Can I go sailing on Sydney Harbour?
Yes – it is possible to go sailing on Sydney Harbour in a yacht. Sydney By Sail runs daily Sydney harbour cruises, which offer guests the opportunity to help crew the yacht if they wish.
Judging by the sheer number of yachts moored there, Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s great sailing destinations. The combination of natural beauty and urban icons makes the idea of flitting around in a boat incredibly enticing.
There is no shortage of Sydney harbour cruise options, but most of the major cruise boats are large, engine-powered beasts. If you really want the romance, then you’re better off picking a yacht that explores Sydney Harbour under sail.
There are several Sydney Harbour sailing experience available – check out a large selection here.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
Sailing on Sydney Harbour: Sailing cruises
Sydney By Sail offers such Sydney sailing cruises, with the twist that guests can have a go at crewing the yacht if they would like to.
The Sydney Harbour cruise flits between the harbour islands and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s perfectly acceptable to sit back with a drink and enjoy the scenery under the warm Australian sun.
But if you’re in any way curious about how yachting works, you can put some muscle into it. Passengers can assist the skipper in raising the sails, then tacking and gybing as the wind dictates. It’s even possible to have a go behind the wheel on this Sydney sailing tour if you really want to.
Cheapest Sydney Harbour cruises?
This is by no means the cheapest way to see Sydney Harbour – take a ferry to Manly or Watsons Bay if you just want a cheap boat ride. But it does feel like exploring the harbour as nature designed it to be explored. The daily three hour sailing cruises cost $180, although the company offers several other options. These include coastal cruises, charters, whale-watching and sailing lessons.
The Sydney sailinf tours depart from the Festival Pontoon on the Pyrmont side of Darling Harbour. This is just outside the Australian National Maritime Museum. To get there, stroll across the pedestrian-only Pyrmont Bridge from Sydney CBD.
Alternative ways to explore Sydney Harbour include scenic flights in a seaplane or kayaking tours.
More water activities in Australia
Kayak around Hobart harbour in Tasmania.
Go kayaking on Loch Luna from Berri, South Australia.
Board a whale-watching tour in Dunsborough, Western Australia.
Take a Pieman River cruise through the wilderness from Corinna, Tasmania.
See the Proserpine River crocodiles on an alternative Whitsundays cruise.