Google Maps has added a virtual ferry ride to its Street View of Sydney, Australia. This gives you a glimpse into what everyday life is like for Australians who boat past the Sydney Opera House on their morning commute. As someone who lives in Sydney, let me tell you.
Developed with Transport for New South Wales and Sydney Ferries operator Transdev, a new Google Street View feature lets users track ferries from Sydney’s Circular Quay station. From there, you can take a short excursion across the city’s famous harbor to Taronga Zoo, or take the longer journey further north to Manly.
Street View’s water view also lets you see inside and out of the Sydney Ferry, giving you a better idea of what it’s like to live and work in Australia. The interior isn’t all that appealing – it’s public transportation, after all – but it’s still interesting to look at.
Credit: Google
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One small drawback of the Google Street View boat ride is that it’s not seamlessly connected to land. This means that if you want to simulate a day trip, you have to go back to the map and jump. However, you can go back to Street View and explore Manly or visit the Taronga Zoo. Both have been mapped for years.
This is not the first Australian experience that Google has made available on Maps. In the past few years, the company has introduced tours of Kakadu National Park, exploring his trail on Christmas Island Walking, taking a peek inside his Sydney Opera House, and diving into the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coral Reef. bottom.
Of course, none of these street views are as good as being there in person, but they’re better than nothing and might help you plan your next vacation.
