Explore recent whale sightings in Sydney Harbour with Captain Cook Cruises. View expert reports, sighting rates, and seasonal highlights during the annual humpback migration. Plan your whale watching cruise with confidence.
Date | It's going to be bigger and better than ever! |
| 31 July | The whales put on a fantastic show this morning! Guests followed two humpbacks along Sydney's coastline, watching as they surfaced with powerful blows and displayed their arched backs. The highlight was an incredible tail throw, creating an unforgettable moment for everyone on board. With an albatross soaring overhead and plenty of action on the water, it was another exciting morning of whale watching in Sydney! |
| 28 July | What an exhilarating morning on the water! Guests witnessed an action-packed heat run involving six powerful humpback whales racing along Sydney’s coastline. The excitement continued with more than 50 playful dolphins joining the spectacle; an incredible sight! The whales treated everyone to powerful blows, arched backs, tail-up dives and energetic chin slaps, while an albatross soared overhead. With calm seas and beautiful visibility, it was a truly unforgettable wildlife adventure! |
| 26 July | What a spectacular morning on the water! Guests encountered five magnificent humpback whales across three pods, with one putting on an unforgettable show by launching into an impressive breach. Powerful blows added to the excitement as the whales travelled along Sydney’s coastline. With calm seas, light winds and albatross soaring overhead, conditions were perfect for an action-packed adventure and another wonderful day of whale watching! |
| 25 July | What an action-packed day on the water! Our morning guests witnessed an incredible humpback breach close to the boat, while the afternoon cruise delivered non-stop excitement with six to eight whales, including an adorable mother and calf. The tiny calf cruised right past us and joined the adults in a spectacular display of breaches, pectoral slaps, and tail slaps. Albatross were also spotted soaring above. An unforgettable day of whale watching in Sydney! |
| 23 July | Six humpbacks kept the morning moving, with two pods remaining active throughout the cruise. Guests saw repeated breaches, pectoral slaps, chin slaps and peduncle throws, along with strong tail dives and plenty of surface activity. Five dolphins were also recorded, but the humpbacks remained the clear focus from beginning to end. |
| 21 July | The afternoon delivered a strong run of whale activity, with eight humpbacks spread across three pods. Guests saw multiple breaches and chin slaps, creating plenty of sudden action on the surface rather than long quiet stretches. Albatross were also spotted circling overhead, adding another layer to an already lively afternoon offshore. |
| 19 July | Across the morning and afternoon cruises, guests encountered several active humpback pods, with repeated breaches, pectoral slaps and peduncle throws. Albatross and petrels were also spotted overhead, while Benny the seal made an appearance during the day. With plenty of movement both on and above the water, there was no shortage of wildlife to watch. |
| 17 July | A lively day unfolded off Sydney, with humpbacks keeping guests guessing as they surfaced in different directions throughout both cruises. The morning included repeated breaches and the bonus of around 10 dolphins, while the afternoon brought more whale activity alongside soaring albatross. Despite changing ocean conditions, there was always something to watch, creating an exciting day filled with surprise appearances and memorable wildlife encounters. |
| 13 July | It was an action-packed day on the water, with around 20 humpback whales putting on a fantastic show! Guests were treated to spectacular breaches, playful pectoral slaps and powerful peduncle throws, while curious whales surfaced close to the vessel for unforgettable views. Gannets swooped overhead, adding to the excitement, making it another incredible winter's day enjoying Sydney's famous whale migration. |
| 11 July | The humpbacks were in fine form today, putting on a fantastic display across both cruises. Around 20 whales were spotted throughout the day, with exciting breaches, tail throws and close encounters keeping everyone watching the horizon. Albatross and a curious seal also made an appearance, adding to another memorable day on Sydney's spectacular coastline. |
| 9 July | Despite last week’s terrible weather, whale watching bounced back with an exciting day on Sydney Harbour. Across the morning and afternoon cruises, guests spotted 12 humpback whales, including a spectacular close breach, plenty of blows and arched backs beneath a rainbow. The afternoon brought calmer encounters, with whales surfacing near the vessel. Dolphins, albatross and gannets also appeared, adding even more variety to a memorable day on the water. |
| 4 July | It was a lively day off Sydney’s coastline, with humpbacks keeping guests entertained across both cruises. The morning brought blows, tail flukes, tail-up dives and dolphins, while the afternoon added even more action with arched backs, tail slaps, pectoral slaps and distant breaches. Guests also spotted 50+ common dolphins and albatross along the way, making it a fun-filled winter day on the water with plenty to watch from start to finish. |
| 2 July | It was all eyes on the water today as our whale-watching guests enjoyed a lively day off Sydney's coastline. Whales were sighted in two pods, showing off with classic surface activity, including blows, arched backs, and tail-up dives. The excitement continued with around 20 dolphins joining the action, while albatross and gannets soared overhead. With plenty of movement across the water and wildlife in every direction, it was another memorable day of whale watching on Sydney Harbour. |
| 30 June | What a brilliant morning on the water! Guests were treated to an action-packed whale-watching cruise, with 8+ humpbacks sighted across multiple pods. The highlight was a spectacular double breach, followed by tail slaps and plenty of surface activity, keeping everyone watching closely. We were also joined by 50+ dolphins, plus a seal and albatross, making it a lively and memorable day offshore. |
| 28 June | It was smiles all around as humpback whales stole the show across both cruises today! Guests were treated to fantastic sightings, playful whale behaviour and plenty of close encounters as 13 humpbacks made their way past Sydney’s spectacular coastline. Every sighting had cameras clicking and everyone eagerly scanning the horizon for the next blow. It was another fun-filled day on the water and a brilliant reminder of why whale watching season is one of Sydney’s favourite winter experiences. |
| 26 June | The best was saved for last! As the cruise drew to a close, the humpbacks turned up the excitement with energetic surface activity, giving guests a thrilling finale. Eight whales were spotted throughout the morning, with playful chin slaps and plenty of action keeping everyone watching until the very end. Against the backdrop of Sydney’s stunning coastline and soaring albatrosses, it was the perfect finish to another unforgettable whale watching adventure. |
| 24 June | It was a morning full of surprises as six humpback whales popped up throughout the cruise, keeping guests scanning the horizon for the next sighting. Just when everyone thought the show had settled down, a couple of spectacular breaches stole the spotlight! Add wandering albatrosses gliding overhead, and it made for a beautiful morning on Sydney’s sparkling coastline. |
| 22 June | Not every whale encounter is about big splashes; sometimes the quieter moments are just as breathtaking. This morning, guests watched as humpback whales cruised gracefully alongside the vessel, including one unforgettable roll that revealed its striking white ventral pleats beneath the surface. With 10 whales spotted throughout the cruise and albatrosses gliding overhead, it was a beautiful reminder that every whale watching adventure offers something completely different. |
| 21 June | The whales were putting on a show all day long, with more than 20 humpback sightings across our morning and afternoon cruises! Guests were treated to plenty of surface activity, including tail slaps, breaches and impressive peduncle throws, while pods surfaced regularly around the vessel. The afternoon brought an extra surprise with over 50 dolphins joining the action, creating an unforgettable wildlife spectacle. With calm seas, fantastic visibility and whales in every direction, it was a day packed with excitement from start to finish. |
| 19 June | The humpback highway was busy this morning, with whales appearing in every direction as they continued their annual migration north. Guests enjoyed repeated sightings of active whales, including impressive breaches and tail throws that sent sprays of water high into the air. With albatrosses soaring above and plenty of whale activity below, there was never a quiet moment onboard. |
| 15 June | The whales were out in force this morning, with 10 humpbacks making for an exciting day on the water! Guests were thrilled as several whales cruised close to the vessel, giving everyone fantastic views of these gentle giants. While the whales were enjoying a more relaxed morning, there was never a dull moment with sightings across multiple pods and albatrosses soaring overhead. With plenty of whales to admire and beautiful ocean conditions, it was another unforgettable adventure along Sydney’s stunning coastline. |
| 14 June | What a spectacular afternoon on the water! More than 10 humpback whales delighted guests with an exciting display of blows, tail dives, pectoral slaps and peduncle throws. Several close encounters left everyone in awe, while calm seas and excellent visibility created perfect viewing conditions. A magical whale-watching experience and a memorable afternoon with these magnificent giants of the sea. |
| 11 June | A fantastic morning on the water saw eight humpback whales delight guests with playful tail throws and several spectacular breaches. With albatrosses gliding overhead and whales surfacing across multiple pods, there was plenty of action to keep everyone captivated. Under clear skies and excellent viewing conditions, it was a memorable whale watching experience filled with excitement and unforgettable moments. |
| 8 June | The ocean was alive with activity as more than 10 humpback whales delighted guests throughout the morning. Spectacular breaches and frequent sightings kept excitement levels high, with whales appearing wherever we looked. Calm seas and clear visibility made for an unforgettable day on the water and a wonderful glimpse into the magic of the humpback migration. |
| 6 June | Saturday delivered a memorable whale-watching adventure, with humpbacks offering several close encounters throughout the day. Guests were thrilled as a whale surfaced just metres from the vessel, while energetic tail throws and powerful peduncle displays kept the excitement going. A playful pod of common dolphins added the perfect finishing touch to a day filled with unforgettable wildlife moments. |
| 3 June | Nine humpback whales put on a fantastic show this morning, but the highlight was being surrounded by more than 100 playful dolphins. Tail slaps, blows and constant surface activity kept guests captivated as the ocean came alive around them. An unforgettable wildlife encounter and a truly magical morning on Sydney’s spectacular coastline. |
| 2 June | We were thrilled to welcome Channel 7 aboard for an unforgettable start to the whale watching season. Just minutes after leaving Sydney Harbour, guests witnessed spectacular humpback breaches that had everyone rushing to the rails. Two energetic males kept the excitement going with powerful blows, tail flukes and chin slaps, delivering a fantastic display in perfect viewing conditions. With fantastic viewing conditions and incredible whale behaviour throughout the cruise, it was a morning packed with excitement, unforgettable memories and plenty of camera-worthy moments. https://www.captaincook.com.au/explore-sydney-sightseeing/whale-watching-sydney/ |
| 31 May | Excitement filled the air as four humpback whales put on a spectacular show. From dramatic breaches to powerful tail dives and playful pectoral slaps, the action kept guests captivated throughout the cruise. Albatrosses soaring overhead added to the magic, making for an unforgettable day of wildlife encounters and memorable moments on the water. |
| 28 May | Don’t we all love wildlife? Our guests felt truly privileged witnessing majestic humpback whales performing chin slaps and breathtaking breaches on Sydney Harbour. Joined by playful dolphins and graceful albatross soaring above, it was a blissful reminder of the beauty and magic of ocean life. |
| 16 May | Despite the gloomy start to the season, our guests were treated to unforgettable wildlife moments on Sydney Harbour as majestic whales breached through the water. Adding to the magic, a playful seal was spotted relaxing near the iconic Sydney Opera House; proof that even on cloudy days, Sydney Harbour is full of wonder. |
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