Sydney Ocean Whale Experience

Itinerary

• Board the vessel and meet our amazing crew
• Onboard safety Briefing & trip overview
• Cruise out of Darling Harbour enjoying the stunning sites of Sydney Harbour with an introduction by our expert guides into humpback whales and what incredible behaviours you can expect to see.
• Watch the whales respectfully in their nature habitat with a passionate and experienced commentary – We love questions!
• Humpback whales are very inquisitive, we love having kids and adults encouraging the whales to come to the boat!
• Head back into the harbour bringing with you life long and life changing memories.

📍 Whale Tales Whale Watching Sydney, King Street Wharf, The Promenade, Sydney NSW, Australia

1. When do we need to check in: 15 minutes prior to departure.
2. What do I need to bring: Given most whale watching occurs in the cooler months, we recommend a wind/ waterproof jacket. Depending on ocean conditions there can sometimes be some sea spray. Sunglasses can be helpful to block the glare, and we recommend bringing a water bottle & snacks (we don’t sell or provide any food onboard). Other than that – just bring your camera & sense of adventure and we will see you there!
3. Is it safe for kids: Absolutely. Our trips are family friendly and children of all ages are welcome! In fact – humans of all ages are welcome. Kids & adults alike love this nature experience! We have life jackets onboard for all ages, so ask our crew once onboard and we are happy to fit children’s lifejackets for you.
4. Will I get sea sick: Sea sickness can be managed and it’s not worth missing an experience of a lifetime for. We recommend you pop to the chemist and get some sea sickness medication prior to your cruise. You should take it 1 hour before boarding the vessel. If you know you suffer from sea sickness you are welcome to email us to check on sea conditions forecasts for your travel date (we have accurate weather forecasts from 3 days prior). Sometimes the morning trip is calmer before the afternoon sea breezes arrive. We also suggest that you avoid or limit caffeine, bring water and dry crackers or salty foods to snack on, and keep your phone in your bag! Looking at a screen can make you feel unwell. We will provide you with excellent professional photography of the trip, so keep your phone away and your eyes to the horizon and those fantastic whales!
5. What else might we see: There is also lots of other marine creatures you might see in Sydney Waters. We often see common or bottlenose dolphins, Australin fur seals and lots of Sea eagles and other bird life. Our crew will point out any other interesting animals we encounter.
6. What happens if we don’t see whales: A Whale Watching Guarantee is available which means that if you don’t see whales on your trip, we offer you another trip with us free of charge!
7. How close will we get to the whales: Every trip is different and being a wildlife experience we never know just what to expect. Our exceptional crew are very in tune with these charismatic megafauna and we are always guided by the whales as to their comfort level on any given day. We can say that we are lucky in Sydney that we have thousands of whales passing our coastline and they are generally quite comfortable with us being around. Sometimes they are inquisitive and come right over to engage with us, even swimming underneath the vessel. When this happens, we turn off our engines and just enjoy this amazing experience. Given there are so many humpback whales passing Sydney each day, we have a lot of opportunity to experience a great interaction.
8. Can I take photos: Of course! However, wildlife photography can be tricky and you will likely need a zoom lens. You can also try using your phone’s burst mode. However, in general, we recommend letting our photographer do the work for you. This is an experience you really want to be present for!
9. What happens if my trip is cancelled: We want you to have a great experience out on the ocean which means that sometimes we have to cancel trips due to weather conditions such as strong winds or rough ocean conditions. If this happens, we will contact you via email and SMS also and give you 3 options including; rescheduling to another date, receiving a gift card for future use, or cancel and refund your booking.

Boating Conditions

• In the case of extreme swell/rain/winds tours may be cancelled and Sea Monkey
  Sailing staff will contact you on the phone number you provided when booking.
• Whale Tales operates in an outdoor marine environment. Conditions vary and
  passengers may get wet.
• Passengers with back, neck, shoulder or heart conditions, or those who are pregnant
  or who have injuries/conditions that may cause a risk to their health should consult
  with their doctor prior to travelling with us and do so at their own risk.
• Sea Monkey Sailing takes no responsibility for loss/damage of valuables.
• If whales are not spotted on a whale watching tour, you will be offered a standby
  ticket for another Whale Watching tour during the same whale watching season.
  Standby Tickets are NOT REFUNDABLE or transferable and are subject to availability.
• Our Whale Watching vessel Whale Tales is a very safe and stable vessel. All care is
  taken to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience with us. Passengers board
  and ride on our vessels at their own risk and in no circumstance other than the gross
  negligence of the skipper as proven by a court of law, will Sea Monkey Sailing Pty Ltd,
  its officers, or agents be held responsible for any accident, injury, loss or damage to
  person or property whilst embarking, traveling or disembarking from our vessels.

Booking Conditions

• All tickets (including gift certificates) are non-refundable within 48 hours of departure.
• Full payment must be made at time of booking.
• Cancellation must be received at least 48 hours prior to departure or full payment will
be due and no refund will be given.
• Full refund or rescheduling is permitted on bookings/ cancellation made outside of 48
hours from departure time.
• Any cancellations made within 48 hours (or ‘no shows’) will incur a 100% cancellation
fee, inclusive of Gift Certificate bookings; passengers will forfeit tickets.
• If Sea Monkey Sailing must cancel a tour due to inclement weather, or for any other
reason, the tour will be rescheduled. If the tour cannot be rescheduled a gift
certificate will be issued to the value of the original booking. Refunds will be
considered on a case by case basis.