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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Whale Watching Sydney
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(29 reviews)
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4.5
605 reviews
Excellent
410
Very good
116
Average
32
Poor
13
Terrible
34
Brett C
Melbourne, Australia2 contributions
Mar. 2023
This experience was wonderful in so many ways, very affordable, great commentary and education on the attractions, locations and natural features of the Sydney harbour.
Written 3 March 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.
TasDev90
Hobart, Australia13 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.
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.
Mandy L
Singapore, Singapore4 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.
Richard S
Sydney, Australia3 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.
Madeline
Greater Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Oct. 2020
What an experience!!! Thank you so much to Jeff, Sally and the crew at Whale Watching, you are amazing. The boat was great and the staff were amazing. Such an amazing experience with whole family. Highly recommended
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.
Sulifamily
Sydney, Australia372 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.
ketanmahabadi
Greater Sydney, Australia18 contributions
Sep. 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.
OnAir551973
1 contribution
Aug. 2020
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.
Written 26 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.
Muli
Sydney, Australia11 contributions
Jul. 2020
Great way of spotting some whales out of the Sydney cost. Some additional information on the boat amenities could be added to the website. Otherwise, very professional and deliver on its promisses.
Written 14 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.
Is the whale watching program suitable for pregnant women (25 weeks pregnant)?
Jonas L
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
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.
Indah S
Darling Downs, Australia1 contribution
Is the whale watching program safe for elderly (75y) and children (6y)? Is Jun a good time to do it?
KCDawsey
Denham Springs, LA243 contributions
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.
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.
AfnanZafar
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia44 contributions
Thats weired.
For us they were very quick
breakfastinbed88
Singapore, Singapore28 contributions
Is there a need to book a whale watching trip in advance, or can we book it when we arrive in Sydney?
Foodhistoryfan
Sydney, Australia254 contributions
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
AfnanZafar
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia44 contributions
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 ;)
billiemorv
Coomera, Australia27 contributions
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.
Elizabeth_KCC
Toronto, Canada86 contributions
Would we be likely to see anything August 17/18?
Kate S
Byron Bay, Australia134 contributions
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
liland10
Sydney, Australia918 contributions
Is it best to go morning or afternoon? Which one has the higher chance to spot whales?
Karla M
Sydney, Australia68 contributions
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
Christine B
Guernsey, UK2 contributions
Can you go whale watching in January or are there no whales around then?
sydneywhalewatcher
sydney387 contributions
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
ILuuvKL
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2 contributions
Hi, may i know which whale watching company that you would recommend? im looking for one provides bigger boat to avoid sea sickness. Thanks !!
sydneywhalewatcher
sydney387 contributions
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
Neil F
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Is September still ok to see whales or are they scarce?
StephanCasaNova
Gaaden, Austria21 contributions
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!