our maritime history

A TOWN RICH IN TALES OF THE SEA

Discover twelve fascinating eras of Eden’s rich maritime history, examined through the lens of prominent ship arrivals from the 18th to 21st century.

DISCOVER STORIES OF THE PORT OF EDEN

THE EXPLORATION ERA

THE WHALING ERA

THE SETTLEMENT ERA

THE BOYD ERA

THE EXPORT ERA

THE IMMIGRATION ERA

THE STEAMSHIP ERA

THE GOLD RUSH ERA

THE RAILWAY ERA

THE CANNERY ERA

THE YACHT RACE ERA

THE CRUISE SHIP ERA

Today

Eden has become one of Australia’s most popular regional cruise destinations, hosting an average of 30 cruise ships every season. To support Eden’s significant increase in cruise ship visitation and allow cruise ships to berth alongside in Snug Cove, rather than anchoring in Twofold Bay and tendering passengers ashore by boat, a $44 million wharf extension commenced construction in August 2017 and was completed in August 2019.

Passenger vessels up to 345 metres in length are able to berth alongside the upgraded wharf and approvals have been finalised to allow an extension to allow vessels up to 370 metres in length in the future.

In 2025, the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas recently made a historic visit to the Port of Eden in New South Wales, Australia, becoming the largest cruise ship to ever dock there. The 348-meter-long, 168,666-tonne vessel carried 4,862 passengers, marking a significant event for the town’s tourism and economy. Later in the same year Ovation docked a second time. During the 2025-2026 Cruise Season its identical sister ship Anthem of the Seas has scheduled two visits into Eden.