Taronga Zoo & Whale Watching Cruise Combo - Sydney Harbour

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Sydney, Australia

1 day (approx.)
Offered in: English

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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

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Overview

Make the most of a day in Sydney by combining wildlife encounters and harbour views in one easy itinerary—without organizing separate tickets or transport. Start with a whale-watching cruise featuring live commentary, then visit Taronga Zoo to see native Australian species up close. Finally, relax on a scenic ferry ride back across Sydney Harbour, taking in skyline views along the way.

Prebooking ensures your spot at the popular zoo
Enjoy a variety of activities on one convenient tour
Learn about and look for humpback and southern right whales
Relax with convenient start and end to tour at Circular Quay

What's Included

Morning Whale Watching Cruise with live commentary
Taronga Zoo Entry
Ferry from the Zoo to the City

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Circular Quay Wharf 6
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Whale Watching Cruise departs from Circular Quay Wharf 6 at 9:30am. Please check in for your Whale Watching, Zoo Entry and Return Ferry tickets at the ticket office at the departure wharf at least 20 minutes prior to departure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:30 am

What To Expect

Taronga Zoo

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate

If you are susceptible to travel sickness, please bring the relevant medication
Whale Guarantee: If a whale is not sighted during your cruise, you'll be given the opportunity to cruise again for free
All travel must be completed within the same day.
Whale Watching Child Policy: Infants 0-3 years are not recommended. Child fare available for Children 4-15 years. Minimum of one supervising adult for every four children is required.
Not recommended for children under 4 years
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

pittfanz

Bring sun screen or a hat! We saw a lot of whale activity. A mother and calf, a full breach and a tail. Lots of fun! The Taronga Zoo is awesome. Lots of character and animals. Also lots of steps and hills so be prepared to climb! Beautiful views of the harbor.

Reviews

4.3

based on 15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Whales watching and zoo

Sharon_H, Oct 2025

The team were very well organised and welcoming. We felt safe throughout the day and were greatly entertained

Awesome trip!

pittfanz, Oct 2025

Rough seas-Beware!

Philip_B, Sep 2025

Seas were very rough and many passengers got very seasick! This really ruined the entire day. Yes, we saw whales. Yes, the Taronga Zoo was impressive. But, after repeatedly tossing my cookies, my entire day was wrecked.

WHALE of a time!!!

Blanca_C, Sep 2025

Make sure you wear a sweater or light jacket and a hat, it gets cold but the sun beats down on your head. Take a bottle of water too. We saw lots of ‘ blow holes, tails and small breeches from the whales, we even got “mugged” by one of the younger humpback whales. We also saw some playful dolphins that were jumping right out of the water. The tour guide was very informative and the captain made sure to keep moving the boat in the direction of the whales. GREAT experience!!!

This was a great day trip...

Lena_B, Aug 2025

This was a great day trip - spending the morning on a boat, experiencing majestic whales, and the afternoon at Taronga Zoo. The activity was well organized, easy to find and flexible to manage. Bring plenty of sunscreen!

Wonderful experience and activity

Aysha_S, Jul 2025

We went there as a family and enjoyed it alot. We spotted the wheal and dolphins as well. The location for the of the boat was easy to reach from our hottel

10/10 whale watching experience

Roydon_D, Oct 2024

We saw whales almost immediately after leaving the harbor! We followed a jumping calf and mom for a good 30min, getting some great photos and good commentary throughout. Fantastic experience!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Hi Roydon, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such an exciting experience spotting whales shortly after leaving the harbor. It’s fantastic that you were able to capture great photos while enjoying our commentary. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future! Best regards, Captain Cook Cruises

Worthwhile experience

ONG_J, Aug 2024

Excellent experience. Managed to catch some whales up close, was definitely a spectacular sight. The Taronga zoo is amazing too, with their native animals. Worth the visit!

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Hi ONG, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the spectacular sight of the whales up close and had an excellent time. It's also great to know that your visit to Taronga Zoo was equally amazing and worth the trip. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable adventure. Best regards, Captain Cook Cruises Team

Whales watching

kdjosefire, Jul 2024

We could see the whales and the trip was very nice and the weather was also good. The guide has clear ideas about where and what time the whales will see.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the whale-watching trip and that the weather was in your favor. It's great to know that our guide's knowledge helped make your experience even better. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure. Best regards, Captain Cook Cruises Team