- On November 21, Fantasea is launching its new Bondi Offshore Express cruise.
- We were among the first to try the new cruise, which departs from Campbells Cove.
- The route from Sydney Harbour to the famous Bondi Beach lets you see Sydney from a whole new perspective.
As we stand on deck in the middle of Sydney Harbour, about to embark on Fantasea’s first-ever offshore cruise, beloved Bondi Lifeguard Anthony “Harries” Carroll (who joins us for this exclusive journey) tells me that the Opera House is Sydney’s most visited attraction, just ahead of his personal favourite, Bondi Beach.
Fantasea’s latest offshore cruise, the Bondi Offshore Express, gives visitors the best view of both. The high-speed adventure is two hours long, taking you beyond the harbour and out into the Pacific Ocean. From November 21, guests can hop aboard Fantasea’s new purpose-built vessel, Totally Wild, for breathtaking views along Sydney’s coastline.
We boarded Fantasea’s new offshore cruise to see what this new route has to offer.
READ MORE: The Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition opens this Thursday— don’t miss these stunning shots
An exciting new route
As the new cruise ventures out of Sydney Harbour, guests will see popular Sydney suburbs like Rose Bay from the sea, with the chance to see the iconic seaplane touch down right beside you. Fantasea’s guides will point out some of the city’s favourite harbour beaches, including Nielsen Park’s newly reopened Shark Beach and the hidden gam, Camp Cove.
As you reach the entry to Sydney Harbour, you’ll cruise past stunning rock formations as well as the Australian fur seal colony by South Head. You’ll then be brought close to striking yellow cliffs, with chances to snap the beautiful Diamond Bay from the ocean. Harries encourages us to check out the Federation Cliff Walk from North Bondi to Watson’s Bay— it’s just got a swanky new upgrade thanks to a rebuilt boardwalk.
The cruise then continues down to the main event: Bondi Beach. It’s Harries’ time to shine, and as the famous beach comes into view, he says, “This is nuts, it’s as good as it gets.”
READ MORE: Sails on Lavender Bay has the best harbour view in Sydney (and the food’s good too)
Harries, who has done over 6500 rescues in the area, points out the famous Bondi Rescue lifeguard tower and the iconic Bondi Icebergs. He also tells us about Bondi’s resident shark, Norman, the local grey nurse shark, which is frequently spotted in the waters. Unfortunately, he wasn’t out and about during our cruise, but we did spot some flying fish and a lone seal.
After looking out over Bondi for a while, we then turned around and headed back to Sydney Harbour. A warning to those who get seasick— the offshore aspect of this new cruise means that the water can be very choppy. Those who don’t have a great pair of sealegs might want to sit this one out. Obviously, this is weather-dependent; however, on our cruise, there were a few green faces. That being said, if you love an adventure, this is the perfect choice.
Make sure you don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and weather-appropriate clothing (offshore may mean ocean spray!) Some snacks and a water bottle will also guarantee you don’t get hungry or thirsty during your cruise.
READ MORE: Plan ahead: Christmas comes early for Sydney with these annual events
The verdict
Fantasea’s new Bondi Offshore Express offers visitors a new way of seeing Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs. Venturing out of the harbour and into the open sea allows cruisers to see stunning cliff faces, beautiful wildlife and also the stunning properties that line the coast.
However, Fantasea have also taken into account that visitors will want to see the classics: you’ll get the perfect shot of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, and you’ll see Bondi Beach from a whole new perspective, and hopefully some of the much-loved resident wildlife that are often spotted at the beach.
As whale watching season comes to a close, Fantasea’s new Bondi Offshore Express is the perfect way to experience Sydney and its spectacular cliffs, beaches and coastal landmarks.
Bondi Offshore Express
Where: Meet at Campbells Cove.
When: Departs most days at 11:15am and 2pm (as well as 9am on weekends only).
Price: From $79, but you can SAVE 15% with the code STG15
