Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney
Recommended by 97% of travelers
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Sydney, Australia
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Escape the city and see Sydney’s marine life up close on a whale-watching cruise from Darling Harbour. Cruise through Sydney Harbour in search of migrating humpback whales, with live onboard commentary and insights into the local marine environment. A small vessel offers a more intimate experience and better viewing opportunities on the water.
- Whale sighting guarantee or enjoy a return cruise for free
- Enjoy fantastic views of Sydney Harbour along the way
- Maximize your chances of spotting whales
- Choose from morning or afternoon cruises to suit your schedule
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Whale Tales Whale Watching SydneyKing Street, Wharf #7/36 The Promenade, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
We depart from King Street Wharf #7 in Darling harbour. The boat will arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. *Please arrive 20 minutes BEFORE your departure time*
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Sydney Harbour Bridge
2
Sydney Opera House
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
The tour was amazing . First of all the crew members were so nice and welcoming . Also we liked alle the stories about the ocean mammals our guide told us . We saw dolphins and two humpback whales . Is was an amazing experience and we would recommend it to everyone. Just make you can withstand motions sickness or prepare with some medication against it.
Reviews
4,9
based on 693 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Amazing crew and we have seen nice whales
You have to book this trip it’s a whole experience, book it
amazing experience. We see whales and dolphins. very nice dolphins. the whale is also active. Very impressive.
Our group was lucky in that we saw a lot of activity from the whales. It was well worth the price paid. An added bonus was that we received an email link with pictures from our excursion. There are a number of great photos captured by the photographer. This service was provided for free. I highly recommend this tour.
Not just the whale watching, we also get to know much about the life and natures of whales…Katie is very knowledgeable and taking good care of everyone
What a wonderful way to spend an early afternoon in the Sydney sunshine! Our tour guide had a lot of fun whale facts to share as we searched for our friends just beyond the harbor. Even though it was later in the whale watch season, we were blessed with a few whale sightings including 2 whale breaches as well as a pod of dolphins sending us off on our way back. A lovely time on the water in a very chill laid back atmosphere!
Had a fantastic whale-watching trip in Sydney! The narrator was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience really interesting and enjoyable. The ride was also surprisingly smooth, so a big shout-out to the driver as well. Highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We're so glad you enjoyed the commentary, and we'll be sure to pass your shout-out on to our skipper too. A smooth ride and great whales makes for a perfect day out. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 😊
Great crew though I threw up from sea sick. Very luckily saw three whales with baby gave us good show
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for your review, and we're sorry the sea wasn't kind to you on the day. We're so glad you still got to see three whales and a baby putting on a good show for you! We'd love to have you back on a calmer day soon. 😊
It’s beautiful as you sail out of the harbour for views, but it does get very choppy. Take seasickness tablets before!
The staff were exceptional! Emily, Johnno and Juan - all very kind, and especially when the entire family was unwell. We got to see whales and it was magnificent! Emily knew so much about them.
Highly recommend this company for whale watching in Sydney!!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this lovely review, and we're sorry the whole family felt unwell on the choppy day. We're so glad Emily, Johnno and Juan were able to look after you all, and that you still got to see the whales. They'll be so happy to hear your kind words! We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 😊
This was an amazing adventure. We highly recommend it to everyone! We saw a momma humpback with her calf. We saw a male humpback. They were all breaching and we took a ton of pictures. They were slapping the water and showing off. Everyone on the Cheeky Monkey were very friendly, helpful and had so much knowledge of the whales. It was worth everything to see these majestic whales. Took my breath away! The picture provided to us are incredible!!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing review! A mum and calf plus a male humpback all breaching and slapping the water is such an incredible show. We're so glad you loved your time on Cheeky Monkey and that the photos captured it all. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 🐋😊
We lucked out with the waters being relatively calm so there was a lower risk of sea sickness. Even so the tour operator assured us that there were entry of sick bags on hand.
The tour itself was fun and informative. Even though we didn't quite get to see as many whales as we had initially thought we accept that with nature things will be unpredictable. The tour operator did a fantastic job with spotting whales and keeping up with them once they have been sighted. They kept a respectable distance from the animals and yet close enough for us to take good pictures of our own. To be honest, it was enough for me to have been able to see such creatures in the wild even if they don't fully jump out of the water to greet us (please don't have this expectation when you go on any whale watching tours).
Highly recommend this tour and would love to go again at a different time. For the record we went at 12noon.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review! We're so glad you had calm waters and enjoyed seeing the whales in the wild, even on a quieter day. Nature always keeps us guessing, and we really appreciate you sharing that with future guests. We'd love to have you back at a different time to see what the whales get up to next! 😊
It was a fantastic experience and we'll worth the price. The itinerary changes depending on the weather, but the guides are very knowledgeable and we had a wonderful time
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We're so glad you had a wonderful time and felt it was worth it. Every day on the ocean is a little different, but our guides always love sharing what's happening out there. We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 😊
The Staff on the boat was great in Making sure we got to see whales. Which we did few in group got alittle sea sick which staff acted fast to lessen. This boat did have a small toilet just in case
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for your review! We're so glad you got to see the whales, and that our crew were able to look after everyone who felt a little unwell. Their care for guests is something we're really proud of. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 😊
What an amazing trip! This was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Sydney. We spent about two and a half hours out on the water, and we were lucky enough to see some beautiful whales up close. Watching them in their natural environment was an incredible experience.
The crew - Alex, Sally, and Mette - were absolutely fabulous. Everyone was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do. A special thank you to our guide, who did a wonderful job explaining the life and behavior of whales, their migration, and the positive impact they have on our planet and marine environment. I learned a lot during the trip, and it made seeing the whales even more special.
We were very fortunate with our day and had plenty of opportunities to watch the whales during the entire two-hour trip. Every time they appeared, everyone on the boat was excited. It was one of those experiences where you just keep watching and hoping they surface again!
Another fantastic part of the experience was the photographer on board. At the end of the tour, we were able to receive tons of high-resolution photographs of the beautiful whales we had just seen. It was such a great surprise and gave us a wonderful collection of memories from the day.
Everything was very well organized, and the crew made us feel comfortable and welcome throughout the entire trip. You can really see the passion they have for the ocean and the wildlife.
I highly recommend this whale watching tour to anyone visiting Sydney. If you’re lucky enough to have beautiful weather and active whales like we did, it’s an experience you will remember for a very long time. Absolutely fantastic!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful review! What a lucky day to have beautiful weather and active whales the whole trip. We'll be sure to pass your lovely comments on to Alex, Sally and Mette, and we're so glad the photos gave you plenty of memories to take home. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 🐋😊
This is a must do over the others. We saw the other boats and they were packed. Whale tales is much more intimate on a small boat. Very agile to watch the whales. Staff is highly knowledgeable (Sophia studied marine biology in school and it showed). I thought they could comfortably charge double for the experience and value you’re getting. Highly recommend over the others
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed our small boat and the more personal experience it brings. Sophia will be thrilled to know her marine biology knowledge shone through! We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 😊
Excellent whale watch. Guide was most informative and wanted to share all her interesting facts about whales. The boat was small enough for the operated to get closer to the whales at a fast speed. Highly
Recommend this tour to anyone interested in seeing Whales.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! Our guide loves sharing her whale facts, so it's great to hear you enjoyed them. We're so glad our small boat helped you get great views of the whales. We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 😊
Whale watching has been a bucket list item for me forever and this tour surpassed my expectations. The crew was knowledgeable and you could tell they really love the whales. I learned so much and got to see whales on a beautiful day. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this lovely review! We're so happy we could help you tick whale watching off your bucket list, and on such a beautiful day too. Our crew really do love these whales, so it's wonderful that came through for you. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 😊
It was our best Sydney experience. It's a blessing to experience such majestic creatures from so close. Also the Playlist of our guides deserves a mention. Seeing the views of Sydney in a boat, with wind in the face and sun shinning as Led Zeppelin is playing is a memory I will cherish for a long long time.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're so thrilled it was your best Sydney experience, and we love that the playlist got a mention too. Sun, sea breeze, whales and Led Zeppelin sounds like a pretty perfect day to us! We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 🐋😊
The boat depart on time and then crew did their best to allow us to observe the humpback actions. an overview explanation was provided.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're glad you got to watch the humpbacks in action, and our crew always do their best to give everyone the best possible views. We'd love to welcome you back on the water again soon! 😊
Small boat, friendly crew, extremely fun trip. Go out for about 2.5 hours, saw lots of whales including one jumping! Would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the great review! Lots of whales and one jumping too, what a fantastic trip! We're so glad you enjoyed our small boat and friendly crew. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 😊
That was so much better than I could have hoped for. We saw 5 humpbacks that pretty much stayed around the boat the whole time. I'll remember this experience for the rest of my life. So awesome!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Five humpbacks staying around the boat the whole time is such a special encounter, and we're thrilled it went beyond what you'd hoped for. It means a lot to know it's a memory you'll carry with you. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again soon! 😊
Such an amazing whale-watching experience! The three crew members were absolutely wonderful, so sweet, friendly, and genuinely excited to make the experience special for everyone. One of them was a student, and she did such a great job!
We were incredibly lucky and found three whales, which was just magical. What I appreciated most was that the crew let us stay and enjoy the whales’ company for as long as we reasonably could. There was no feeling of being rushed they seemed just as happy and excited to watch them as we were.
Beautiful experience, fantastic crew, and three whales! We definitely got lucky that day. 🐋❤️ Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for this beautiful review! Three whales in one trip is a real treat, and we're so glad you got to spend proper time with them without feeling rushed. Our crew honestly get just as excited as our guests, so it's lovely that came through. We'll make sure our student crew member hears your kind words too, she'll be so pleased! We'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 🐋😊
Incredible experience; friendly, knowledgeable staff, small group with plenty of space to take photos. We got so close to the whales, it was unbelievable!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed having plenty of space to take photos, and getting that close to the whales really is something special. Our crew will be delighted to hear your kind words, and we'd love to welcome you back onboard again soon! 😊
We had an amazing time out on the water with Whale Tales! The crew was professional from start to finish, opening with a clear, thorough safety briefing that made everyone feel comfortable and well cared for.
Throughout the tour, we saw many juvenile humpbacks, and the team shared fascinating, insightful knowledge about their behavior and biology. On our way back to the harbor, we spotted two more whales in the distance. Instead of rushing back, the captain thoughtfully circled back so we could enjoy one final, up-close encounter. Photos of the whales we saw were even sent to us after the cruise, and they were way better than what I managed to take myself!
While we didn't get to see any breaching this time, the overall experience was outstanding. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a memorable whale-watching trip!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words and lovely recommendation. We are so pleased the crew looked after you from the safety briefing onwards, that you enjoyed the juvenile humpbacks, and that the captain circled back for one final close encounter. And we are glad the photos captured it all so well. Even without a breach this time, we are thrilled it was so memorable, and we would love to have you back on board again.
This was truly one of the highlights of our time in Sydney and an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The crew was absolutely amazing—friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely excited to make the experience special for everyone on board. From beginning to end, everything was top notch.
We were incredibly lucky to come across two whales playing alongside two seals, and the crew spent nearly an hour following them and giving us the opportunity to just take it all in. Watching the whales and seals interact so freely in the wild was absolutely magical. It was one of those rare moments when you realize you’re experiencing something you’ll probably never see quite the same way again.
I went into this tour hoping to see whales, but the experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined. I will never forget that hour on the water or how incredible it felt to witness these beautiful animals in their natural environment.
If whale watching in Sydney is on your bucket list, book this tour. The crew, the experience, and the memories were all exceptional. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for such a heartfelt review — it genuinely touched all of us. That hour watching two whales play alongside seals is the kind of moment even we treasure, and we are so pleased the crew could give you the space to soak it all in. To know it exceeded everything you hoped for, and that you will carry it with you, means the world. We would be honoured to welcome you back on the water again.
Highly recommended! Rob and Katie runs a top notch tour, and they knew all the good places to go to observe the whales. A good value given our experience.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the lovely review and for recommending us so warmly. Rob and I take real pride in knowing where the whales are likely to be, so it's wonderful to hear that showed on your trip, and that it was good value for you. We'd love to have you back on the water with us again one day.
Whale Tales was an amazing whale watching trip. My husband and another friend and I had a wonderful time. The crew were very informative and we saw several whales. The 12 pm excursion is perfect as the sun was just warming up making the ride out and back perfect!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words. We are delighted you all had a wonderful time with several whales and a great crew. And the 12pm really is a lovely one, with the sun warming up for the ride out and back. We hope to have you back on board again.
Absolutely fantastic whale watching tour! Mette and Nat were great guides! We saw a group of three juvenile humpbacks and were able to observe them for over an hour. Definitely a highlight!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words. We are delighted Mette and Nat guided you so well, and that you had over an hour observing three juvenile humpbacks. A real highlight. We will pass your lovely words on to them, and hope to have you back on board again.
Great trip. Lots of whale sightings and great staff. Great value for the money with smaller boats and less people
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the lovely review. We are delighted you enjoyed plenty of whale sightings, and that our smaller boats and smaller groups made for such a good experience. Keeping it personal is what we are all about. We hope to have you back on board again.
Had the best time, The crew on board gave us so many facts throughout the trip and were open to questions, they were friendly and approachable and to top it off they had a photographer take pictures whilst we were out there of the Wales and we received a link at the end of the day of all the pictures which is handy as I didnt feel the need to pull my phone out and could really immerse myself in the activity.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words. We are delighted our crew made your trip so enjoyable and answered all your questions. Having our photographer capture it all means you could truly immerse yourself rather than reach for your phone, which is just the idea. We hope to have you back on board again.
Several whales were spotted there was a photographer on board and the pics were sent to us. This is a small boat, if you have motion sickness be aware of it.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words. We are delighted you saw several whales and enjoyed the photos afterwards. And you are right to flag the small-boat movement for anyone prone to motion sickness, useful advice for future guests. We hope to have you back on board again.
Member Pricing
From
US$100,53
per personWas US$105,82(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney
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