Sydney · WHALE WATCHING

The 15 Best Whale Watching Tours in Sydney

31 tours  ·  from $45 a head

Humpbacks pass the heads between May and November and the boats go straight out to meet them. The 15 below differ on hull size, how far offshore they go and what happens if nothing surfaces, each priced honestly.

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise - The 40-minute run to whale country
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Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

1.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,790 reviews · 2h 45m · from $63Our pick

Watch humpback whales off Sydney’s coast on a 165-minute catamaran cruise with expert commentary, harbour views, hot drinks, and a sighting guarantee.

“Lovely trip on the water Smooth and easy motion on the water Great views and fab whale watching”

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Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast - Boarding at King Street Wharf
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Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

2.Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 878 reviews · from $74

Cruise Sydney Harbour, enjoy breakfast or a BBQ lunch, and search for humpback whales on a four-hour Pacific Ocean trip.

“Luggage storage nearby was $8AU per bag, but convenient. Double decker boat didn’t feel crowded, and lunch was great. Commentary was pleasant and informative. We saw so many breaches that the boat lingered longer than usual. I’ve heard from others that the morning tour is a bit underwhelming and today was no exception according to the crew, so afternoon is a must!”

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Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise - Boarding Fantasea Crystal at Circular Quay
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Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

3.2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 756 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

Sydney whale watching from Circular Quay reaches the open ocean in 20 minutes, with a whale sighting guarantee and wide viewing areas.

“Perfect, the whales where around us all the time, beautiful spectacle, 100% recommended, only advice is to go with very warm clothes because is freezing outside the boat”

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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney - Humpbacks, Calves, Dolphins, and More
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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

4.Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 571 reviews · from $99Top rated

Watch humpback whales beyond Sydney Heads on a small-group cruise with expert commentary, harbour views, free return guarantee, and dolphin sightings.

“Rex and Mette gave us a wonderful tour in search of whales. Amazing we saw three humpback whales together and one separated a few minutes later Rex was keeping in touch with other skippers in the area locating them. Worked well for us. Mette provided an expert explanation of the humpback whales during the trip, as well as all other species. She took pictures if you wanted and then downloaded them to your phone. No cost cost A great morning excursion. Thanks both of you”

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Sydney: Discovery Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran - Finding your best place to watch
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Sydney: Discovery Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran

Jervis Bay Whale Watching Tour - The whale-watching section: patience pays off
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Jervis Bay Whale Watching Tour

6.Jervis Bay Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 353 reviews

Cruise Jervis Bay for humpback whales, dolphins, seals, and coastal cliffs. See what makes this family-friendly tour worth the €40.95 price.

“We had a lovely sunny morning to hit the water and the whales didn’t disappoint. A pair ventured close to us and stayed on the surface for quite a while. An excellent experience.”

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Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast or Lunch - Choosing breakfast or lunch
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Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast or Lunch

Sydney: Scenic Whale Watching Cruise - Whales Guaranteed - Why Sydney works so well for whale watching
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Sydney: Scenic Whale Watching Cruise – Whales Guaranteed

8.Scenic Whale Watching Cruise – Whales Guaranteed

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 318 reviews · 3 hours · from $45Best value

Sydney whale watching cruise with Barefoot Whale Watching, scenic harbour views, expert commentary, a spacious catamaran, and whales guaranteed.

“It was great, we saw dolphins, whales and took an extra route to see seals. The tourguide told us some interesting facts about the wildlife around Sydney. Absolutely worth it.”

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Sydney Whale-Watching by Speed Boat - The speedboat ride is part of the value
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Sydney Whale-Watching by Speed Boat

9.Sydney Whale-Watching by Speed Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 314 reviews · from $92

Race from Sydney Harbour into the Tasman Sea for a 2-hour whale-watching trip with expert guides, waterproof jackets, and a real chance of sightings.

“Absolutely amazing experience! We went on the 8am tour and almost immediately came up on a pod of whales! The whole tour we followed a few different groups of whales and while we didn't get to see a breach up close, seeing the whales up close was am incredible experience! Super friendly and knowledgeable guide as well. Would do it again!”

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Sydney: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise - Watching humpbacks without crowding them
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Sydney: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise

10.Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 300 reviews · 2h 30m · from $67

Search for humpback whales off Sydney on a 150-minute Captain Cook cruise with expert commentary, harbour views, and a 95% whale-sighting guarantee.

“very knowledgeable commenter and the boat was well maintain and equipped. overall good fun !”

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Sydney: Ocean Whale Watching Experience - Why a 30-passenger boat makes a difference
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Sydney: Ocean Whale Watching Experience

11.Ocean Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 240 reviews · 2h 30m · from $98

Cruise from Darling Harbour into Sydney’s open ocean for a small-group humpback whale watch with expert guides and a whale sighting guarantee.

“Our tour was unforgettable, largely thanks to the staff. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and her passion expressed for the sea was genuine, inspiring everyone on the trip. The crew demonstrated an impressive ability to spot whales while maintaining a deep respect for nature. It was a fantastic experience!”

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Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Circular Quay - Why May through November matters
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Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Circular Quay

12.Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Circular Quay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · from $68

See humpback whales, dolphins, and Sydney Harbour from a catamaran on this seasonal 2.5-hour cruise from Circular Quay.

“This was an excellent boat tour. We had 3 sightings of whales flapping their tails at great proximity. Not sure why I was expecting humpback whales jumping out of the water 😂 but what we saw was still great. The boat ride was a thrill in itself if you don’t get sea sick. Multiple ppl were sea sick and bag were provided ahead of time so there were no accidents 🥴. The view leaving the city, or the landscape while looking for seals and back to the city was excellent. Saw Sydney Opera house from different view that on land. I mostly took videos.”

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Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle - Why the Newcastle whale route matters
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Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle

13.Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · from $89

See humpback whales off Newcastle on a two-hour CoastXP cruise with expert guides, small groups, wet-weather gear, photos, and whale guarantee.

“Very experienced operator, with years of experience. Great knowledge and information about the whales and their environment. Great day”

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Newcastle Whale Watching Cruise - Starting at Honeysuckle Marina
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Newcastle Whale Watching Cruise

14.Newcastle Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $60

Set out from Newcastle’s Honeysuckle Marina for a 2.5-hour whale cruise with coastal views, tea, snacks, and indoor or outdoor seating.

“We saw whales spouts before we left the harbor just amazing, mom and calf around us. Obviously they did not get to close but we followed several crests, tail waves and spouts. fun and exciting. waves were substantial, if weather permits, go on top”

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Port Stephens 3 Hour Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise - The three-hour search for humpback whales
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Port Stephens 3 Hour Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise

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