Poole is a harbour town, and the boat trips are not a sideshow: they are the best way to understand the place.
To the island
Brownsea Island is about twenty minutes from the Quay, or a shorter hop from Sandbanks. Book ahead in summer.
Round the harbour
Cruises circle the harbour and its smaller islands, which is the only way to see how large and how shallow it really is. Good for wildlife, particularly out of season.
Along the coast
Longer trips run out through the harbour mouth and west to Old Harry Rocks, the chalk stacks marking the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. Seen from sea level they are something else entirely.
The working crossing
The chain ferry runs year-round across the harbour entrance to Studland, four minutes, taking cars, bikes and walkers.
Services are weather dependent. See tours and sightseeing and the harbour guide.