Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast
Sydney, Australia

Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

Outty Ranking 81 4.5 · 943 traveler reviews4 hoursFrom $63
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Outty Ranking

81/100

Exceptional. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.5/5

Based on 943 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast worth booking?

Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast is a 4-hour experience in Sydney, Australia, from $63 per person. It scores 81 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 943 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
81 / 100
Rating
4.5/5 (943)
Duration
4 hours
From
$63 per person

This is Sydney's only true 3 in 1 whale watching cruise. Including a city sights cruise with live commentary on Sydney's history both past and present, BBQ lunch and whale watch experience on the ultimate Sydney Harbour cruise. Relax while you see the sights of Sydney from the water as you cruise around Sydney Harbour and dine on a BBQ buffet lunch or breakfast (sat/sun only) served on board. Then head out into the open sea to go whale watching, pass through the Sydney Harbour Heads. Your crew will locate and provide informative commentary on the whales and their activity. These giants of the sea once nearly hunted to extinction, it is believed in history the humpback population was once as low as 200 whales. The conservation of these beautiful animals has led to the humpback population being at a safe level to avoid extinction. Numbers are restricted on this whale-watching cruise, with plenty of room inside and out for viewing in comfort on board your spacious sightseeing vessel.

What you get

    About this experience

    This is Sydney's only true 3 in 1 whale watching cruise. Including a city sights cruise with live commentary on Sydney's history both past and present, BBQ lunch and whale watch experience on the ultimate Sydney Harbour cruise. Relax while you see the sights of Sydney from the water as you cruise around Sydney Harbour and dine on a BBQ buffet lunch or breakfast (sat/sun only) served on board. Then head out into the open sea to go whale watching, pass through the Sydney Harbour Heads. Your crew will locate and provide informative commentary on the whales and their activity. These giants of the sea once nearly hunted to extinction, it is believed in history the humpback population was once as low as 200 whales. The conservation of these beautiful animals has led to the humpback population being at a safe level to avoid extinction. Numbers are restricted on this whale-watching cruise, with plenty of room inside and out for viewing in comfort on board your spacious sightseeing vessel.

    What's included

    Included

    • Tea and Coffee
    • Humpback whale watching
    • Live commentary on board
    • BBQ buffet lunch or breakfast (depending on departure time selected)

    Not included

    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
    • Gratuities

    What you'll see and do

    1. Sydney Harbour Bridge

      Once on board you will enjoy a scenic harbour cruise while enjoying a delicious meal. During this time you will take in all the iconic sites of Sydney

      45 minutes here

    2. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

      As you enjoy your lunch you will take in such sights the Botanic Gardens before heading out to the Whale Watching.

      Pass by without stopping

    3. Manly Beach

      As you enjoy your lunch you will take in such sights Manly Beach before heading out to the Whale Watching.

      Pass by without stopping

    4. Sydney Harbour

      As you enjoy your lunch you will take in all the sites of Sydney Harbour before heading out to the Whale Watching.

      Pass by without stopping

    5. Watsons Bay

      As you enjoy your lunch you will take in such sights the the famous Watsons Bay before heading out to the Whale Watching.

      Pass by without stopping

    6. Oz Whale Watching

      Oz Whale Watching 4 hour Cruise.

      Pass by without stopping

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Sydney

    Eastern Pontoon, Eastern side of Circular Quay (same side as Opera House) The pontoon is located in front of Searock Grill Restaurant Please check in 15-30 minutes before departure time

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    Eastern Pontoon, Eastern side of Circular Quay (same side as Opera House) The pontoon is located in front of Searock Grill Restaurant Please check in 15-30 minutes before departure time

    Options you can book

    • Breakfast with the Whales

      Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Breakfast. Departs every Saturday and Sunday at 8:15am

    • Oz Whale Watching - LUNCH

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 30 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Sydney Princess Cruises

    Know before you go

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
    • We suggest all guests to please bring motion sickness medication, our policy is better safe than sorry.
    • Please dress appropriately with comfortable shoes and warm clothing depending on the time of the year
    • Please bring a camera and sun protection
    • Available May - November (Whale Watching Season here in Sydney)

    Photos

    Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 2Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 3Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 4Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 5Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 6Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 934 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    5 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Good for families

    4 mentions

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Traveler reviews

    934 verified traveler reviews for Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    687
    4 star
    133
    3 star
    50
    2 star
    19
    1 star
    45
    Sort
    Toni_A · October 2026

    Don't waste your money on a lunch cruise

    The food was nothing special. Had to find a crew member to get service at the bar. The commentary & seeing whales was great. Just do the cruise don't waste your money on lunch

    via Viator

    jhmelo31 · October 2026

    A memorable ride

    Whale watching takes some luck, and I got it. Seeing several whales breach for the first time was deeply moving, and a pod of dolphins even swam alongside the boat. The price matched Sydney's generally high but not extreme costs, and the duration felt right, though some passengers with seasickness probably wanted it shorter. Group size was appropriate. The boat moved constantly and heavily, so consider taking motion sickness pills, since several people were sick. The guide was good but repetitive, with about 80% of the commentary on what not to do. We heard "don't vomit in the bathrooms" perhaps 50 times. Even so, it was a very positive experience and one of my most memorable trips.

    via Tripadvisor

    977robync · October 2026

    Great trip with lovely lunch and lots of whale sightings

    I went with no expectations of seeing any whales, maybe some dolphins but we saw so many pods, it was fantastic! The crowd size was not too big and the lunch was lovely. Our guide was very knowledgeable and all staff were great. There were a lot of seasick people however despite the warning to take seasick meds! This did not affect my experience and the trip was worth every bit of the admission fee.

    via Tripadvisor

    854brettj · October 2026

    A Good Experience Despite the Weather

    We recently took the Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise, including lunch. It’s important to understand that whale sightings are not guaranteed, and we unfortunately did not see any whales during our cruise. We were completely okay with that—it’s wildlife, and there are no guarantees. As a bonus, we did get to watch two dolphins swimming alongside the boat for roughly 10 minutes on our return, which was a really enjoyable surprise. Shortly after lunch was served, the weather changed and the seas became noticeably choppier. I was comfortable with the conditions, but a few passengers became increasingly concerned and began asking the crew to return to shore. A younger crew member attempted to address their concerns but eventually involved a more senior crew member. The senior crew member came down and explained the situation, and most of what he said was reassuring. Unfortunately, his choice of the word “struggling” when describing another boat that was also out on the water created unnecessary concern among some passengers. I think the intent was simply to explain the conditions, but that particular word understandably got people's attention and became the focus of conversation for the remainder of the trip. A different choice of words would have communicated the situation much better. From my perspective, the crew did the best they could to provide the experience we had hoped for while dealing with changing weather and passenger concerns. At no point did I feel that the crew put my family or me at risk. We understood that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, enjoyed seeing the dolphins, and appreciated the efforts of the crew throughout the cruise.

    via Tripadvisor

    Anna_W · September 2026

    Be Prepared & Whales Guaranteed

    When we checked in for our tickets, it was recommended to get motion sickness pills and majority of the boat did not do so! The gentleman at the ticket counter said the swells were 1-2 m however, that was not the case! The swells were more like 4-5 m and the weather was cloudy with a chance for some rain in the afternoon. That rain started about halfway through our excursion. The sound of people vomiting on the boat was awful! You have to vomit in a throw-away bag, or I guess over the side of the boat, but not in a bathroom. Fresh air will make people feel better but several just stayed seated inside which I think makes it worse. My husband and I dressed for the weather and spent most of the time outside of the interior portion of the boat. Neither of us got sick, and the rain did come. The whales however started performing more and coming out of the water and breaching high up…it was magnificent!!! The company served breakfast prior to going out but for anyone who has any sort of seasickness, don’t eat!! The open sea water is NO JOKE!! Overall, seeing whales in the open water and just getting to see them as you would on a nature documentary was just amazing and I would do it again! We also had some dolphins that came up literally within a meter of the boat and were jumping through the waves and playing! Also note - you may get wet if standing on the lower level on the side of the boat as the waves splash up.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    4 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $63 to $89
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    330
    Verdict
    Exceptional

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Sydney Princess Cruises, who run 10 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 64.6.

    See everything Sydney Princess Cruises runs

    Why this scores 81

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)65
    Review evidence (18% weight)98
    Booking momentum (14% weight)98
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)24
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sydney.

    How much does Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast cost?

    +

    Prices start at $63 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sydney usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast take?

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    Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sydney is not rushed.

    Is Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 81 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 943 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Sydney, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Around 330 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sydney can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sydney and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sydney within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Sydney?

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    On Outty we rank every Sydney experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include WILD Wombat and Kangaroo Day Tour, All Inclusive, Chef-Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine Day Tour from Sydney, Ultimate Sydney Walking Tour (Small-Group, Drink Included). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Sydney?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Sydney?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Included: Tea and Coffee; Humpback whale watching; Live commentary on board; and BBQ buffet lunch or breakfast (depending on departure time selected). Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off; Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase); and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Eastern Pontoon, Eastern side of Circular Quay (same side as Opera House) The pontoon is located in front of Searock Grill Restaurant Please check in 15-30 minutes before departure time Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast offered in?

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    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast if the weather is bad?

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    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    Across 943 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, good for families, the guide. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    What booking options are available for Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast?

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    There are 2 options to choose from, including Breakfast with the Whales, Oz Whale Watching - LUNCH. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

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