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Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee

202 Reviews 4.42 out of 5 stars Based on 202 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Sydney, Australia
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from $68.56 per person

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On average, this is booked 32 (0) days in advance.
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2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

See magnificent humpback and southern right whales at play on a Sydney whale-watching cruise. From Circular Quay, this open-water cruise will take you through the entrance of Sydney Harbour and into the open Pacific in search of whales. The open-air viewing decks on board the catamaran offer unobstructed views and the best opportunities for spotting and watching the whales. Getting up close to these gentle giants of the sea is an awe-inspiring experience that you don’t want to miss. With record numbers of whales due to pass along Sydney's coastline this migration season, there are sure to be plenty of sightings and great photo opportunities!

This activity is seasonal, operating from mid-May to early-Novemeber each year.

What's Included

  • 2.5 Hour Whale Watching Cruise
  • Live commentary on board
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Whale Watching cruises are an extraordinary opportunity to see the gentle giants of the sea on their annual migration, and with our Whale Sighting Guarantee, we either spot whales - or you cruise again for free!
Your cruise begins from Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour and makes its way past the Opera House, the beautiful eastern suburbs and outside the Harbour headlands to open water. Southern Right, Orca and Minke Whales all visit Sydney's coastline, but it's the Humpbacks that come in great numbers and love to show off with breaches, tail slaps and even a sneaky wink when they are feeling extra curious.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • If you are susceptible to travel sickness, please bring the relevant medication
  • Whale Guarantee: If a whale is not sighted during your cruise, you'll be given the opportunity to cruise again for free within the same season
  • Reconfirmation Hotline - Call +61-2-8062 3623 from 7.15am on the day of your cruise to confirm the cruise is going ahead. Cruises may be cancelled subject to weather conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

(9)

Q: Do we get to swim with or touch the dolphins?

A: As an active member of the Dolphin SMART program, we do not have physical contact with the dolphins on Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee. We watch them in their natural habitat from the boat. Read more Dec 2022

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-3378WHALE

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.42
202 reviews

Average 4.42 out of 5 stars based on 200 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
137
4 stars
35
3 stars
12
2 stars
7
1 star
9

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On average, this is booked 32 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (9)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.

Filter by:

Q: Do we get to swim with or touch the dolphins?
A:

As an active member of the Dolphin SMART program, we do not have physical contact with the dolphins on Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee. We watch them in their natural habitat from the boat.

Dec 2022
Q: Will I get seasick on Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee?
A:

If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy.

Feb 2023
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AEST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • 2.5 Hour Whale Watching Cruise.
  • Live commentary on board.
The following is NOT included:
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase).
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee is as follows:

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers 3 years and younger
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Whale Sighting Guarantee will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

Activity name

  • 2.5 Hour Whale Watching Cruise
  • Live commentary on board
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers 3 years and younger
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Please dress appropriately and wear warm clothing. It will often feel cooler at sea
  • If you are susceptible to travel sickness, please bring the relevant medication
  • Whale Guarantee: If a whale is not sighted during your cruise, you'll be given the opportunity to cruise again for free within the same season
  • Reconfirmation Hotline - Call +61-2-8062 3623 from 7.15am on the day of your cruise to confirm the cruise is going ahead. Cruises may be cancelled subject to weather conditions.
  • Whale Watching Child Policy: Infants 0-3 years are not recommended. Child fare available for Children 4-15 years. Minimum of one supervising adult for every four children is required.
  • IMPORTANT: 20 Jul - 28 Aug 2026 the cruise departs Commissioner's Steps (not wheelchair accessible), due to NSW Maritime wharf upgrades.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 120 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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Lowest Price Guarantee

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We guarantee the lowest price on all the tours available to book on our site. We'll refund the difference if you find the exact tour cheaper online until 48 hours before your tour starts.

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Refund Terms & Conditions

The following conditions apply to all lowest price guarantee refund requests:

  • The lowest price guarantee is available to any customer who makes a qualifying purchase through our website. The qualifying purchase must be a minimum of US$20 (or equivalent).
  • The lowest price guarantee covers retail and prepaid rates available to the general public. This does not include discounts or promotions you may receive (or be eligible for) from third-party sites or organizations such as AAA or AARP or special offers made as part of a membership program, corporate discount, daily deal, group, or rewards program.
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  • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on Cool Destinations and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
  • The lowest price guarantee does not apply where a lower overall price is found by breaking down the purchased tour into one or more parts sold separately.
  • Cool Destinations reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
  • All refund decisions will be made at the sole discretion of Cool Destinations.
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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AEST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

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  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.