A 2 hour 45 minute whale watching cruise from the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay, out through the Heads to watch humpback whales on their migration along the coast. A naturalist explains what you are seeing, tea, coffee and hot chocolate are free, and if no whales show up you can come back again.
Days
- 2 hours 45 minutes
Age
- All ages
Group size
- Shared cruise boat
Start / finish
- Circular Quay, Eastern Pontoon / Pacific Ocean off Sydney / Circular Quay
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- Whale watching boat with indoor cabin and outdoor decks
Meals
- Tea, coffee and hot chocolate
Route
Included experiences
- Sydney Harbour — cruise past the Opera House to the Heads
- Pacific Ocean — humpback whales on their migration, May to November
- On board — commentary from a naturalist and marine biologist
- Outdoor decks — watch whales breach, tail-slap and play
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 17 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 17 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the friendly, knowledgeable and professional crew, who created welcoming experiences and shared engaging commentary about the whales and their behaviour. The most striking aspect of the tour is the quality and frequency of whale sightings, with many groups witnessing breaching, active displays and close encounters with humpbacks, including mothers and calves, which created memorable moments for families and other visitors. The tour also offers distinctive views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House that are difficult to capture from elsewhere, and whilst the experience takes nearly three hours, travellers found it went quickly and remained comfortable despite the crowds aboard. The main caveat is that the cruise operates in winter during the whale migration period, so visitors should be prepared for chilly conditions and potential wet weather by dressing warmly and bringing rain protection.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
A great morning whale watching. The crew were fantastic and knew their stuff. Good value and highly recommended.
A really lucky trip with several whales breaching. The staff were friendly, Jane and Sarah I think.
A fantastic day out. Our captain Jonno was the best and the staff were helpful and knowledgeable. Tie your hair back, bring a hat and sunglasses and charge your phone.
Lani made our family feel so welcome with her lovely personality. The whole crew was kind, Lani especially.
A great time out whale watching. The crew were great, especially our guide Lani, and we were lucky enough to see several whales. Definitely recommend.
A magical time that I'll be back for. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and fun, I learnt a lot and saw some beautiful humpbacks. Smooth sailing and good vibes.
