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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
Posted 2 days ago

A cruise filled day out on the ocean today! It was so nice to get back out there after a few days of being stopped by the weather!

The whales were in cruise mode as well, calmly swimming along on their way. We’ve noticed the directional change in the past few days with more whales heading south and we get into the second half of the migration. We also saw a huge pod of dolphins off Manly, one large pod seeming play with one of the young calves that our Express trip had the joy of hanging out with in the early afternoon!

#whalewatching #whalewatchingsydney #whales #dolphins #sydney
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Posted 1 week ago

A bit of everything out on the Humpback Highway today!! Our midday cruise received a couple of close passes from a pod of 6 whales tracking North, then the late afternoon found an adult whale with two much smaller individuals, one looked like an inquisitive little calf and potentially another juvenile just hanging around in the shallows at Long Reef!

Another beautiful day on the Humpback Highway!

#whalewatchingsydney #humpbackwhales #whalewatching #humpback #sydney
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Posted 2 weeks ago

Unbelievable midday cruise today!!

The one tip with whale watching is to never stop keeping an eye out, because you never know what might happen, and this whale sure proved it today!! Right towards the end of the trip, a solo whale popped up right next to us after over an hour of searching and put on the show of a lifetime for our guests! Head lunging and breaching right next to the boat! Incredible!! 🐋🚀
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Comment on Facebook

It was amazing watching him performed for us!!! Love it.

Incredible 😍

FANTASTIC

Wuahh

Wow

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Posted 2 weeks ago

Talk about little and large!!! Wow!

We got incredibly lucky on our last trip of the day today, coming just outside the harbour entrance and finding the youngest calf we’ve seen all season so far! This little one was very new to the world and keen to show us some tiny tail slaps and fin waves, even coming for a close look at our boat before mum and an escort decided to swoop them away to keep them safe! We had some huge tail slaps from the adults and a good indication that they wanted us to keep a safe distance from the baby.

We always respect our whales and make sure they have plenty of space on their travels, with 100m being the legal limit, however when we have a calf we need to maintain a 300m distance to keep them safe! Although the whales sometimes decide they want to take a look at us! In which case we put the engines in idle and let the whales decide!

#whalewatchigsydney #whalecalf #whales #humpbackwhale #sydney
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Comment on Facebook

Adrian Banks Look at the little baby 🐋! See its tail fluke …. 💙

Amazing luck!

Looks great

Beautiful

The baby is so fresh, wonder if they made it all the way North for birth

Margaret Toller, aww a little calf!

Wow how lucky

Beautiful

Wow

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The ocean is looking a lot more washy than yesterday 🌊

For those who braved it out there with us today got a bit of the tail throw show from the pod 2 humpbacks we were trailing with on our 9:30 cruise.

 #whalewatchingsydney #humpbackwhale #whale #sydney #whalewatching
Posted 2 weeks ago

The ocean is looking a lot more washy than yesterday 🌊

For those who braved it out there with us today got a bit of the tail throw show from the pod 2 humpbacks we were trailing with on our 9:30 cruise.

#whalewatchingsydney #humpbackwhale #whale #sydney #whalewatching
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Posted 2 weeks ago

Yet another stunner of a day out on the Tasman Sea today! The sea was the calmest we’ve seen all season! The whales were keeping their heads down and in cruise mode today, but we still got lucky with some amazing tail throws and plenty of peaceful and calm sightings!

We’ll be back out each day this weekend and hopefully the conditions will be just as good! Well hope to see you there!!

#whalewatching #whalewatchingsydney #whales #sydney
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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.

June 2025 Update

The past six weeks have flown by, and the northern migration of our mighty Humpbacks is now in full swing....

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...

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.