Most Aussies would agree the ultimate way to celebrate Australia Day is with a harbour cruise. Sydney Travel Guide has waded through all the options in 2026 to bring you all of the best floating fun for your day on the water.
It’d be un-Australian to celebrate Australia Day without some sort of water-based activity. And the ultimate fun is to hit the harbour for a cruise. It doesn’t need to be flash or fancy, it doesn’t need to burst the purse strings. It just needs to stay afloat, preferably provide a few sangas (aka lunch or dinner) and embrace all the Aussie traditions of flags, green and gold, pumping music, shenanigans, tom-foolery, some hooligans, plenty of riff raff, loads of banter, a few loud sheilas and… you get the drift.
Here’s our list of the best harbour cruise options to embrace the Aussie tradition of sailing on our nation’s proudest day on January 26.
The best cruises to take on Australia Day
Sydney by Sail
Best for: Australia Day Live concert. A family and child-friendly cruise option.
This is a fleet of eight luxury sailing yachts, and in 2026 they’re forming a series of sailing manoeuvres in synchronised formation within Circular Quay, called a 2026 Australia Day Yacht Ballet. This unique activation takes place in the heart of iconic Sydney Harbour, within the cove of Circular Quay. The yachts will be dressed to impress, lit up for the thousands watching on the foreshore, and the millions watching at home.
The 2026 Australia Day Yacht Ballet is always great to watch on the day, with all yachts dressed to impress with lights beaming for the thousands watching from the foreshore and the millions watching at home. Departing at 4:30pm and returning at 9:30pm, the vessels will shoulder plenty of the entertainment for the Australia Day Live concert. Plus, you can BYO at no extra charge and get some immersive behind-the-scenes context to how this extravagant Australia Day plan comes together.
Price: $295 per Adult, $147.50 per Child (Under 16) , $750 for Family (2 Adults, 2 Kids)
When: 4:30pm – 9:30pm
What’s included: BYO food and drink at no extra cost, or order through the gourmet suppliers.
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Captain Cook Cruises
Best for: Australia Day Lunch, Ferrython, Australia Day Harbour Parade and ferrython and a dinner, dj and fireworks option. Child and family-friendly cruises.
Captain Cook Cruises is generally the first operator Sydneysiders think of when looking for an Australian Day cruise. They’ve got all bases covered on the day with six cruise itineraries planned, from a three-hour Australia Day Lunch cruise onboard The Jackson ($165pp) to a four-hour Australia Day DJ & Fireworks cruise ($119pp), or the dinner cruise at $175 per person.
Two of the most popular (and shorter) options, however, are the Australia Day Ferrython cruise ($59pp) and Australia Day Harbour Parade cruise ($59pp). Both have been timed specifically to offer the best views of each event. Our pick would be the Australia Day Harbour Parade cruise, which lasts two hours onboard a twin-deck rocket catamaran with both indoor and outdoor viewings.
Official Australia Day Live Participating Vessels: Sydney 2000 and Starship Sydney
Official Australia Day Parade Participating Vessel: Sydney 2000
Price: The Ferrython and Parade cruises start at $59 pp. Lunch cruise starts at $165 pp, $175 pp for the dinner cruise and $119 pp for the DJ and fireworks. Kids prices are available.
What’s included: Different inclusions are available depending on the lunch or dinner or parade cruise options. See below for further details.
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Sydney Tall Ships
Best for: Sydney Tall Ships race, Ferrython, Australia Day Harbour Parade, child and family friendly.
If you want a more hands-on or interactive experience to enjoy the sunshine on Australia Day, The Sydney tall Ships cruises are the best way to go. You can enjoy live performances, interactive games, and even commentary about the history of Australia Day and its connection to the Harbour.
More than that, you can even join in on the events of the day. Aboard one of our historic tall ship vessels, Coral Trekker, Soren Larsen or Southern Swan, and you can take part in the thrilling Australia Day Tall Ships’ Race. You can sit back and cheer as the crew set sails and battle for line honours or you can pitch in and help if you want to. You can even climb the mast and see all the action from there. Or not, if heights aren’t your thing.
These historic Sydney Tall Ships docked at Campbells Cove come into play on Australia Day with an exciting race that’s been an integral part of the celebrations since 1994. If you want to be part of the action you can book a spot onboard the fleet’s Coral Trekker, Soren Larsen or Southern Swan as they take part in the race. Guests are even given the opportunity to pitch in and help out on the day.
Itineraries include viewings of the epic Fighter Jet Flyover and 21 Gun Salute as well as a prime spot for the Australia Day Harbour Parade. All ships will have a substantial lunch menu with unlimited wines, beers and soft drink, as well as live music (no music for Coral Trekker, however) and free mast climbs.
Price: All cruises start from $190 per child or $265 per adult.
What’s included: Choose from the Lunch Cruise, or join the Australia Day Dinner Cruise for the Tall Ships’ Race, Dinner & Fireworks display.
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Sydney Showboats
Best for: Australia Day live concert, night time party atmosphere, live entertainment, signature packages.
The Showboat has proudly participated in the Australia Day Lit Vessels Parade for the past two years and will be doing so again in 2026, giving guests exclusive access to the prime exclusion zone for up-close views of the Australia Day Live concert and the spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky.
Showboat’s Australia Day dinner cruises on Sydney Harbour are much sought after for the signature package offering deluxe dining and drinks combined with a high-energy, visually stunning cabaret show that takes you on a ‘Voyage of Love’ across countries and cultures and culminates in a heartwarming Australian finale. The other packages focus more on the dining experience combined with the harbour festivities – but all in all a complete Australia Day cruise experience on Sydney Harbour.
Sydney Showboat’s evening cruise is an Australia Day favourite. Leaving at 6:30pm and returning at 10pm, the Australia Day dinner cruise is a great way to not only witness the Australia Day Live concert and the Australia Day fireworks, but also sit down to Showboat’s signature cabaret show.
Price: Showboat Australia Day Fireworks & Light Parade Dinner Cruise $175pp. Drinks Package included for $200.
When: Board the evening cruise at King Street Wharf 5 at 6:15pm. Returns 10pm
What’s included: The signature package includes deluxe dining and drinks combined with a high-energy cabaret show
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Australian Cruise Group
Best for: A huge selection of different options, from self catered daytime cruises to the fully catered deluxe dining and drinks option in the evening. Australian Cruise Group has a huge selection of cruise options available on Australia Day. They’re also reasonably priced, as well as offering a more deluxe dining and drinks package option.
Lunch and Spectator Cruises
Celebrate on an Australia Day lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour – a premium glass boat experience with dining and drinks or a casual spectator cruise that lets you bring your own food on board. Both options promise front-row views of the day’s spectacular Harbour events, including the 21-Gun Salute, Ferrython, Maritime Mayhem, Harbour Parade, Tall Ships Race and the Australia Day Regatta, all from the heart of the Harbour.
Dinner Cruises
Australia Day fireworks dinner cruises on Sydney Harbour are perfect to witness the grand evening finale. Departing early evening, these dinner cruises feature chef-prepared three or four-course menus, unlimited beverages and great views for Australia Day Live at the Opera House. Watch the Lit Vessels Parade glide down the harbour before fireworks light up the sky. The legendary Showboat Australia day cruise on Sydney Harbour has been an official participant in the parade with access to the prime exclusion zone
Price: The cheapest option starts at $69 and the biggest package deal is $225 per person.
When: Daytime cruises start from 10:45am for 4 hours. Evening cruises start from 7pm for 3-4 hours
What’s included: Several cruise options either offer byo food and drinks or the fully catered options. See below for further details.
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Fusion Cruises
Best for: Seafood lunch and dinner, Aussie bbq style, relaxed atmosphere, catamaran vessels
Fusion Cruises is offering two harbour cruise options that offer value, atmosphere, true blue Aussie music and a bbq menu. The beauty of these cruises is that they’re operated on catamarans, offering a true close-to-water experience.
The Lunch Cruise includes four hours cruising around the harbour from 10:35 am-2:35 pm, with a Fusion seafood buffet menu, unlimited selection of spirits, beers, red wines, white wines, sparkling wine, soft drinks and juices, a DJ playing classic Australian tunes and an Aussie BBQ on board.
Or, you can join Fusion Cruises onboard for a dinner cruise with fireworks and take part in the lit parade. The Australia Day dinner cruise includes the three level Catamaran Australia day special cruise (6:35 pm-10:35 pm), Fusion gourmet buffet menu, unlimited selection of spirits, beers, red wines, white wines, sparkling wine, soft drinks and juices.
Price: Lunch and dinner cruises are $145 for children and $185 per adult.
When: King St Wharf 7. Pick up at 10:35am and drop off at 2:35pm for the daytime cruise and pick up at 6:35 pm & drop off at 10:35 pm for the dinner cruise.
What’s included: See details above for the different inclusions from the lunch cruise to the dinner cruise. Or see below for more information.
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Harbourside Cruises
Best for: An in-house chef prepares a high quality canapes and grazing menu. The vessels include full air conditioned catamarans.
The Harbourside Cruises keeps it simple and sweet. One catamaran with air con treats guests to a lunch cruise and then a dinner cruise. You will be treated to an Australia Day Lunch with yummy canapes prepared by an in-house chef, whilst enjoying some cold drinks, lapping up the sun, listening to some iconic Aussie tunes, and enjoying the sights that only Sydney Harbour can provide.
The cruise begins with a ferrython race followed by sights of the aerial displays, tall ships, and a sailing regatta. The luxurious catamaran called the Harbour Spirit also offers indoor or outdoor options so you can enjoy the best of the views or relax in the air con when you need to escape the Aussie sun. The dinner cruise starts at 6pm and offers the same inclusions with canapes and grazing menu, plus drinks package and DJ beats, plus all the fireworks displays.
Price: Adults – $179pp | Children $95pp
When: King Street Wharf No 9 Darling Harbour, 10.15am – 2.15pm. Dinner Cruise is from 6pm to 10pm
What’s included: Includes Lunch / dinner canapes, grazing station & drinks package plus Party DJ.
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Magic Cruises
Best for: A no-fuss experience.
This is a standing canape style harbour cruise with minimal fan fare. The menu is basic but does the trick. The soft drinks are unlimited and included but the alcohol is available at an extra cost from the bar. There’s live onboard entertainment and the vessel Magic is a good size, with bench seating along the sides for plenty of room to view all the action throughout the day and or night on the harbour.
Price: $70 for kids, $145 for adults
When: Daytime cruise starts from 10:45am – 2:45pm. Night cruise is from 6:30pm to 10:30pm departing from King Street Wharf 3.
What’s included: Standing canapé / mini buffet menu, unlimited Soft drinks. All other beverages available at the licensed bar.
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Sydney Princess Cruises
Best for: This is one of the most affordable options on the harbour. An absolute bargain if you want to get out on the water without breaking the budget. Especially good for large family groups.
Sydney Princess Cruises have one of the best long-standing reputations in the harbour cruise business. You can embark in the morning on the Australia Day lunch cruise, or book the evening Australia day dinner cruise. You will witness the stellar views of the city both during the day and night, enjoy a traditional three-course Australian BBQ with good old Aussie lamingtons and fresh cream for dessert while cruising the beautiful Sydney Harbour waterways.
Drinks are not included but are available for purchase as you go.
Price: $85 for adults and $45 for kids. Free for kids under 4 years.
When: 10:15am – 2:00pm for the day cruise. 6:00pm – 10:00pm for the night cruise. King St Wharf, Darling Harbour.
What’s included: Buffet Aussie BBQ Lunch Buffet (Lunch cruise). Three-course traditional Aussie BBQ (Dinner cruise). Drinks are not included but available for purchase from the bar.
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