What‘s Included

What To Expect

Reviews

• Good adventure

  ho77and,

  Oct 27, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  Good half day trip with plenty of whale sightings the staff are really well organised with a tea or coffee as you board and the seating is comfortable and the boat is a lot steadier than you might expect

• A chance I a lifetime

  craig m,

  Oct 13, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Great experience. Captain always was trying to get the best possible spot to see the whales breaching. And he did.I’ve got some great videos . And a head full of memories. A truly great experience

• Exciting

  tania mo,

  Oct 5, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Experience that I recommend but listen well to the briefing before. leaving because in the middle of the ocean with the engine off is not for everyone, especially for those with a weak stomach. It is not obvious to see the whales cmq remains very exciting and the staff is very prepared

• Whale Watching Tour from Sydney

  JJW63,

  Oct 2, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We went on the Captain Cook 2 and half hour whale watching tour from Circular Quay. We did the afternoon tour. It wasn't long once we were out of the Sydney Heads before we spotted big humpback whales. They seemed very close to the boat and were moving south very fast. It was exciting to see them breach and jump very high out of the water. Captain Cook give a commentary which is informative and you can easily see the whales from the top deck. All in all it was good value at $69 per person. The water in the ocean was not rough on the day we went out but I can imagine some days it could be.

• Awsome experience will definitely like to visit at another time it would be nice with a group next time

  Houda A,

  Sep 21, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Loved it ... Even though we were unlucky to see the whales my granddaughter enjoyed the whole ride the crew were very helpful and so much information was told over the speaker and we were informed of everything going on the whole experience was great

• Loved the views and boat,...

  Melanie M,

  Sep 14, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Loved the views and boat, unfortunately i did go twice during some bad weather and didn’t see many whales but that’s a part of whale watching! Sometimes you see them sometimes ya don’t!

• A whale of a time

  Tammy V,

  Sep 11, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  We had a wonderful experience because we had 3 whales playing around the boat for about a hour. The staff on board were helpful and enthusiastic and helped to make our trip a fab one

  

  

  

• Excellent value!!

  NicMuayThai,

  Sep 3, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had a fantastic trip with Anthony! We saw lots of whales where the whales came really close to the boat! Would highly recommend sea sickness tablets before the trip as many people on our boat were suffering. Loved the fact that the trip was shorter but still saw plenty of whales and still left plenty of time to explore Sydney! Would highly recommend Fanatasea as great value for money and cheaper than other similar trips with other companies. Thanks to Anthony who was a great captain!! 🐳

• Great experience, recommended

  ianr733,

  Aug 31, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  This was a great experience, despite the weather being a little breezy so making the boat bob around quite a bit, but it's the sea so what do you expect? There were several boats out that day and we actually had quite a few whale sightings, our best though was when we were heading back to the harbour and had a whale breach behind the boat, which was epic (only a few of us saw it because most of the other whale watchers were at the front of the boat). The only criticism I have is that no water or other drinks were offered during the trip, I think it would be good to have at least some bottled water available. Otherwise, it was a great experience and would recommend it.

  

  

• Questionable practices - do not recommend

  Elizabeth T,

  Jul 29, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  I gave Fantasea Whale Watching one star for four key reasons: Uncomfortable Seating: While a few of the upstairs seats were padded, most were just metal benches. When we hit 8-foot swells, these became incredibly uncomfortable, not ideal for what’s supposed to be a scenic and enjoyable ride. Poor Viewing Design: The seating layout makes it difficult to see the water. If you're on the outer edge, your back is to the ocean. If you're in the middle, you're staring at the cockpit. Yes, you can turn or look across, but that means straining past other passengers, hardly a good setup for whale watching. Questionable Safety Protocol: During the pre-boarding safety briefing, the captain stated we should not put on life vests unless told to. In rough seas, that policy is baffling. If someone feels safer wearing a life vest, they shouldn’t be discouraged. Conditions can change quickly, and it’s unclear why comfort and safety would be deprioritized. Concerning Behavior Around Whales: The captain explained that whales breach either to exfoliate or because an underwater noise is irritating. Moments later, he threw the boat into reverse, loudly, seemingly trying to provoke a breach. He did this again later when another whale was spotted. The whales were far away, and we weren’t in danger of getting too close, so the maneuver felt unnecessary and disruptive. I’m not sure what the marine laws are in Australia, but this felt more like harassment than responsible ecotourism. In summary, while the boat itself seemed seaworthy, the overall experience left a bad taste. I cannot in good conscience recommend Fantasea, and I regret spending money to support a company whose practices I feel are misaligned with genuine respect for wildlife.

• Load more reviews