What is Port Jackson?

Port Jackson is the natural harbour in Sydney where the First Fleet arrived in 1788 to establish the first British colony in Australia. It is one of the largest natural harbours in the world by surface area, covering about 55 square kilometres, and includes Sydney Harbour as its most central section.

Port Jackson is a drowned river valley, formed when rising sea levels at the end of the last ice age flooded the Parramatta River estuary. The harbour extends about 19 kilometres inland from Sydney Heads, the dramatic sandstone cliffs at its entrance. Major bays and inlets include Sydney Cove (the original landing site at Circular Quay), Farm Cove, Watsons Bay, Middle Harbour, and Manly Cove. The Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers flow into the harbour from the west and north-west.

Captain Arthur Phillip of the First Fleet sailed into the harbour on 26 January 1788 and chose Sydney Cove as the colony's first settlement site, writing back to London that it was the finest harbour in the world. Captain James Cook had named Port Jackson when sailing past it in 1770 but did not enter it. The Eora people, including the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, and Wangal clans, are the Traditional Owners.

Today Port Jackson is the working heart of Sydney. The Sydney Harbour Bridge (opened 1932) and the Sydney Opera House (opened 1973, World Heritage 2007) frame Sydney Cove. Cruise terminals at White Bay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal handle international and domestic visitors. Sydney Ferries operate throughout the harbour, with the Manly ferry the most iconic. The harbour hosts the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start each Boxing Day and one of the world's largest annual fireworks displays each New Year's Eve.