The Top Darling Harbour Cruises

Darling Harbour cruises on this page start with the dinner cruises that leave from King Street Wharf 1, then add ferry passes, Taronga Zoo combos and harbour sightseeing, lunch and whale watching cruises that leave from nearby Circular Quay. The departure wharf is on every product page, so check it before you book.

Dinner cruises from King Street Wharf

Dinner cruises board at King Street Wharf 1, right at Darling Harbour. The Sunset Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise is a 3-course a la carte dinner on MV Sydney 2000, leaving at 5pm and back by 6.45pm. The Sydney Harbour Sunset 4 Course Dinner Cruise has a similar 5pm departure with four courses, 360-degree views from the upper deck and live music on weekends. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available on request.

For a long night, the Sydney Harbour Penfolds 6 Course Dinner Cruise is a 3-hour degustation from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with Penfolds wines, house spirits and beer included and live music on Saturdays.

Starlight dinner cruise with live music and dancing

The Sydney Harbour Starlight 4 Course Dinner Cruise is a popular choice for a night out. It runs from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays with a four-course a la carte menu, live music and a dance floor, and a children's menu is available.

Lunch and high tea cruises from Circular Quay

Daytime dining cruises leave from Circular Quay, a short trip from Darling Harbour. The Sydney Harbour High Tea Cruise leaves Circular Quay and runs from 2pm to 3.30pm, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a sweet and savoury high tea selection.

From the Eastern Pontoon, the Sydney Harbour Afternoon Cruise with Buffet Lunch goes past Darling Harbour and the Harbour Bridge with a seafood buffet, and the Sydney Harbour Long Lunch Cruise stops at Watsons Bay and Balmoral Beach, with a lunch at a waterside restaurant.

Sightseeing cruises and hop on hop off ferry passes

To see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge on a 90-minute trip, the Sydney Harbour Cruise runs a morning session from 10.15am and an afternoon session from 2.30pm, with live commentary and a licensed bar on board.

A 1-day hop on hop off ferry pass lets you move between up to 6 harbour stops on the same day, and the 2-day pass is valid on 2 calendar days and departs from both Circular Quay Wharf 6 and King Street Wharf 1.

Ferries to Taronga Zoo

The Taronga Zoo Entry and Return Ferry Combo is a popular choice and the simplest way to do it. The return ferry runs from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour by rocket catamaran with live commentary, and zoo entry is included. Taronga closes at 5pm, and ferry guests take a bus up to the main entrance at their own expense.

Whale watching cruises from Circular Quay

Whale watching cruises run in the migration months. The Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast is a 4-hour trip with a hot breakfast and a marine biologist on board, leaving the Eastern Pontoon at 8.15am on Saturdays and Sundays from June to mid-November.

Frequently asked questions

Which dinner cruises leave from Darling Harbour?

The Sunset Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise, the Sydney Harbour Sunset 4 Course Dinner Cruise and the Sydney Harbour Penfolds 6 Course Dinner Cruise all leave from King Street Wharf 1, Darling Harbour.

Do the Sydney Harbour lunch cruises leave from Darling Harbour?

No. The Sydney Harbour Afternoon Cruise with Buffet Lunch leaves from the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay, not Darling Harbour.

Can you take a ferry from Darling Harbour to Taronga Zoo?

Yes. The Taronga Zoo Entry and Return Ferry Combo includes a return ferry from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour and entry to Taronga Zoo, which closes at 5pm.

When can you go whale watching from Sydney?

The Sydney Whale Watching Cruise with Breakfast runs on Saturdays and Sundays from June to mid-November. It leaves the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay at 8.15am.

For a night on the water, start at King Street Wharf and choose your Darling Harbour cruise.