Whale Watching Sailing Experience in Sydney

Recommended by 97% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Sydney, Australia

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· EstefannyPaola_M ·

Sep 2025

It was a wonderful day, very punctual and very friendly, an amazing experience. 🥰 I recommend that if you get dizzy, take something before, to avoid dizziness or vomiting 😌 and enjoy the whale watching 🐋.

· Annika_L ·

Jun 2026

Whale watching + classical music, what more could you ask for! Doug was amazing and so knowledgable. We got to let the sails down for part of the trip which was fun. Definitely recommend taking a dramamine beforehand because I think our whole group got seasick. Overall amazing experience!!

Overview

Discover the joy of coming face to face with majestic humpback whales while cruising across the ocean on a sailing boat on this fun-filled tour from Sydney Harbour. Running between May and November, the annual whale migration is a sight to behold. This small-group sailing tour gives travelers the chance to cruise alongside these incredible creatures without noisy engines or megaphones, so you can enjoy an immersive and wild natural experience.

Experience the thrill of seeing whales while sailing in the Tasman Sea
Enjoy a sail by tour of Sydney Harbour on the way out to Port Jackson
Guaranteed small-group tour with a maximum of 12 travelers
Suitable for families and children aged five and above

What's Included

Snacks
Bottled water
Restroom on board

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Rose Bay Pontoon Wharf
New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029, Australia
Rose Bay Pontoon Wharf West side of Lyne Park Near Rose Bay West Boat Ramp 200 metres north of 596C New South Head Road Rose Bay NSW On street parking usually available. 100 metres south from Rose Bay Ferry Wharf 300 metres from New South Head Rd Bus Stop

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Sydney Harbour

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
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate

Group bookings are for a minimum of 6 guests
Not recommended for travellers prone to chronic seasickness
If you require motion sickness tablets please visit a pharmacy or seek advice prior to your cruise departure
Near public transportation
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
Not recommended for travelers 5 years and younger
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 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

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Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

KongBlia_V

What a wonderful whale watching experience we had with Captain Doug!! He was kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and we were able to catch about 10 whale sightings! His boat was clean and safe. We enjoyed his company, the tour and information, and the boat ride. We saw other overcrowded boats and we were so thankful we were on a small group tour. I highly recommend Charterscene and Cap. Doug!! You don't want to miss it!

Reviews

4.9

based on 37 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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It was a nice whale...

PRAKASH_S, Jul 2026

It was a nice whale watching trip in a sail boat. The captain was very knowledgeable and helped us spot the whales. The boat was nice and the experience felt premium.

Whale watching +...

Annika_L, Jun 2026

It's a good closer 🐋...

Sivakannan_S, Jun 2026

It's a good closer 🐋 watching. We had a terrible boat ride. Very shaky more water splash full wet trip, overall not good experience as we thought and the add on the website 😀.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased you were able to see whales up close, but we are sorry to hear the boat ride was not as comfortable as you had expected. Sea conditions on the day were more uncomfortable than forecast. Our crew offered wet weather gear to passengers to help keep them dry, and also encouraged guests to move below deck where it was more sheltered. We are sorry the conditions affected your enjoyment of the trip. Safety and passenger comfort are always very important to us, and we appreciate your feedback as it helps us continue to improve how we communicate with guests about sea conditions and what to expect on the day. Kind regards, Charterscene

Second time I do the...

Clement_W, Jun 2026

Second time I'm doing the tour, always a nice time on the sail boat! This time we were super lucky to have an enchanting moment with the Whale coming close and seeing us. Side of that, the stories and music made it a lovely mood and moment. Also a nice thing to be most of the time away from the big boats. Thanks again and will come again if I have the occasion!

Whale of a time 🐋

Sandra_D, Oct 2025

Intimate, knowledgeable, professional, spectacular! Douglas and Sharon were amazing! Thankyou for a wonderful afternoon on your beautiful boat! We appreciate you inviting several pods of whales along too. Up close and personal. We highly highly recommend your company! Will be booking again next year along with family and friends , if you will have us

It was a wonderful day,...

EstefannyPaola_M, Sep 2025

Sailing

Sophie_V, Aug 2025

My daughter and I had a great time Although the whales were a little elusive (some spouts, a tail) We had a lovely time sailing. We specifically chose a small charter to avoid too many tourists and it worked out perfectly. Thank you

This is a must that you do, but you have to be ready for the movement of the ship

Joseba_O, Aug 2025

This experience is going to hard to forget. Even in a hard day to find the whales like today they don’t give to give us this memories that will last for a long time

You don't want to miss this!

KongBlia_V, Jul 2025

Humpback Whales

Danielle_A, Aug 2022

Fantastic experience, the crew went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable, & saw Whales.

Relaxed and very civilised

Jonathan_M, Jul 2020

Really pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Chilled out and leisure way to attempt to see whales. The exact opposite of some of the competitors with their pay per shot photographers and clowns on microphones. With these guys you get a small group, two guys who actually enjoy sailing and if you’re lucky you might get to see some whales and even get a mug of soup too. Highly recommended as a relaxed way to spend an afternoon.

A truly memorable day.

Barbara_P, Jul 2020

A great day all around. After finding four whales we followed them for quite some time. The Captain knew what pace they were travelling and was able to keep up with them even when they dived. A truly exhilarating experience.

Must Do

Keena_F, Jun 2020

What an amazing experience - Captain Douglas and First Mate Gavin got us right to the whales outside The Heads! We were saw 20-30 whales and 2 breaching!! Douglas was respectful of keeping our distance from the whales and ensured that we had an enjoyable experience. A Covid 19 safety plan adhered to, unlike other tour companies we saw on the water. Highly recommended tour!!

Great whale sighting

Shreyans, Jun 2020

Absolutely loved it. Saw whale and followed it for an hour and to top it off we even saw a baby whale just when we were about to finish. Thank you for the experience. Would highly recommend.

Sensational experience

Christian_R, Jul 2026

An unforgettable experience on 06/30/26 with Douglas and his companion (Dany?). We were welcomed in a totally friendly way, and we had so many whale sightings, simply incredible! We can recommend the tour without reservation!

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