Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast
Badge of Excellence
Sydney, Australia
+19
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Many whale-watching tours head straight into open water, but this cruise begins in Sydney Harbour, where you can enjoy breakfast or a barbecue lunch (depending on the option selected). After your meal, sail past sights such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge en route to the Pacific Ocean, in search of migrating humpback and southern right whales. A naturalist guide provides live commentary along the way, and helps you spot marine life.
- Learn more than you would on your own with live commentary
- Maximize your chances of spotting whales with a naturalist guide
- Enjoy views of Sydney and its harbor that many other visitors miss
- This tour handily includes breakfast or lunch, plus hot drinks
What's Included
- BBQ buffet lunch or breakfast (depending on departure time selected)
- Tea and Coffee
- Live commentary on board
- Humpback whale watching
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sydney Princess CruisesEastern Pontoon, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Eastern Pontoon, Eastern side of Circular Quay (same side as Opera House) The pontoon is located in front of Searock Grill Restaurant Please check in 15-30 minutes before departure time
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Make your way independently to King Street Wharf to board your whale-watching vessel. Group numbers are capped, providing space to move comfortably between the indoor cabin and outdoor viewing decks throughout the cruise.
Begin the experience in the sheltered waters of Sydney Harbour, where you can settle in and enjoy a buffet breakfast or barbecue lunch on board. As you cruise past the waterfront, take photos of landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Fort Denison.
After your meal, continue past coastal highlights including Manly Beach, Watsons Bay, and The Gap before exiting the harbor and entering the Pacific Ocean.
From May to November, humpback and southern right whales migrate along this stretch of coastline between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. During this period, you may observe behaviors such as breaching, tail slapping, and surface spouting. A naturalist-guide provides live commentary, sharing insights into whale migration patterns, marine ecosystems, and other wildlife that may appear, including dolphins and seabirds.
While whale sightings are highly likely during the season, marine wildlife remains unpredictable. If no whales are spotted during your cruise, you are eligible to return on another whale-watching tour at no additional cost, subject to availability.
Begin the experience in the sheltered waters of Sydney Harbour, where you can settle in and enjoy a buffet breakfast or barbecue lunch on board. As you cruise past the waterfront, take photos of landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Fort Denison.
After your meal, continue past coastal highlights including Manly Beach, Watsons Bay, and The Gap before exiting the harbor and entering the Pacific Ocean.
From May to November, humpback and southern right whales migrate along this stretch of coastline between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. During this period, you may observe behaviors such as breaching, tail slapping, and surface spouting. A naturalist-guide provides live commentary, sharing insights into whale migration patterns, marine ecosystems, and other wildlife that may appear, including dolphins and seabirds.
While whale sightings are highly likely during the season, marine wildlife remains unpredictable. If no whales are spotted during your cruise, you are eligible to return on another whale-watching tour at no additional cost, subject to availability.
1
Sydney Harbour Bridge
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (Pass By)
Manly Beach (Pass By)
Sydney Harbour (Pass By)
Watsons Bay (Pass By)
Oz Whale Watching (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- We suggest all guests to please bring motion sickness medication, our policy is better safe than sorry.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Please dress appropriately with comfortable shoes and warm clothing depending on the time of the year
- Service animals allowed
- Please bring a camera and sun protection
- Available May - November (Whale Watching Season here in Sydney)
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 96 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 901 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Robin_H, Jul 2026
An absolutely incredible whale watching experience! From start to finish, everything was great. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and informed throughout the trip. Seeing the whales up close in their natural habitat was truly breathtaking and something I’ll never forget. The boat was clean, well-organized, and the entire excursion felt safe and well-run. If you’re considering a whale watching tour, I highly recommend this one—it exceeded all expectations!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Robin, thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear your whale watching experience exceeded your expectations. It's wonderful that you enjoyed seeing the whales, appreciated our friendly team and felt comfortable throughout the trip. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you aboard again for another unforgettable adventure!
Neville_T, Jul 2026
Great view of the harbor and opera house!! Great food at buffet!! Great and fairly close views of breaching whales. Even saw some seabirds.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Neville, thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted you enjoyed the beautiful harbour and Opera House views, the delicious buffet, and the incredible sight of so many whale breaches. It’s wonderful to hear you also spotted seabirds along the way. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another memorable whale watching experience soon!
Marat_F, Jul 2026
Everything ran smoothly for this trip. Although there were warnings about getting seasick pills, I have never been sea sick on many boat trips around the world (take the advice about seasick pills) before. Weather was a little rough, and the lunch was excellent. So excellent I had two plate fulls. The boat was heaving in the waves then saw whales surfacing and took a video. Then it began, running to the puke bag(s). Maybe should not have had two plates full of lunch! Good afternoon experience and saw whales experience and three full bags, done.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Marat, thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad everything ran smoothly and that you enjoyed seeing the whales and our lunch. The ocean can certainly be unpredictable, and your story gave us a smile! We're pleased the whale sightings made the trip worthwhile and hope to welcome you back on calmer seas for another adventure.
Tanya_M, Jul 2026
Easy boarding process. Wholesome breakfast and hot drinks. We saw several whales, including a mother and her playful calf and two male whales. During the tour a pleasant staff member discussed regional and whale facts through the overhead speaker. Sometimes the speaker was a bit patchy, but i understood what was being said. Clear directions on what side of the boat to load for whales.
During the booking process, the company warns you several times that the waters can be rough. The boat has to travel far out of the harbor to see the whales. They recommend using seasickness medication in their notifications as well. There are several convenience stores along the pier, directly across from the boarding ramp, that sell the over the counter seasickness medications if you forget to buy some beforehand.
Even during the tour, they recommend sitting in the back of the boat where the ride feels less rough if you are prone to be impacted by the waves. That and give the instructions to use the seasickness medication before departure because it doesn’t work if you are already sick. Bags are readily available if that fails.
Wild animals are also unpredictable. I was happy with how many whales we saw. Further, I’m glad that the boat crew stayed a respectable distance away. We still saw plenty of tail breeches and the hump of the humpback.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Tanya,
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your whale watching experience and were fortunate enough to see several whales, including a mother and calf.
We truly appreciate your understanding of the conditions at sea and the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters. Our team is always committed to providing a safe, comfortable, and respectful whale watching experience while helping guests make the most of their time on the water.
Thank you for cruising with us, and we hope to welcome you onboard again soon for another unforgettable adventure.
Martina_C, Jul 2026
We had a fabulous experience with Oz Whale Watching, despite the weather and sea condition being less than ideal. The very friendly staff advised on anti sea sickness tablets and did everything in their power to minimise everyone's discomfort. The food was lovely, the boat was in perfect condition and the marine guide shared lots of interesting information about whales and dolphins when we encountered (plenty) along the way.
The bathrooms were immaculate and we were able to enjoy a very comfortable trip. The boat type was ideal for this type of service and everyone on board was so friendly. We will definitely be reccommending them.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Martina, thank you for your wonderful and detailed review! We're delighted to hear you had such a fabulous experience despite the challenging weather and sea conditions. It’s fantastic to know you enjoyed the food, vessel, and informative commentary, and that our team helped make your journey as comfortable as possible. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Tom_N, Jul 2026
Successful trip, great host. Brendan(?) I think was the host. Fantastic, what a eholesome, friendly, knowledgeable man. Really made the trip and encouraged people to appreciate the moment, the opportunity, and the animals. We had a pod of dolphins, 2 whales and a whole host of different birds join us on the trip. Absolutely remarkable!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Tom, thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable whale watching experience and enjoyed the incredible sightings of dolphins, whales, and local birdlife. It’s wonderful to know the commentary and enthusiasm from our team helped you appreciate the moment and the beauty of these amazing animals. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Dawn_P, Jul 2026
Well organised. Tasty lunch. Good commentary. Well worth going. Multiple whale sightings were the icing on the cake.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Dawn, thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the well-organised cruise, tasty lunch, and informative commentary. It’s wonderful that you were able to experience multiple whale sightings and that they made your trip even more memorable. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Vikramjit_K, Jul 2026
Great experience, good hot lunch with coffee machine, drinks were available but didn't purchase, (carry your own chocolate bar or cookie if you like something sweet after lunch). Also got a commentary of Sydney Harbor sights while leaving, humpback whales were seen in the distance (so keep your expectations low!) But also dolphins swimming upto the boat. It was a beautiful sunny day so could sit on open deck, commentary on whales and behavior was meaningful and not intrusive -- overall a great experience, not too crowded, and definitely value for money.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Vikramjit, thank you for your detailed and wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the lunch, harbour commentary, and your whale watching experience. It’s fantastic that you were able to spot humpback whales and dolphins during your cruise. We appreciate your kind feedback and are glad you found the experience great value. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Andrew_C, Jun 2026
Sydney waters are rough and you’re going out into the open sea! If you get sea sick easy this isn’t the trip for you!
We Absolutely loved this trip, very knowledgeable MC, whales put on a great show and the lunch was awesome too. We’d do this again in a heartbeat, not sure I can say the same for some of our new Australian friends who definitely did not cope well with the motion of the ocean 😂
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Andrew, thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted you loved the whale watching experience, enjoyed the informative commentary, and had a great lunch. Thanks for sharing your helpful advice about sea conditions it will be useful for future guests. We're so glad the whales put on a memorable show and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Thomas_L, Jun 2026
Really cool experience to see whales jumping! If you get seasick easily, get a seat in the lower floor and make sure you have medicine beforehand.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Thomas, thank you for your great review! We're thrilled you had such a cool experience watching the whales jumping it really is an unforgettable sight. Thanks as well for sharing your helpful seasickness tips for future guests. We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back on board for another amazing adventure soon!
Lori_J, Jun 2026
This trip was great, especially when you see the whales we got to see a few that breached a few heads up lots of whale tails. And the food was great.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Lori, thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the trip and were lucky enough to see several whales, including some great breaches and tail sightings. It's also lovely to hear you enjoyed the food on board. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again soon for another amazing Sydney Harbour experience!
Charlene_K, Jun 2026
I was with a group of recent high school grades with a free day in Sydney and someone mentioned whale watching and everyone was so excited to go. Lunch was okay. They had chicken, sausage, potatoes, pesto noodles, and some slaw and bread. Definitely not one of the worst meals on a tour like this. As for whale watching? It was amazing! We saw so many whales on our tour it was amazing. The kids said it was the best thing we did on the whole trip. I would definitely do this tour againz
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Charlene, thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad your group had such an exciting day and that the whale sightings made it a highlight of your trip. It's great to hear the students enjoyed it so much and that the experience stood out as a favourite. We appreciate your feedback on the meal as well and hope to welcome you all aboard again for another amazing adventure!
Krista_D, Jun 2026
My husband and I had a wonderful time on this trip and even got to see a whale breach. However, it was a rough day at sea, and many of the people on our cruise ended up getting sick. We stayed outside and didn't let this interfere with our enjoyment; however, if you have a tendency to motion sickness, this is not the trip for you.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Krista, thank you for your thoughtful review! We're so glad you and your husband had a wonderful time and were lucky enough to see a whale breach. We appreciate your helpful note about sea conditions and motion sickness, as conditions can vary on the day. We're pleased you still enjoyed the experience and hope to welcome you aboard again for another memorable cruise!
Katherine_S, Jun 2026
This was a great company for a whale watch. The tour guide was so informative about the humpback whales, and luckily we did get to see many whales!! We stayed out longer than the tour was scheduled as there were whales to watch!!!! The food for lunch was good. If you are prone to seasickness, probably a good idea to take a medicine to prevent seasickness, as quite a few people onboard were not feeling well.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Katherine, thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you enjoyed seeing so many humpback whales and found our guide informative. It's great to hear the extra time spent whale watching and the onboard lunch added to your experience. Thanks also for sharing your seasickness tip for future guests. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Clarise_A, Jun 2026
Booked this experience for early June and was not disappointed! Nathan the skipper was very good at chasing the whales, and we saw 3 humpback whales breaching, among many others spouting and waving their fins! We also were welcomed by a pod of bottlenoss dolphins! Devlin our guide provided a running commentary with many fun facts about whales and the region. Although it was warm on the shore, it gets quite cold and wet from the wind and spray, so wrap up well! Waters get choppy in the open sea when chasing whale-sightings, so eat an appropriate portion of the buffet lunch (which was very tasty, but pace yourself) unless you want to see it reappearing.... Although I found the experience smooth-sailing, some people did unfortunately get seasick, so take that motion sickness pill! The crew were very ready with sick bags distributed early on at the start of the trip. All around a fantastic experience. Thank you to Sydney Princess Cruises for the amazing experience!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Clarise,
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed such incredible sightings of humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins during your cruise. It’s fantastic to know you enjoyed the commentary, tasty lunch, and overall experience onboard. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back again for another unforgettable whale watching adventure.
Ben_K, Jun 2026
Incredible tour with fantastic crew. Was able to see to see humpback whales and dolphins. Definitely need to experience!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Ben,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had an incredible whale watching experience and were lucky enough to see both humpback whales and dolphins. Your kind words about our crew truly mean a lot. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you onboard again soon.
Rebecca_G, May 2026
With a week of bad weather we were lucky the rain held out and we had seen some whales. They played peek a boo with us most the afternoon. Crew was great. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for joining our whale watching cruise and for sharing your lovely feedback. We’re so glad the weather held out and that you were able to spot some whales during the afternoon. Sounds like they were keeping everyone entertained with a little peek-a-boo! We truly appreciate your recommendation.
Kyla_G, May 2026
Spectacular experience all round. Beautiful kai, wonderful Māori MC, friendly informative staff. Comfortable boat. Stars of the show were the whales of course! And a couple of curious dolphins. Sydney Harbour is a wonderland full of history. Great vakue
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Kyla, thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear you had a spectacular whale watching experience and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, harbour views, and wildlife encounters. Seeing whales and dolphins in Sydney Harbour is truly special. We appreciate your support!
Priscilla_W, Apr 2026
Great experience heading out to the ocean to look for whales - we saw several during our time there! Food was also fantastic, and makes for a great experience to get to see Sydney from the water.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Priscilla, thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you had a great experience spotting whales and enjoyed the food on board. Seeing Sydney from the water really does make it extra special.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Solomon_T, Nov 2025
A must do for anyone visiting Sydney. It was exciting to watch the whales in their natural habitat splashing out like dolphins. I loved it and will do it again.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Solomon,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an exciting whale-watching experience and enjoyed seeing the whales in their natural habitat. It’s wonderful to know you loved it so much you’d do it again that means a lot to us!
We hope to welcome you back on board next season for another unforgettable day on the water.
Louise_D, Nov 2025
Had a wonderful boat trip from Sydney harbour in November. Very well organised and for all ages. Staff so helpful and informative. I knew the migration season was ending but was still hopeful of seeing some and this trip didn’t disappoint.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your whale-watching cruise and found the trip well organised, informative, and great for all ages. Even toward the end of the season, it’s always special when the whales make an appearance. We’re so glad the experience didn’t disappoint.
We hope to welcome you back on board again next season!
Ben_P, Nov 2025
We had a great day out for lunch and whale watching , the weather was not the best but all crew were absolutely fantastic to make sure everyone was comfortable and nothing was a problem.
Devlin provided the commentary on the cruise and he was fantastic, my Wife said he had a lovely voice and could listen to him all day lol
All the crew went over and beyond to make the cruise special.
It was our 22nd wedding anniversary so it made it one to remember!
Looking forward to booking another day cruise
Big Thank You !!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Ben, thank you for your lovely review and for choosing to celebrate your 22nd wedding anniversary with us! We’re thrilled to hear you had a memorable day out whale watching, even with the weather not quite on your side. Our crew will be delighted to know their hospitality and commentary made your experience special. We look forward to welcoming you back on board for another cruise soon.
Jennifer_C, Nov 2025
Was a great experience. Very clean vessel, great food, friendly staff, saw a number of whales and it was very informative. Being a 4 hour trip was ideal as we had much more time looking for whales as opposed to spending so much time getting out to where they are and back again. I've used different companies and found this experience to be the best by far. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jennifer, thank you for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great whale-watching experience and enjoyed the food, friendly service, and extra time spent with the whales. It means a lot to know you found this cruise the best by far, we truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Patrice_S, Nov 2025
From start to finish, the customer service was excellent. Clear instructions were provided before the event. The event hosts were very friendly and knowledgeable. The timing as great because the whales were very active. Thank you!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Patrice, thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great experience from the friendly and knowledgeable crew to the perfect timing for whale sightings. It’s always amazing when the whales are active and playful! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on board again soon.
Dolores_P, Nov 2025
Due to limited bookings, vendor used smaller ship. Still very nice. Staff friendly and professional. Food good, but could have done with more than 3 small bites of chicken. Unique experience. Would recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Dolores, thank you for your lovely review! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise and found the experience unique, with friendly and professional service from our crew. We appreciate your feedback about the meal portions and will share this with our catering team. Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Rebecca_M, Nov 2025
Fascinating and fantastic to see whales up close, and Personal. Don’t forget to bring your seasick medicine, in fact, take it before you leave for the tour. Other than that lunch was amazing, not your cheese sandwich, and water type of lunch, really good food. All in all, I can’t say enough good things about the tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic whale-watching experience and enjoyed seeing these magnificent creatures up close. We’re also so glad you loved the lunch our team takes pride in serving hearty, freshly prepared meals on board.
Great tip about the seasick tablets too it’s always helpful advice for fellow travellers. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back aboard again soon for another unforgettable day on Sydney Harbour!
Tracey_B, Oct 2025
Well organised , clear and knowledgeable commentator. We had a wonderful 4.5 hours and had the pleasure of seeing 4 humpbacks including a young calf. Mother and calf spent ages within reasonable distance of the boat, one of the highlights of my life . Thank you 😊
Lunch was good too !
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Tracey, thank you for your amazing review! We’re so glad you had such a wonderful whale-watching experience seeing a mother and calf up close is truly unforgettable! We’re delighted you enjoyed the commentary, the smooth organisation, and the lunch on board. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable cruise soon!
CindyMary_R, Oct 2025
It will be cancelled due to inclement weather. Unfortunately we were not able to participate. Morning looked wonderful, but the wind was horrendous by noon.
Timothy_M, Oct 2025
You can’t guarantee that the whales will be very active. We did see some whales, tail slaps and fin slaps. They are amazing creatures. The boat was comfortable, the lunch was tasty and the crew were friendly. Would try Sydney Princess Cruise again - but earlier in the whale migration season.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Timothy, thank you for your great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the whale-watching cruise, the tasty lunch, and the friendly service from our crew. You’re absolutely right, seeing these incredible creatures in their natural habitat is always special! We appreciate your feedback and would love to welcome you back.
Craig_M, Oct 2025
The waters outside of Sydney Harbour are known to be rough. At least 50% of the passengers were seasick. Unfortunately they did not follow the crew’s instructions and use the provided “barf” bags. Therefore the restrooms were a mess. Not the crew’s fault. The preliminary safety instructions were clear to those of us who are fluent in English. Perhaps the company could provide laminated written instructions for the non-English speakers. The Captain tried his best to locate and follow the whales we saw, but dang it, the whales were not cooperating with us!
Be prepared for wind and swells …
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Craig, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re glad to hear you appreciated the commentary, safety briefing, and the crew’s efforts to help everyone spot whales even when the ocean decided to be a little unpredictable! Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another whale-watching adventure!
From $63.49
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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