The 15 Best Sydney Dolphin Watching Tours

1.Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 926 reviews · 1h 30m · from $28Our pick

Join Moonshadow - TQC Cruises for a 90-minute trip around Port Stephens Marine Park. Watch for bottlenose dolphins, take in Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, and hear live commentary from the captain. The boom net offers a splashy change of pace. Depart from d’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay.

“Wonderful morning out in the Port Stephens Bay; saw a small pod of dolphins. Would've liked to see more but I understand wildlife cannot be controlled.. Guide was knowledgeable and humorous. Staff friendly and professional.. Highlight was a yummy slushy and a jump in the boom net at the end of the trip”

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2.Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 401 reviews · from $32

Set out from D’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay aboard Moonshadow V for a 90-minute Port Stephens cruise. A captain and crew share information about local dolphins and marine ecology as you look for bottlenose dolphins and take in Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands. Indoor and open-air seating give you a choice of shelter or fresh air, and a boom-net ride is included.

“Great value. We saw heaps of dolphins and all the crew were very friendly and informative. Would definitely recommend.”

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3.Jervis Bay Day Tour and Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 374 reviews · from $94

Leave Sydney at 7 am in a small group of up to 15, then head south for a dolphin-watching cruise, lunch time in Huskisson and visits to Hyams Beach, Greenfield Beach and Cave Beach. Guides including James and Fernando have led the trip, which combines beach stops with a long round-trip drive.

“Time on the water was fun, rhe BBQ after was tasty and the sun decided to come.out. Beautiful beaches and a fun day out of the city.”

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4.Jervis Bay Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 294 reviews · from $37

Spend about 90 minutes cruising Jervis Bay Marine Park from Huskisson, where resident bottlenose dolphins feed around the bay’s reef systems. The crew searches known habitats while you take in clear water, beaches and coastline. Morning and afternoon departures are available. Sightings are not guaranteed, and the restroom depends on the vessel used.

“As always finding wildlife is not easy. It’s not guaranteed to see dolphins. However captain and crews tried to find them it was just unfortunate. Even though I couldn’t see dolphins I enjoyed amazing views and found beautiful beaches. Good experience for me.”

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5.Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise & Sandboarding Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 219 reviews · from $145

Travel north from Sydney for a 90-minute dolphin cruise, lunch, a visit to the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and a 4WD ride to Stockton’s great sand dunes for sandboarding. Guides such as Gordon, Alfie and Chen are known for lively local stories. The day is varied, but dolphin sightings are never guaranteed, and climbing back up the dunes takes effort.

“The activities where amazing but the guide (Alfie) made the day perfect! His energy and storytelling got the bus laughing and brought up the energy! He gave such valuable information before the stops which made the experience even better! Thank you Alfie!!”

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6.Port Stephens Dolphin, Koalas, Lunch & Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · from $142Top rated

Leave Sydney at 6:45 am for a full day in Port Stephens: a 90-minute dolphin cruise, a visit to the Koala Sanctuary, and a 4WD ride to the Stockton sand dunes for sandboarding. Lunch arrangements depend on the date, so check whether it is included. Guides such as Alfie, Yan, Gordon and Chen have helped make the long day easier.

“Alfie is as so kind, friendly, and knowledgeable about the different sites we visited in port state Stephens. I had a fabulous time and would definitely return”

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7.Huskisson: Dolphin Cruise & Boom Netting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 112 reviews

Cruise Jervis Bay with Jervis Bay Wild in search of Bottlenose dolphins, then take a turn in the boat’s boom net for a splashy, jacuzzi-like ride. The trip lasts 1.5 hours and departs from Huskisson public wharf. Sightings are not guaranteed, so bring swimwear and a towel for the water-based fun.

“I bought it as a present. They all said they had a thoroughly good time.”

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8.Jervis Bay Tour with Dolphins, Kangaroos & World’s Whitest Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · from $128

Leave Sydney at 7:00 am in an air-conditioned minibus for Jervis Bay, with a 90-minute dolphin cruise, time in Huskisson, a guided White Sands Trail walk, and kangaroo spotting in Booderee National Park. The small-group tour is capped at 20 and has English- or Portuguese-speaking guides. Pack lunch, a windproof layer for the boat, and comfortable shoes.

“Love it! The beaches were outstanding We saw a lot of Kangaroos The driver was excelent We had s great time”

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9.Nelson Bay: Dolphin Watch Cruise and Sail

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 74 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35

Set sail from d’Albora Marina aboard Imagine, a catamaran with open deck views, a dry bow-net and a wet boom-net for swimmers. This 90-minute cruise searches Nelson Bay for bottlenose dolphins, with a free return trip if none are spotted. Tea and coffee are included; snacks and drinks are sold on board.

“It was a fun activity. Highly recommended. The crew was welcoming and very interactive which made our experience all the more better.”

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10.Port Stephens Day Trip with Dolphin Cruise or Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 64 reviews · 12 hours · from $90

Spend 12 hours travelling from Sydney to Port Stephens for a 4WD sand safari and sandboarding at Anna Bay, plus your choice of a dolphin cruise or Mount Tomaree hike. Guides such as James, Mac and Aurelio have led the trip, though your guide may vary. Lunch is at your own expense in Nelson Bay.

“It was amazing day. Carol was a fantastic guide, super friendly and explained us every step. In all the stops, we could decide what activity to do and we found multiple options to develop them. Without any plan was a girls trip. I definitely loved the experience. 💖”

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11.Port Stephens 3 Hour Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · from $62

Set sail from Nelson Bay on a three-hour catamaran cruise into the open ocean, where humpback whales, dolphins, seabirds and seals may appear. The crew offers wildlife commentary, and you get blankets, wet-weather jackets, tea or coffee, a restroom and sheltered places to sit. Wildlife sightings are not predictable, but a whale guarantee is included.

“We saw a mother and baby whale. Both jumped out of the water. The crew was great and the overall experience was fantastic.”

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12.Port Stephens: 1hr Dolphin Watch Express

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 48 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Cruise Port Stephens aboard Envision, a fast, smooth boat with 360-degree viewing, as the crew guides you along Shoal Bay, past the headlands and toward Jimmy’s Beach. You’ll hear about the bay and its bottlenose dolphins, with crew members such as Matt and Sophie bringing the trip to life. Bring a camera and a warm layer.

“Highly recommended! A massive thanks to our guide Sophie who also took some amazing photos of us!”

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13.Nelson Bay: Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 3 hours · from $63

From d’Albora Marina, you’ll sail for three hours aboard a 54-foot catamaran in search of migrating humpback whales. Watch for breaches, pectoral slaps, dolphins, fur seals, and sea birds while an English-speaking guide explains the wildlife and area. Covered decks, tea and coffee, and loan jackets and blankets help make the trip comfortable.

“Seen alot of whales, and a few dolphins. Amazing experience. Very nice boat and staff!! Would definitely do it again!”

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14.Dolphin Watch + Sailing – Port Stephens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $35

From Nelson Bay, take a 90-minute catamaran cruise through Port Stephens to look for resident bottlenose dolphins. Guides share information about the animals, and you can choose a dry bow-net or wet boom-net ride. Tea or coffee is available as you watch the bay; sails may be raised if conditions allow. Karen and Frank are among the crew members praised for their engaging commentary and conservation work.

“Staff were great friendly and knowledgeable, was a fun morning watching the dolphins swim and play together”

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15.Small Group Port Stephens + Dolphins + 4WD/sandboarding ex Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $164

This 11-hour small-group trip pairs a 1.5-hour Nelson Bay dolphin cruise with a 4WD transfer across Stockton Dunes, sandboarding, and a short stop at Birubi Beach. A professional driver-guide handles the long Sydney-to-coast journey, with guides Peter and Ronnie praised for clear instructions. Lunch is not included.

“Enough time to play the sand slide and the tour guide - Peter is so nice and give clear instructions. Nice to see the dolphins at a short distance.”

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