Day Trips from Sydney

What the day trips from Sydney are actually like

The Blue Mountains day is the classic: 10 to 11 hours, the Three Sisters at Echo Point, bushwalks or Scenic World rides, lunch in a mountain village, and on some tours a boat back into the harbour.

On the water, the Afternoon Discovery Cruise is 90 minutes under sail on a genuine tall ship, past the Opera House, under the Bridge and around Fort Denison. High-Speed Whale Watching from Circular Quay is the opposite energy: a military-spec high-speed RIB out of Circular Quay, through the Heads and into the Tasman to find active pods.

Under the water, the Sydney Double Shore Dive is two guided dives for certified divers (Open Water and up) at the Northern Beaches, Cabbage Tree Bay, Freshwater or Fairlight, to depths up to 16 metres, all gear included and cleaned. Giant cuttlefish, blue gropers and wobbegongs are the regulars.

In the air, both tandem skydives climb to up to 15,000ft for up to 60 seconds of freefall and a five-to-seven minute canopy ride. No experience needed.

How to choose between the Sydney day trips

Blue Mountains: Blue Mountains Day Tour with Return Harbour Cruise from $99 is the pick-your-own-extras day, with rides and lunch as add-ons and a 45-minute harbour cruise home. Blue Mountains Waterfalls Walk & Picnic Lunch Day Trip from $119 is for walkers, with a 90-minute-plus bushwalk and a picnic lunch included. Blue Mountains Nature & Wildlife Small-Group Tour from $199 caps the group at nine and adds Featherdale Wildlife Park. Blue Mountains “3 Rides, No Lunch” Day Tour from $209 bundles Featherdale and all three Scenic World rides, and All Inclusive Small Group Blue Mountains Tour from $279 adds a chef-prepared lunch, all four rides and a river cruise to Circular Quay.

Harbour and ocean: Afternoon Discovery Cruise from $79 is 90 minutes under sail on the best-looking boat here. High-Speed Whale Watching from Circular Quay, from $139, runs about two hours, with sightings guaranteed under the operator's policy. Sydney Double Shore Dive with All Gear (Certified) from $179 is a morning session, roughly 8am to noon.

Skydiving: Sydney Wollongong 15,000ft Tandem Skydive (With Transfer) from $399 jumps over Wollongong's beaches an hour south, with transfers, a three-month APF membership, a certificate and a $20 drop zone merch voucher included.

Practical tips: season, what to bring, safety

Humpback whales migrate along the New South Wales coast roughly May to November, so whale watching is seasonal; the rest run year-round. Skydives and boat trips depend on the weather, so book early in your stay and keep a spare day.

For the mountains: walking shoes, a jacket, water. For the boats: a windproof layer, sunscreen, and seasickness tablets if you are prone. For the dive: your certification card. For the skydive: fitted clothes, laced shoes, and no scuba diving within 24 hours of the jump.