SS Ayrfield – The Floating Forest of Homebush Bay
SS Ayrfield: A Floating Forest in Sydney
In the quiet waters of Homebush Bay, near Sydney Olympic Park, lies one of the city's most extraordinary sights: the rusting hull of the SS Ayrfield, now a floating forest.
Find this and dozens more in Hidden Gems NSW: directions, access notes and safety tips. Printed guides include 12 months of the Explorer app free. Get the guide →
This century-old ship has become a strange natural wonder, with mangroves sprouting from the deck and hull so it looks like a living island adrift in the bay. It's a hauntingly beautiful example of nature reclaiming the ruins, and one of Sydney's most unusual hidden gems.
You'll find the SS Ayrfield in Hidden Gems NSW, our guide to the state's most unusual and unforgettable places.
SS Ayrfield Quick Facts
- Access: Free, viewed from the public foreshore and boardwalk
- Location: Homebush Bay, Wentworth Point / Sydney Olympic Park
- Difficulty: Very easy, on flat paved paths
- Best for: Photography, sunset walks and birdwatching
A Brief History of the SS Ayrfield
- Built in 1911 in the UK as a 1,140-tonne steel collier, originally named Corrimal.
- Served as a supply ship in World War II, carrying provisions to American troops in the Pacific.
- After the war it was renamed SS Ayrfield and carried coal along the NSW coast.
- Decommissioned in the 1970s, it was brought to Homebush Bay, then a ship-breaking yard, and when the yard closed it was left to rust.
Over the decades, mangroves took root inside the hollow hull and turned it into the floating forest you see today.
The Other Homebush Bay Shipwrecks
The SS Ayrfield isn't alone. When ship-breaking moved on, several hulls were simply left in the bay. The Ayrfield is the most famous because of its forest, but you can also see the remains of the SS Mortlake Bank and HMAS Karangi nearby. Together they form a rusted graveyard that tells the story of Sydney's industrial maritime past.
How to See the SS Ayrfield
The wreck sits off the Wentworth Point foreshore, along the Homebush Bay Circuit Walk that follows the edge of Sydney Olympic Park. You don't need hiking boots; it's a suburban stroll.
- By car: Park at Wentworth Point (near the Archery Centre or along Footbridge Boulevard) and walk to the water at The Promenade.
- By train or bus: Take the train to Rhodes Station and walk across the Bennelong Bridge to Wentworth Point, or take a bus to Sydney Olympic Park and follow the bayside paths.
- Best vantage point: The wide public boardwalk on the edge of Wentworth Point looks straight over the wreck. It's also visible from along Bennelong Parkway.
The wreck can only be viewed from the shore. Don't approach, board or take anything from it.
For walking track maps and visitor information, see the Sydney Olympic Park website.
Best Time to Photograph the SS Ayrfield
The Ayrfield is famously moody, and your photos will look completely different depending on when you visit:
- Sunset: Prime time. The sun sets behind the wreck, silhouetting the rusted hull and mangroves against an orange and purple sky.
- Sunrise and early morning: Quieter, with soft light.
- Low tide: The mudflats are exposed, revealing more of the ship's structure and the other nearby wrecks.
- High tide: The ship really looks like it's floating, which makes for a cleaner, more surreal shot.
Tips for Exploring Homebush Bay
- Bring a zoom lens: The wreck is around 40 to 50 metres from the shore, so you'll want some reach for close-ups of the trees growing through the steel.
- Drones: Aerial shots of the floating forest are stunning, but check Sydney Olympic Park's rules and CASA drone rules before you fly.
- Respect the residents: The boardwalk is right next to apartments. Keep noise down, especially at sunrise or for late-night long exposures.
- Make it a loop: Walk or cycle on through Sydney Olympic Park, or follow the paths past the Badu Mangroves towards Bicentennial Park for a great nature walk.
- Admire from shore: The wreck is fragile. Don't try to reach or board it.
More Hidden Gems Like the SS Ayrfield
If the floating forest of Homebush Bay captures your imagination, you'll also love:
- Tin City, Stockton Beach: a surreal, desert-like community of huts in the dunes.
- Hibernian House, Surry Hills: Sydney's most famous artist warehouse, covered in graffiti.
- Crater Cove huts: heritage cliffside shacks in Sydney Harbour National Park.
Each place tells a story of history, resilience and nature reclaiming human spaces, themes that make NSW such a fascinating state to explore.
Final Thoughts
The SS Ayrfield at Homebush Bay is more than a shipwreck. It's history merging with nature. From wartime supply ship to floating mangrove forest, it remains one of Sydney's most photogenic and unique sights.
For more extraordinary places like this, from abandoned cabins to outback landscapes, grab a copy of Hidden Gems NSW. It's your essential guide to the state's most unusual places.
SS Ayrfield FAQs
Where can you see the SS Ayrfield?
From the public boardwalk and foreshore at Wentworth Point on Homebush Bay, along the Homebush Bay Circuit Walk near Sydney Olympic Park.
Can you go on the SS Ayrfield?
No. The wreck can only be viewed from the shore. Don't approach, board or take anything from it.
How do you get to the SS Ayrfield by public transport?
Take the train to Rhodes Station and walk across the Bennelong Bridge to Wentworth Point, or catch a bus to Sydney Olympic Park and follow the bayside paths.
Is it free to see the SS Ayrfield?
Yes. The foreshore and boardwalk are public and free.
