Boat Tours
4–8 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
AU$75
per adult
Captain Cook Cruises
Captain Cook Cruises
4
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Full view
About
For over 50 years, Captain Cook Cruises Sydney Harbour has delighted guests with sightseeing, dining, and private cruise experiences. Our expertise lies in showcasing the finest Sydney Harbour has to offer, while providing an array of cruise options to suit every itinerary. Indulge in our captivating sightseeing cruises with virtual commentary, savour the refined High Tea cruise or the delightful Top Deck Lunch. For enchanting evenings, experience the Sunset Dinner, Starlight Dinner, or the opulent Penfold's Gold Dinner cruises. Enhance your exploration with our 1 or 2-day Hop On Hop Off Explorer cruise, featuring the choice to include Taronga Zoo entry or embark on a breath-taking Whale Watching adventure. With front-row seats to Sydney Harbour's iconic landmarks, you can be sure to have an unforgettable time when you choose Captain Cook Cruises.
Tours and Tickets by Captain Cook Cruises
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Dinner
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
AU$109
per adult
Food & Drink
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
AU$45
per adult
Boat Tours
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
AU$40
per adult
Food & Drink
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
AU$75
per adult
Travellers talk about
(38 reviews)
(100 reviews)
(175 reviews)
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4.0
2,830 reviews
Excellent
1,414
Very good
804
Average
282
Poor
159
Terrible
172
International traveler
Herndon, VA4 contributions
A great night seeing Sidney from a different perspective and getting a view of landmarks not otherwise available. Food was delicious as well.
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil H
3 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Very restful, saw most of the big sights, great service from all staff. Comfortable and staff were very attentive.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi philhK2459HG,
I'm thrilled to hear you found the cruise relaxing and got to see the major sights! It's fantastic that the service and attention from our staff made your experience comfortable. We aim to provide attentive service throughout your journey. Thank you for sharing your positive experience
Best Regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 23 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James W
15 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Solo
The Taronga Zoo is a great place to explore and see all the animals while in the Sydney area. If you go with children, you could easily spend a full day there. They also have a hotel at the zoo, in case you wanted to do night walks to see the nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. That would be very cool to do also! I would definitely recommend this trip, but depending upon your available time, you may want to take a regular taxi ferry, as they run more frequently than the Captain Cook Cruises.
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi jameswM4879XN,
Thank you for sharing your experience at Taronga Zoo! It's indeed a fantastic place, especially for families with kids. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another fantastic experience!
Best Regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 22 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charles B
1 contribution
Oct. 2023 • Friends
i can not fault this two hour cruise from being greeted by the crew the service from the staff to the magnificent Boat /Ship and of course the Beautifull Sydney Harbour Views and the Price very reasonable including two beverages each plus cheese platter , i hope fully will be doing another cruise with some of my family Christmas Eve . PS thank you to the crew for going out of their way to make us Enjoy our selves
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue K
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Taking the ferry to the zoo makes for a fun day. There are also great views of the city from the zoo itself. Taronga is somewhat spread out, but you can see most of it in about 4 hours. At the moment, they seem to have several exhibits undergoing renovations, so they seem to be continually improving the facilities. KIds would really enjoy doing this while in Sydney!
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi SuekU6220FS,
Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds like you had a fantastic day exploring the zoo and enjoying the views of the city. Hope to see you onboard again soon.
Best Regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 20 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louise C
Preston, UK6 contributions
The dinner was excellent catered very well for the vegan in our party. All the food was great.
Called a sunset cruise but actually we boarded at 5pm so arrived back before sunset having said that the views of the city, Sydney Harbour bridge and the Opera House were spectacular. Well worth doing.
Called a sunset cruise but actually we boarded at 5pm so arrived back before sunset having said that the views of the city, Sydney Harbour bridge and the Opera House were spectacular. Well worth doing.
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi 513LouiseC,
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that the dinner was excellent and catered well for the vegan in your group. It's fantastic that you enjoyed all the food. we hope to see you again soon. Regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 19 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Allison F
1 contribution
Lovely tour! Short ferry ride to each stop, where you could wander as you wished. Zoo was very nice and we also stopped at Watson’s Bay which was a cute small town.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Allison, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the lovely tour, with short ferry rides to each stop, allowing you to wander as you wished, We appreciate your positive feedback and hope to welcome you on board again for more memorable experiences.
Best regards,
Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 19 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gina G
19 contributions
Fantastic way to spend an afternoon after taking the ferry over from Circular Quay. The zoo had a wonderful variety of animals from different continents. The zoo was very clean and had adequate bathroom stations and water bottle filling stations as well. We were able to take in the Free Flight bird show. It was fantastic. The show with the seals was also enjoyable. Unbelievable views back toward Sydney Harbour from vistas within the zoo. Nice photo shots. Would suggest some better signage from the lower part of the zoo where are you depart from the ferry to get up to the area of the zoo by the upper main entrance. Existing Signage was a little confusing.
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi R8327OQginag,
Thank you for your feedback and for giving us 5 stars. We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic afternoon at the zoo after taking the ferry from Circular Quay! The Free Flight bird show and the seal show enhanced your experience, and the views of Sydney Harbour were truly breathtaking. We look forward to welcoming you back for another enjoyable visit soon!
Best regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team.
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TravellerLoggy
Preston, UK155 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
I went whale watching with Captain Cook back in 2016 and had a great time. We rebooked for today which left us very disappointed as we are at the end of our Australia trip and really wanted to see whales close up before we go home.
Firstly, the cruise was booked for 1:15, we did not leave the port until after 1:30. Whereas other companies nearby which were also booked for 1:15 left boarded prior to this time and left the port at 1:15. Following a fellow passenger suffering with sea sickness just as we got out to sea, we returned to Watson's Quay to allow them off the boat with several other passengers. I could not hear what was being said over the speaker at any point outside as it was not loud enough, so had to ask staff when we stopped at Watsons Quay what on earth was going on. We were first told that we would be returning to Circular Quay and could enquire with the booking office to explore our options. However I was then advised that we were going back out whale watching following the drop off at Watsons Quay. They did not mention at this point that this would be for about 15 minutes (having lost about an hour of the trip returning the unwell customer back to the quay and then getting back out to sea) and we would still be returning to Circular Quay at the same time as previously planned, I wrongly assumed that we would be allowed a little more time. We did thankfully see a couple of whales, but just their fins surfacing from the water, however we did not have time to hang around in the area and wait for any more to resurface due to the rush to get back to Circular Quay.
I would recommend that others book with other companies who offer 3 hour trips as it gives you a bit more time to see the whales, and should anything go wrong, it will hopefully mean you're not rushing back. These companies also seemed to set off from Circular Quay before us, despite having the same booking time.
The problems above were clearly not the staff on boards fault, but I just feel as though the situation could have been handled better and communicated better with the remaining customers on board.
Firstly, the cruise was booked for 1:15, we did not leave the port until after 1:30. Whereas other companies nearby which were also booked for 1:15 left boarded prior to this time and left the port at 1:15. Following a fellow passenger suffering with sea sickness just as we got out to sea, we returned to Watson's Quay to allow them off the boat with several other passengers. I could not hear what was being said over the speaker at any point outside as it was not loud enough, so had to ask staff when we stopped at Watsons Quay what on earth was going on. We were first told that we would be returning to Circular Quay and could enquire with the booking office to explore our options. However I was then advised that we were going back out whale watching following the drop off at Watsons Quay. They did not mention at this point that this would be for about 15 minutes (having lost about an hour of the trip returning the unwell customer back to the quay and then getting back out to sea) and we would still be returning to Circular Quay at the same time as previously planned, I wrongly assumed that we would be allowed a little more time. We did thankfully see a couple of whales, but just their fins surfacing from the water, however we did not have time to hang around in the area and wait for any more to resurface due to the rush to get back to Circular Quay.
I would recommend that others book with other companies who offer 3 hour trips as it gives you a bit more time to see the whales, and should anything go wrong, it will hopefully mean you're not rushing back. These companies also seemed to set off from Circular Quay before us, despite having the same booking time.
The problems above were clearly not the staff on boards fault, but I just feel as though the situation could have been handled better and communicated better with the remaining customers on board.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi TravellerLoggy
We appreciate your detailed feedback and sincerely apologize for the unsatisfactory experience you had. Your feedback is immensely valuable to us. We will conduct a thorough investigation into this unusual situation, as we typically receive numerous positive reviews and have satisfied passengers. It is essential to emphasize that the safety of our passengers is our utmost priority. We regret that one of the passengers fell unwell and had to return. We will carefully consider all the points you've raised for future enhancements. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you aboard again, providing you with a more enjoyable experience.
Best Regards, Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 29 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John R
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Really good crew, great commentary with plenty of whale facts, crew was happy to chat with passengers too. Would highly recommend
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi johnrU1679CX
Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had a really good experience with our crew during the whale watching cruise. It's great that you enjoyed the informative commentary and the crew's willingness to engage with passengers. Your high recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back on board for another fantastic experience in the future.
Best regards,
Captain Cook Sydney Team
Written 22 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Is the weekend overnight on cruise boat
V
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi Ken,
Thankyou for expressing interest in our products, and apologies for the delay in replying to you. Apologies, we no longer offer an accommodated cruise in Sydney.
Hope to see you onboard soon!
Holly
Je voudrais savoir si je peux récupérer deux photos prises à table par un membre du personnel du Captan Cook cruises le 10 février 2020 lors d' un repas de groupe de 19 personnes organisé par le voyagiste "salaun",ce jour là.Il s'agit d'une photo de couple+ 1 photo individuelle me concernant. Je voudrais les avoir. Le prix était de 12 Dollars par photo. Je n avais pas eu le temps de les prendre, mais j'étais intéresée.
How do I request priority boatding for top deck window seating? I don't see it as an option on the reservations page?
Louis Venter
Auckland, New Zealand1 contribution
I think there’s an option to pay extra for the window seats. I can’t say for sure though. Very difficult website to navigate.
denny g
The Villages, FL2 contributions
hi -please advise if we take the brillant dinner and drinks evening cruise is there entertainment on the ship ??? --we see if you up scale the dinner packages they advise that there is live entainment and dancing ?? thanks
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi Denny, our Brilliant Dinner and Drinks package does not come with entertainment included. However, passengers could be seated on a deck without entertainment or be upgraded free to one with entertainment.
Cheers
Tolla00
Winterthur, Switzerland363 contributions
Hello community
we are planning to join a a captain cook NYE Rocket Fireworks cruise (bring your own food and drinks). Does anyone have a advice or a review about this cruise we are planning? Is it even possible to eat and drink on the ship and enjoy the fireworks or is it too crowed?
Thank you for your answers
Mark B
Sydney, Australia20 contributions
Agree with Mary K. There are limits placed on how many they can have on board the boats so you should be fine in terms of room to move around and eat & drink. Our cruise was fully booked and we had plenty of room both inside and outside.
Nandita N
Mumbai, India24 contributions
Do the ferry timings and price change for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day . Can you provide details for that period
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi there, on Christmas Day our regular cruises do not operate. We apologise for this inconvenience. On Christmas Eve, our ferry prices and timings are as per usual - however we always encourage our customers to visit our website for the most up-to-date timetable and to view any changes that may occur.
xAZAMBx
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia82 contributions
Hi. I intend to join the whale watching cruise. Are raincoats necessary? If they are, do I need to get one on my own, or are they supplied by the cruise?
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi Azam,
If the weather isn't forecasted for rain, a raincoat isn't necessary. Warm clothing and a wind-breaker jacket would suffice. However, as Antmanthetravelman stated, a cheap plastic poncho would be handy just in case!
Thank you for the enquiry and we look forward to welcoming you onboard!
Heaven833
Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
What are the prices for NYE cruise?
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi, sorry for the delay. The price is dependant on which cruise you choose to use. Please see our website for available cruises and prices. Or contact us via Facebook and we would be happy to give you a link. If there is anything else we can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks
Heaven833
Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
What are the prices for NYE cruise?
Captain Cook Cruises Sydney
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
Hi Heaven833,
Sorry for the delay.
Our prices vary depending on your cruise preference, so please see our website for details.
Cheers.
Theresa J
Shrewsbury, UK5 contributions
We have booked to go on the sky deck on new year & I wondered if a short or long dress is best to wear ?
LAURA MAE K
Sydney, Australia782 contributions
aren't you lucky to experience that, you will love it. i also would suggest giving them a call. i would think you want to feel comfortable especially if it is breezy or cool as it can be on the water bit they could give you guidance on previous years cruises.