Whale Watching Cruises in Sydney: Our 4 Best

1.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,790 reviews · 2h 45m · from $63Our pick

Cruise from Circular Quay along Sydney’s coast for 2 hours and 45 minutes aboard a spacious catamaran. Your English-speaking guide shares whale facts while you watch for humpbacks, dolphins, and other wildlife. Open decks, indoor seating, hot drinks, toilets, and a licensed bar add comfort, though open water can be rough.

“Loved the rocking and rolling of the boat. The crew did everything they could to find whales and we were very lucky to see a Mum and her calf swimming in the ocean. It was amazing watching them in their natural habitat. The crew were great. I highly recommend booking this excursion with Sydney Whale watching.”

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2.Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 878 reviews · from $74

Start at King Street Wharf or the Eastern Pontoon, depending on your booking details, with breakfast or a BBQ lunch aboard Sydney Princess Cruises. See the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay, and Sydney Heads before searching for humpback whales. The four-hour cruise runs May to November and includes live commentary.

“Well organised , clear and knowledgeable commentator. We had a wonderful 4.5 hours and had the pleasure of seeing 4 humpbacks including a young calf. Mother and calf spent ages within reasonable distance of the boat, one of the highlights of my life . Thank you 😊 Lunch was good too !”

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3.2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 756 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

From Circular Quay, Fantasea Crystal reaches the open ocean in about 20 minutes, leaving roughly 90 minutes to look for humpback whales, dolphins, and seals. You can watch from the open sun deck, covered rear deck, or air-conditioned cabin. Guides such as Josh, Wayde, and Kate add friendly commentary, and a free return cruise is offered if no whales are seen.

“Out of this world!! On our cruise we saw about 10 whales, three of which we stayed close to for about an hour (of course, at a safe and respectable distance away from them!). The guides were incredibly knowledgeable about the whales and their habits, spotting whales after sailing for only 20 minutes! Would definitely recommend!”

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4.Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 571 reviews · from $99Top rated

Set out from King Street Wharf with the Whale Tales crew for a 2.5-hour trip beneath the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House, and beyond Sydney Heads. Guides such as Rex, Mette, Alex, Mawi, and Isaac share whale facts while you search for humpbacks, dolphins, and other marine life. A whale sighting earns a memorable outing, and no sighting brings a free return cruise.

“We had to contact the operator, as we where due to travel on the 9am tour but our uber dropped us at the wrong wharf. They were very helpful and booked us onto the 3pm tour instead. The tour did not disappoint and we saw whales. I nice touch was a photographer on board who took photos and we received them in the evening. Highly recommend.”

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