Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast
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Sydney, Australia
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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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
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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 878 reviews
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!
Beth_L, Oct 2025
Excellent cruise! Lunch was good. Staff provided an excellent narration of whale/wildlife life and habitat. Showed great respect for whales by backing off when the ship got too close to cow and calf. They even extended the cruise to ensure we would see more sightings!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Beth, thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled you had such a memorable whale-watching experience and enjoyed the lunch and commentary on board. It’s wonderful to hear our crew’s respect for the whales and commitment to ensuring sightings made your day extra special. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable cruise!
Junecel_B, Oct 2025
The experience is horrible, everyone is vomiting, its wavy, worst 4 hours of our lives m, we wont come back
Tanesha_D, Oct 2025
Absolutely amazing!!! The breakfast was delicious! Service was excellent! The person doing the commentary was great and very informative! I saw SEVERAL whales and several dolphins! Such a beautiful experience!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Tanesha, thank you for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic whale-watching experience. Whales and dolphins in one day is truly unforgettable! We’re so glad you enjoyed the breakfast, service, and live commentary. We’d love to welcome you back on board again soon for another beautiful day on the water!
Edward_S, Oct 2025
The crew did a great job explaining what the whales were doing and ensuing we all got to see them.
Going in mid Oct we saw to calves. The water was a little choppy, so take your motion sickness meds.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Edward, thank you for your great review! We’re glad you had a memorable whale-watching experience and were able to see the calves such a special sight! We appreciate your tip for future guests as well. We’d love to welcome you back on board again soon for another adventure on the water!
Michael_F, Oct 2025
Fantastic trip to see whales. We saw a lot of humpbacks. Very knowledgeable host who provided lots of good information. Very good breakfast as well
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Michael, thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled you had such a great whale-watching experience and were able to see so many humpbacks truly an unforgettable sight! We’re also glad you enjoyed the commentary and breakfast on board. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another day on the water!
Jennifer_S, Oct 2025
Lunch was really good and plentiful.
Whale watching was fabulous! David was very informative and helpful with locating the whales and helping us find/see them.
Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Jennifer, thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the lunch and had such a fantastic whale-watching experience. It’s great to hear the commentary and guidance on board helped make the day even more memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Kathy_S, Oct 2025
Absolutely one of the best tours we have ever been on, and we go on a lot of them. They gave us so much information on the whales and made it so interesting. Loved everything about it. Food was great!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Kathy, thank you for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear this was one of the best tours you’ve ever been on that means a lot, especially from an experienced traveller like yourself. It’s great to know you enjoyed the whale commentary, the experience on board, and the food as well. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back again soon!
David_J, Oct 2025
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!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi David, thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the afternoon whale-watching cruise sounds like an incredible day with so many whale breaches! It’s great to hear you found the vessel comfortable, the commentary informative, and the lunch enjoyable. We really appreciate you sharing your experience and recommendation, and we’d love to welcome you back on board again soon!
Jenn_K, Oct 2025
The tour is very well-run.
Knowledgeable staff.
Great food.
We saw tons of whales.
Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the cruise from the great food and friendly team to the amazing whale sightings. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’d love to welcome you back on board again soon!
Mark_S, Oct 2025
Highly recommend! The boat is larger and more comfortable than the other boats I saw giving tours. The guide did an excellent job pointing out the whales and relating information about them. I toured on 2 Oct 2025. I didn’t count, but estimate we had at least 25 good sightings. I was able to get several good pictures and videos. The tour information on the Viator app was completely accurate. Booking, payment, check in, directions to the meeting point, etc., all easy to do. In addition to great whale watching, the harbor tour was beautiful and informative.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your fantastic and detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an incredible whale-watching experience with so many sightings what a memorable day on the water. It’s wonderful to know you found the boat comfortable, the commentary informative, and the whole process from booking to boarding smooth and easy.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
SABUALEYAS_M, Oct 2025
We were fortunate enough to spot a whale family, and it was certainly an incredible experience to watch them in the wild.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad you had the chance to see a whale family during your cruise what a truly special moment. We’d love to welcome you back again for more unforgettable sightings on the harbour!
Arvind_V, Sep 2025
Wonderful Viewing - Got lucky to have the sightings... The team was good ... They ensured maximum time for good view from different sides of the boat
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Arvind,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed such great sightings and that our crew made sure everyone had plenty of time and views from all sides of the vessel. It’s always special when nature puts on such a show. We’re delighted you got to experience it with us.
KIMFAR_L, Sep 2025
Beyond the whale watching, sadly to highlight was the BBQ buffet lunch. There was only 1 chance for each person to take a long queue to collect the gathering food trays food scoped by the server, minimum offered and everyone only given 1pc, bun, braised chicken, sausage, salads, mixed vege, coffee machine drinks.. if you thinking to take the 2nd round, sorry, the food trays closed. Staving the whole trip if you not to take the bun or anyone of the tray at your 1st chance.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Kim,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the whale watching, though we’re sorry to learn that the lunch did not meet your expectations.
Our buffet is served by the crew to ensure all guests have enough time to get their meal before leaving the harbour to enter the ocean and see the whales. We aim to ensure a fair portion for everyone, and while we offer a good variety including meat, salads, vegetables, bread, and hot drinks we understand it may have felt limited if you were hoping to return for seconds, but please keep in mind this is a whale watching cruise and not an all you can eat buffet cruise.
Please know that guests are always welcome to go back for more during the serving period, as long as the buffet is still open within the scheduled dining hours. Your comments are very valuable and will be shared with our catering team as we continually review ways to improve the onboard dining experience.
We truly appreciate you joining us on Sydney Harbour, and we hope you still take away fond memories of the incredible whale sightings. We’d love the chance to welcome you back in the future on one of our other cruises.
lisa_b, Sep 2025
This was awesome! I would definitely recommend and do it again if the opportunity arises. We travelled as a party of 7 adults (parents and adult children) and ALL of us enjoyed the experience:)
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear that you and your family of seven all enjoyed the whale-watching cruise together. It’s always special when everyone in the group has a great time. We’d be thrilled to welcome you back on board if the opportunity arises again.
Lois_M, Sep 2025
Wonderful trip with a great guide, delicious food and spectacular whale watching! Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Lois,
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the trip, the food, and the whale sightings. We look forward to welcoming you back on board for another memorable cruise.
Anonymous, Sep 2025
I went on the lunch trip, good weather on the Harbour. Lunch was served as a smorgasboard. The food is okay, it is hot, basic food, coffee and tea on board, we had lunch almost straight away.
The weather was nice and fine, but the water out of the Heads can be really choppy. A lot of people got sick on our trip, vomitting or looked miserable .It is a long time to be miserable.
Probably could shorten the whole trip to 3 hours.
Could also tell people before they buy ticket or get on that the water will be rough out there.
I was fortunate as didn't get sick, but was glad to get off
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the weather, the harbour views, and that you were fortunate enough to see so many whales on your cruise, it’s always a highlight for our guests.
We do understand that the ocean conditions beyond the Heads can sometimes be choppy, and this can affect guests differently. We always recommend that travellers who may be prone to motion sickness consider taking precautions beforehand, but we also appreciate your suggestion to make this clearer before boarding.
We’re pleased you were still able to enjoy the whale sightings and the day on the harbour, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future for another memorable experience.
Erena_W, Sep 2025
Glad we got to see the whales pop out the water , long time out in the water. Food was delicious as well.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Erena,
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the whale sightings and the delicious food on board. It’s always special to see these incredible creatures up close, and we’d love to welcome you back on the harbour again soon.
Jana_R, Sep 2025
It was amazing to see whales right in front of our boat. The lunch was also delicious. Various lunch options were offered at the buffet.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Jana,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the whale sightings up close and that the buffet lunch options made the experience even better. It’s always a pleasure to create these memorable moments, and we’d love to welcome you back on board again soon!
Nicole_M, Sep 2025
It was incredible to see the whales - we got to see a mother whale and her calf playing in the water, slapping their tails and surfacing multiple times.
The lunch buffet was tasty and had a lot of gluten free options.
However, make sure you take sea sickness medicine (ie dramamine). Even if you think you'll be okay, just take it. 4 hours will feel like an eternity if you end up sea sick. The water was a bit rough on the day we went and my husband who had never been sea sick before ended up getting sea sick a few hours in. I took some dramamine before getting on the boat and was fine.
We had an amazing time otherwise - the opera house, harbor, and shoreline are incredible to see by boat.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review! We’re so glad you had an incredible time spotting the whales, especially the mother and calf – those moments are truly unforgettable. It’s also wonderful to hear you enjoyed the lunch buffet and found plenty of gluten-free options.
You’re absolutely right about sea conditions – they can be unpredictable, and your advice about motion sickness medicine will surely help future guests prepare and enjoy the experience to the fullest.
We’re delighted you got to take in the Opera House, harbour, and shoreline from the water, and we’d love to welcome you back on board for more amazing sights and encounters.
From $72.78
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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