Harbour Experience

Contact us for travel from 01 July 2021

Sydney is a modern, thriving metropolis that is also steeped in culture, historical monuments, hidden coves and a rich colonial past. The adage ‘people make a place’ is also more relevant in Sydney than anywhere else in the country. Our unique Harbour Experience cruise helps to bring to life the unique stories of Sydney through smart mobile commentary of the people, places and the events that have made Sydney harbour the most beautiful and exciting natural harbour in the world. On this cruise, you can listen to the stories of Sydney while cradling a glass of sparkling or your favourite wine. Sydney’s best sightseeing cruise draws from over 50 years of experience and is the culmination of it’s predecessors, the Coffee Cruise and Harbour Story Cruises. 

There are some cities in the world where you just can't self-guide no matter how good a tourist you think you are! 

That’s why we’ve created the Harbour Experience cruise and if you only have a limited time in Sydney during your next visit, we have the perfect storytelling experience that will help you and your travelling companions slowly unpeel the layers that make this city so special.

From its historical and colonial past, to it’s modern thriving present as a financial and international hub, our Harbour Experience redefines the way you should sightsee on Sydney Harbour.

This cruise draws from its predecessors, the Coffee Cruise and the Harbour Story Cruise, both known to be Sydney’s best sightseeing tours. After collecting you and other guests from Darling Harbour from the minute you step on board, you will be listening to live commentary about some of Sydney’s most amazing characters. 

Get comfortable and settle in with a glass of sparkling wine or a cappucino from the onboard purchase bar and let your imagination run wild against the warm hues of an endless Sydney vista.

Our sightseeing cruise route will take you all the way to Bradley’s Head and each of our cruises guarantee sightings and commentary on the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Garden Island Naval base, Taronga Zoo, Government House, Fort Denison and much more.

Sydney is a buffet of rich experiences and stories. It’s distinctive CBD skyline and palatial Eastern Suburbs mansions help give context to a city constantly evolving and reinventing itself. Which is why only a local company - and a harbour cruise just like this - can help to tell it’s story.

 

Car Parking 

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Children Under 18 Years

  • Please note children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult on all licensed cruises.

Terms & Conditions 

  • Special payment and cancellation conditions apply to all special offers and special events. View our terms and conditions

Inclusions

  • Sydney's best sightseeing cruise
  • Approx. 1½ hours of relaxed cruising
  • 5 departures from 10:00am to 5:00pm
  • Commentary
  • Spacious outdoor and indoor areas with expansive viewing windows
  • Onboard purchase bar
  • Darling Harbour King Street Wharf

Need to know

Timetable

Please note special timetables operate on selected dates

Departs Darling Harbour King St Wharf 1 Circular Quay Wharf 6 
01Jul21 to 31Mar22: Wed-Sun
Check availability for additional departures		 Depart  10:00am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm
Disembark 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm		 n/a

Ferry Timetable  View timetables, check your date for special events and changes to the normal cruise program

Car Parking Specials   Remember to check your date for NSW road closures

Find Us

 

Other Options

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Hop On Hop Off

Don’t be fooled, Sydney is a big place to explore over just one weekend and while its world class natural harbour is part of the enduring charm, it is also one of the reasons that makes sightseeing in by normal public transport so challenging. But with Captain Cook Cruises you can do what the locals do and travel on the harbour highway with our famous Hop On Hop Off Sydney Harbour Explorer ferry pass conveniently allowing you to explore Sydney’s best bits - Circular Quay (The Rocks & Opera House), Taronga Zoo, Shark Island, Watsons Bay and Manly - all with the convenience of live commentary from a friendly local throughout your journey. 

 

Sydney Harbour Explorer 2 Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

2-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

  • 2 consecutive calendar days
  • Prices
    - Retail  $55 | Child $29
    - Special $50 | Child $28
    - With a Discover Voucher  $30

Sydney Harbour Explorer 1 Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

1-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

  • 1 calendar day
  • Prices
    - Retail $42 | Child $25
    - Special $35 | Child $20
    -     With a Discover Voucher $17

Big Bus Sydney Pass

2- Day Hop On Hop Off + Taronga Zoo

  • Hop On Hop Off 2-Day Pass
  • Entry to Taronga Zoo
  • Sky Safari Cable Car*
  • Prices
    - Retail $89 | Child $55
    - Special $69 | Child $55
    - With a Discover Voucher $65

Sydney Harbour Explorer 2 Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

1-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass + Taronga Zoo

  • Hop On Hop Off 1-Day Pass
  • Entry to Taronga Zoo
  • Sky Safari Cable Car*
  • Price
    - Retail $79 | Child $49
    - Special $65 | Child $49
    - With a Discover Voucher $54
More Info
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Rocket Sightseeing

Jump on the Hop On Hop Off Harbour Explorer for a single loop of Sydney Harbour on a rocket sightseeing tour. See all the famous landmarks as you travel between Circular Quay and Manly, stopping briefly at various locations around the Harbour. The cruise takes approximately 80 minutes and departs regularly throughout the day from Circular Quay between 9:30am and 3:00pm.

More Info
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Whale Watching

Whale Watching commences 22 May 2021

Sydney’s spectacular sandstone coastline is also a humpback whale highway and if you plan to visit Sydney Harbour between May and October, it’s a veritable playground for whales of all kinds including humpbacks, orcas, southern right whales and minke. Whale watching with Captain Cook Cruises also offers full commentary as well as our unique whale watching guarantee, which means if you don’t see a whale, you cruise again with us for FREE!

Pre-season sale now on!

 

10:00am Whale Watching

  • 10:00am-1:00pm
  • Prices 
    - Retail $99 | Child 4-15 $55
    - Special from $59
    - Double savings with a Discover Voucher only $49

1:15pm Whale Watching

  • 1:15pm-4:15pm
  • Prices 
    - Retail $99 | Child 4-15 $55
    - Special from $59
    - Doube savings with a Discover Voucher only $49

Sydney Harbour Whale Watching Explorer

10:00am Whale Watching Explorer

  • 10:00am Whale Watching tour plus 2-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass commencing on day of your Whale Watching tour
  • Prices 
    - Retail $109 | Child 4-15 $65
    - Special from $99
    - Double savings with a Discover Voucher only $59

 

More Info
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Attractions

Pre-purchase your entry to any of Sydney's attractions and beat the queue when you arrive. Visit Sydney's famous harbourside attractions including Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Madam Tussauds, Sydney Tower, Taronga Zoo or explore the city & surrounds with Big Bus. For a flexible harbour sightseeing option, select a 1 or 2-day ferry pass allowing you to hop on and off at famous harbourside attractions including Circular Quay, Manly, Watsons Bay, Shark Island and Taronga Zoo.

Sydney Hop On Hop Off 1-Day Pass

1-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

  • Hop on and off at up to 5 famous stops
  • Flexible harbour sightseeing
  • Captains Special
    - Adult $35 | Child 4-15 $20
    - Normally Adult $42 | Child $25

Sydney Hop On Hop Off 2-Day Pass

2-Day Hop On Hop Off Pass

  • Hop on & off at up to 5 famous stops
  • Valid 2 consecutive calendar days
  • Captains Special
    - Adult $50 | Child 4-15 $28
    - Normally Adult $55 | Child $29

Taronga Zoo

  • Entry to Sydney's famous zoo
  • Valid on 1 single day
  • Adult $49 | Child 4-15 $29
  • Combine your zoo entry with a return ferry
    - Zoo Express from $59
    - Hop On Hop Off + Zoo from $65
  • Please note tickets are not available at Taronga Zoo entry. All tickets must be prepurchased. 

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

  • Due to Covid-19, currently only available direct through attraction

Madame Tussauds 

  • Due to Covid-19, currently only available direct through attraction

Sydney Tower Eye

  • Due to Covid-19, currently only available direct through attraction

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

  • Due to Covid-19, currently only available direct through attraction

 

More Info

Sydney Hop On Hop Off

Visit five famous harbour precincts over one or two days. Great value from only AU$39pp

Seniors Festival Cruises

Discover Sydney Harbour and save during Seniors Festival 13-24 April with cruises from $65pp

Gold Dinner

Degustation dining and first class service with Gold Penfolds upgrade option. Luxury awaits.

Seniors Festival Sydney

Celebrate Seniors Festival with savings of up to 35% for NSW Seniors, 13-24 April

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CHRISTMAS CHARTER - A lovely trip and the meal served was delightful. There were many happy faces. Anonymous Read more reviews