Whale watching in Sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. Whale watching season starts in the middle of May. You can go whale watching all winter and spring (May – November) in Sydney. It is not the most tourist season in Sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period.
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Best time for whale watching
Best time of day for whale watching
Best places for whale watching in Sydney
Whale watching tour companies review in Sydney
Tours
Check this list if you are keen to go on whale watching cruise.
Choose your departure point from prices and time table:
Darling Harbour | Circular Quay | Manly | Sans Souci
Darling Harbour departures
| Time | Adult | Child | Tour operator |
| 8:00 (weekends) | $94 | $55 | Princess Cruizes |
| 8:30 | $80** | $35** | Adrenalin |
| 8:45 | $69-79* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (3hr Discovery Cruise) |
| 9:00 (weekends) | $70-80 | $60 | Merimbula Marina/Go Whale Watching |
| 9:30 (weekends) | $49-59 | $15 | FantaSea Cruising |
| 10:30 | $65* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (2hr Adventure Cruise) |
| 12:30 | $80** | $35** | Adrenalin |
| 12:45 | $69-79* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (3hr Discovery Cruise) |
| 12:45 | $70-80 | $60 | Merimbula Marina/Go Whale Watching |
| 13:30 | $49-59 | $15 | FantaSea Cruising |
| 14:00 | $65* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (2hr Adventure Cruise) |
* – 10-20% discount for online bookings
** – up to 45% off for online booking
Circular Quay departures
| Time | Adult | Child | Tour operator |
| 9:00 (weekends) | $95 | – | Manly Ocean Adventures |
| 9:15 | $69-79* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (3hr Discovery Cruise) |
| 9:45 (weekends) | $80-94* | $50-59* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (3hr Discovery Cruise) |
| 10:00(Fri-Sun) | $49-59 | FantaSea Cruising | |
| 10:15(weekend) | $49-79 | Captain Cook Cruises | |
| 11:00 | $85** | – | Adrenalin (Extreme Whale Watching Safari) |
| 11:00 (Mon-Fri) | $95 | – | Manly Ocean Adventures |
| 11:30 (weekends) | $95 | – | Manly Ocean Adventures |
| 13:15 | $69-79* | $49* | Bass and Flinders Cruises (3hr Discovery Cruise) |
| 13:30 | $49-79 | Captain Cook Cruises | |
| 14:00 | $95 | – | Ocean Extreme (Extreme Whale Watching) |
| 14:00 | $49-59 | FantaSea Cruising |
* – 10-20% discount for online bookings
** – 15% discount for online booking
Manly departures
| Time | Adult | Child | Tour operator |
| 9:15 (weekends) | $90**** | Manly Ocean Adventures | |
| 11:15 (daily) | $85*** | Adrenalin (Extreme Whale Watching Safari) | |
| 11:15 (Mon-Fri) | $90**** | Manly Ocean Adventures | |
| 11:45 (weekends) | $90**** | Manly Ocean Adventures | |
| Bass and Flinders Cruises – You can get free return ride to Darling Harbour or Circular Quay if you book ticket with Bass and Flinders Cruises |
*** – 16% off if you buy 2 tickets
**** – 5% off if you buy 2 tickets
Sans Souci departures
There are no Sans Souci departures any more. Let us know if you know any cruises departing from San Souci.
Here is a list of whale watching tour operators in Sydney with their no sightings policy and links to their websites:
| Tour operator | No sightings policy |
| Adrenalin | Free trip on the same vessel during the same whale watching season |
| Bass and Flinders Cruises | Return trip on another cruise in the same year with a return voucher |
| Captain Cook Cruises | Whale Sighting Guaranteed or cruise again for FREE. Cruise again in the same season for free on Standby Basis confirmed 24 hours prior, subject to availability. |
| FantaSea Cruising | If you don’t see a whale on your next cruise, it’s FREE. Terms and conditions apply |
| Manly Ocean Adventures | If whales are not spotted on a whale watching tour, each passenger will be issued with a ‘Standby Ticket’ for another Whale Watching tour during the same whale watching season. ‘Standby tickets’ are eligible for redemption no greater than 24 hours prior to the new requested departure. Subject to availability. Standby tickets are not transferable. |
| the same as Bass and Flinders Cruises | |
| Manly Whale Watching/Ocean Extreme | Whales guaranteed or free return cruise |
| Marimbula Marina | In the event that no whales are sighted we will give you the opportunity to come on another whale watching cruise free of charge. This offer is valid for the current season only and is not transferrable. This offer is not redeemable for a refund. If no whales are sighted during the last few weeks of the whale watching season a voucher will be issued for the following whale watching season. |
| Princess Cruizes | Free return trip if you don’t see whales |
| the same as Captain Cook Cruises |
So which company to choose? It depends on you – do want only whale watching or to do something else too, like speed boat ride? Do you stay in the city or in Cronulla or Manly?
My personal choice was – Bass and Flinders Cruises. They are longest period in this business and also participate in whales research program with Macquarie University, has shore based whale spotters which helps them faster to spot whales. In the sea it looks like all other companies just follow their boats.
One important thing – lower your expectation if you go on whale watching tour. Sometimes whales are more active, sometimes they are not. I was reading some reviews there customers were complaining – they saw not enough whale breaches because ship went back to harbor as the tour time was out. How you can complain about that? Some people won’t be lucky to see a breach even once and it is not the show where you command whales what they should do. So it is better to have low expectation and you definitely will enjoy whale watching – coastal or on boat tour.
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