To exchange your experience click add to cart and proceed to checkout.

Once there, enter your voucher number to exchange for a different experience.

To pay the difference on your voucher, please add this product to cart by clicking the button below and proceed to checkout.

Once there, enter your voucher number into the gift voucher field to pay the difference.

Sydney Express Whale Watching Tour

Highlights

  • Spot some incredible humpback whales on Sydney Harbour
  • Learn about the biology, lifecycle and behaviour of whales from the dedicated and passionate crew
  • Tea, coffee and hot chocolate included

Witness an exciting spectacle of humpback whales thriving in their natural habitat in Sydney Harbour on this express whale watching tour. Aboard this vessel, you'll head out to open water to get up close and learn more about these fascinating creatures with a passionate crew guiding your day.

What's included?

  • 3-hour express whale watching tour in Sydney
  • Pick up and drop off
  • Live and interesting whale commentary
  • Fun and friendly staff
  • Whale sightings guaranteed (or book a free return cruise)
  • Tea, coffee and hot chocolate provided on return journey

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime on Sydney Harbour as you encounter the extraordinary sight of humpback whales out in the wild. You'll hop aboard a fast, modern and comfortable vessel in Darling Harbour, where you'll be treated to plenty of outdoor viewing areas to enjoy uninterrupted viewing. The crew on board will take you on a truly memorable and highly informative tour as they share decades worth of knowledge, experience and a great passion for whales. You'll speed out into the open water past Sydney's most iconic sights where you'll wait for the magic to unfold.

Witness a joyous display of humpback whales flourishing in their natural habitat and greet them from up close. You'll learn about the biology, lifecycle and behaviour of these creatures from the crew, as you watch in awe as they perform fluke up dives, breaches, tail slapping, pectoral fin slapping, spy hopping, tail throws and more. While the majority of the whales migrating past are humpback whales, you might also have the chance to see other species of whales, and other exciting marine life like dolphins, sea turtles, seals, a bounty of sea birds and more.

Important information

  • This experience is 3 hours in duration
  • Please arrive 20 minutes prior to departure
  • We strongly recommend that you take sea sickness prevention tablets before boarding the boat if you are prone to sea sickness
  • On this experience, children are considered 16 years and under
  • This experience is not recommended for children under 1 year old. If you choose to bring your infant please purchase a child ticket for them
  • Change your booking up to 48 hours before the start time of your experience
  • Changes are not permitted within 48 hours of your experience
  • Late arrivals or no shows will result in you forfeiting your experience

There is a minimum of 10 people required for this experience to proceed.

All tours are subject to suitable ocean conditions. Rain does not result in the cancellation of tours. The primary consideration is swell height and wind strength. The experience provider will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible about tour cancellations. A decision will be made in the afternoon prior as soon as the updated weather forecast comes out. If a tour is to be cancelled, an email is sent to all bookings the night prior. Safety is the primary consideration and as such there may be occasions where conditions deteriorate faster than forecast and last-minute cancellations made.

Please wear flat, covered shoes, bring warm clothing, wet weather jacket, hat and sunglasses.

This experience takes place in Darling Harbour, NSW.

Reviews

4.7
12 reviews
5 stars 11
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 1
Recommended

Whale Watching Tour

Jo 26 July 2026

Sydney Whale Watching Tour was awesome. Had a fantastic time, and saw a heap of whale pods, breaching, tail flapping. We also saw dolphins and seals. Was an amazing day out.

Customer Experience

Hi Jo, thanks for your feedback! We're thrilled you had such an amazing day and spotted whales, dolphins, and seals along the way. Glad you enjoyed the experience!

27 July 2026

Recommended

The best way to see whales

Amelia 17 November 2025

Absolutely loved this experience. Seeing the whales in their natural habitat, breaching and playing around is a must. The team were professional, knowledgeable and most importantly, respectful towards the whales by keeping a safe distance (which paid off when they approached our boat out of all the others nearby). Not only did we see several whales, but we also saw dolphins too! Would 100% recommend and would do it again for sure.

Customer Experience

Hi Amelia, we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience. We appreciate you taking the time to leave such positive feedback!

18 November 2025

Recommended

Whales are back!

Paul 12 November 2025

It was uplifting to learn that the humpback whales visiting Sydney Harbour are making a comeback after their populations were once devastated by whaling. They’re magnificent creatures, and it was great to see them up close!

Customer Experience

Hi Paul, we’re so happy to hear about your positive experience! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.

16 November 2025

Recommended

An unforgettable experience!

Jacob 12 November 2025

We were incredibly lucky to witness multiple whales breaching during our trip. The tour guides were highly knowledgeable and shared fascinating insights throughout. This was by far the best experience I’ve ever had, and I would absolutely recommend it as a must-do

Customer Experience

Hi Jacob, it's great to hear about your positive experience. Thank you for sharing your feedback!

12 November 2025

Recommended

Absolutely amazing

Tommy 12 November 2025

[Employee of redballoon] Was a great experience being able to see the whales so close up.

Customer Experience

Hi Tommy, it's great to hear about your positive experience. Thank you for sharing your feedback!

12 November 2025

Recommended

This was a one of a kind experience!!

Tiarna 12 November 2025

[Employee of redballoon] This was an amazing experience that I would do a million times over. We were very lucky to go out and even though it was windy and had a tiny bit of rain we saw dolphins and a number of whales! The whales were super energetic and we saw a number of breaches. While it was wet, the team on board supplied us with water proof jackets and told us the best spot to sit. The other highlight was all the information the crew were able to provide us about the whales and their migration, you could really see how much they knew and loved what they do. One of my favourite experiences I have done!!

Customer Experience

Hi Tiarna, we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience. We appreciate you taking the time to leave such positive feedback!

12 November 2025

Recommended

We got SO close!

Toni 12 November 2025

[Employee of redballoon] The team were absolutely incredible, so passionate about whales & so knowledgable. They respected that the sea was the whale's home, and we slowly approached. The whales seemed to really like that, and we had a few whales preferring our boat, going right underneath with their baby, breaching right next to us, and sticking around for ages. Had the best time, would absolutely do it again.

Customer Experience

Hi Toni, your feedback is important to us, and we’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed your experience!

12 November 2025

We got soaked in the middle of winter

Jae 13 July 2025

I booked this trip during whale migration season. I took my husband for our anniversary, we planned a day out in the city and intended to go out for dinner after the boat trip. We arrived at the peer expecting to get on the boat described on the website but were put on a Jet boat. We were dressed warmly but had our bags and clothes to go out after the trip. They gave us rain jackets on the boat in case we got a bit splashed going out to sea. Even with the rain jacket on we got completely saturated. I was wet down to my underwear and my shoes and socks were full of water. My husband's work laptop which was in his bag got wet. The contents of my bag was saturated. There was water coming over the sides and into the bottom of the boat and I could hardly see the whale for all the salt water in my eyes. We were both freezing cold when we got off the boat and had to cancel our dinner plans and head home wet on the train. All up it was an extremely disappointing experience and literally put a dampener on what should have been a special day.

Customer Experience

Hi Jae, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re very sorry to hear about how the day unfolded, especially given the special occasion. Unfortunately, the weather conditions that day made the experience more challenging than expected, and we understand how disappointing that must have been. Our experience supplier has let us know they’d love the chance to invite you back for a redo. I can see you’re already in discussion with our team, and they’ll be in touch directly, just let them know if you’d like to take up the offer!

15 July 2025

Recommended

Beautiful day out on the harbour after the storms.

Toni 6 July 2025

We got to see 3 or 4 pods of whales but they were all quite calm after the storms. The boat was excellent and the staff we very attentive and made sure everyone got to see the whales by moving us around and getting people in the front to kneel or sit down so everyone could see.

Customer Experience

Hi Toni, thank you for your lovely feedback. We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your experience!

7 July 2025

Recommended

Great crew, great boat, would absolutely recommend

Anna 25 August 2024

[Employee of redballoon] The boat was a great, clean, comfortable and good size for the number of people onboard - lots os space for everyone to see the whales. We had a magical experience with one whale staying with the boat for over an hour, breaching, sticking it's head out and generally interacting with the boat.

Customer Experience

Hi Anna, it is always great to hear about the wonderful experiences our customers have, thank you for sharing!

28 August 2024

Buy as a gift
From
$85 $69 each
or 4 payments of $17.25 with buy now pay later
Buy now pay later
4 interest-free payments of $17.25 More
Own it, interest free, From $10 per week. More
From
$85 $69 each
or 4 payments of $17.25 with buy now pay later
1 Adult
$85 $69 each

or Book now
or
Limited Availability
Next available date:
Next available date:
Please select a date.
Please select a time.
Or