Sydney Harbour speed limits, no wash and restricted zones

Most of Sydney Harbour has no posted speed limit, but every boat must travel at a safe speed and keep its distance. 20 areas on the harbour and its rivers have a limit, from 4 to 15 knots. 15 limit wash, and 4 parts of the port are closed or restricted, with 17 zones between them.

This is the Sydney Flying Squadron's page about Transport for NSW's data, not a government notice. Signs on the water and the regulations decide. Not for navigation.

The short answers

What is the speed limit on Sydney Harbour?

Most of the harbour has no posted limit, but every boat must travel at a safe speed at all times, which can mean slower than any limit. 20 areas on the harbour and its rivers have a posted limit, from 4 to 15 knots, and this page lists them. A powered boat doing 6 knots or more must also stay 30 m from other vessels, moored ones included, from structures and from the shore.

What is the speed limit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

15 knots, in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Transit Zone, between Bennelong Point and Kirribilli Point in the east and Millers Point and Blues Point in the west. You may only travel through it to reach somewhere else. You must not stop or drift under the bridge, or anchor or drift anywhere in the zone, except in an emergency.

What does no wash or reduce wash mean?

Minimise Wash, Reduce Wash and No Wash signs mark places where wash can damage the shore or other boats, or injure or annoy people. You can make too much wash even at the speed limit. If your wash rocks other boats, or breaks or slaps on the shore, slow down.

Can I take my boat into Circular Quay?

No. Transport for NSW's Boating Map 9D says Sydney Cove is closed to all recreational and unauthorised commercial vessels.

How close can I go to Garden Island and to naval ships?

Stay outside the lit yellow marker buoys round Garden Island, and do not anchor in naval waters. Keep 200 m from the bow and 60 m from the side of a naval vessel under way, and 60 m from one at anchor.

Can I ride a jet ski on Sydney Harbour?

No. Personal watercraft are banned on all of Sydney Harbour, including its tidal bays, rivers and tributaries, the Parramatta River, Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River.

Do the rules change for New Year's Eve and other events?

Yes. New Year's Eve, Vivid and other big events bring temporary exclusion zones and limits, which Transport for NSW publishes for each event. This page does not carry them, so check before you go.

The maps

Tap a sign on a map to jump to its details below.

• 4 knot limit
• 4 knot limit
• 4 knot limit
• 4 knot limit
• 7 knot limit
• 8 knot limit
• 8 knot limit
• 8 knot limit
• 15 knot limit
• Wash limit: the list says which
• Restricted or prohibited water
• The club
• Australian Sailing buoy
• Navy buoy
• Laid mark, set on the day

The Bridge, Garden Island and the port

The eastern harbour and the racing area

Middle Harbour and North Harbour

The Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers

Speed limits

Each area with its limit. Tap "Where exactly" for Transport for NSW's own description of its edges and any exemptions. Limits are posted on signs, and a sign's arrows show which way it applies. A limit is a ceiling: where a safe speed is lower, that is the speed.

Sydney Harbour and the port

• 8 knots
  Port of Sydney (Commercial Wharfage)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of the Port enclosed by lines firstly in the north extending from the northern extremity of Millers Point in a west south westerly direction to the Balmain East Ferry Jetty at Darling Street and in the south east commencing from the north eastern extremity of Darling Island in an easterly direction to the south western tip of the concrete landing structure of the former roll on roll of berth and in the south west by a line across the waterway defined by the old Glebe Island Bridge Exemption: State Transit Ferries of the Supercat, Rivercat and Harbourcat classes and low wash ferries of the Rocket Class owned by Matilda Cruises Pty Ltd and approved in writing by Transport for NSW

• 4 knots
  Port of Sydney (Darling Harbour)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part Darling Harbour south of a line across the waterway commencing from the north eastern extremity of Darling Island in an easterly direction to the south western tip of the concrete landing structure of the former roll on roll of berth

• 4 knots
  Sydney Harbour (Camp Cove)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that portion of Port Jackson known as Camp Cove lying south-eastward of a line from the north-western extremity of Laings Point north-easterly 300 metres to the opposite northern shore

• 4 knots
  Sydney Harbour (Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays)

  Where exactly

  The navigable water of the whole of Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays south of a line across the waterway as defined by the old Glebe Island Bridge

• 8 knots
  Sydney Harbour (Sydney Cove)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that portion of Port Jackson known as Sydney Cove lying southward of a line extending from the northernmost fixed red beacon on Dawes Point in an easterly direction to the fixed red beacon off Bennelong Point

• 15 knots
  Sydney Harbour (Sydney Harbour Bridge)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Port Jackson between lines firstly in the east commencing on the eastern side of Bennelong Point in a north easterly direction to the southern extremity of Kirribilli Point and secondly in the west from the north eastern extremity of Marrinawi Cove in a generally north easterly direction to the southern extremity of Blues Point excluding the waters of Sydney Cove lying southward of a line extending from the northernmost fixed red beacon on Dawes Point in an easterly direction to the fixed red beacon off Bennelong Point and the waters of Walsh Bay south of a line from the north western extremity of Dawes Point in a generally westerly direction to the north eastern extremity of Marrinawi Cove and the waters of Lavender Bay north of a line from the south eastern extremity of McMahons Point in a generally easterly direction to a point on the opposite shore adjacent the Milsons Point public commuter wharf

North Harbour and Manly

• 4 knots
  North Harbour (Manly)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of North Harbour, Port Jackson enclosed by imaginary lines commencing from a point on the shore approximately 100 metres north of the property known as number 11, Oyama Avenue thence in a north westerly direction for 100 metres thence in a generally southerly direction, 100 metres parallel to the shore around Smedleys and Manly Points to a line across Little Manly Cove in an easterly direction to Little Manly Point, thence in a south-south westerly direction to the western extremity of Cannae Point, thence along the shore to the point of commencement and enclosing the waters known as Little Manly Cove, Collins Beach, Store Beach and Quarantine Beach

• 4 knots
  Port Jackson (North Harbour)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of North Harbour west of an imaginary line commencing from the southern extremity of an unnamed point one 150 metres west of Fairlight Beach in a generally southerly direction to a point on the opposite shore approximately 300 metres east of Forty Baskets Beach

Middle Harbour

• 4 knots
  Middle Harbour (Bantry Bay)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of the whole of Bantry Bay Middle Harbour lying northward of a line across its entrance commencing from a point on the north western shore of Bantry Bluff in a westerly direction across the waterway to an unnamed point on the opposite shore

• 8 knots
  Middle Harbour (Chinamans Beach)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Middle Harbour, Port Jackson located south west and inshore of a line commencing at a point on the shore approximately 200 metres south of Parriwi Point and extending in a south easterly direction to a speed limit sign on the same shore on Wy-ar-gine Point

• 4 knots
  Middle Harbour (Long Bay)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Long Bay, Middle Harbour lying generally westerly of lines commencing from the easternmost extremity of Folly Point in an easterly direction to the pile beacon numbered 006 approximately 40 metres of that point thence in a northerly direction across Long Bay to a point on the opposite shore at the south eastern corner of Northbridge Point

• 4 knots
  Middle Harbour (Roseville)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Middle Harbour and its tributaries, Sydney Harbour, situated upstream from an imaginary line drawn from Trigonometrical Station No. 793 north-easterly across the waterway and passing through a pile beacon approximately 450 metres upstream from Killarney Point

• 8 knots
  Middle Harbour (Roseville)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Middle Harbour, Port Jackson, located between a line extending south-westerly across the waterway from the south western extremity of Killarney Point to a Point on the opposite shore and a line from Trigonometrical Station No. 793 north-easterly across the waterway and passing through a pile beacon numbered 016 to a point on the opposite shore

• 4 knots
  Middle Harbour (The Spit)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Middle Harbour, Port Jackson enclosed between lines directly across the waterway firstly in the south east commencing from the eastern extremity of Parriwi Head in a south easterly direction to the north western extremity of Clontarf Point and approximately one thousand one hundred (1100) metres upstream commencing from the north westernmost corner of dAlbora Marina complex The Spit in a generally westerly direction to a unnamed point on the opposite shore

Lane Cove River

• 4 knots
  Lane Cove River (Burns Bay)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Burns Bay, Lane Cove River lying generally north of a line extending across the Bay in an easterly direction from a post on the western shore approximately six hundred (600) metres east from the Fig Tree Bridge to a post on the opposite eastern shore

• 4 knots
  Lane Cove River (upstream)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Lane Cove River extending upstream from Fig Tree Bridge for approximately 7 kilometres to the weir near Fullers Bridge; Exemption: Rowing Coach Vessels which are being used to coach persons in rowing shells

Parramatta River

• 7 knots
  Parramatta and Duck Rivers

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of that part of Parramatta River extending upstream of Silverwater Bridge for approximately 4.5 kilometres on Parramatta River and the whole of Duck River; Class: commercial vessels only, recreational are prohibited.

• 8 knots
  Parramatta River (Exile Bay)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of the whole of Exile Bay west of a line commencing from an unnamed point at the eastern extremity of Prince Edward Park in a southerly direction in the Bayview Park Boat Launching Ramp

• 4 knots
  Parramatta River (Homebush Bay)

  Where exactly

  Narrow channel of Homebush Bay adjacent to the western shoreline from Wentworth Point south to Burroway Road

• 8 knots
  Parramatta River (Iron Cove)

  Where exactly

  The navigable waters of the whole of Iron Cove enclosed by an imaginary line extending westerly from the southern side of the end of Elliott Street at Somerville Point to the north

Wash limits

Transport for NSW's data and its boating maps do not always agree on these. At 11 of the 15 areas the data says No Wash and the map says Reduce Wash; at Felix Bay and Rose Bay the data lists a limit and the map shows no wash symbol. Rather than pick one, the club shows both. The sign on the water decides, and in any of these places slow right down and keep your wash off the shore and other boats.

Restricted and prohibited waters

Boating Map 9D says waterside restricted security zones exist at key sites in the Port of Sydney, that masters are to keep well clear of them and of vessels moored there, that penalties apply for unauthorised entry, and that the zones vary at increased security levels. Transport for NSW's data calls some of these waters "VTS prohibited areas", VTS being Sydney Vessel Traffic Services, the harbour's traffic control on VHF channel 13, and does not define the term further. Unless you have been told otherwise, stay out of all of them.

• Garden Island

  The Navy's fleet base. Map 9D warns boats to keep clear of its facilities by staying outside the lit yellow marker buoys, and says no anchoring in naval waters. In the data: two naval waters restricted zones and two VTS prohibited areas.

• Sydney Cove and the Overseas Passenger Terminal

  Map 9D says Sydney Cove is closed to all recreational and unauthorised commercial vessels, so its speed limit matters only to the vessels allowed in. In the data: one VTS prohibited area and one waterside restricted zone.

• White Bay and Glebe Island

  The cruise terminal and the port's berths. Map 9G marks a ship turning area between them. In the data: two VTS prohibited areas and seven waterside restricted zones.

• Gore Cove, off Manns Point at Greenwich

  The fuel terminal. No boat may go within 100 m of wharves and installations that ship or store oil, flammable liquids, dangerous goods or explosives. In the data: one VTS prohibited area and one waterside restricted zone.

Boating Map 9D also marks wider naval waters round Clark Island and Shark Island where you must not anchor, and those are not in this data. Check the map sheets below before you anchor anywhere near them.

Rules that apply everywhere

• Safe speed: every boat, at all times, at a speed that leaves it time to stop or turn from a sudden danger. Going too fast for the conditions can cost you your licence and your boat. Safe speed on NSW waterways.
• Distance: a powered boat, a sailing boat over 5.5 m or a personal watercraft keeps 60 m from people in the water, and a powered boat doing 6 knots or more keeps 30 m from other vessels, structures and the shore. The exceptions include paddling, rowing and sailing a boat of up to 5.5 m with no engine, which must still keep a safe distance and speed. Keeping a safe distance.
• Bridges and working vessels: Boating Map 9G says six knots and no towing at all bridges, and four knots within 100 m of a vessel working in chains or wires.
• Ships: recreational boats must not impede commercial shipping in the shipping channel. The harbour movements page lists the ships due in and out, and VTS gives their movements on VHF channel 13.
• Personal watercraft: banned on all of the harbour and its rivers. Rules for boating on Sydney Harbour.
• Event days: temporary exclusion zones and limits are published for each event. Sydney Harbour major events.

Racing on the harbour

The buoys and flags on the maps are the marks the club's 18-footers round, on Saturdays from early October to Easter. Give the fleet room: an 18-footer on a run is fast and cannot stop. To watch, the harbour guide has the courtesy moorings nearest the marks, and the same page has the way to the clubhouse by boat, for a meal at Foys Kirribilli or The Flying Bear. The racing calendar has the dates.

The official maps

Transport for NSW's boating maps carry more than this page does, including no anchoring areas, cables and shallows. Transport for NSW says they are not intended for navigation either: carry a chart.

• Map 9D: Port Jackson east of the Harbour Bridge (PDF, 3.4 MB, last updated October 2025)
• Map 9D: Middle Harbour (PDF, 3.1 MB, last updated October 2025)
• Map 9G: Port Jackson west of the Harbour Bridge including Lane Cove and Lower Parramatta Rivers (PDF, 3.0 MB, last updated December 2025)
• Map 9G: Upper Parramatta River (PDF, 4.3 MB, last updated December 2025)

About this page

Zones: Maritime NSW Speed Zone (as published 18 December 2025), Maritime NSW Wash Restriction Area (29 August 2026) and Maritime NSW Port Security Zone (22 August 2026), Transport for NSW, under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The club clipped them to the harbour and simplified their outlines to draw them, copied them on 2 November 2026, and checks them monthly.

The datasets name only the speed zones. The names of the wash and restricted areas, and what the boating maps show at each, are the club's own reading of the maps, checked 3 November 2026. The rules are the NSW Government's, © State of New South Wales under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, put in the club's words. Transport for NSW has not endorsed this page. If you find a mistake, the contact page reaches the club.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, under the Open Database Licence. The Australian Sailing buoys are placed from Transport for NSW's register of aids to navigation, © State of New South Wales, under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.