The Watsons Bay ferry service, officially known as F9 Watsons Bay, is a ferry service in Sydney, Australia. Part of the Sydney Ferries network, it is operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries from Circular Quay to Rose Bay and Watsons Bay.
History Sydney Ferries Limited operated services from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay until withdrawn in 1933.Watson's Bay Ferry The Sun 10 December 1933 page 6 The Sydney Harbour Transport Board reinstated weekend and holiday services to Watsons Bay in 1966 with the Karingal and Karrabee. These ceased due to lack of patronage. Weekend only services were reintroduced by the Urban Transit Authority on 1 February 1987.Meadowbank and Watsons Bay services introduced Transit Australia June 1987 page 118 In 1992, some peak hour State Transit Authority services began to call at Double Bay.Other services Fleetline issue 209 December 1992 page 229 By 2002 it was operating daily with SuperCats calling at Garden Island, Darling Point, Double Bay and Rose Bay.Circular Quay - Rose Bay - Watsons Bay Loop Service State Transit AuthorityNetwork Map Sydney Ferries December 2011
In October 2013, the service received the F7 classification as part of a numbering of all Sydney ferry services. In November 2017 the service was restructured. Services to Garden Island, Darling Point and Double Bay became the F7 Double Bay service, while the Watsons Bay service was merged with the F4 Pyrmont Bay service to become the F4 Cross Harbour service operating from Pyrmont Bay via Circular Quay through to Rose Bay and Watsons Bay. Daily Telegraph 27 March 2017F4 Cross Harbour timetable Transport for NSW 1 January 2019 It was split again on 25 October 2020, becoming the F9 service.F4 Cross Harbour ferry route changes Transport for NSW 9 October 2020
During peak hour, the service only operates between Circular Quay and Rose Bay, with Captain Cook Cruises operating a service to Watsons Bay during these times.Watsons Bay Ferry Captain Cook Cruises
During high winds Ferries do not run to Watsons Bay and terminate at Rose Bay.
Patronage The following table shows the patronage of Sydney Ferries network for the year 2025.
References
External links F9 timetable Transport for NSW