5 years to use
Instant voucher delivery
Simple exchanges
14-day satisfaction guarantee
To exchange your experience, select a product, add it to cart and proceed to checkout.
Once there, enter your voucher number to exchange for a different experience.
Tall ship experiences put you on a timber sailing ship with a crew who let you help set the sails or take a turn at the wheel. Cruises sail on Sydney Harbour, from Williamstown and Port Adelaide, and around the Whitsundays, with options that include a sunset glass of bubbles, a harbour lunch or a full day on the water. You don't need sailing experience to join in.
On a tall ship you can haul on a rope, take a turn at the wheel, or sit on deck while the crew does the work. The RedBalloon range covers timber ships on Sydney Harbour, a nineteenth-century sailing ship at Williamstown, Port Adelaide's handcrafted tall ship and a classic schooner in the Whitsundays, so the day can be as hands-on or as relaxed as you like.
Sydney's tall ships leave from Campbell's Cove at Circular Quay. The Tall Ship Afternoon Discovery sails past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge between 3.45pm and 5.15pm on summer afternoons, with finger food and a chance to hoist the sails. The Tall Ship Cruise and Mast Climb adds a 15 metre climb up the mast. After dark, the Tall Ship Canape Cruise, Drinks Package and Music runs on selected Fridays, and the Tall Ship Overnight Harbour Cruise with Dinner and Breakfast includes a guided convict tour of Goat Island.
The Enterprize sails out of Williamstown, and her crew share the ship's history as you go. The Evening Tall Ship Cruise from Williamstown catches the harbour at sunset. Tall Ship Harbour Sailing from Williamstown stops by the Williamstown Craft Market. The ship is traditionally rigged, and there's plenty of tar on board, so wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. You share the deck with other guests, and seating is available but limited.
The Port River Tall Ship Cruise leaves Dock 2 in Port Adelaide at 10am or 1.30pm, with scones, jam and cream served on board and a turn at the helm if you want one. For a longer day, the Tall Ship Day Cruise with Lunch sails on the STV One and All, with a chance to climb the rigging and watch for dolphins. In Queensland, the Whitsundays Tall Ship Sunset Sail with Snacks and Bubbles is a barefoot evening on a classic schooner.
A tall ship cruise suits the person who has lived near a harbour for years and never been out on it. Several Sydney and Port Adelaide cruises welcome children, so a family can share the day, while the canape cruise, the brunch cruise and the Whitsundays sunset sail are for adults.
If you aren't sure which ship or city suits them, a RedBalloon gift voucher lets them choose a cruise that fits their calendar and their idea of a good day on the water.
A tall ship experience is a cruise aboard a traditionally rigged timber sailing ship. On RedBalloon cruises, you can usually help set the sails or take a turn at the wheel, though you're equally welcome to watch from the deck. Ships sail on Sydney Harbour, from Williamstown and Port Adelaide, and in the Whitsundays, and some cruises include a meal or drinks.
You can sail a tall ship on Sydney Harbour, from Williamstown in Melbourne, from Port Adelaide, and in the Whitsundays. The Port River cruise in Port Adelaide is a popular option, with scones on board and a turn at the helm available.
Yes, there are two evening options on Sydney Harbour. The canape cruise serves a finger food dinner with a drinks package and music on selected Fridays, and the twilight dinner cruise serves a meal on board on weekends from April to September. Check each product page for dates and menus.
It varies by cruise. Sydney's lunch cruise has child fares for ages four to 14, Port Adelaide's Port River cruise sets a minimum age of six with under-18s accompanied by a parent or guardian, and the One and All rigging climb starts at 15. Brunch and canapé cruises on Sydney Harbour are for guests 18 and over, and ID is required wherever alcohol is served.
You don't need any. Helping to set the sails or steer is optional on the Sydney and Port Adelaide cruises, and the crew will walk you through each job if you want a go. Climbs, such as the mast climb on Sydney Harbour or the rigging on the One and All, are optional extras with their own age limits.
Wear flat, closed shoes and layers for the wind, and bring wet weather gear if the forecast is poor, because Sydney's ships sail in the rain. Williamstown's Enterprize is traditionally rigged with plenty of tar on board, so pick clothes that can get dirty. The Whitsundays sunset sail is a barefoot experience.
On a tall ship cruise, the vessel is a traditional sailing ship, and guests can often help the crew set the sails. A typical harbour sightseeing cruise is a motor vessel with commentary and a view. If sightseeing is the priority, browse harbour and city sightseeing cruises.
Evening on the water is covered by sunset cruises, while lunch and dinner cruises put the meal first. Scenic sailing and sailing lessons suit anyone who wants to learn more about sailing, and whale watching adds wildlife to the day.