Whale Watching Sydney

The season is almost over! Book your cruise today. 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$99.00
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

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Most Recent Whale Sightings

Photos taken by our onboard photographers
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Posted 6 hours ago

Well our midday Express cruise got lucky today! It was cetacean party on the humpback Highway!! We found a pod of 7 large whales heading North, very strange for this time of the season! They were then joined by a huge pod of bottlenose dolphins that’s buzzed past the boat again and again! It was incredible!!

#whalewatchingsydney #whales #whalewatching #dolphin #cetaceans #sydney #ocean
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Comment on Facebook

Was it a competition pod. Ie, 6 males giving chase to a female? Comp pods go all over the place at speed.

The whales have been flying today!

Each of our express trips had whales breaching as best they could, the last trip had some action from a pod of three, the calf got completely out the water while mum and escort decided to get involved with some huge breaches and head lunges!!

#whalewatching #whalewatchingsydney #whales #humpbackwhale #humpbacksImage attachmentImage attachment
Posted 1 day ago

The whales have been flying today!

Each of our express trips had whales breaching as best they could, the last trip had some action from a pod of three, the calf got completely out the water while mum and escort decided to get involved with some huge breaches and head lunges!!

#whalewatching #whalewatchingsydney #whales #humpbackwhale #humpbacks
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Comment on Facebook

What a beautiful sight. Are they still going north, or on their way back up with their new calves (I guess? ).

Sensational 👏

Top shots TED

Posted 1 day ago

Beautiful big breach! This afternoon’s cruise found a pod of three just outside the heads, after a quick breach from the calf everything went quiet until until one of the adults gave us a huge breach right beside Sydney’s stunning sandstone cliffs. We’ve been very lucky today!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #sydney #whales #humpbackwhale #humpbackhighway
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Posted 1 day ago

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s one of the best airborne attempts we’ve seen in a while though!! Lively young whale that woke up and decided it was party time this morning just off Curl Curl beach. Amazing!!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #whales #humpbackwhale #whalebreach
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Comment on Facebook

Awesome shots. I never get tired of watching these magnificent creatures at play.

Great shots of this calf’s breach , stunning 🐋😘

Great capture 👏✨️

fantastic shots, they are so beautiful!

Adeel Rahat

Wow!!

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Posted 2 days ago

It's not just Humpbacks we see launching out of the water out on the Humpback highway!
On our 9:30am Express cruise, we saw whales, but also were able to witness one of nature's strange but impressive creatures of the sea - the "Flying Fish"

This time of the year we see a lot of flying fish in and out of the water, more so commonly spotted up at Long Reef.
They glide across the water with "wing" like fins and when they place the tip of their tailfin (lower part of the fin) into the water they use that to help steer them while they are mid-glide, almost like a rudder a boat would use to steer! How cool!

I never tire of seeing them graciously gliding across the surface!

#humpback #whale #australia #sydney #humpbackwhale #flyingfish #flyingfish
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Comment on Facebook

Ive never seen one but I know of them from the Octonauts 😆

Beautiful Sailfish?

Posted 3 days ago

Our whales were in a very steady cruise today, with all trips finding whales that decided to keep their heads down, all except this one very excited young calf leaping around in the afternoon! We had a lot of forecasts for storms today and with think the whales must’ve know as the behaviour was very subdued. We can only guess that they may be saving some energy for a rough sea overnight. Let’s hope they come out to play over the weekend, we can’t wait!!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #whales #humpbackwhale #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
whale leaping out of the water in front of a boat
Without a doubt, it’s been the most exciting month of the season so far. The action seemed to come out of nowhere! Just weeks earlier, our crew had been chatting about how the whales felt more subdued compared to the same time last year. Then, in true whale-watching unpredictability, it suddenly felt like every whale along the coast decided it...
whale breaching out of water in Sydney

August 2025 Update

August began with a wild burst of nature — huge storms and rolling seas sweeping along the Sydney coast. As...

July 2025 Update

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

June 2025 Update

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

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.