SYDNEY
Sydney’s best days out.
The 15 most popular whale watching tours in Sydney. The ones locals send visitors to first, with prices, run times and who to book through.
2h45 humpback whale watching from Circular Quay. Live guide talk, warm drinks, landmark views, plus a free return if no whales.
Most Popular“Absolutely amazing, saw so many whales. But if you get motion sickness.. I would come prepared”
Sydney Harbour cruise plus humpback whale watching with breakfast or BBQ lunch, live commentary, and a free return if no whales.
“Excellent cruise! Lunch was good. Staff provided an excellent narration of whale/wildlife life and habitat. Showed great respect for whales by backing off when the ship got too close to cow and calf. They even extended the cruise to ensure we would see more sightings!”
A 2-hour Sydney whale watching cruise from Circular Quay to the open ocean fast, with comfy decks, onboard guide help, and a free return if no whales.
“Crew were lovely and very professional, fast transport out to sea - even though it was the end of season we say two whales! If you’re here during whale season I would definitely recommend! (Although if you’ve ever been travel sick please take tablets before you go as the sea can get bumpy!)”
Cruise from Darling Harbour out past the Heads for humpback whales, Harbour Bridge and Opera House views, live commentary, and a whale sighting guarantee.
“Amazing experience!! Alex and Alex were great and very informative. It was a short boat ride (maybe 45 min until we got to the site). We saw a few mother humpback wales and their calves. We even got to see some dolphins on the way back!!”
Sydney whale watching on a custom catamaran: a 30-minute sprint to open ocean, two decks, air-conditioned cabins, onboard photos, drinks included.
“We had a wonderful time whale watching. We spotted the whales early on and were lucky to find such active whales. The staff were very friendly and informative about the whales.”
4-hour Sydney Heads whale cruise with live commentary and an included breakfast or BBQ lunch, plus plenty of deck space to spot humpbacks.
“I had the best whale watching experience with Sydney Princess Cruise. We drove right into the pod and saw 3 baby whales playing and showing off their tummies. Thank you!”
3-hour Sydney Harbour whale-watching cruise with humpbacks guaranteed, expert commentary, and great views from a stable catamaran.
“10/10 experience. Staff were friendly Seeing the whales was a once in a lifetime experience!”
Speedboat whale-watching from Circular Quay with a small group, included jackets, and real chances to see humpbacks close to shore.
“Blake was a great guide and informed us with many whale facts. They know where to find the whales, so you‘re almost sure to see one (we even saw some dolphins!). We saw a pod and followed them for a while and even saw one breach! Unforgettable experience.”
150-minute Sydney Harbour whale cruise for humpback migration, dolphins and more, with outdoor viewing and a 95% whale guarantee.
“Loved our trip. Our guide was excellent, easy to see the whales from the ship. Would love to do it again ☺️”
Small-group humpback whale watching from Darling Harbour with close open-ocean sightings, marine commentary, and a whale guarantee.
“Whale watching in Sydney with Ben & Alex was absolutely epic. They set the vibe with cool music, are super sociable with everyone onboard, and make the whole trip feel like a real adventure. Their knowledge about humpback whales is incredible — they share awesome insights, answer every question, and keep the energy high the…”
See humpback and southern right whales on a 2.5-hour catamaran cruise from Circular Quay. Open-air decks, live commentary, May–Nov.
“While the trip indicates you can sign up for a free ride if you do not see any whales- that doesn’t help someone like me from out of the country and likely to not have another time to do this. We did not see any whales on this trip.”
Sydney whale watching from Circular Quay plus Taronga Zoo entry, all-weather lounge, whale commentary, and a return Rocket Ferry for $95.
“We did not see any whales, which the commentator said was very unusual! We were told we could either re-book or get a refund. When we asked for a refund, we were told there were no refunds! We then received tickets for 2 day “hop on / hop off” ferries which we really couldn’t use!…”
Sydney Harbour and open-ocean catamaran cruise chasing humpback whales, with Opera House and Harbour Bridge views.
“Seeing such an amazing creature so close. The beautiful harbour and friendly people on board. A relaxing cruise on the ocean. Family friendly environment.”
Calm small-group sailing whale watching from Rose Bay to Port Jackson in Sydney. May–Nov humpbacks, max 12, 3 hours.
“It was a wonderful day, very punctual and very friendly, an amazing experience. 🥰 I recommend that if you get dizzy, take something before, to avoid dizziness or vomiting 😌 and enjoy the whale watching 🐋.”
High-speed Sydney whale watching cruise from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay: up to 80 km/h, open deck views, whales guaranteed or free return.
“The views of Sydney were nice and we got to see a few whales in the distance but unfortunately we got seasick 🤢 would have gone for the regular ferry instead, anyway puke bags were readily available on the boat”
The harbour, the coast and the country beyond it, every way to see them.
