Whale Watching Sydney
Whale Watching Sydney
4.5
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Whale watching Sydney offers daily cruises from Darling Harbour and Circular Quay to watch Humpback whales. Whale watching Sydney (Bass & Flinders Cruises), have been operating since 1979 and whale watching since 1991. Award winning Australian certified eco-tours. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. Also, see other marine wildlife such as dolphins, albatross, seals and the beautiful coastline of Sydney. Check website for rates & specials.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
606 reviews
Excellent
411
Very good
116
Average
32
Poor
13
Terrible
34
Sulifamily
Sydney, Australia358 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Absolutely loved this! Right from the start the staff were lovely, very friendly and helpful.
Bit of a rough sea but again the guys kept us informed and safe. We hardly got it of the Heads when we spotted whales. Absolutely fascinating!
We saw so many whales and the mothers are so protective of their calves.
The finale was a young juvenile just breaching for about 40 minutes non stop. We lived it. Very clean safe boat and really great value for money.
None of my photos do justice to the spectacle of the young whale and mother breaching!
Bit of a rough sea but again the guys kept us informed and safe. We hardly got it of the Heads when we spotted whales. Absolutely fascinating!
We saw so many whales and the mothers are so protective of their calves.
The finale was a young juvenile just breaching for about 40 minutes non stop. We lived it. Very clean safe boat and really great value for money.
None of my photos do justice to the spectacle of the young whale and mother breaching!
Written 5 October 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.
Windy Miller
5 contributions
July 2020
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.
Written 11 July 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.
Deborah J
Sydney, Australia72 contributions
July 2020 • Couples
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.
There is an onboard shop for snacks and drinks as well.
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.
There is an onboard shop for snacks and drinks as well.
Written 11 July 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.
jason
Coogee, Australia2 contributions
July 2020
Great crew and boat but we all felt pretty seasick a lot of the timee, particularly the kids, and maybe our expectations were too high in hoping to see whales breaching. Unfortunately not on this trip. Apparently you only see that about 30% of the time.
Written 8 July 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.
Richard S
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Friendly staff. Handled Covid restrictions well. Luckily saw whales !!!!!!!only problem Not allowed hot drink outside of the Heads - maybe a cup with a sealed lid would solve that one. Apart from that an enjoyable trip. Look out for specials and discounts as full price was maybe a little high.
Written 9 October 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.
TasDev90
Hobart, Australia18 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Really enjoyable experience, saw whales tail slapping and a full breach! The only improvement would be a better audio system. When the skipper spoke to us on the wharf before boarding, most of us couldn’t hear him. Same with the lady doing the safety briefing with life jackets. They just yelled with no mic but you couldn’t hear over engines etc. And the PA system with commentary was only audible in some areas of the boat, not all, due to lack of speakers and engine sounds.
Written 20 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.
Mandy L
Singapore, Singapore15 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
Fantastic views of 3 humpback whales interacting with up to 50 Bottle-nosed dolphins within a 3 hour tour. Helped by gorgeous weather and our knowledgeable guide Justin. Unforgettable once in a lifetime experience!
Written 22 May 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.
Nikhil J
6 contributions
May 2022 • Family
Very friendly and knowledgeable crew- they deliver what they promise. It was our first ever trip for the whale watch and we saw whales playing around in the ocean.
Look for a sunny day to go for the trip.
Look for a sunny day to go for the trip.
Written 29 May 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.
SheridanSilver
San Francisco, CA10 contributions
June 2020
This seems to be the same company as Fantasea Cruising. We were lucky with weather and had a great trip, saw a bunch of tail slappings especially. Most of our group took anti-seasickness tablets beforehand (available at the Circular Quay Chemist), and as a result did not get seasick. In contrast, many other passengers and the one member of our party who didn't take the tablet had to resort to barf bags because the swell was so choppy. So go on the trip, but take meds!
Written 28 June 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.
ketanmahabadi
Greater Sydney, Australia16 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
We booked the 2 hr whale watching tour. The boat was clean and the staff was welcoming. We saw 2 pairs of mother and calf Humpback whales..Kids do feel sea sickness sometimes..But the boats are equipped with sickness bags and tablets.
Overall a great tour.. Really enjoyed it
Overall a great tour.. Really enjoyed it
Written 28 September 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.
Is the whale watching program suitable for pregnant women (25 weeks pregnant)?
Written 6 August 2019
Our 3hr Discovery Cruise would be suited yes. It might be a good idea to check on sea conditions beforehand: Flat, calm days are of course more suited than windy, more uncomfortable days.
Written 27 August 2019
Is the whale watching program safe for elderly (75y) and children (6y)? Is Jun a good time to do it?
Written 6 April 2019
I would say this tour is absolutely perfect for an older person. My own mother is 66 and she had a wonderful time out on the water. There is plenty of outdoor seating as well as indoor seating if the wind gets to her. We brought my daughter who is 6 and a half on this trip and she loved it! I saw plenty of younger children as well. We went on this tour just two days ago and the whales were absolutely moving! Breaching, tail slapping and barrel rolling. End of May to June is supposed to be peak time for the whales migrating.
Written 31 May 2019
I made a reservation for 2hr Advanture cruise tour at 11 a.m. on November 9 and i paid on website with credit card. However, I received an e-mail that the cruise was canceled. So I called and asked for cancellation. but it has not been processed yet. Even if I send mail , you do not read it. Please answer me.
Written 15 November 2018
Thats weired.
For us they were very quick
Written 24 February 2019
Is there a need to book a whale watching trip in advance, or can we book it when we arrive in Sydney?
Written 28 October 2018
No. I'd book when you're here - and see how the weather is on the day. It would be awful in the pouring rain, say. Regards
Catherine
Written 25 November 2018
Hi
If we want a whale watch plan on 8 or 9 november, where shall we do it at? Sydney or jervis? In terms of vest whale activities ;)
Written 5 August 2018
I have heard that Jarvis bay is amazing, but I am yet to experience it. My Sydney experience was great and we do have the most beautiful views of the harbour on the way in and out.
Written 9 August 2018
Would we be likely to see anything August 17/18?
Written 26 June 2018
yes sorry to take so long to answer, the whales migrate north between May and November from the antarctic then make their way back so there is still plenty to see but I would contact the whale watching company as they know the best times
Written 13 July 2018
Is it best to go morning or afternoon? Which one has the higher chance to spot whales?
Written 5 April 2018
Sorry guessing it’s way to late now. We went in the morning. I think it’s all pot luck. We went same time last time and didn’t see any whales but got to see dolphins
Written 1 August 2018
Can you go whale watching in January or are there no whales around then?
Written 29 October 2017
Hi , No January is well out of whale watching season for Sydney. May to December is the main season , apart from scattered intermittent visits from some of the deep ocean whale species in between
Written 30 October 2017
Hi, may i know which whale watching company that you would recommend? im looking for one provides bigger boat to avoid sea sickness. Thanks !!
Written 24 September 2017
I represent Whale Watching Sydney so that going to be my recommendation. We do have a big boat so i would book on the Discovery cruise not the smaller adventure vessel
Written 24 September 2017
Is September still ok to see whales or are they scarce?
Written 11 August 2017
Im not sure, we went the end of July and at that time they were already at the end of the whale watching Season. We saw two of them, they kept close to the boat the whole journey. Our guide mentioned for sure when they will return on their way south again but i forgot the details. What i can tell you is that you get a coupon for a free extra tour if you did not see any whales or if you are not satisfied by the time or amount of whales you get to see on your trip. So it is a no brainer, you can try the tour and if you are not satisfied you can go for another one on a different day. We had a blast even though we only got to see a two of them. A second to none lifetime Memory to see these wonderful creatures for yourself!
Written 11 August 2017
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