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Whale Watching Sydney

2025 cruises now on sale! Available Cruises

Sydney's Best Whale Watching Cruises

The 2025 whale watching season has now started

Whale Watching Sydney offers one of the best whale watching experiences in Australia. Our passionate crew have over 30 years of experience aboard our custom-built fleet of vessels, which means you’ll be in good hands to see nature’s beauty with your very eyes.

Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
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2hr Express Cruise
On Ocean Dreaming II

Only $85.00
Circular Quay, Wharf 6
Our most popular whale watching cruise, reaching the open ocean in 15min. Watch whales across three viewing decks on the best whale watching boat in Sydney.
Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
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2.5hr Discovery Cruise
on Fantasea Avalon

Only $85.00
Darling Harbour, Aquarium Wharf
Departing from Darling Harbour, cruise the open ocean in comfort from the seated sun deck, covered rear deck or climate-controlled cabin on Fantasea Avalon.
Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
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2.5hr Adventure Cruise
On Totally Wild

Only $99.00
Darling Harbour – Pier 26, Berth 3
Sydney’s most thrilling, high-speed whale watching experience onboard our custom-built rescue vessel, Totally Wild! Perfect for thrill seekers wanting an adrenaline rush.
Whale Watching, 3hr Discovery Cruise
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Central Coast
Whale Watching

Only$95.00
Palm Beach & Ettalong Beach (Free Transfer)
No need to travel into Sydney for your whale watching cruise with local departures from the Central Coast at Palm Beach and Ettalong Beach (Free transfer). On weekends during school holidays.

Save 20% on whale watching cruises
with My NRMA Rewards

Save 20% on Whale Watching Cruises with My NRMA Rewards

Most Recent Whale Sightings

Photos taken by our onboard photographers
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Breach of the day! 🚀🧨🐋

An explosive start to our late afternoon cruise! We pushed out East and found a competition pod pounding their way North. As we approached we had a moment of quiet before one whale went sky high with a one off breach! Mind blowing action!

#humpbackwhale #whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #breach #sydneyImage attachmentImage attachment
Posted 2 days ago

Breach of the day! 🚀🧨🐋

An explosive start to our late afternoon cruise! We pushed out East and found a competition pod pounding their way North. As we approached we had a moment of quiet before one whale went sky high with a one off breach! Mind blowing action!

#humpbackwhale #whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #breach #sydney
... See MoreSee Less

Comment on Facebook

Top Shots TED - well done. See how the whales perform when I am not on Board

Spectacular 😍

Posted 3 days ago

A whopping good time on the humpback highway today.

Still seeing the humpbacks on their Northern migration.

On our afternoon cruise we had 2 whales breach one after the other out of nowhere, we only just managed to get a few snaps 😂🚀

#whalewatching #humpbackwhale #sydney #whalewatchingsydney #whale
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Comment on Facebook

Paul van Aken

Posted 4 days ago

Wave your fins in the air like you just don’t care!

It’s been a busy few days for us out on the Tasman Sea, we’ve had lots of fast moving solo whales pushing North, and some of the conditions have made it especially challenging. We were treated today though with some very close passes to the boat, and more than a few inquisitive whales popping up with loud trumpeting and big blows! We even had a couple of big tail throws and one whale waving at us as we left! Perfect.

Let’s hope for a spectacular Sunday tomorrow, and hopefully lots of active whales this week!
Will you be joining us?

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #whales #humpbackwhales #sydney
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Comment on Facebook

See you tomorrow 9.30, bring on whales 🐳

Posted 6 days ago

More breaching action happening on our 12pm cruise today! 🚀🐋

We found a lone humpback just outside the heads breaching, head lunging, pectoral slapping over and over. We noticed it was doing all of this showing off in circles, almost swimming in circles around us breaching and crashing in the waves.

Still some heavy winds out there riling them up. If you're not coming on a cruise today, at the very least I recommend get to the shore and watch from there! 👀

#whale #sydney #whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #humpbackwhale
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Posted 6 days ago

Absolutely amazing morning on our 9:30 cruise! 🚀🚀

Straight out of the heads we found a pod of 2 humpbacks breaching into the wind. I could hardly hold the camera straight with the wind blowing a gale 😂
It was worth the rough winds as the whales seem to love it! 🐋🚀

We lost count of how many breaches we saw on that cruise.

#whalewatching #sydney #whale #whalewatchingsydney #humpbackwhale
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Comment on Facebook

Hope it happens Sunday morning. See you then

It was fabulous- way more action than i had expected. Thankyou 😛

Paul van Aken

Big Breach Today! So close to the boat we couldn’t fit it all in the frame!

Our late afternoon cruise got the show again today, when we found a competition pod of three whales charging North! Two of the whales were engaged in some very boisterous behaviours, ramming and tail swiping at each other. As we watched two of them colliding, with all eyes on them, the third whale came out of nowhere, launching itself out of the water just meters away! 

What a show!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #humpbackwhales #sydneyImage attachmentImage attachment
Posted 6 days ago

Big Breach Today! So close to the boat we couldn’t fit it all in the frame!

Our late afternoon cruise got the show again today, when we found a competition pod of three whales charging North! Two of the whales were engaged in some very boisterous behaviours, ramming and tail swiping at each other. As we watched two of them colliding, with all eyes on them, the third whale came out of nowhere, launching itself out of the water just meters away!

What a show!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #humpbackwhales #sydney
... See MoreSee Less

Comment on Facebook

Was a really great afternoon out with you guys, and yes, that breach came from nowhere, HUGE!!

Great pics BEN - well done

Wow amazing!!! We did a cruise on totally wild yesterday and got awesome video! Shall try and share here

Paul van Aken

View more comments

Why cruise with us?

30 Years Experience

Full commentary from experienced Marine Naturalists or Scientists to guide you through the cruise.

Whale Guarantee

If you don’t see whales on your first whale watching cruise you can come back again for free!

15-20min to the ocean

Don’t waste hours traveling to the whales and back. Minimal time in the harbour, maximum time with whales.

Read our Whale Watching Blog

Written by our onboard photographers
The past six weeks have flown by, and the northern migration of our mighty Humpbacks is now in full swing. We’ve already witnessed some epic sights and stunning whale behaviours—and we know there’s plenty more to come.

Whale Watching and Coastal Adventures with a Sydney Hire Car

Combine your whale watching cruise with a hire car from SIXT for a coastal road trip, and you’ve got a...

Whale Watching Season 2025 Has Begun!

After weeks of preparation, our team was eager to get back out on the water, and the very first trip...

September 2024 Update – Orca Pod Spotted in Sydney

Orca have not been sighted in Sydney waters since 2018 near Botany Bay. While there was a sighting back in...

Testimonials

  • My experience was amazing I say Whales breaching it was fantastic. And the crew on the boat made my experiences a great and safe place to be.

    OnAir551973
    Aug. 2023
  • Weather was a bit miserable, but the boat made it comfortable. The crew had their finger on the pulse out there and when whales were spotted by a sister boat, we were taken quickly to a perfect viewing spot. The whales repeatedly breached, including a double breach from the pair. We got great photos and finished the voyage pumped.

    Windy Miller
    Jul. 2023
  • The boat, crew and overall experience was fabulous! Whales were promised and wow we were blown away, we can’t believe that we saw whales breaching and tail slapping so close we felt at times we could almost touch them.
    This crew have perfected the tour with an onboard Marine Biologist and happy, easygoing but safe attitude.

    Deborah J
    Jul.2023
  • Went Whale Watching with my teen and we both loved it! if you are in Sydney between May/November and you check weather/sea conditions, GO! You are not going to be disappointed!

    Kikka1931
    Dec.2023
  • Once we got out of the Harbor, we started seeing whales. They were jumping and feeding and just cruising along side the boat!! The crew were all super friendly and helpful and kept the trip fun and interesting.

    BigMo
    Dec. 2023
  • Whale Watching Sydney. Another excellent trip with lots of whales observed. If you book online suggest you tick the extra option for getting the professional photos. Good commentary on what you are seeing

    AsiaDavies
    Oct. 2023
  • Must to do with kids. Amazing experience with kids. Must to do if in Sydney. There is big difference watching whale compared to other animals as the shear size of whale and they move is magnificent.

    mayanksaksena1
    Oct. 2023
  • Never thought in my whole life I would see whales so close . Commentator excellent with information and keeping us up to date with sightings and explanations .  A Fantastic exceptional trip .

    733doctor
    Sep. 2023

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which our business operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.