sandstone and heritage properties in the area . If you’re interested in taking a look inside some of these properties, Saturday is a great day to do so, check the open for inspection schedule for the area online.

Visitors love exploring the heritage pub trail in Balmain and Rozelle. It’s easy to complete the trail on foot since most pubs are within walking distance of each other – perfect for a leisurely day out!   Check out the Heritage Pub Trail here

The Balmain side of Darling Street has more dining options, and one of our favourites is Fenwick.  Located in a historical building in East Balmain, Fenwick offers an incredible dining experience with a stunning view of Sydney Harbour. Afterwards, if you’re in the mood to dance, the Unity Hotel has a live band every Saturday night and is only a 10 minute walk from Fenwick. The taxi rank is right in front of the Unity Hotel for your convenience. It will only take you 5 minutes to get back to our Marina.

Sunday

The Yacht Club Chambers Cafe at the Superyacht Marina is closed on Sunday, so you’ll have to venture out to Darling St for coffee and breakfast. The Sydney Fish Market is just a short walk from our marina across Anzac Bridge. It’s a great spot for a casual lunch. You can even schedule a seafood lesson at the onsite Sydney Seafood School which involves enjoying your seafood creation in a serviced dining room. Click here for details

If you are looking for an afternoon adventure with a difference, Cockatoo Island is definitely worth a visit.  Depending on your vessel’s size, overnight berthing can be arranged for one night.  Click here for details 

It takes approximately 10 minutes to get to Cockatoo Island from our Marina by boat. The water taxi might be a suitable alternative if you have trouble securing berthing.