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High-Speed Whale Watching from Circular Quay

Whale watching at military-RIB speed, sightings guaranteed.

Skip the slow boat: blast out of Circular Quay on a purpose-built, military-spec high-speed RIB, through the Heads and into the Tasman to find the friendliest whale pods. Sightings guaranteed (per their policy).

⭑ 4.9 517 Google reviews 📍 Sydney ⏱ 2 Hours 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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4.9 from 517 Google reviews

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Overview

There are two kinds of whale watching: the stately kind, and the kind where the skipper turns up the power at the Heads and the Tasman Sea starts hitting back. This trip is emphatically the second kind, a purpose-built, military-spec RIB that turns the transit into half the attraction.

You depart from Circular Quay, carve down the harbour, then open up through the Heads into open ocean. Your skipper works a live network with other boat crews to find the most active, approachable pods, so the fast boat isn't just fun, it's tactical: you can reach the whales other vessels only hear about. Then the engines drop, and it's just you and the animals in their own water.

The operator guarantees sightings (their policy, check the conditions), and the whole ride runs about two hours. If sitting still isn't your strength, this is your whale trip.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Military-spec high-speed RIB

  2. 2

    Departs Circular Quay

  3. 3

    Skippers network to find pods

  4. 4

    Sightings guaranteed by policy

  5. 5

    Two fast, salty hours

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Whale-watching run on a high-speed inflatable boat (around two hours)
  • Expert skipper
  • Wind and waterproof jackets
  • Small group on a purpose-built vessel with open, low-to-the-water viewing
  • Free rebooking within the season if no whales are sighted

Common questions about this trip

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellations at least 48 hours before departure get a full refund. Within 48 hours, or for no shows, the fee is 100%. Bookings can be rescheduled outside 48 hours. If the operator cancels for weather or any other reason, the tour is rescheduled, or a gift certificate is issued if that is not possible. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

The operator's track record

4.9 on Google · 517 reviews

Review excerpts below are from Tripadvisor.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"We had only just got out of the heads when we got our first whale - thought it was alone but there was two. We stuck with this pair the whole trip and we got lots of surface time but no breaches… We did get tail slaps and a few fin displays plus dolphins."
J

Jayne J

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"We saw several humpback whales, including a mother and her calf. There were so many breaches and what looked like a teaching session between them — even a perfectly synchronized jump! It was breathtaking to see them so close."
Е

Евгений Е

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"I can 100% recommend the whale watching tour with Ocean Extreme! The tour itself lasts around two hours, and even the exhilarating ride on the speedboats alone is worth booking the experience. After just a short trip out from the coast, we were already able to observe whales from incredibly close range."
N

Niklas H

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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