What to do and see in Darling Harbour, New South Wales: The Best Boat Tours & Water Sports

September 27, 2021 Layne Dawes

Sydney offers plenty of historical and contemporary Australian flavor. The marvelous Sydney Opera House looks like a great origami sailboat, floating peacefully in a harbor. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets of The Rocks and then take in a street performance on the Circular Quay before heading into the Museum of Contemporary Art. The views from the Sydney Tower Eye observatory are epic – use this chance to get to know the layout of the city from high above.
Restaurants in Sydney

1. Sydney Wildlife Tours - Day Tours

Excellent
93%
Good
7%
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5.0 based on 99 reviews

Sydney Wildlife Tours - Day Tours

G'day mate! My name is John Oliver and I am the tour guide for Sydney Wildlife Tours and I am here to tell you about our unique family business. We are the small-group Wildlife Tour specialists and we offer you a choice of amazing and affordable tours. Our motto is "taking you to places nobody else goes" and we pride ourselves on visiting places most visitors to Sydney and Australia have never heard of and would otherwise have never had the chance to see. Many visitors are only aware of, and visit, such a small percentage of what this incredible coastline has to offer, and are often restricted to where other Tour companies take them. This is why we created Sydney Wildlife Tours - to show people that there is so much more to Sydney and New South Wales than just the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi Beach, Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley. We take no more than 10 people on a tour to ensure a quality and personalized experience at all times. On a tour with Sydney Wildlife Tours you will see and experience some truly amazing things. We have Tours to suit people of all ages, tastes and fitness levels. Some of the experiences you can choose from on our tours include; Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruises, Hiking through National Parks, hanging out with Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Wallabies and native Australian Birds, along with an amazing Wine Tour. We offer a choice of one day and two day Tours and our Tours include everything - hotel pick-ups, delicious meals, snacks, refreshments, accommodation (on two day tours) and entry fees to all attractions. When you go on a trip with Sydney Wildlife Tours there are no added costs, and we pride ourselves on offering unbeatable value for money. We also provide private and highly customized Tours for the ultimate in exclusivity. Read our customer reviews here on TripAdvisor then browse through our website to see what we have to offer and come with us on a unique Australian experience you will never forget.

2. Ucruise Sydney

Excellent
94%
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3%
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2%
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5.0 based on 105 reviews

Ucruise Sydney

Ucruise Sydney is an exceptional cruise operator specialising in private boat hire on Sydney Harbour. We have a large range of the best boats available to hire; whether you're looking for a small vessel perfect for families, a medium sized vessel for social gatherings and parties, or a large luxury option fit for those special occasions or corporate functions, we have great options for all. Search for your ideal boat and compare easily to find the best option. Then let us take care of the rest. Get in touch with us!

3. One Ocean Sailing

Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

One Ocean Sailing

Join us on board One Ocean, for a harbour cruise to remember! Book a 3 or 4hr sail for your next event or get together. We will pick up and drop off from any wharf in Sydney, then meander through the spectacular city sites - under the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House, impressive Garden Island Navy ships, Fort Denison island and more. Then we'll head over to a protected beach for a swim and a BBQ. BYO any food and drinks you'd like to consume. On the way back, we'll explore more of the harbour and drop you off and your chosen wharf.

4. Sydney Speed Boat Adventures

Excellent
98%
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5.0 based on 102 reviews

Sydney Speed Boat Adventures

All Aboard for Adventure in Sydney Harbour! Cast off on a harbour trip like no other! With YOU at the helm of one of our snazzy little red speedboats, you get right up close to those breath-taking icons – the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. And that’s just for starters. Sydney Harbour is chock full of history, unique places and fascinating landscapes. No Experience or License Required.

5. Whale Watching Sydney

Excellent
68%
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19%
Satisfactory
5%
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2%
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6%
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4.5 based on 601 reviews

Whale Watching Sydney

Whale watching Sydney offers daily cruises from Darling Harbour and Circular Quay to watch Humpback whales. Whale watching Sydney (Bass & Flinders Cruises), have been operating since 1979 and whale watching since 1991. Award winning Australian certified eco-tours. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. Also, see other marine wildlife such as dolphins, albatross, seals and the beautiful coastline of Sydney. Check website for rates & specials.

6. Explore Sailing - America's Cup Sailing Experience

Excellent
82%
Good
13%
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4.5 based on 152 reviews

Explore Sailing - America's Cup Sailing Experience

Experience the thrill of sailing onboard an actual America's Cup class yacht, AUS21 or AUS40! A must for sailing enthusiasts and perfect for anyone looking for a fun and adventurous way to explore Sydney Harbour. On the day of your 2.5 hour America's Cup sailing experience, you’ll be welcomed onboard the yacht in Darling Harbour and a safety briefing will be presented by our professional sailing crew. Before long, the sails are hoisted and it’s time to set sail from underneath the stunning Harbour Bridge and onwards towards Manly, past some of the most famous landmarks in the world! Glide under the Harbour Bridge and past the famous Sydney Opera House and watch the city skyline fade in the distance as we power our way around magnificent Sydney Harbour.

7. Fantasea Cruising

Excellent
69%
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Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 495 reviews

Fantasea Cruising

Fantasea Cruising delivers Australia’s most personalised experiences on the water. With the flexibility to cater for 2 to 1200 people, we offer charters in a range of vessel sizes from 16 seater water taxis to large vessels across a range of locations. Our fleet on Sydney Harbour operates evening cruises, special event cruises like Vivid & New Year’s Eve and daily whale watching cruises. Our whale watching cruises are unique to Sydney with a marine biologist on every departure and a hydrophone to hear the whale song underwater. Our fleet of water taxis not only offer point to point services to move people around Sydney with not a traffic light in sight, the sunset cruises and our exclusive picnic on Sydney Harbour are experiences not to be missed. On Pittwater, north of Sydney, we operate ferry services between Ettalong, Wagstaffe and Palm Beach. We also operate whale watching from Palm Beach during season.

8. Private Harbour Cruises

Excellent
67%
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33%
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4.5 based on 3 reviews

Private Harbour Cruises

MV Salute emits an air of style and sophistication with passenger comfort paramount. Step onboard to the spacious open cockpit area with comfortable seating. Enter the fully enclosed cabin area with ample seating. The cabin area offers a practical galley for food and drink service and a separate bathroom. Providing ample entertainment areas for up to 12 guests, top of the range Bluetooth stereo an

9. Magistic Cruises

Excellent
46%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
7%
Terrible
6%
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4.0 based on 230 reviews

Magistic Cruises

Quality and comfort are the hallmarks of Magistic Cruises and it can be seen in all its dining and cruising products, making the Magistic Two Sydney’s most popular multi-purpose catamaran. We offer a range of cruises on Sydney Harbour that include sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises, where customer satisfaction is guaranteed at every touch point. We do not compromise on the comfort and quality of the experience we offer, doing our best to ensure that everyone walks away with a smile. The spacious dining deck is lined with panoramic windows and has reserved restaurant-style seating for guests. With a freshly prepared buffet for the dining cruises and a licensed bar on board, a Magistic Cruise experience is definitely worth it!

10. Sydney Showboat Dinner Cruise

Excellent
50%
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30%
Satisfactory
9%
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4%
Terrible
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4.0 based on 179 reviews

Sydney Showboat Dinner Cruise

Sydney Showboats has delighted over 6 million guests since 1987 with its daily Sydney Harbour dinner cruise that culminates in a spectacular cabaret show by an all-Australian cast. Don’t miss out on the ‘Life is a Cabaret’ experience on board this glamorous paddlewheeler that offers a 3-course deluxe seated & served dinner, the best views of Sydney Harbour at night and a 1-hour live show that takes you on an unbelievable ‘Voyage of Love’ that traverses the globe!

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