Sydney Harbour National Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

Sydney: Whale Watching Cruise

1. Sydney: Whale Watching Cruise

Experience a miracle of the natural world on a whale watching cruise from Sydney Harbour. Go in search of the migrating whales that turn the Pacific Ocean waters near Sydney into a prime viewing spot for southern right and humpback whales between the months of May and November. Cruise aboard a great vessel and benefit from full commentary and guaranteed whale sightings. As many as 15,000 whales swim past Sydney every year. Encounter whale activity, including the famous whale breaches when they jump high out of the water. You may even get a close-up wink from a whale when they are feeling extra curious! Get the chance to see southern rights, orcas and minke whales in their natural environment, along with playful dolphins, seals, fairy penguins, albatross and more. Whale sightings are 95% guaranteed. In the unlikely event that you don't see any whales, you can cruise again in the same season for free (on a standby basis and confirmed 24 hours in advance, subject to availability).

From Manly: Sydney Harbour Hands-On 2 Hour Yacht Cruise

2. From Manly: Sydney Harbour Hands-On 2 Hour Yacht Cruise

Discover hidden beaches and experience the beauty of Sydney’s coastline on this 2-hour cruise from Manly. Board the yacht in Manly and begin your cruise through Sydney’s Northern Suburbs. Famous for its beaches and multi-million dollar mansions, this part of Sydney is best seen on the water. Learn how the boat works and help the captain set the sails and steer the yacht during the cruise. You can bring your snacks and drinks to enjoy onboard.

From Manly: Sydney Harbour Hands-On 3 Hour Yacht Cruise

3. From Manly: Sydney Harbour Hands-On 3 Hour Yacht Cruise

Embark on a 3-hour sailing cruise and experience the magic of Sydney from the water. Make your own way to the starting point and board the yacht at Manly. Cruise past the multi-million dollar waterfront mansions of the rich and famous, discover hidden harbor beaches, and revel in uninterrupted views of iconic attractions including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. During the cruise, have the opportunity to help set the sails and steer the boat and take in the views. You're also welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy along the way.

Breathtaking Manly Beach Bicycle and Sunset Cruise Tour

4. Breathtaking Manly Beach Bicycle and Sunset Cruise Tour

Start your Manly Beach bicycle tour with stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline from the Sydney Harbour ferry. This scenic cruise will ensure you see the most spectacular views of the Harbour and Sydney Opera House. After the memorable ferry ride, you'll cycle along the world-famous Manly beach and venture out to the charming North Head. Take in the coastal cliffs with the city skyline in the background and perhaps catch a glimpse of Australia’s native penguins or migrating humpback whales. After the ride, we will conclude the tour by cruising back through the Harbour and enjoying the beautiful Sydney sunset as it fades beneath the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and city skyline. Whether you're visiting Sydney for the first time, have friends coming to town or are setting up a group activity, this cycling tour of Sydney is a perfect and unique way to explore the city. You can sit back and relax on one of our comfortable bicycles while our expert Bonza guides show you the way. We've carefully planned routes that ride in the street for a minimal amount of time and instead allow you to experience parks, harbor fronts, and sidewalks as much as possible. Our guides will give you great tips on what to do while in town, what's on, where to eat, and provide you with a very entertaining and informative experience. This ride is more suited to an intermediate fitness level due to a significant hill as we head out to North Head. The journey is worth it when you reach this picturesque area and the ride down is a blast.

Sydney: Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Tour

5. Sydney: Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Tour

Enjoy a full-day trip to the most scenic part of Sydney on this fun-filled and unforgettable tour of the Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Relax on a scenic drive in an air-conditioned minivan to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. While there, bush walk to sacred rock engraving sites to learn about local Aboriginal culture. Enjoy stunning ocean views at Manly Beach, the Spit, West Head, Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Long Reef, North Head Palm Beach, Summer Bay and Palm Beach Lighthouse. Then travel to Narrabeen Beach, one of the best surfing spots in Sydney. Take advantage of the superb photo opportunities from Long Reef Headland, where you may even be lucky enough to see a whale. Then, escape the crowds and stroll the cliffs along the Curl Curl coastal walk. Stop to admire the spectacular views of Freshwater Beach, where you can learn about the origins of surfing in Australia. Sail past Sydney Harbour’s entrance between North and South Heads on the Manly ferry before enjoying views of the mighty Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House at the end of your tour!

Sydney Harbour National Park 2-Hour Walking Tour

6. Sydney Harbour National Park 2-Hour Walking Tour

Discover the cultural history, convict-built buildings, military fortifications and explore Aboriginal heritage on a walking tour at Sydney Harbour National Park. See native wildlife living in rare pockets of bushland, once common around Sydney. Get staggering coastline views and be sure to keep a lookout for whales on their annual migration north, if visiting during winter. Encounter local animal species such as water dragons, blue tongue lizards, rainbow lorikeets, brush turkeys and perhaps the elusive king parrots. Wander underneath the thick canopies of the Sydney red gum trees and enjoy the scenic views along the water’s edge, while admiring the intricate sandstone rock formations on the shores of Sydney Harbour National Park.

Manly: 3-Beach Kayak Tour with Lunch

7. Manly: 3-Beach Kayak Tour with Lunch

Departing Manly Wharf, follow your guide past luxurious yachts and local ferries to the first stop at Reef Beach. Once there, choose to swim and relax or walk up to Dobroyd Head for breathtaking views of Manly. Next, continue on to Quarantine Beach where you will moor the kayaks and enjoy a visit to Australia's first quarantine station, hearing stories about the lives of both passengers and staff. The final leg of the day is the stunning Store Beach. Sit back, relax, and settle in for a hearty picnic lunch on the sand before making the scenic journey back to Manly.

Sydney: Exclusive Sydney Harbour Cruise on a Classic Yacht

8. Sydney: Exclusive Sydney Harbour Cruise on a Classic Yacht

Southwinds is a beautifully presented unique classic sailing yacht. Designed and built in Sydney, constructed with Huon Pine. Come aboard and enjoy the breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour as the sun starts to dip and the city lights spring to life. Learn a little about our beautiful sailing yacht, her construction and her rich history. Relax while our attentive, experienced crew serve you refreshments as we start the cruise and take in Sydney Harbour's magnificent sights, including the iconic Opera House and beautiful Harbour Bridge. When we are ready, we will roll out the sails and enjoy a gentle sail around the harbour. Get behind the helm and experience the thrill of sailing a stunning, one of a kind, 1950's classic sailing yacht. * This is a small group cruise. Maximum 16 onboard (adults only)

Sydney: Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting

9. Sydney: Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting

Our Northern Exposure kicks off in the mecca of beer for the Northern Beaches, Brookvale. Also known as ‘Brewvale’ and we will explore some fantastic breweries and maybe even a distillery if we can. The venues we visit on the day vary as we like to ‘spread the love’, not all places are open every day and it’s all about timing and providing a good mix of places, people and beers. On tour you can expect a great amount of amazing beers, of all different styles, strengths, colours and flavours. We talk about the brewing process & the ingredients used and take you behind the scenes to give you a real feel for the breweries on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. An awesome brewery lunch is included with along with the tour tastings and the tour our wraps up with a drop off back to Brookvale– and please note we do offer a pickup and drop off in Surry Hills as well! The tours change depending on the day, but some of the Northern Beaches breweries usually visited are Nomad Brewing Co, 7th Day or the 4 Pines Truck Bar in Brookvale; and Modus Operandi Brewing Company in Mona Vale. Please advise your preferred pick up point; 11am Keg & Brew, 26 Foveaux St, Surry Hills 12pm Nomad Brewing Co, 5 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale

Sydney: Private Sydney City and Australian Wildlife Tour

10. Sydney: Private Sydney City and Australian Wildlife Tour

Enjoy a full day in Sydney discovering the city's iconic landmarks and scenic locations as well as a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park. As a general itinerary, the tour begins with hotel/port pick-up before we make our way to Featherdale Wildlife Park. Australia is famous for its unique animals, marsupials and reptiles. Award-winning Featherdale Wildlife Park shelters a wide variety of indigenous fauna. On this guided tour through the park, you will have up-close interactions with a range of wallabies and kangaroos, marvel at the ultra-relaxed life of a koala and view the world's most poisonous snake. There are wombats, echidnas, penguins, dingos, cassowaries, emus, crocodiles, Tassie Devils and a huge kaleidoscope of bird species. From the wildlife park, we head either back to the eastern or north sides of the city. The eastern area includes Bondi, Tamarama & Bronte beaches as well as Watson's Bay, South Head and travelling through Vaucluse, Paddington and Hyde Park. Those who have visited the east will have an opportunity to discover the northern region of Sydney which includes Manly, North Head, Mosman and Balmoral Beach. We return to the city with visits to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Darling Harbour and photo opportunities of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Your local owner/operator guide will provide informative narration throughout the day offering a deeper understanding of Australia's Aboriginal heritage, colonial history & modern culture. Travel in comfort in a 15-seat Mercedes Benz vehicle.

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Sydney Harbour National Park

Sydney Harbour National Park
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What people are saying about Sydney Harbour National Park

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 56 reviews

Our whale watching tour was excellent! Friendly and knowledgeable guide (Paul) made the tour easy and fun. We saw several pods of humpback whales and got close enough for some great videos!

Amazing! Staff on board the cruise were really great and gave amazing commentary. Saw a group of 3 humpbacks right up close including a mother / calf. Would highly recommend

We had great weather and exciting winds. The instructor did his best to show us sailing and the port. In the end we were able to gybe and tack. It was really great!!

Such a fun experience. Beautiful way to see Sydney.