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2.5 hour Ocean Whale Watching Experience
Highlights
- Embark on a 2.5-hour journey from Crown Towers Wharf, witnessing the majestic humpback whale migration.
- Experience personalised service with a maximum of 30 passengers, ensuring an intimate connection with nature.
- Discover Sydney's iconic landmarks as you cruise through the harbour, enriched by knowledgeable staff insights.
- Enjoy a family-friendly outing that welcomes pets, making it a perfect adventure for everyone.
Journey with Whale Tales Whale Watching and create lifelong memories alongside the biggest and most majestic creatures in the ocean.
Their custom-built Whale Watching vessel departs daily from Crown Towers Wharf Barangaroo (directly out the front of Crown Tower Sydney) and journeys past Sydney’s iconic landmarks before heading out of the harbour to experience the annual humpback whale migration.
With a maximum of 30 passengers, they offer a personal experience and their knowledgeable staff will provide you with facts about the harbour and its whaling history.
Itinerary highlights
Humpback Whales
Whale Tales is a custom built whale watching boat that allows you to get up close and personal with the whales!
Unlike other boats ours has purpose built viewing along both sides, allowing for you to be at water level and within arms reach of the water. Her engine power gets us out through the heads to the action and back home in under 3 hours.
Unlike other boats that resemble ferries and take 100’s of passengers, we only take small groups, this enables us to provide a unique and personal experience.
We cruise past the Sydney Opera House and iconic harbour bridge before heading out into the open ocean to watch the worlds most majestic animals on their annual migration. Humpack whales are the most acrobatic of the whale species often jumping right out of the water!
Tour details
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Available from 22 May 2026 to 8 November 2026
Features
Service facilities
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on their website (can be emailed on request).
- Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
- Assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Staff are trained in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges.
- Uses Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
Vision
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- Information in audio format (includes an audio described map of their venue, audio descs of performances and/ or displays) is available.
- Uses easy to read fonts in their signage and communication materials (Helvetica and Arial).
- Staff are trained in customer service for people with vision loss (training would incorporate way finding and communicating with people with vision loss).
Hearing
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Staff are trained in communicating with people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
Physical – Mobility
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
- Uses floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth
- Uses non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
- Grab rails in the bathroom
- Seating in common areas including reception area
Physical – High support needs
Caters for people with high support needs who travel with a support person.
Operation information
Whale Tales Whale Watching
Journey with Whale Tales Whale Watching and create lifelong memories alongside the biggest and most majestic creatures in the ocean.
Their custom-built Whale Watching vessels departs daily from King Street Wharf #7 at Darling Harbour and cruise past Sydney’s iconic landmarks before heading out of the harbour to experience the annual humpback whale migration.
With a maximum of 34 passengers, they offer a truly exceptional ecotourism experience. Their crew of marine experts excel at providing informative commentary and intimate encounters with the whales. With an onboard photographer, you will receive high quality images of the whales on your trip emailed to you in the evening at no additional cost.
This family-friendly activity offers a whale sighting guarantee on all trips.
With 5-star ratings on Google and Trip Advisor, and a 2025 Tourism Star Award they are a family business passionate about meeting the highest ecotourism standards.
Accreditations
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EcoStar Accreditation
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Quality Tourism Accreditation
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Sustainable Tourism Accreditation by ATIC
Memberships
- Boating Industry Association
- National Trust
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