Potts Pointians and those living in Elizabeth Bay and within the 2011 postcode area are spoilt for choice when it comes to public transport. It is said that a city can be judged by the quality of its public transport. After all, locals and visitors can’t enjoy a city if they can’t get around or arrive on time.

The 2011 area has a railway station at Kings Cross, just two stations from Martin Place and Bondi Junction. It has buses to and from Darlinghurst and Bayswater Roads to Central Station, Oxford Street, Edgecliff, Rose Bay, Double Bay, Woolloomooloo and Circular Quay.

And now we have a quintessentially Sydney service: a flotilla of ferries privately run, darting across the sapphire blue waters like butterflies finding a flower.

Captain Cook cruises is well known for its Sydney Harbour cruises. So what better way to capitalise on its local knowledge than by offering a regular ferry service between Elizabeth Bay (Beare Park terminal), Circular Quay and Barangaroo, located on the north-western edge of the Sydney CBD near the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The service is called “HOY” and is a first for Sydney Harbour commuters.

Ferries pick-up on demand.

There are no fixed timetables.

The HOY app brings the boat to commuters when they want them.

Captain Cook Cruises General Manager, Anthony Haworth, says that “with Uber proving so popular we thought why not translate this success to the water and start an on-demand ferry service?”

“After meeting with Elizabeth Bay residents and receiving their positive feedback and support the service began in December 2018. We anticipate Elizabeth Bay is the first of many on-demand ferry services in the future,” says Mr Haworth.

The on-demand ferry service operates Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, between Elizabeth Bay Marina, Circular Quay and Barangaroo during peak-commuter times of 7.00am to 9.30am and 4.15pm to 7.30pm. It takes 12 minutes to reach Circular Quay from Elizabeth Bay’s Beare Park wharf terminal at the foot of Ithaca Road. In the mornings two crew are on-board, the Captain and a ticket seller. In the afternoons only the Captain is on-board as passengers can purchase tickets from the ticket box on Captain Cook Cruises departure wharf, wharf 6, Circular Quay.

Their new and versatile, catamaran hulled “tubby-class” ferries are smooth and enviro-friendly. The cute 11.95 metre, single deckers have interior and exterior seating for working on your tan on the way to work: it’s a Sydney thing!

Tubbies are purpose built to operate high frequency, low cost services. They are light weight, low wash, high-tech, highly manoeuvrable and have the capacity to carry up to 60 passengers. Passengers can register to receive updated arrival and departure information via the HOY website. Ferries are all-weather water craft and can handle all weather conditions.

Tickets cost $7.50 per adult and $5.00 per child (5-14 years) one-way. Pre-purchase TravelPass offers discounts to $5.90 per trip. Payment options including Opal Pay, credit card, cash or via the Captain Cook Cruises app.

For more information see: https://hoy.captaincook.com.au/

Enjoy this brief video: https://hoy.captaincook.com.au/

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions