Rose Bay Wharf
Fishing Charter Pickup
The eastern suburbs wharf that solves the parking problem. Sitting in Lyne Park on New South Head Road with the seaplane base next door, a car park at the door, cafes either side and only ten to fifteen minutes' cruise to the Heads.
Boarding at Rose Bay Wharf
Rose Bay Wharf sits on New South Head Road in Lyne Park, on the wide sweep of water between Point Piper and Vaucluse. The wharf was rebuilt in 2012 and is fully accessible, with the older structure retained alongside for other craft. Sydney Seaplanes operates from the middle of the bay, so there is a good chance you will watch a flying boat lift off while you wait, and the boats give way to the marked landing area on the way out.
It is a wharf with genuine history. From 1938 Rose Bay was Sydney’s first international airport, the terminal for the Empire flying boats that connected Australia to the rest of the world, and the seaplanes that still work the bay are a direct descendant of that.
What makes it our easiest eastern suburbs pickup is the practical stuff. There is real parking here, which is rare on this side of the harbour, the walk from the car to the wharf is flat and short, and you are still only ten to fifteen minutes from the Heads once you cast off.
Rose Bay Wharf at a glance
Everything you need to plan the morning. Parking signage, ferry timetables and bus routes do change, so please check the current details before you set out.
| Wharf | Rose Bay Wharf, in Lyne Park |
|---|---|
| Address | New South Head Road, Rose Bay NSW 2029 |
| Area | Eastern suburbs, Woollahra municipality |
| Side of the harbour | Southern side, east of the Harbour Bridge |
| Ferry route | F9 Watsons Bay from Circular Quay, plus Manly Fast Ferry sightseeing services |
| Bus routes | 323, 324, 325 along New South Head Road at the wharf |
| Nearest train | Edgecliff or Bondi Junction (T4), then a bus along New South Head Road |
| Parking | The best of the eastern wharves: timed bays in front of the wharf plus longer stay parking in Lyne Park |
| Step-free access | Yes, the wharf is fully accessible |
| Food and coffee | Waterfront restaurants and a marina kiosk either side, plus supermarkets and bottle shops nearby |
| Cruise to Sydney Heads | Roughly 10 to 15 minutes, conditions depending |
| Best for | Rose Bay, Bellevue Hill, Bondi, Vaucluse, Dover Heights, Woollahra, and anyone who needs to park |
Driving, parking and public transport
If someone in your group has to drive and leave the car all day, this is the eastern suburbs wharf to pick.
Driving and parking
There is timed parking right in front of the wharf on New South Head Road, and longer stay parking in Lyne Park itself, over near the Woollahra Sailing Club and the tennis courts, where the limits stretch further than the short bays at the water's edge. That combination is why we send groups here when someone needs to park for a full day.
Read the signs before you walk away, because the limits differ from bay to bay and a game fishing day is a long time to be exposed. New South Head Road runs straight out from the city and Edgecliff, and traffic is manageable outside the morning peak, though a 6:30am start means leaving in the dark and beating it anyway.
Ferry and bus
The F9 Watsons Bay ferry from Circular Quay calls at Rose Bay, and the Manly Fast Ferry sightseeing service stops here too, so arriving by water is straightforward from the city. Check the first sailing of the morning against your departure time if you are on an early charter.
Buses are the strong point. The 323, 324 and 325 all run along New South Head Road directly past the wharf, linking Circular Quay with Dover Heights, Vaucluse and Watsons Bay, so most of the eastern suburbs has a one-bus trip here. From the train, get off at Edgecliff or Bondi Junction and pick up any of those routes.
Who Rose Bay Wharf suits
It is the sensible compromise, and that is meant as a compliment. You are close enough to the Heads that offshore trips lose very little time, but you have parking, buses, a flat walk, an accessible wharf and somewhere decent to get a coffee. For most eastern suburbs groups it is the least fuss of any option.
Geographically it suits Rose Bay, Bellevue Hill, Vaucluse, Dover Heights, Bondi, North Bondi, Woollahra and Point Piper, and it is an easy meeting point if half your crew is coming from the city by bus and half is driving in from the beaches.
It works for everything we run. Game fishing and deep sea trips get out fast, reef fishing and kingfish grounds are close by, and it is a relaxed spot for a corporate group to gather. If you want to shave a few more minutes off the run out, Watsons Bay is closer still, though parking there is a very different story.
Rose Bay Wharf questions
Where exactly is Rose Bay Wharf?
On New South Head Road, Rose Bay NSW 2029, in Lyne Park, next to the Sydney Seaplanes base and a short walk from the Rose Bay Marina. It is the same wharf the F9 ferry uses. We will confirm the exact meeting point when you book.
Is the parking really better here?
Yes, it is the easiest of our eastern suburbs wharves. There are timed bays directly in front of the wharf and longer stay parking in Lyne Park near the sailing club and tennis courts, plus more along New South Head Road. Time limits vary bay to bay, so check the signs and choose a long stay bay if you are out for the day.
Which ferry and buses come here?
The F9 Watsons Bay service from Circular Quay stops at Rose Bay, along with Manly Fast Ferry sightseeing services. Buses 323, 324 and 325 run along New South Head Road right at the wharf, so most of the eastern suburbs is a single bus away.
How long is the run out to the fishing grounds?
Roughly 10 to 15 minutes of cruising to Sydney Heads, conditions depending. Only Watsons Bay is closer, which makes Rose Bay the pick if you want fast access to the offshore grounds without the parking headache.
What about the seaplanes?
Sydney Seaplanes has operated from Rose Bay for decades, and the bay was Sydney's first international airport back in the flying boat era from 1938. There is a marked landing area in the middle of the bay that boats give way to, so you may see an aircraft take off or land as you head out. It is one of the better views you will get from a wharf.
Where can we eat before or after?
There are waterfront restaurants either side of the wharf and a kiosk and cafe by the marina deck, which is a pleasant place to sit with a coffee while the group assembles. Supermarkets and bottle shops are a short walk away on New South Head Road if you are stocking the esky on the way through.
Our other Sydney Harbour pickup wharves
These are the wharves we use most, but they are not the only ones. We can collect your group from almost any public wharf on Sydney Harbour, so if none of these suit, just tell us your suburb.
Thames Street Wharf, Balmain
A quiet working wharf on the Balmain peninsula with its own small car park, five minutes from the Darling Street cafes.
Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour
The CBD pickup beside SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, step-free and easy for a group arriving from all over the city.
Double Bay Wharf
Step-free access beside Steyne Park, a flat five-minute walk from the Bay Street and Knox Street cafes.
Watsons Bay Wharf
The closest wharf to the Heads. Board here and you are in open water within minutes of casting off.
Mosman Wharf
A deep, sheltered bay at the bottom of Avenue Road with free untimed street parking a short walk away.
Neutral Bay Wharf
The Hayes Street wharf at the foot of Kurraba Point, the fastest wharf to reach coming south over the Bridge.
Compare every pickup wharf
Parking, ferry routes and travel times for all seven wharves side by side, plus how pickup and drop-off works.
Fishing charter pickup at Rose Bay
Tell us your dates, your crew size and what you would like to catch, and we will meet you at Rose Bay Wharf. All rods, reels, bait and tackle supplied, every level welcome. See the charter prices or browse all Sydney fishing charters.