Whale & Dolphin Watching in Sydney 2024

Sydney residents and guests have the advantage of observing an annual phenomenon: a massive migration of about 30,000 whales passing the city on the Humpback Highway from Antarctica to the Pacific Ocean. One of the world's longest whale migrations takes place off the coast of New South Whales from early May to late November. The peak time for whale watching is late June and early July.

Australian waters are home to 45 species of whales and dolphins, including spot killer whales, sperm whales, blue whales, orcas, and minke whales. Humpback and southern whales can be seen the most often.

Whale watching from the shore

Whales pass quite close to the shore and can be easily spotted in many locations in the city. The Barrenjoey Lighthouse Track on Palm Beach Peninsula and Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park are among the best whale-watching spots, equipped with covered platforms and signs. The south Head peninsula offers excellent places for whale watching, including a cliff called the Gap. The Royal National Park coastline also provides a few lookouts. The Federation Cliff Walk (between Dover Heights and Watsons Bay) and between Bondi and Coogee are great places for a winter whale-watching walk. The North Head Lookout and Harbor offer whale-watching walking tours. Cruises regularly leave from Manly, Darling Harbor, and Circular Quay.

Whale-watching tours

Whale-watching cruises in Sydney Harbor take off twice daily during the migration season from May to late November. Whale Watching Sydney offers several tour options. The traditional 2.5-hour Discovery Cruise on a large high-speed catamaran with two levels of viewing decks departs at 8:30 am and 1 pm from Circular Quay. Whale watching begins in just 15 minutes after departure. Tickets start at $81.75. A 2.5-hour Adventure Cruise on a smaller boat, Totally Wild, is especially thrilling because it's a more personal wildlife experience. You can watch marine life almost on the water level. The boat departs from Pier 26 in Darling Harbor. Tickets start at $76.

Go Whale Watching Sydney is another operator, offering a 3-hour Whale Watch Adventure on a larger boat. Tours depart at 9 am and 12:30 pm daily from King Street Wharf 6, Darling Harbour. Tickets cost $75 ($55 for children).

Ocean Extreme Whale Watching offers a very personal experience on the EXTREME boat ( 11-m rigid inflatable vessel), departing daily from Circular Quay and Manly Wharf from May until November. A 2-hour tour costs $129. The minimum age for passengers is 12. All operators guarantee whale sightings during the tours.

Dolphin watching

Dolphin sightings are common during whale-watching cruises. Tourists can observe pods of bottlenose and common dolphins. There are also dolphin watching tours leaving from Sydney three times per week, heading to Nelson Bay and Port Stephens. Swimming with dolphins in the wild is possible at the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney.