Swap the bustling streets of Sydney for water as you catch unobstructed views of the city’s most remarkable landmarks aboard a boat tour in Sydney with an experienced captain! Sit back, relax and cruise through the scenic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge while sipping on a refreshing drink. Even better, gain insight into the harbor’s rich heritage and fascinating history from the live on-board commentary.

Choose from two departure times —a morning tour that takes you up and close with waterfront attractions draped around the glorious Sydney Harbor. Or hop aboard an evening tour as you feast your eyes on the sun setting in the west and watch the twinkling city lights come to life. Bring your boating excursion to a memorable end with a superb six-course dinner complimented with vintage wines that tickle your taste-buds.

For the ones looking for adventure, experience a whale and dolphin watching boat trip or slide around the waters of Sydney on a thrilling jet boat tour.

What are the most popular boat tours and cruises in Sydney?

There is no better way to experience the magic of Sydney Harbor than from the water itself. Sydney offers its visitors with fantastic options of boat tours and cruises that one can only dream of. And, it has been a long-debated topic which is the best boat tour in Sydney. You may find below the most famous cruises and boat tours in Sydney.

Sightseeing and lunch cruises

Relax and enjoy a stunning Aussie inspired lunch on the water while you take on the serenity of the harbor at its best. During the cruise, you can view the city highlights such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and the Luna Park accompanied by the delicious contemporary Australian dining. These premium multi-deck sightseeing vessels are perfectly suited for a beautiful day out with your family or the gang to soak in the beauty of the city.

Captain Cook Harbour stories cruises

Discover the exciting stories of Sydney Harbour along the coast of the Opera House while you marvel at scenic beauty all around you. As you enjoy the cool breeze brush against your skin, listen to an informative commentary about the people, history, and development of this Australian land. Also, the cruise offers unlimited self-service tea, coffee, glass of sparkling wines so that you can quadruple the joy of cruising.

Hop on hop off boat tours

Explore the sublime Sydney on a hop on and hop off (HOHO) ferry that travels through nine top destinations including Darling Harbor, Watsons Bay, Manly and Circular Quay, and others. With the opportunity to have several halts, you can enjoy discovering every nook of the city at your own pace. To enjoy the Hop on Hop off boat tours without hurting your pockets, purchase a boat pass ticket with a validity of two days.

Tall ship cruises

Aboard a traditional square-rigged tall ship built in the 1920s and enjoy the marvelous views of the city's greatest landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison, and Taronga Zoo. With a variety of commendable services, mouth-watering meals, drinks, BBQs you can choose the time and pricing that suits you. Also, a twilight dinner on one of Sydney’s tall ships is sure to be the most romantic date of your life.

Whale & dolphins watching cruises

Cruise over the ocean waters of the Sydney and experience a close encounter with humpback and southern right whales and dolphins. These boat tours are suitable from May to November when the giant creature migrates between Antarctica and Great Barrier Reef.It is a once in a lifetime experience to spot these gigantic mammals playing in their natural environment.

Blue Mountains river cruises

Explore the Blue Mountains on a full-day trip featuring UNESCO's World Heritage-listed landmarks like Three Sisters, Leura, and Jamison Valley. Take some signature selfies with the adorable koalas, kangaroos, and wombats as you make a stop to visit Featherdale Wildlife Park. On the way back, cruise through the Parramatta River, under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and witness the spectacular sunset which will take your breath away.

Jet boat tours

Experience the Sydney Harbor with scream, smiles, splashes, and thrill in the electrifying jet boat tours. You can hop on 'Thunder', a jet boat and get the incomparable adrenaline rush the boat slides and twists. A true adventure kicks in as you bravely ride the majestic waves and race around the harbour at the breakneck speed of a whooping 100 kmph.

Sunset and cocktail cruises

Soak up the calmness of the sunset over the Sydney Harbor accompanied by sparkling wine and delicious snacks.You can even experience the day's last ray of light in pure elegance on a private deluxe sunset cruise which is an absolute sight to behold. You will also get a perfect picture of the town when the sea is painted in the color of dusk. Enjoy one of your evenings in Sydney with a lovely setup of nature as you sway to the tune of the soothing music and keep sipping refreshing cool drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Dinner cruises

What more can you ask for a night out than a premium dining experience over the water as you marvel at the glittering skyline of Sydney under the twinkling star sky? With Dinner cruises in Sydney, you can ride on the finest sightseeing vessels and indulge your taste buds with super delicious Australian or Latin cuisines and mouthwatering seafood. Relish the world-class dinner with your loved ones and celebrate the perfect evening in a typical Australian way.

How much should I budget for a boat tour in Sydney?

The boating tours in the Emerald City of Australia have quite a flexible price range. It might vary from $30 (short sightseeing cruises) to $100 (dinner cruises, combo packages). The maximum priced cruises will give world-class experience with the lavish services to ensure utmost luxe and convenience. However, the cheaper cruises are also on point when it comes to serving the fine meals, excellent services, and fun time so you can create marvelous memories.

How long does a boat tour take?

To not hamper your vacation plans while you are dipping yourself into the ocean of joyous boat tours in Sydney, you can opt between different durations of the boating tours. It can be a minimum of an hour or, if you have a free schedule you can choose to spend a full day on the waters.

Where do boat tours in Sydney depart from?

Most of the boat tours in Sydney depart from the famous Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. However, in order to increase the convenience of the passengers various tours also provide the option of hotel-pickups.

When is the best time to experience a boat tour in Sydney?

The best time to experience a boat tour in Sydney is in October, November, late February and March. The weather during these months is sunny with very minimum chance of storms and high tides. Also you will be avoiding the mid-summer and also the school holiday crowds in the cruises and boats.

Travel Tips

With these travel tips, you can make your trip to Harbour City much more memorable and convenient.

Do not forget to carry sunscreen because even in the winter the notorious Aussie sun may tan you very bad.
It’s recommended that you make a call to the tour service one day prior to re-confirm your schedule.
Check the weather forecast because the city can any time give you a taste of its wild weather.

Boat Tours and Cruises in Sydney