The Sydney Harbour Course for The Australian Boat Race sees the men’s and women’s crews from Sydney and Melbourne Universities racing over 4.5 kilometres from Woolwich to Darling Harbour.

The Race

The course starts at Woolwich Point, Hunters Hill just inside the mouth of the Lane Cove River. The crews head east as the starter drops the flag first rounding Greenwich Point and steering more easterly. 

Next, they pass to the north of Long Noise Point, Birchgrove and begin traversing the Balmain Peninsula passing Simmons Point and turning slightly south as they approach the channel between Goat Island and Balmain.  

As the crews approach East Balmain they slowly turn to the south as they pass the entrance to White Bay. Barangaroo is now on the left of the crews as they prepare for the final sprint into the finish line. 

The crews pass under the old Pyrmont Bridge and finish at the end of the marina in Darling Harbour.

With the various headlands of the inner harbour, the background of Sydney City and the blue waters of Sydney Harbour provides one of the most beautiful and exciting rowing courses in the world.

This year Sydney will host the 12th Australian Boat Race – emulating the early races in the 1860s between Melbourne and Sydney Universities on the Yarra and Parramatta Rivers.