Whale Watching Sydney Harbour - cruise amongst the giants

Sydney's premier private whale watching yacht tours

Looking for a fun day out with the family in the cooler months? Well grab a coat and join us to see the great Australian whale migration from mid-May to September. There are a few whale-watching cruises available; however, if you’d like to avoid the crowds and do something a little more intimate and comfortable, Lifestyle Charters has the perfect private whale-watching cruises that will get you up close and personal with these big, friendly giants.

experience nature at its finest

With a Humpback Whale population of around 25,000 cruising past Sydney Harbour in 2023, the chances of spotting one of these incredible creatures are high.

Once out the Sydney Heads, it doesn’t take long to spot a whale or two or for them to find you. From here, we watch on as the whales swim and play, respecting their natural migration course. The whales have been active and inquisitive this year, and we anticipate more incredible seasons ahead.

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The best private whale watching packages from Sydney Harbour

These are just some of our favourite yachts to explore the majesty of whale watching on the open waters. 

Whale Watching Sydney Harbour

SPECIAL OCCASION? MAKE IT UNFORGETTABLE

Everything you need to know about booking once in a lifetime cruise on the harbour.

Around 25,000 Humpback Whales cruised past Sydney Harbour during the 2023 migration, so you've got a great chance of spotting one of these incredible creatures aboard your private luxury cruise.

planning your ideal whale watching experience

Our whale-watching tours and cruises are suitable for up to 12 guests. We collect you from a Sydney Harbour wharf of your choosing, and following a stunning hour-long harbour cruise, you’ll be out in the open ocean, captivated by the humpback whales as they move gracefully through the Tasman Sea.

Why not make brekkie or lunch out of it, and either book a private chef to prepare a gorgeous meal for you and your family or keep it casual with a few platters or our oh-so-popular Classic BBQ menu? And drinks are a must, whether a few hot chocolates, a beer and champagne – or both!
The best sea conditions for whale watching are first thing in the morning, so we recommend a morning cruise from 8 am – 12 pm. Also, from our experience, we’ve found June and July are the best months for spotting whales, so keep this in mind when booking a date.

8am
PICK UP
Pick up from a wharf of your choice. Let us know where you are located or staying and we can recommend the most convenient wharf to you.
8-9am
Harbour Cruise
Enjoy a Sydney Harbour cruise, seeing all the iconic sites including Darling Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Garden Island, Fort Denison and more. Coffee, hot chocolates (or mimosas!) are served, as well as morning tea or brunch.
9-11am
Whale spotting!
Venture out the Sydney Harbour heads (make sure you check out the gorgeous cliffs and rock formations as you leave the Heads) and look out for whales.
11 -12
Return cruise & drop off
Start making your way back to closed waters, dropping you safely at your wharf.

Whale Watching Sydney Harbour

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

do you guarantee whale sightings?

The whale watching season in 2023 was phenomenal, with plentiful whales spotted off the coast, and with the population numbers we saw this year, we anticipate even greater seasons in the years to come.

That said, whales are unpredictable and thus, a sighting is not guaranteed.

Like we said, whales are unpredictable and there’s no guarantee they’ll do what we expect. For that reason, we don’t offer discounts or refunds. Remember, whales or no whales, you still get to experience a four hour luxury cruise, taking in the glorious sights of iconic Sydney Harbour!

We have a number of amazing vessels in our fleet! If you’re after something for a bigger event, check out fleet page and get in touch. We can create an event quote and itinerary to suit your needs.

 

Any other questions?

Let us help you plan a Whale Watching experience on Sydney Harbour

Chat with us today about booking a private whale watching tour on the iconic Sydney Harbour. We’ll prepare a quote to suit your budget and take care of all the details to create an event you’ll never forget.