Watson's Bay: Hornby Lighthouse & Doyle's Seafood

 

Sydney's green-and-gold ferries are iconic, with all the routes starting from the heart of Sydney Circular Quay where catching a ferry is a Sydney highlight, offering affordable, breathtaking ways to explore the harbour islands and destinations including Watsons Bay and Taronga Zoo. Arriving in Watson's Bay, we embarked on the South Head heritage trail to Hornby Lighthouse. Nestled on the picturesque peninsula that ends at Sydney's South Head with its striking red and white striped Lighthouse, a heritage-listed active lighthouse built in 1858 following the tragic shipwrecks of the Dunbar and the Catherine Adamson, Watson's Bay is Australia's oldest fishing village known for its amazing harbour views and fresh seafood. 

Synonymous with the classic fisherman's weatherboard cottage, Watsons Bay is a unique piece of Australian heritage. Beyond its natural beauty, the village has a fascinating history rich in captivating characters who call Watsons Bay home, with views stretching across the water to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline. Doyles on the Beach at Watson's Bay famous for fresh seafood, has been family owned and operated since 1885. Australia's oldest continually running fish and chip shop and currently owned by Michael Doyle has been a cornerstone of Australia’s culinary and cultural heritage for over five generations, and where we caught a bite to eat before returning on the ferry back to Sydney.

Doyle's on the Beach, famous for seafood, has been family owned and operated since 1885

Secluded and picturesque Lady Jane Beach is amazingly a legal nudist beach

Red Bromeliad

Pink Frangipani

Striking red-and-white striped Hornby Lighthouse, a heritage-listed active lighthouse built in 1858 following the tragic shipwrecks of the Dunbar and the Catherine Adamson

 With it's rocky sandstone cliffs, Hornby Lighthouse has been guiding ships past treacherous rocks and serving as a crucial navigational aid through to Sydney Harbour for over 160 years

View over to Sydney from Watson's Bay

Picturesque yellow hut is a small privately owned beach shack 

Doyle's on the beach Restaurant outside table overlooking the Watson's Harbour

Glass of Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne

Doyle's Fishmonger prepares all the fish and seafood dishes at Doyles on the Beach,

including their signature Fish & Chips, Fish Tacos, Barramundi and Seafood Platter

The Doyle's staff with iconic blue and white striped shirts

Fish taco served with coleslaw and radish & coriander, served in a soft tortilla with jalapeno mayo

Catching the return ferry from Watson's Bay back to Sydney

Sailboats anchored in Watson's Bay

Fort Denison is an historic island fortress built on the rocky outcrop known to 

Indigenous people as Muddawahnyuh, in Sydney Harbour

Sydney Opera House from the water as we arrived by ferry from Watson's Bay

Circular Quay is the busy main ferry terminal in Sydney, which we admired every day

from our suite at the Four Seasons, with ferries departing every 30 minutes