Sydney Harbour Cruise with Private Yacht Club Lunch
Pass under the Harbour Bridge and dine at a club steeped in Sydney to Hobart racing history
A small-group harbour cruise for up to eight guests aboard a VIP sports cruiser, departing Campbells Cove with a local skipper providing live commentary on Sydney's landmarks from the water. After an hour cruising past the Bridge, Opera House, Kirribilli House and Fort Denison, you're taken to The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for a leisurely lunch with main course and one beverage, then continue past Shark Island, Camp Cove and Point Piper before returning to the starting point.
Step-by-step itinerary
Sydney Harbour cruise and yacht club lunch
- Arrive at Campbells Cove dock
- Board the VIP Sports Cruiser
- Cruise under Sydney Harbour Bridge
- View Sydney Opera House from water
- Pass Kirribilli House
- Pass Fort Denison
- Enjoy lunch at private yacht club
- Cruise past Garden Island
- Pass Shark Island and Camp Cove
- View Point Piper waterfront mansions
- Pass Double Bay and Rose Bay
- See The Gap ocean cliff face
- Spot penguins, seals, and dolphins
- Return to Campbells Cove dock
What’s included
- Knowledgeable local skipper providing live commentary throughout.
- bottled water.
- chef-prepared lunch with main course and one beverage (wine, beer or soft drink) at The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Times
- Every day 12:30
Last departure this season: 24 Dec
Another time? ›Before you book
Operated by Sydney Harbour Boat Tours
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The boat leaves Campbells Cove at 12:30pm, a 37-foot white cruiser named Spectre. Your skipper narrates the engineering history of the Harbour Bridge as you pass beneath it, then takes you past the Opera House and Kirribilli House, the Prime Minister's Sydney residence, before reaching Fort Denison, a historic island fortification that once held colonial prisoners. The first hour is all water-level views of these landmarks, each one framed differently than from the shore.
At the one-hour mark, you dock at The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, a private club with deep roots in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. You have one and a half hours to sit down to a chef-prepared main course and your choice of wine, beer or soft drink, unhurried and in the sunshine. The skipper introduces the club's heritage before you eat. This is the lunch venue: entry requires a valid photo ID with your home address, so bring it with you.
After lunch, the cruise resumes, heading east past Garden Island (Australia's largest naval base), Shark Island, and Camp Cove, one of the first British landing sites in 1788. You'll pass the waterfront mansions of Point Piper and Double Bay, then Rose Bay, home to Sydney's only seaplane base. The route takes you toward The Gap, where the harbour meets the Tasman Sea, and through coastal national park where penguins and seal colonies live. Dolphins are occasionally spotted. The boat returns to Campbells Cove at approximately 4:30pm (October to March) or 4:00pm (April, May and September).
Is this one for you?The boat is open-style and the route covers about four hours on the water, so you're exposed to sun and wind. Bring a light jacket and wear soft-soled shoes. The small group size (maximum eight) means you get closer attention from the skipper and more flexibility than a larger tour, but it also means the departure time is fixed at 12:30pm and the itinerary doesn't change.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the Sydney Harbour Bridge like when you're looking up at it from the water?
The Bridge dominates the view as you cruise beneath it. The skipper explains its construction history and engineering significance as you pass, so you're learning about how it was built while seeing the scale of it from an angle most visitors never get.
What happens if I have dietary requirements for lunch?
Extensive dietary options are available at The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, so you can request what you need when you book. Let the operator know in advance so the kitchen can prepare it.
Do I need to bring anything specific to board?
Bring a valid photo ID with your home address. It's required for entry to the private yacht club where lunch is served, and without it you won't be able to access the lunch venue. Wear soft-soled, non-marking shoes (no heels) and a light jacket.
What wildlife might we see on the harbour?
Penguins and seals live in the coastal national park areas you pass through. Dolphins are occasionally spotted, though sightings aren't guaranteed. The skipper will point out what's visible as you cruise.
Sydney Harbour Cruise with Private Yacht Club Lunch
4h · EN
from AU$ 450 per person
≈ US$ 320 in your currency
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