A Day to Remember in Sydney, Starting from Double Bay

A day built around Sydney Harbour, a zoo, and a neighbourhood that knows how to wind down properly begins well before you leave your hotel room. Starting from the Savoy Hotel at Double Bay puts you within a short ferry ride of the harbour’s most celebrated experiences, and brings you back to one of Sydney’s most enjoyable dining strips at the end of it.

Waking Up Right at the Savoy Hotel

The best days tend to start the same way: rested. A Superior A Room or Family Room at the Savoy Hotel at Double Bay is a comfortable place to begin, and for two people getting away together the Executive Balcony Rooms add a view to wake up to.

Getting from Double Bay to Circular Quay by Ferry

The ferry from Double Bay to Circular Quay takes roughly twelve minutes and is genuinely one of the more pleasant commutes in any city. Sydney’s inner harbour unfolds as you cross it, with the Bridge and the sails of the Opera House visible long before you dock.

For guests who want to make the most of the day, there is a practical reason to think further ahead when you are booking your ticket. The Hop On Hop Off ferry pass covers the full harbour loop including Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Watsons Bay, Luna Park, Manly, and Taronga Zoo, so a single purchase handles the whole day’s water travel.

Those with a broader interest in exploring Sydney from a harbour base will find the ferry network opens up considerably more than just Circular Quay.

From Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Harbour Bridge are all within a leisurely walk. The Opera House precinct has its own rhythm throughout the day, and the Botanic Garden is a genuinely quiet counterpoint to the busier foreshore. For those who want something more physical, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is available directly from The Rocks, a short walk from Circular Quay. The area also has concentrated pockets of shopping covering contemporary Australian art, wines, opal jewellery, and craft goods.

What the Taronga Zoo and Sky Safari Pass Includes

Taronga Zoo sits twelve minutes by ferry from Circular Quay, on elevated harbour-front land that frames the Sydney skyline behind its animal habitats. The views from the upper zoo grounds are, without exaggeration, among the more unusual backdrops you will find at a wildlife park anywhere.

The Taronga Zoo Ferry Pass with Sky Safari bundles several things into one purchase:

• A two-day Hop On Hop Off ferry ticket covering Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Watsons Bay, Luna Park, Manly, and Taronga Zoo
• Zoo entry
• The Sky Safari cable car, which crosses the zoo from the ferry wharf at the bottom to the upper entrance, and gives a different perspective over the habitats
• Daily keeper talks and live shows

The zoo itself holds over 4,000 animals across a wide range of species. Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, giraffes, gorillas, chimpanzees, sun bears, and meerkats are among the animals visitors can see. Tickets are available online in advance, which avoids the entry queues at the wharf gate.

Where to Eat and Unwind in Double Bay at Night

Returning to Double Bay by ferry in the early evening puts you at the centre of one of Sydney’s more genuinely varied dining neighbourhoods. The options run across Mediterranean, Italian, French, Japanese, Malaysian, Indian, and contemporary Australian restaurants, as well as more relaxed pub-style dining for those who prefer something unfussy after a full day.

A considered a day in Double Bay itinerary covers the neighbourhood’s dining and daytime options in more detail, which is useful if you want to plan the evening before you arrive.

After dinner, the area has cocktail bars and late-night venues for those who want to extend the evening. Mrs Sippy’s suits a relaxed cocktail wind-down, and the neighbourhood’s smaller night spots carry the evening further for those who want it.

The day ends the way it began: back at the Savoy Hotel, which remains a short walk or taxi ride from Double Bay’s main strip.

Frequently Asked Questions