Ettalong by Ferry 

Ettalong by Ferry 

Going to Ettalong by Ferry is a great family outing if you’re stuck for something to do and you feel like doing something a little unusual.

The main activity is the Ferry trip itself but you can’t just go to Ettalong by Ferry. (If you’re really luck you may see whales or dolphins.) You will however, need to be able to get out on the other side and have somewhere to go.

We went Saturday, hopped off the ferry and ambled around before settling on something to do. It was the most bizarre day but so much fun!

In this post you’ll find all the information you need about getting to Ettalong by Ferry, what to do when you get there and what to take with you.

If you’re thinking about taking the trip, check Fantasea’s website that the service is running! I’ve put in the link to the website below. 

Going to Ettalong by Ferry is a great family outing if you’re stuck for something to do and you feel like doing something a little unusual.  The main activity is the Ferry trip itself but you can’t just go to Ettalong by Ferry.

Ettalong by Ferry 

What and where is Ettalong 

Ettalong is a town on the Central Coast, north east of Umina Beach and south of Woy Woy.

It’s not that big and has one main road, Ocean View Road,  where you will find most things.

In 2014, Ettalong’s foreshore underwent a major refurbishment so it’s easy to walk  along the beach from the ferry wharf to the big playground.

How to get to Ettalong by Ferry 

The Fantasea Ferry runs from Palm Beach to Ettalong and take about 40 minutes. It follows a strange route because there are some shallow areas on the Ettalong side so the Ferry passes Ettalong and stops at Wagstaffe and then double-backs to Ettalong Beach.

The Palm Beach wharf is a small ramp opposite Barrenjoey House. There is a council parking lot in front of it between the water and the main road. It is not at the end of Palm Beach! The actual address is

If you hit the turn off for the Boathouse or the Palm Beach lighthouse or beach you have gone too far!!

There are two reasons the ferry won’t run:

  1. It is too shallow because the channel hasn’t been dredged.
  2. It’s just too windy and the swell is too big.

Make sure to check the Fantasea Ferry website to check that the ferry is running!

What to do when you get to Ettalong 

As you get off the ferry onto the wharf you can either head into the town to go to the market or you can go left, along the beach to swim or play at the playground.

The Ettalong Markets

We headed into town and to the markets. The markets run on saturdays and Sunday’s are not what you would expect. They’re housed in an old Italian styled building which you wind in and out of to the various shop owners.

If the weather is not great and you don’t think you’ll spend time at the beach, find the shop that does the plaster of Paris painting. For as little as $6 your child can choose their favourite character to paint. If the weather is great, pop in and buy one of the kits to bring home to do on a rainy day.

There is also a great cafe that serves the most amazing smelling and looking baked treats and scones. If you haven’t eaten yet and you’re craving a sweet treat you have to have a quick stop off here.

We also came across the most beautiful children’s store. It has the most gorgeous clothes and toys and books. There are also a few trinkets for adults too and I managed to pick up a great gift for my stylish mom-in-law!

 We visited Ettalong by ferry and the first thing we found to do was go to the Ettalong markets.

Where to eat

The biggest and most visible landmark, from the water and the beach is the Mantra Hotel. The big white building is also home to the Ettalong Diggers which is your everyday RSL. What is does have that our local RSL doesn’t is a completely enclosed play area and iPads for kids to play on. It is the first meal we have had in a very long time where the kids were completely entertained and we could talk to the friends we went with.

 What to do when you get to Ettalong by ferry with kids

The food is typical RSL food and you can get a kids meal of the normal varieties that includes a drink and an ice-cream.

The next time we visit we will try one of the cafes on the main road – I think it was a place called Coast or the cafe in the Markets.

 

Ettalong Beach

Once we had lunch and the kids had relaxed a bit we headed across the road to the beach. Ettalong Beach is a lovely children’s beach. It isn’t deep and it doesn’t seem to be too affected by tides and rips. It also seems as though people swim from the Ferry Wharf all the way down to the playground. So you can find a spot where you can access the beach from the walkway and then head onto the beach.

 

If swimming is the last thing on your list, like it was for us, you’ll be able to keep an eye out for the ferry as it goes parallel to the Beach.

 

What to do when you get to Ettalong by ferry with kids

The Playground

If it’s not a beach day, head to the South end of the Esplanade and you will find the playground on the foreshore. The kids should be entertained for a bit before you start the walk back to the ferry.

 

Scooting and Biking along the foreshore

 

As we walked through the town to get to the Markets we decided to walk back to the Ferry along the foreshore. It is adjacent to the beach and a smooth, flat walk the whole way from the playground to the wharf. It would have been absolutely perfect for scooters and bikes.

 

We even passed a few ducks along the way.

 

 

You can definitely start off by walking along the beach and walking back through the town if you would prefer! So the opposite to the way we did it. 

 

What to pack for a trip to Ettalong by Ferry 

If you’re going to spend most of the day there make sure you pack the following:

  • Snacks and water for the ferry. (It gets really choppy on the open water)
  • swimming costumes and towels
  • hats (there isn’t much shade walking through the town)
  • scooters or bikes
  • a jumper for the cooler inside areas

Remember to keep an eye on the time because the ferry only leaves every hour. You don’t want to miss the one that suits your schedule.

If you’re looking to escape Sydney for the day. You could try one of the following day trips out of Sydney:

The train to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River

A day on the farm with Farmer for the Day at Golden Ridge Animal Farm in Dural.

Spend a day in the Blue Mountains at Scenic World.