The best Australia Day cruises in Sydney for 2025

Looking to take an Australia Day harbour cruise? Sydney Travel Guide has sifted through the many offerings in 2025 to bring you five of the best options.

One of the most popular ways to celebrate Australia Day in Sydney is by heading out on the harbour to catch all the action planned throughout the morning and afternoon. As per our official Australia Day guide, January 26 in Sydney should look as it does each year, with several time-honoured traditions bringing both land and sea to life.

But the on-water bits are usually the most popular, featuring thousands of spectators showing out to catch the Ferrython, Maritime Mayhem, Australia Day Harbour Parade and, of course, the thrilling roulettes from the Royal Australian Air Force spinning over Sydney Harbour.

If you want to take an Australian Day cruise to celebrate the day, take note of our top picks below. We’ve considered price, what you get, and what kind of vantage points you’ll be able to take to watch all the Sydney Harbour action on Sunday, January 26.


The best cruises to take on Australia Day


A Captain Cruise ship on Sydney Harbour during Australia Day.
Captain Cook’s Australia Day cruises are a popular way to celebrate January 26 (photo supplied).

1. Captain Cook Cruises

Best for: Australia Day Lunch, Ferrython, Australia Day Harbour Parade, Royal Australian Airforce Roulettes

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 ($199pp) to a four-hour Australia Day DJ & Fireworks cruise ($109pp).

Two of the most popular (and shorter) options, however, are the Australia Day Ferrython cruise ($55pp) and Australia Day Harbour Parade cruise ($55pp). 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.

captaincook.com.au

Three Sydney Tall Ships cruising Sydney Harbour on Australia Day.
Booking in for a spot on one of the Sydney Tall Ships to be part of the epic Australia Day race (photo supplied).

2. Sydney Tall Ships

Best for: Sydney Tall Ships race, Ferrython, Australia Day Harbour Parade, Royal Australian Airforce Roulettes

The 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 ($159 per adult, $89 per child), Soren Larsen ($265 per adult, $190 per child) or Southern Swan ($265 per adult, $190 per child) 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.

Join us aboard the one of our historic tall ship vessels Coral Trekker, Soren Larsen or Southern Swan as we take part in the thrilling Australia Day Tall Ships’ Race. Sit back and watch the crew set sails and battle for line honours – or pitch in and help if you want to!  Choose from this Lunch Cruise, or join our Australia Day Dinner Cruise for the Tall Ships’ Race, Dinner & Fireworks display.

sydneytallships.com.au

The Sydney Opera House with lasers in the sky.
Sailaway Sydney offers a great opportunity to take be part of the Australia Day Live celebrations (photo supplied).

3. Sailaway Sydney

Best for: Australia Day Live concert

Sailaway Sydney is your best choice if you want to be part of the Australia Day Live concert happening in the Sydney Opera House forecourt. The fleet’s two vessels, yacht Solace and catamaran Celesta, are both available with limited capacity so spectators can get right up close to the unique event, which features an on-water dance performance from a flotilla of yachts, tugs, jet skis and fly boarders.

Solace is one of the only vessels participating in the event and capacity is capped at 10 guests. We suggest booking that one in if you want to be a part of the Australia Day celebrations. The price is available upon application and includes a 4.5 sailing with a fully licensed skipper, the option to BYO or go full catering. Cleaning and fuel costs are included.

Note that Solace guests will form part of the “Lit Vessels Parade” around Circular Quay.

sailawaysydney.com.au

A concert in the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
Stepping onboard with Sydney by Sail is a great way to see the Australia Day Live concert (photo supplied).

4. Sydney by Sail

Best for: Australia Day Live concert

Be onboard one of eight luxury sailing yachts as they perform tight sailing manoeuvres in perfect synchronicity on Sydney Harbour. The 2025 Australia Day Yacht Ballet is always so 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.

If you want to be part of the action you’ll need to hit up Sydney by Sail who are in charge of the yachts on the day. 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.

sydneybysail.com

A Sydney Showboat lit up on Australia Day on Sydney Harbour.
Sydney Showboats not only bring you close to the Australia Day Live action but also have a special cabaret show planned (photo supplied).

5. Sydney Showboats

Best for: Australia Day live concert

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.

“Voyage of Love” has been playing since 1987 and its now the ninth season for this high-energy show on Sydney Harbour. If the Australia Day Live concert isn’t just enough entertainment for you, then this production will help round the day out with an all-Australian cast taking the audience through classic tunes from Paris, New York, Rio and Sydney.

sydneyshowboats.com.au


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