Special event clearways will be in place for the Queen Mary 2 on Thursday 26 February and also for the visit of the Aurora on Sunday 1 March.

The Queen Mary 2 is the largest ship ever to visit Sydney and its last visit in 2007 attracted significant crowds to Sydney Harbour.

This cruise liner arrives through the heads at 6am and arrives at Garden Island around 7am. It will leave at 1am the following day.

For this visit, special event clearways will be in place from 6am to midnight in the Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and from 5am to 8am in the Mosman areas.

Visitors should also be aware that police might close roads in the CBD and Woolloomooloo at short notice to maintain the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

Anyone wanting to view the Queen Mary 2 is urged to take public transport, particularly during the peak periods.

If people do choose to drive, they should expect significant delays and allow plenty of extra travel time.

The RTA is advertising the special traffic arrangements for this visit in newspapers and on the RTA website. Electronic message signs will also carry information for motorists.

More public and media information will be issued closer to the visit.

Another significant date for cruise ship activity is Sunday 1 March when four ships – the Crystal Serenity, Millennium, Pacific Dawn and Aurora are all in Sydney Harbour at the same time – berthed respectively at the Overseas Passenger Terminal (Circular Quay), at Anchorage in the Harbour near Taronga Zoo, Wharf 8 Darling Harbour and at anchorage near Point Piper.

A special event clearway will be in place on Hickson Road between 7am and 8pm for the visit of the Aurora on Sunday 1 March.

No special traffic arrangements are in place for the other cruise liners on 1 March. Anyone wanting to view the ships is advised to take public transport for travel to any harbourside vantage points.