Whale Watching Cruise: Sydney Harbour to Humpback Highway

Cruise Sydney Harbour, spot humpback whales, and learn about their migration. Join our Whale Express for an unforgettable adventure!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Sydney Princess Cruises - Once on board, the crew will run through a quick safety briefing. Enjoy the sights of Sydney Harbour before heading out to the heads where the whale watching will begin. Once at the heads, the whale watching quest begin, the crew will tell you about the whales and their behaviour and provide interesting commentary about what the whale migration is all about.

  • Cruise is NOT suitable for pregnant women

  • Children must be over 5 years of age

  • Guests must be 120cm high or taller

  • You may encounter wind and seaspray on this cruise.

  • We recommend you wear weather appropriate clothing, wind and rain jackets to protect from the sea spray.

What's Included
  • Comfortable vessel for quick transport
  • Live commentary on whales, their behavior, facts, and statistics
What's Not Included
  • food and drink
Additional Information

Your cruise starts from Eastern Pontoon Circular right in the heart of Sydney. Shortly after boarding and hearing your comprehensive safety brief you will be cruising past the Opera House and some of Sydney’s world famous landmarks heading for the humpback highway outside THE ENTRANCE TO SYDNEY HARBOUR (Sydney Heads)

Whale Express wont get you there as quick as a humpback whale breaching but it will get you there quick.

Did you know that it only takes 2 to 3 flicks of a humpback whales tail to propel itself out of the water to perform what is called a breach, what many say is the holy grail of whale watching. You will be outside the heads in approximately 20 minutes and that’s when the quest to find the whales begin.

Your crew will get you out there safely and then once you have located a humpback or two the crew tell you about the whales and their behaviour and provide interesting commentary about what the whale migration is all about.

  • Guests must be taller than 120cm
Location
Sydney Princess Cruises
This is the wharf where the jetboats depart from (on the same side as the opera house), closest cafe is Searock grill.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(7 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Mrjohndoe901
Aug 28, 2024
Whales put on a show - The crew were really lovely, it was a fantastic day for boating, pretty calm, sunshine all round. There were about 7 other people on board so plenty of space to find a good vantage spot! Sweet views on the way in and out. I can kind of see how the negative review might have occurred, the crew were pretty casual in the briefing given some people probably spend zero time on boats. We were incredibly lucky to see so many whales breaching right in front of us, honestly it was downright majestic. The crew themselves were very excited and given how often they go out you know you've had a good day when they are taking as many photos as you are. A little light on whale facts if I'm honest, I do love a good fun fact! Overall, awesome trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z6142fhgeorgef
Aug 13, 2024
Whales express -Awesome - Great day out, saw whales,seals and dolphins,awesome comfortable boat, really recommend when short on time, friendly professional crew, 10/10. GF
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Molly_b
Aug 12, 2024
Excellent trip - Excellent knowledgeable crew. Able to see whales for around 40 minutes. Costs provided on board which was good.
Review provided by Viator
J_b
Aug 6, 2024
Awesome whales - Great Experience- 10/10. Professional and informed crew. Whales were awesome and very nice boat, good value for money.
Review provided by Viator
Cruiser65698100899
Jun 10, 2024
Awesome 2 hour trip - Amazing tour. Went on the long weekend. Spotted about 6 whales jumping out of water. Highlight of the holiday! (Be sure to take the seasick pills)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
William_o
Jul 15, 2024
We came we saw and we got soaked - Beware this a small boat, a small OPEN boat you will get wet. the captain put us on fish so that made it worth the trip. If it wasn’t so cold (winter is when the whales are around) it would have been fun.
Review provided by Viator
294katiel
Aug 13, 2024
Would not recommend. - I was really disappointed in this whole experience. From the beginning, the person leading the tour was particularly unpleasant and raised his voice for people to sit, rather than to ask politely. I appreciate at times people must be testing but there is no need to be rude. We were provided with jackets as ‘there may be some spray’. We were given no indication that we would be absolutely soaked to the skin! I appreciate that it’s winter, and the sea was choppy but a heads up would have been quite nice. I had activities planned for the rest of the day but couldn’t carry them out as I was wet through - as were the contents of my bag which was very annoying! Several people on board started to feel very sick with the rocky and unexpected soaking of salt water. It was made clear to them that they were an inconvenience. They were told they’d been given the opportunity to take a ‘sick bag’ whilst boarding and it was their fault if they hadn’t. Shocking treatment as I don’t believe anyone expected the boat trip to be the way it was! And who can help when sickness comes on suddenly?! When we FINALLY were able to return, the tour guide decided to issue out another round of “I told you so’s” by telling everyone that he had told them what to expect and they should have taken sea sickness tablets as he had instructed and that we should all know better. I thought it was awful treatment as nobody could have anticipated how rocky the trip would be or how much sea water we’d all have to take in. On top of this - no one was told in the first place so this was just untrue and a rude way to conclude the trip. To end… disappointingly, we did not see a single whale - which I appreciate is nobody’s fault but it’s not what you hope for at all. Overall, a dreadful experience that I would not recommend to others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today