Oz Whale Watching
Oz Whale Watching
4.5
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Sydney's best value whale watching cruise. We are the only Sydney whale watching company that offers live commentary alongside a luxury whale watching experience. Your memorable experience will begin as soon as you step on board! We cruise down Sydney Harbour, passing Sydney's world-famous city highlights before entering the ocean to sight spectacular whale activity. Our whale watching package includes a BBQ Lunch, cooked fresh on the day! The cruise runs for 4 hours and is a family owned and operated business that has been running for 19 years. Whale watching is an exciting experience and we believe everyone should try it at least once in their life. Most importantly, we are a registered COVID safe business!
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,482 reviews
Excellent
1,219
Very good
182
Average
32
Poor
22
Terrible
28

John B
Sydney, Australia30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020
A fantastic Cruise and very professional and experienced crew..They found whales even at this time of year..amazing..Biggles, our whale expert is a fountain of knowledge and he can only be described as a "whale whisperer". Yes 4 whales appeared today just as he said some would, swimming and playing right beside the boat for over 15 minutes before lazily swimming south. I can absolutely recommend this vessel and cruise you wont get better whale watching anywhere like it.
Written 4 August 2020
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! We are so glad you had a fantastic cruise on board with us and we are delighted our crew provided you with a professional and friendly experience. More importantly, we are happy 4 whales appeared for you today and that they did not get they better of you! Stay safe and we hope you come back on board with us in the near future!
Written 6 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Happy Mama
Mortlake, Australia1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2023 • Family
We did the Vivid cruise last night and had a fantastic time on your vessel. It wasn’t too big or too small … it was just right! We had a large group of 14 for our daughters 18th birthday and your onboard staff were very accommodating. Your communication was fast and efficient when we had to change any details. Even though the cruise was understandably quite full being Vivid, there were plenty of tables to sit down at. Luca the cruise Captain did a great job taking us close by and slowly under the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House, Botanical Gardens and around the Harbour. There were great photo opportunities and the top deck of your boat was great to walk around and view the Harbour 360 degrees uninhibited. The food - there was a good choice of freshly made salads, saffron rice, ratatouille, Moroccan chicken, beef sausages, roasted potatoes and it was all very tasty and plentiful. The staff directed each table one at a time which assured nobody was rushing or pushing. It was well controlled and the food was plentiful. Your bar was small but actually had a good choice of drinks. Our youngest was quite seasick and your staff were kind and caring with helping and making sure she was comfortable. All in all - a fantastic time and a great job Pearl MV.
Written 7 June 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.

Juli H
Peregian Beach, Australia4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
I booked this cruise to take my 93yr Mum on a harbour cruise to see Sydney sights. Right from the start of the booking, the website, information and price and the outstanding personal service from Elle was second to none. The staff at the terminal which was easy to find, and all the staff onboard were amazing, helpful, informative and genuine and made Mum feel very special. The BBQ lunch was lovely too. The boat wasn’t large but big enough and I wound certainly recommend theBBQ Lunch cruise. Thank you .. Juli & Muriel Hoven
Written 20 April 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.

sonam g
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Family
This was a amazing experience. Seeing the whale and dolphin up close. The staff was amazing.
The only problem is they ask you to take sea sickness medicine that makes you so drowsy. If we are not out on deck then you really sleep throughout.
Written 31 October 2022
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.

Rita Y
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2017 • Family
We went on 4th June 2017 (order no RYMYTAZ). We did manage to see the amazing whale; however, the food were standard and many on board were vomiting. Staffs were helpful although some of them showed unhappy face due to the vomiting cases.

Unfortunately, we need to give negative feedbacks on its Groupon marketing. Beware of it! It was written 52% OFF deals; but it was NOT! We need to pay again on OzWhale website when we booked for the date. In summary, Groupon charged 90AUD (2 adults) for the "52% OFF DEALS" and the OzWhaleWatching charged again 114AUD (which is 94$x2 adults + 20$ for 4 yo kid - 94$ Groupon coupon). In total, the discount was ONLY < 10 AUD! We were extremely disappointed with their marketing tactics.
Written 27 June 2017
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.

Leila H
Paris, France4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
I have been a million times on a boat and this cruise made me hate water. The boat was literally crashing on the water and NO ONE really enjoyed the cruise. We were just trying to stand up and fight seasickness. And of course we didn’t see any whale.
Thank you for this memories.
Written 28 August 2018
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.

Overkiks
France18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Friends
We had a nice time with a nice lunch, a passionate crew, I would recommend this company for whale watching since the whales were always following our boat.
Written 14 August 2015
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 Killian F, Thanks for your review. Our crew certainly are very passionate about what they do. Great to hear the whales followed you around and that you had a nice trip. Hope to see you for our next whale watching trip with us!
Written 9 September 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Shadi S
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014
Horrible package, full of people vomiting, imagine the smell of that, the lower deck was turned into a sanitarium. That settles the food review I guess. the vomits scared the whales away, so they didn't show up. No Dolphins or any attractions. Horrible sense of humour by the guide and crew who sealed thier trip with a comment of one of them showing on the top deck yelling "who's laughing now"!

Tips for the company to improve 1. Don't serve your horrible food, in fact don't hide behind lunch breakfast, sell the whale experience.

2. Which brings us to hiring a crew that could track whales, like animals on land you can track sea animals using a little bit of knowledge about them.

3. Guide needs to take a comedy course to lighten up his boring speech& sense of humour. His negative energy might've driven some whales to suicide.

4. Be on time! The baot was late to arrive and they cut the trip to unload the vomit packs at the harbor.

5. Provide passengers with ginger tablet, it helps with seas sickness. And please some meaningful advise would help first timers.

6. Promote the guy who cleaned all the vomit, he showed the best courtesy in the whole crew.
Written 9 November 2014
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.
We are both disappointed and surprised to receive such a negative review, which is contrary to: i) the overwhelming majority of positive reviews we receive in relation to points you raise; ii) the spontaneous round of applause at the end of Sunday afternoon's cruise, and iii) the positive comments offered by so many of the passengers as they disembarked that day. As such, we apologise if the food and the commentary weren't to your taste, but feel that the following points need to be made. Before boarding our afternoon cruise passengers on afternoon of the 9th November, we had emphatically warned our passengers that the seas were rough and suggested that they should seriously consider rebooking on another date. We subsequently departed from the wharf only minutes outside of our scheduled widow. Our passengers are advised electronically of precautions to minimise the chance of sea sickness at the time of booking on a specific cruise and twice again, once 24 hours prior to the cruise and just before cruise. On boarding the boat the passengers are given a comprehensive safety and comfort briefing, which includes a specific section on how to minimise the chances of sea sickness. This safety and comfort briefing is repeated before leaving the harbour for the open sea, both times passengers being asked to be attentive and not talk, so that others can hear. Unfortunately and despite the best efforts of a number of whale watching boats (some from different companies), no whales were sighted and watched by those boats on Sunday afternoon. That is why on Sunday afternoon we advised the passengers of our guarantee of being able to book on another cruise if no whales are sighted. Our passengers are sent an electronic voucher with instructions on how to redeem their complimentary return trip. This voucher is valid for 3 years.
Written 11 November 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ludwig S
Antwerp, Belgium75 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nobody from the ticketservice told me that it could be a rough boatride and that you can get seasick. They told me that I would get dinner on board so I thaught it would be a gentle boatride. Just after dinner suddenly the boat was almost flying .. like er was a massive storm but it was sunny outside.. I was seasick for the whole time.. for more than 4 houres! It felt liked I was held hostage because you can’t leave the boat offcourse. Other people where also sick, nobody seem happy on the boat. At the end we saw 2 small whales. But I didn’t care anymore. I couldn’t care less if there where 99 giant whales and the monster of Loch Ness.. I was just to sick. Didn’t take one picture.
Written 9 November 2019
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 there, We are glad to hear you at least sighted 2 small whales on your outing with us. We have taken your comments about the speed of the boat on board and will look at ways to reduce the speed of our vessel whilst leaving Sydney Harbour on route to the heads. We have also noted that there were a few guests on board suffering from seasickness and we do agree that once one goes, it is east to imply the rest go. We have taken all of your feedback on board, thank you.
Written 29 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Clairejop
Melton Constable, UK132 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Couples
Me and my partner went on their BBQ lunch cruise out to shark island and Sydney harbour. It was bought for us as a present for my birthday -my sister had bought it on Groupon at what she thought was a discounted price, we later found out the Groupon price was the same as on their website! What a con!

We waited by the harbour for the boat to arrive, another boat arrived at the port number we were told to stand by - not our boat. Eventually ours rocked up about 10 minutes late in a different port number with no explanation. They had our telephone number so I'm not sure why they couldn't of notified us of this.

The boat itself was ok. The lunch was not a BBQ it was a help yourself basic buffet with a small selection, wasn't great but edible. Was expecting a grand lunch given the description and the price.

We went out to shark island - which you have to pay more for (this should be included in the price of the ticket!). It was ok but not much to see there and they don't give you any kind of information or tour round it. It's very small and they drop you off for quite a while.

When we got back on the boat, the whole boat absolutely STUNK of poop! It was disgusting. The crew did nothing about it. No matter where we went on the boat I had to hold my hand over my nose. I understand it's not the easiest when they are on a boat with limited ways to get rid of the offending item but it really did spoil it and the crew didn't say anything.

One other thing is a elderly gentleman went up to buy some drinks and the poor guy was trying to hold lots of drinks being watched by the staff member. The staff member should of offered his help! It was cringe to watch, I offered for help in the end.

I have contacted the company twice now via email to file a complaint and they have not come back to me. Really poor customer service.

It's not value for what they charge. I would pay 40 dollars at most for this cruise, and we paid well over double! Don't book it.
Written 8 April 2017
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.

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