Mosman · The Spit
Two boats leave from The Spit in Mosman — one you drive without a licence, one for licence holders who want something quicker. Middle Harbour starts at the end of the dock.
Why here
Most boat hire in Sydney puts you in the middle of the busiest water in the country, dodging ferries between Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. Leaving from Mosman gives you the opposite. Middle Harbour opens up immediately — wooded coves, sheltered bays, hardly any commercial traffic.
It also means you can choose. Turn left and you are in the quiet water of Bantry Bay and Sugarloaf Bay within twenty minutes. Turn right and you are out past Grotto Point with the whole harbour, the Opera House and the Bridge in front of you.
For anyone who has not driven a boat before, that first stretch of protected water is worth a great deal. You get to find your feet somewhere calm before deciding whether to go further.
From The Spit
Both leave from The Spit in Mosman. Fuel is in the price on both, and a refundable $250 hold applies.
No licence needed — up to 6
The one most people start with. Shade canopy with sides, a small cabin if the weather turns, lunch table and a swim ladder off the back. Dogs welcome.
NSW licence needed — up to 8
For licence holders who want more boat. Bigger, more comfortable, and it will happily take you the length of the harbour and back in a day.
Weekday rates shown — weekends, the 19 December – 26 January peak and public holidays are higher. We also have two more boats at Double Bay from October, both no licence required.
Where you can get to
From The Spit the run to Balmoral takes about twenty minutes, and Manly is roughly twice that. Both are comfortable inside a three-hour hire with time to stop, and easy on a day tripper.
Closer still are the Middle Harbour bays. Chowder Bay, Clontarf and Castle Rock are all short runs and all sheltered, which matters on a windy afternoon. We mark the reliable ones on your map at the briefing, along with the boundaries of where the boat can go.
Good to know
The Spit. We send exact directions and parking notes with your booking, and there is more detail on our location page.
Not for the Day Boat. It needs no licence, no test and no experience, and we run a full briefing before you leave. The Sports Cruiser does require a NSW boat licence.
The Day Boat is $400 for three hours or $550 for a day tripper on a weekday. The Sports Cruiser is $795 for a half day or $1,195 for a full day. Fuel is included on both.
Yes. Balmoral is about twenty minutes away and Manly roughly twice that, both comfortable within a three-hour hire.
There is, though it fills up on a good weekend. Our location page covers where to park and the alternatives if it is full.
Up to 6 on the Day Boat and up to 8 on the Sports Cruiser, including children.
Ready when you are