Review: Sydney Harbour BBQ Lunch Cruise
Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Sydney tours and experiences. You can book this tour here.
You can relax on its idyllic sandy beaches, hike along its rugged foreshores, or climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to admire its expanse.
But there’s really no better way to get to know Sydney Harbour than on a harbour cruise. You’ll discover secret coves between its delicate fingers, catch glimpses of its diverse marine inhabitants, and enjoy breathtaking views in every direction. It’s also a chance to see the city of Sydney from an entirely different perspective (without the crowds and traffic!).
Today I’m joining Sydney Princess Cruises on their three-hour Sydney Harbour BBQ Lunch Cruise, which includes a buffet-style meal. There are lots of harbour cruises on offer, but this one is particularly good value given lunch is included in the very reasonable price. It also offers the convenience of departure from Circular Quay, rather than Darling Harbour (which is slightly more difficult to get to).
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I arrive to board our spacious catamaran — the MV Jerry Bailey — at the appointed time, and everything runs like clockwork. The vessel has two decks, giving the 70 passengers on board plenty of room to spread out. It’s a warm February day with fluffy clouds drifting overhead, and many of my fellow guests choose to sit outside. Captain Sean welcomes us all on board and takes care of the housekeeping.
The engines rumble to life and we slowly move away from the Quay, leaving the hustle and bustle of the CBD in our wake. The city’s most famous landmarks — the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House — come into view. Out come the phones, marking the beginning of a furious few hours of selfie snapping. Our gentle cruising speed allows plenty of time for photos, along with the opportunity to get a good look at Sammy the seal — a regular visitor to the Opera House steps.
I take a break from taking happy-snaps to get some lunch from the buffet. There’s a good selection of grilled meats and salads on offer, along with tea and coffee. Drinks are available for purchase from the licensed bar. The indoor tables are surrounded by large picture windows, so diners can continue to enjoy the scenery.
We glide past historic Fort Denison, the Royal Botanic Garden, Woolloomooloo’s distinctive Finger Wharf, and Garden Island and the imposing vessels of the Royal Australian Navy. Sean provides commentary on each of the points of interest we encounter, and it’s both informative and entertaining. Our view soon becomes more voyeuristic as we cruise by the multi-million-dollar harbourside homes of Rose Bay and Vaucluse.
To our left is Shark Island — one of 13 islands dotted across the Harbour, and part of Sydney Harbour National Park. The island was named by the first inhabitants because of its shape (not because of what might lurk in the surrounding waters). The island served as an animal quarantine station and naval depot until 1975.
Further on we pass the heritage gun placements at Bradley’s Head, catch glimpses of Taronga Zoo’s enclosures, and spy the tranquil coves of Cremorne and Kirribilli.
All too soon it’s time to return to our berth at Circular Quay — well fed and much the wiser about the Harbour and its many features of note. It almost feels like I’ve been on an overseas voyage, and that welcome impression stays with me for the rest of the day.
The writer travelled as a guest of Sydney Princess Cruises. You can book this tour here.
Browse our full range of Sydney tours and experiences here. We offer a Best Price Guarantee.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Susan Hinchey is a freelance travel writer who, even as a teenager growing up in country New South Wales, knew she wanted to see the world. A couple of years out of high school, Susan embarked on an eight-week European Contiki tour. Since then she’s visited Alaska, Canada, Thailand, Vanuatu, Fiji, Greece, parts of North America, and Britain several times. Susan’s go-to getaway is a camping trip anywhere along the Australian coast. Her favourite travel moments have included sailing the Mediterranean and visiting Denali National Park in Alaska.
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