10 Whale Watching Cruises in Sydney Worth the Early Start

1.Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

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

Start at King Street Wharf with breakfast or BBQ lunch, then pass the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Manly Beach, and Sydney Heads before searching for humpback whales. A naturalist guide provides live commentary, and a free return cruise is offered if no whales are found.

“Lunch was really good and plentiful. Whale watching was fabulous! David was very informative and helpful with locating the whales and helping us find/see them. Highly recommend!”

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2.Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

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

From Circular Quay, Fantasea Crystal gets you to Sydney’s open ocean in about 20 minutes, leaving most of the cruise for whale watching. Choose the sun deck, covered rear deck, or air-conditioned cabin. English commentary, snacks, drinks, and a free return cruise if no whales are seen.

“It was a 2 hour whale trip, which was all the time we had. So perfect. We saw lots of humpback whales and the commentary was wonderful (photographer that works for ship, very knowledgeable). Highly recommend.”

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3.Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast or Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 340 reviews · 4 hours · from $70

From Circular Quay, cruise through Sydney Harbour and beyond Sydney Heads to look for migrating humpback whales. Choose a hot breakfast on weekends or a BBQ-style lunch daily. English commentary covers whales, dolphins, seals, and Sydney’s harbour sights. Judy and Biggles are among the guides praised for sharp spotting and lively talks.

“Nobody turned up at 7 Macquarie street as stated on the app. Walked to the quay and found where we should go. The previous meeting point needs removing. The trip was excellent. Saw so many whales. Mums with their calf’s. It was tremendous! The food was plentiful and ok. The guide was knowledgeable. So glad we did it!”

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4.Sydney: Scenic Whale Watching Cruise – Whales Guaranteed

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 318 reviews · 3 hours · from $45Best value

Cruise from Circular Quay past Sydney Harbour and through Sydney Heads with Barefoot Whale Watching. Captain Dean and Tom provide lively commentary while you search for humpback whales, dolphins, and seals from a spacious catamaran with limited guest numbers.

“It was so amazing ,I think I will never forget the moment when I saw the whale jumping and the craziest scream from the boat! Thanks captain Dean and our adventure artist Tom!”

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5.Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Circular Quay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · from $68

Set out from Circular Quay on a 2.5-hour seasonal cruise to spot humpback whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. You’ll pass the Opera House before reaching open water, with live commentary, open-air decks, and guides such as Gina and Kai on some departures.

“Great experience, we saw many whales and a few also did big jumps. The commentary was very interesting but it was hard to hear in the back of the boat, which is the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars. They are also well accustomed to visitors being sea sick and had everything needed. Overall, it was great!”

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6.Sydney: Whale Watching Cruise and Taronga Zoo Package

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 37 reviews · 1 day · from $95

Start at Circular Quay on a 2.5-hour open-water cruise in search of humpback whales, then visit Taronga Zoo at your own pace. Expect commentary, outdoor viewing, sea motion, and a ferry ride back to Circular Quay. Whale sightings are covered by a same-season cruise guarantee, subject to availability.

“I always appreciate safety and observing the rules of how to behave in nature and wild environments - and that was well taken care of. I know wild animals are not on cue and no one really knows what may or may not happen. However, running from one side of the boat to the other, and trying to catch a glimse of sth really wasn't what I imagined.”

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7.Sydney: 2.5 hour Adventure Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 2h 30m · from $88

Join an English-speaking guide aboard a fast, rescue-vessel-style boat from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. You will reach the open ocean quickly, watch humpback whales from a walk-around deck, and get a free return cruise if no whales appear.

“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”

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8.Taronga Zoo & Whale Watching Cruise Combo – Sydney Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $96

Start at Circular Quay at 9:30 am for a narrated cruise beyond Sydney Heads in search of humpback and occasional southern right whales. Visit Taronga Zoo, then return by ferry with Harbour Bridge and Opera House views. The day ends where it began.

“We went there as a family and enjoyed it alot. We spotted the wheal and dolphins as well. The location for the of the boat was easy to reach from our hottel”

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9.Port Stephens Private Tour From Sydney, with Dolphin/ Whale Cruise Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $340Top rated

Travel from central Sydney to Port Stephens in a private, air-conditioned minivan with a local guide. Add a seasonal dolphin or whale cruise, then enjoy Gan Gan Lookout, Little Beach, lunch, and optional sandboarding at Stockton Dunes. Guide James has earned special praise for his friendly care.

“Love this experience! Saw many dolphins and they are spectacular. Sandboarding was fun. Unfortunately no camel rides available. The guide, James is really nice. The only thing that viator could improve is to let us know we could swim in the cruise (the guides may not know since they are not allowed on the cruise) so we could make preparations.”

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10.Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Whale & Sail – Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $101

Join Sydney Harbour Tall Ships at 10:15 am from Campbells Cove for a roughly five-hour cruise aboard a traditional tall ship. Sail past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, head toward the ocean for whale watching, help with the sails, and enjoy a hot lunch. James and Craig are among the crew members praised for their care and skill.

“A wonderful day out whale watching on the Southern Swan. We got to see a humpback whale breaching as well as dolphins, but it would have been a fantastic standalone day of sailing even if we hadn't seen anything. The crew was great, and it was a pleasure watching the operation of a more than 100 years old vessel.”

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