Australia · HARBOUR CRUISES

The 15 Best Sydney Harbour Cruises

54 tours  ·  from $23

The harbour is the reason the city looks the way it does, and the cheapest boat covers most of it. These 15 run from a one-hour sightseeing loop to a sit-down dinner sailing, priced and clear about what the food is like.

Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour - The Sydney Harbour route in early evening
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Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour

1.Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,122 reviews · from $89Our pick

Board Captain Cook Cruises’ Sydney 2000 at King Street Wharf for an early-evening cruise past the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. You’ll enjoy a three-course à la carte dinner, with a four-course premium upgrade, optional confirmed window seating, and live music on weekends.

“Dinner was average at best. Fish was dry. The waitress did not come back to check how it was. I had to get her attention to ask for butter and told her the fish was terribly dry. She brought cold butter, but no other resolution was offered.”

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30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride on Thunder Twist - Taronga Zoo and Rose Bay from the water
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30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride on Thunder Twist

2.30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride on Thunder Twist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 841 reviews · from $60Top rated

Meet your captain at Jetty 1, Circular Quay, for a 30-minute Thunder Jet Boat ride reaching up to 75 km/h. Expect 270-degree spins, fishtails, wave riding, music, and views of the Opera House, Luna Park, Rose Bay, and Taronga Zoo. Ponchos, life jackets, and secure lockers are provided.

“Amazingly fun, great little attraction, yes you get a bit wet but don’t let that stop you as super fun.”

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Sydney: Guided Daytime Summit Climb of Sydney Harbour Bridge - The slow climb along the upper arch
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Sydney: Guided Daytime Summit Climb of Sydney Harbour Bridge

3.Guided Daytime Summit Climb of Sydney Harbour Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 817 reviews · 3 hours · from $257

Spend three hours climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge with a Climb Leader and up to 13 others. You move slowly along the upper arch, stopping for city stories and views of the Opera House, Darling Harbour, and skyline. The climb includes safety gear, a cap, and a printed group photo.

“I heard about this and decided I needed to do it. I was solo but that didn’t stop me. Our guide, Cooper, was great! It’s a very slow climb with several stops on the way with a few drinking fountains (bubblers). It was rainy day but that was just fine vs. doing it in the heat. The views were spectacular! If you are on the fence about doing it, DO IT!”

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Sydney: Harbour Cruise with Buffet Lunch - Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, and the changing shoreline
Buffet Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Harbour Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Sydney Tours, Tour Reviews

Sydney: Harbour Cruise with Buffet Lunch

4.Harbour Cruise with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 804 reviews · 2h 15m · from $53

Board Sydney Princess Cruises at Circular Quay for a 135-minute lunch cruise with English commentary from guides such as Ron and Ellen. Enjoy a 13-choice buffet, tea, coffee, and views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, and waterfront neighborhoods.

“Guide was very knowledgeable and informative. Boat was clean, food was excellent! Would recommend!”

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Sydney Harbour Starlight Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour - Sydney Harbour Bridge from the water
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Sydney Harbour Starlight Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour

5.Sydney Harbour Starlight Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 774 reviews · from $111

Spend about two hours aboard Captain Cook Cruises, watching the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge light up while you enjoy a four-course dinner. You depart from King Street Wharf at 7 pm, with possible Circular Quay boarding, upper-deck access, optional window seating, and weekend live music.

“Food was really bad. We had different dishes each one was really bad. Entertainment was ok and of course so were the views.”

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Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise from Circular Quay - Circular Quay to the Opera House and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
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Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise from Circular Quay

6.Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise from Circular Quay

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 727 reviews · 1 day · from $23Best value

Cruise Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay Wharf 6 on a one-hour narrated trip past the Opera House, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo and Harbour Bridge. English commentary, indoor and outdoor seating, wheelchair access, and an onboard bar make this a simple way to get your bearings.

“Great narration from our guide, as she was informative and pointed out all the major sites along the harbour. Good value for the money. Cruise is only an hour so not too terribly time consuming but covers a good bit of ground.”

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Taronga Zoo Entry & Return Ferry - Sydney Harbour - Circular Quay Wharf 6 and the first practical steps
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Taronga Zoo Entry & Return Ferry – Sydney Harbour

7.Taronga Zoo Entry & Return Ferry – Sydney Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 722 reviews · from $56

Take a Captain Cook Cruises ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 6 to Taronga Zoo, then explore more than 2,900 animals at your own pace. You’ll see koalas, kangaroos, seals, giraffes, and native Australian species, with keeper talks, shows, picnic areas, and fine harbour views along the way.

“The Zoo is very well laid out and maintained for a great time for people of all ages. The people that handled the animals were very helpful and provided some great information”

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Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise Morning or Afternoon Departure - Sydney Opera House from the water
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Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise Morning or Afternoon Departure

8.Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise Morning or Afternoon Departure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 704 reviews · from $39

Cruise Sydney Harbour for 90 minutes with live commentary, close views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Royal Botanic Gardens, beaches, and sandstone cliffs. Choose a morning, afternoon, or sunset departure. Guide Ron is often on board, and tea or coffee is included.

“It was an informative cruise of Sydney Harbour and explained a lot of the history of Sydney. The one and a half hour tour went by too quickly.”

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Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight - Turning into Sydney Harbour
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Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight

9.Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 649 reviews · from $179

Fly from Sydney Airport with Sydney HeliTours on a 20-minute shared helicopter ride over Botany Bay, Bondi, the eastern beaches and Sydney Harbour. Expect a safety briefing, headset commentary and up to six passengers. Hotel pickup from select city hotels and a return shuttle to Circular Quay are available.

“Really good experience, however I don’t think the back middle seat should be used. Being in the middle with restricted views really detracts from the experience. When you’re spending $250 per person, you want your monies worth.”

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Port Arthur Full-day Guided Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park - Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, and the first coastal views
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Port Arthur Full-day Guided Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park

10.Port Arthur Full-day Guided Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 585 reviews · from $121

Travel from Hobart to Richmond, the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur with a driver-guide such as Colin, Vic, Mark or Rod. Explore the convict site, join a 30-minute harbour cruise, see Tasman Arch and Remarkable Cave, and return via a chocolate stop.

“Very comfortable coach. Very thoughtful and kind driver, Vic. We saw some beautiful sights. The only improvement would have been more time in Port Arthur penitentiary.”

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Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart - The north route, gardens, Government House, and the Tasman Bridge
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Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart

11.Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 570 reviews · from $25

From Murray Street Pier, cruise north beneath the Tasman Bridge or south past Battery Point and Sandy Bay. Expect live commentary, a relaxed vintage-boat ride, and optional lunch or dinner cruises. The one-hour harbor trip is the simplest choice, while dinner requires at least eight passengers.

“Great little morning one hour cruise. Not too busy. Plenty of space. Very comfortable and the weather was perfect. Very affordable.”

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Sydney Harbour Discovery Cruise Including Lunch - Under the Harbour Bridge
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Sydney Harbour Discovery Cruise Including Lunch

12.Sydney Harbour Discovery Cruise Including Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 511 reviews · from $53

Cruise Sydney Harbour for 2 hours 15 minutes with Sydney Princess Cruises. Expect close views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, quieter beaches and sandstone cliffs, a buffet lunch with dessert, tea and coffee, and live commentary from guides such as Ron or Bruce.

“What a great way to spend your first day in a new country! We arrived in Sydney, Australia at 8:30 AM -- flying three flights from Boston -- and we were pretty worn out. Knowing that we could drop our luggage at our hotel then go on the Viator Sydney harbor cruise with lunch was a great plan. it was a buffet lunch, with lots of options, a cash bar, and the ability to walk around on the top deck and take amazing photos of all the sights. In addition to listening to the great tour guide letting us know relevant information about what we were passing by, we got…”

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Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise - Dinner on the water, with a few practical trade-offs
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Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise

13.Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 451 reviews · from $63

Meet at Campbells Cove in The Rocks for a twilight sail aboard a restored historic tall ship. You’ll hear stories about Sydney and the vessel, enjoy an included dinner, and pass the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, and more. Ruth and Howard are among the hosts praised for their warm commentary.

“This is a friendly, relaxing and informative experience that takes you into the heart of Sydney and its beautiful harbour. The Captain, host and young crew were a delight, welcoming, and knowledgeable of the history of the harbour and tall ships. The meal was terrific and feel of the boat unforgettable. Accompanied by my adult daughter we had the best time together, catching up, feeling the breeze off the water and in the sails that brought us back to the dock. Thanks!”

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30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Thrill Ride - Circular Quay, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge
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30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Thrill Ride

14.30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Thrill Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 416 reviews · from $51

Meet Oz Jet Boating at Circular Quay for a 30-minute ride reaching 75 km/h. Your captain combines harbour facts with 270-degree spins, power slides, and close views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo, and more. Ponchos and lockers are provided, but expect to get soaked.

“This was a cool way to see Sydney Harbor! Our driver was laidback and fun. The boat was comfortable and I felt safe the whole time.”

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Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise - Meeting the ship at Campbell’s Cove
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Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise

15.Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 412 reviews · 1h 30m · from $48

Spend 90 minutes aboard an 1850s-style wooden tall ship with an English-speaking crew. Help haul ropes, adjust sails, or try the helm as you pass the Opera House, Fort Denison, and Harbour Bridge. Ruth, Jim, and Captain James are among the crew members praised for warm, lively commentary.

“Great fun for all the family we will definitely be back”

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