Ocean Extreme offers the most expensive whale watching experience in Sydney – but is it worth it?

With so many whale watching experiences available, why is Ocean Extreme so much more expensive? We booked a trip on Osprey to find out exactly what you’re paying for.

What do Will Smith, Prince William, Geri Halliwell, Bear Grylls and Paris Hilton all have in common? They’ve all cruised Sydney Harbour on an Ocean Extreme boat. Unsurprisingly, with a star-studded clientele like that, a whale watching trip with Ocean Extreme is the most expensive in Sydney.

Costing $139 per person for a two-hour tour, it’s a significant price hike compared to the standard ~$85 tour. Captain Cook Cruises offer a 2.5-hour experience for just $69 per person, for example. It got us wondering: why does Ocean Extreme cost so much more, and is it worth the extra dollars?

There’s only one way to find out. We paid our dues and went to see what you get for your money.

The ride

Approaching Campbell’s Cove Pontoon, near The Squire’s Landing pub, a major selling point soon becomes clear. Many of the whale watching cruises use mid-size vessels, not too dissimilar to the Harbour ferries. Ocean Extreme, however, use small boats. They’re open and low to the water, meaning you get an up-close and unobstructed view. They are also the fastest operating commercial vessels in Sydney, so you get out to the open ocean (and the whales) super fast.

Orca: The smallest vessel in the fleet, it seats 12 passengers (age 12+) and is Sydney’s fastest commercial vessel with a top speed of 49 knots.
Osprey: Best suited for those looking for comfort, this boat has regular seating and space to move around, but is still capable of reaching speeds of up to 41 knots. The minimum age is 6 years old.
Extreme: Used to be the fastest, until Orca came along. This 11.3 metre rigid inflatable vessel can reach speeds of up to 45 knots and holds only 21 passengers. The minimum age is 12 years old.

Once we all had our Ocean Extreme coats on (I highly recommend these – we were lucky with the weather, but it still gets windy out on the water), we took our seats and headed out. Conditions did get a little choppy once we passed the headlands, but you soon get into the swing of things once you’re focused on looking out for humpbacks.

We rode on Osprey and were flanked by Orca and Extreme the entire time, sticking as a team of three vessels while tracking down a passing pod.

Our guide was Sean, of @seansperception fame (if you don’t know, get to know), who shared expert tips on how to spot signs of movement in the water, as well as other facts about humpback whales.

Did you know a mother will feed her calf up to 500 litres of milk per day? Or that a calf will put on 40–50kg each day?

Anyway, back to the tour. It took around 30 minutes to reach open ocean from Circular Quay. Once there, we found a spot near some other cruise boats and kept our eyes fixed on the waves. It wasn’t long before the main stars of the show turned up…

The whales

We spotted a pod of three whales after around 10 minutes of searching, their tell-tale spout signalling their presence. There was a calf in this pod, meaning they would surface more frequently, every four to seven minutes.

Sean shared that the team hadn’t seen a breach all week though, so the pressure was on.

Luckily for us, we didn’t have to wait long before the trio put on a show. Only 45 minutes since we left Circular Quay, the first whale breached, followed quickly by a second. It was the start of an exhilirating three-minute spectacle, with six breaches and a lot of tail slapping. Mission accomplished.

It set the bar high early on, and those were the only breaches during our tour sadly. However, we tracked the pod for a full hour, catching plenty of sightings — and a slightly nerve-wracking close encounter as they headed towards us, before diving and reappearing the other side of our boats.

We headed back in to the harbour 90 minutes after departing Circular Quay.

The verdict

If you’re prone to seasickness or want to sip a coffee in comfort while slowly cruising the coast, this isn’t the tour for you. But if you want something exhilarating and genuinely memorable, Ocean Extreme is worth every cent. It’s by far the best money I’ve spent so far this winter.

With Ocean Extreme, you’re paying for speed, intimacy and proximity. There are plenty of other tours that are cheaper and even last longer, although that’s partly due to travelling at a slower speed.

Later that day, we were also sent 25 photos (see above) that Sean had taken on his professional camera — with a much steadier hand — at no extra cost.

All in all, Ocean Extreme offers a thrilling experience that feels personal and gets you up close to the action. While the upfront cost may raise a few eyebrows, the return on investment is clear. From the sheer speed and agility of the vessels to the smaller group sizes and the bonus of professional photos, you’re not just paying more, you’re getting more.

Still not sure? Take a look at our complete whale watching guide, which includes discount codes for cruises and the best coastal spots so you don’t even have to leave solid ground.

We were offered a 15 per cent discount on our Ocean Extreme whale watching experience.

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Ocean Extreme whale watching

Duration: Two hours.
Cost: $139 per person.
Age limit: Minimum six years on Osprey, or 12 years on Orca or Extreme.
Departure points: Circular Quay at Campbell’s Cove Pontoon, Manly Wharf at Manly Kayak Centre, or Rose Bay Boat ramp.

Find out more at oceanextreme.com.au