They're the largest mammals to grace the Earth with their presence, and lucky for us, we have a front-row seat in our own backyard. So if you reside in or are just passing through Sydney, these are the whale watching experiences that will have you close enough to say hello.
Best for: Near city
Best for: Price
Best for: Adrenaline
| Experience | Departs from | Duration | What's included | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intimate Whale Watching Experience | Sydney, NSW | 3 hours |
| Finder.com.au |
| Whale Watching Cruise with BBQ lunch | Circular Quay | 4 hours |
| Adrenaline |
| Luxe Whale Watching Cruise with BBQ Lunch | Sydney Harbour | 4 hours |
| RedBalloon |
| High-Speed Whale Watching Cruise | Circular Quay | 2 hours |
| Klook |
| Whale Watching Cruise | Darling Harbour | 2 hours and 45 minutes |
| Adrenaline |
| Tall Ship Whale Watching Cruise | Sydney Harbour | 5 hours |
| Adrenaline |
| Whale Watching on a Speed Boat | Sydney Harbour | 1.5 - 2 hours |
| RedBalloon |
| Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast | Sydney Harbour | 4 hours |
| RedBalloon |
| Small-Group Luxury Sydney Whale Watching Cruise | Circular Quay | 4 hours |
| Viator |
| Whale Watching Cruise Sydney | Circular Quay | 3 hours |
| AnyBoat |
| True Blue Whale Watching Cruise | TBC | 3 hours and 30 minutes |
| AnyBoat |
| Sydney Whale Watching Lunch Cruise | King Street Wharf | 4 hours |
| AnyBoat |
| Sydney Whale Watching Breakfast Cruise | King Street Wharf | 4 hours |
| AnyBoat |
| Sydney Whale Watching on Ocean Extreme | Circular Quay or Manly Wharf | 2 hours |
| AnyBoat |
| 3-hour Whale Watching Cruise | Varies | Varies |
| AnyBoat |
| Sydney Whale Watching on Harbour Cat | Manly | 3 hours |
| AnyBoat |
| Sydney Whale Watching on Enigma | TBC | 4 hours |
| AnyBoat |
RedBalloon
Get 5% off activities with code
Available when you spend a minimum of $250 on activities such as hot air balloon flights, rally driving, skydives, high teas and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. T&Cs apply.
RedBalloon
10% off activities with code FD300
Available on select dates on destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. Minimum spend of $300 required. Activities include hot air balloon flights, skydives and high teas. T&Cs apply.
Groupon
Up to 81% off things to do in Sydney
Available on select dates. Activities include skydiving, tours, cruises, diving, whale watching and more. T&Cs apply.
Adrenaline
Australia sightseeing cruises from $140
Available on select travel dates until 2024, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Wotif
Things to do in Sydney from $7
Available on select dates until 2024 on activities such as sightseeing tours, whale-watching cruises, helicopter tours, cruises, wine tours and more. Sample rate is for an audio walking tour.
All whale watching experiences head out onto Sydney Harbour but depart from many locations including Manly, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.
For the highest chance of spotting a pod of whales off the coast of Sydney, you'll want to book between April and November. For warmer temperatures, book either at the beginning or end of the season.
Get the full scoop with our guide on the best time to visit Sydney for whale watching.
A regular whale watching cruise in Sydney can cost between $45 and $100 per adult. Children's tickets are usually a little more than half the cost of an adult's ticket. Cruises that include food, drinks or VIP experiences usually cost more, between $150 and $300 per adult. A family of 4 can experience the cheapest whale watching cruise we've found for $180.
Whale watching is an outdoor activity on the water, which means your chances of getting wet are pretty high. You'll want to dress warmly for your cruise. Wear flat, enclosed shoes to ensure you don't slip and a waterproof jacket is highly recommended.
There's not a clear-cut time for when to go whale watching. If you want to spend the most amount of time on the water for your chance encounter, you can consider booking an all-day cruise.
Part of the beauty of whale watching is getting up close to wild creatures. Unfortunately, said wild creatures might not appear right on cue.
Tour operators understand this and some will offer a guarantee that if you don't see any humpback whales, you'll have a free or discounted trip next time you book with them (usually for the same season).
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