20% Off Discovery Cruises*

*Up to 20% off Monday to Thursday until the end of the season. T&C's apply. See Available Cruises

Sydney's Best Whale Watching Cruises

Whale Watching Sydney offers one of the best whale watching experiences in Australia. Our passionate crew have over 30 years of experience aboard our custom-built fleet of vessels, which means you’ll be in good hands to see nature’s beauty with your very eyes.

Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
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2hr Express Cruise
On Ocean Dreaming II

Only $85.00
Circular Quay, Wharf 6
Our most popular whale watching cruise, reaching the open ocean in 15min. Watch whales across three viewing decks on the best whale watching boat in Sydney.
Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
End of Season
Up to 20% Off
Valid on select cruises Mon-Thu until the end of the 2025 season.

2.5hr Discovery Cruise
on Fantasea Avalon

Only $85.00
Darling Harbour, Aquarium Wharf
Departing from Darling Harbour, cruise the open ocean in comfort from the seated sun deck, covered rear deck or climate-controlled cabin on Fantasea Avalon.
Whale Watching, 2hr Express Cruise
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2.5hr Adventure Cruise
On Totally Wild

Only $99.00
Darling Harbour – Pier 26, Berth 3
Sydney’s most thrilling, high-speed whale watching experience onboard our custom-built rescue vessel, Totally Wild! Perfect for thrill seekers wanting an adrenaline rush.
Whale Watching, 3hr Discovery Cruise
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Central Coast
Whale Watching

Only$99.00
Palm Beach & Ettalong Beach (Free Transfer)
No need to travel into Sydney for your whale watching cruise with local departures from the Central Coast at Palm Beach and Ettalong Beach (Free transfer). On weekends during school holidays.

Save 20% on whale watching cruises
with My NRMA Rewards

Save 20% on Whale Watching Cruises with My NRMA Rewards

Most Recent Whale Sightings

Photos taken by our onboard photographers
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Posted 4 hours ago

THATS ALL FOLKS! 🐋❤️🐋

We have reached the end of our 2025 Whale Watching Season, and what a season it’s been! From mind blowing breaching, excitable young whales, and even the encounter of a lifetime with the white whale Siale, it’s been incredible.

Our very last cruise of the year ended on a high, with a mum and calf putting on a show and treating us to a final farewell breach! We had absolutely stunning conditions today and we could not be more grateful.

The gratefulness doesn’t stop there though, we would like to say a massive thank you to every single person who joined us for our cruises this year. To all our customers, and especially our devoted regulars, (you know who you are 😉).

The biggest thanks of all, goes out to all the crew for making these trips possible, the expert guidance of all the skippers and dedicated deckhands. It couldn’t be done without you 🫡

We’ll be sharing some more of our favourite images and encounters from this season over the next few days, but until next season, we hope our whales have safe travels and we will see you again in 2026!
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Comment on Facebook

Thank you for a brilliant season 👏 Rock on May 2026 🐋

Posted 1 day ago

We've had quite the contrast today with nice sunny weather this morning then thunderstorms rolling in by the afternoon. ⛈

Slimmer chances today out there when it came to finding whales, but not impossible!
We were lucky enough find a curious calf and a mother humpback on our 12pm cruise! We were heading North and then we saw them pop up not far from us. We popped the engines in neutral to view at a 100m distance, but they came over for look, swimming laps around the boat with the calf giving us a few up-close tail throws.

With the added bonus we saw lots of dolphins and a few flying fish.

Tomorrow is our last cruise for the season then we'll say our goodbyes to the whales for 6 months until we see them again the next migration.

#humpbackwhales #humpback #humpbackwhale #whale #australia #sydney #whalewatching #sydneyaustralia
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Posted 3 days ago

With the season hanging on by a thread, we just keep saying it - it isn't over until the whales say it is! 🤙

We were lucky to find a mother and calf humpback that were crashing around a few kilometres off the northern side of Manly. With the season concluding for us in the next few days, we are over the moon that the show isn't over yet, looks like this season is going out with a bang 🚀💥

Our last cruise is the 16th of November (this Sunday coming) and it's a bittersweet thought, as we welcome the warmer weather, it's sad to see our humpbacks go for 6 months. None the less, they will always be back, but they sure haven't left us just yet, that's for sure!

#sydney #whale #whalewatching #humpbackwhales #sydneyaustralia #humpback #humpbackwhale #australia
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Comment on Facebook

Was this today? That’s amazing, can’t believe they’re still going 😍

So spectacular 💖🤩🐋

How’s that for a tail throw?!

We got lucky on our midday cruise with a pair of whales steadily making their way south. It’s certainly getting to the end of the season with much fewer of our big blubbery friends each day, but will still get moments of magic!

Sunday 16th November will be our last day for the season, so book yourselves in before then, as it’ll be another 6 before our whales return!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #humpbackwhale #whales #sydney #humpbackhighway
Posted 5 days ago

How’s that for a tail throw?!

We got lucky on our midday cruise with a pair of whales steadily making their way south. It’s certainly getting to the end of the season with much fewer of our big blubbery friends each day, but will still get moments of magic!

Sunday 16th November will be our last day for the season, so book yourselves in before then, as it’ll be another 6 before our whales return!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #humpbackwhale #whales #sydney #humpbackhighway
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Posted 1 week ago

Powerful and stunning! Some big tail throws from mum and calf just off Dee Why beach earlier this afternoon. Including a couple of lazy attempts at breaching from the calf! We got very lucky with the amount of activity as the swell picked up and the wind was getting wild, good job the whales seemed to be enjoying it!!

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #whales #humpbackwhale #humpbackhighway
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Comment on Facebook

Happy to be corrected... The whales seem way more active in windy weather . Perhaps feels great on their skin??

Joy Thomson share with Isla

Posted 1 week ago

Only a week left of Whale Watching Season 2025 and they’re still trying to fly!

After the excitement of the white whale ‘Siale’ sighting this past couple of days, we almost thought we couldn’t have any more excitement. However our first trip today got some big breaches from a whale heading South followed by some great peck slaps near the boat.

#whalewatchingsydney #whalewatching #whales #humpbackwhale #humpbackhighway
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Why cruise with us?

30 Years Experience

Full commentary from experienced Marine Naturalists or Scientists to guide you through the cruise.

Whale Guarantee

If you don’t see whales on your first whale watching cruise you can come back again for free!

15-20min to the ocean

Don’t waste hours traveling to the whales and back. Minimal time in the harbour, maximum time with whales.

Read our Whale Watching Blog

Written by our onboard photographers
It’s getting to that time of year again—the season is drawing to a close, and we have only a few more weeks left before our whales depart for the cooler waters of Antarctica.
whale leaping out of the water in front of a boat

September 2025 Update

Without a doubt, it’s been the most exciting month of the season so far. The action seemed to come out...
whale breaching out of water in Sydney

August 2025 Update

August began with a wild burst of nature — huge storms and rolling seas sweeping along the Sydney coast. As...

July 2025 Update

The past six weeks have flown by, and the northern migration of our mighty Humpbacks is now in full swing....

Testimonials

  • My experience was amazing I say Whales breaching it was fantastic. And the crew on the boat made my experiences a great and safe place to be.

    OnAir551973
    Aug. 2023
  • Weather was a bit miserable, but the boat made it comfortable. The crew had their finger on the pulse out there and when whales were spotted by a sister boat, we were taken quickly to a perfect viewing spot. The whales repeatedly breached, including a double breach from the pair. We got great photos and finished the voyage pumped.

    Windy Miller
    Jul. 2023
  • The boat, crew and overall experience was fabulous! Whales were promised and wow we were blown away, we can’t believe that we saw whales breaching and tail slapping so close we felt at times we could almost touch them.
    This crew have perfected the tour with an onboard Marine Biologist and happy, easygoing but safe attitude.

    Deborah J
    Jul.2023
  • Went Whale Watching with my teen and we both loved it! if you are in Sydney between May/November and you check weather/sea conditions, GO! You are not going to be disappointed!

    Kikka1931
    Dec.2023
  • Once we got out of the Harbor, we started seeing whales. They were jumping and feeding and just cruising along side the boat!! The crew were all super friendly and helpful and kept the trip fun and interesting.

    BigMo
    Dec. 2023
  • Whale Watching Sydney. Another excellent trip with lots of whales observed. If you book online suggest you tick the extra option for getting the professional photos. Good commentary on what you are seeing

    AsiaDavies
    Oct. 2023
  • Must to do with kids. Amazing experience with kids. Must to do if in Sydney. There is big difference watching whale compared to other animals as the shear size of whale and they move is magnificent.

    mayanksaksena1
    Oct. 2023
  • Never thought in my whole life I would see whales so close . Commentator excellent with information and keeping us up to date with sightings and explanations .  A Fantastic exceptional trip .

    733doctor
    Sep. 2023

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which our business operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.