From the world’s greatest light festival and incredible Humpback Whale migration to a simple EOFY work celebration or Christmas in July, there are plenty of reasons to have a boat party in Sydney Harbour to keep your love of sailing alive throughout the winter months.
Depending on where you hail from, you might not know that Sydney enjoys generally dry and mild winters. In fact, the weather is so good that it offers some of the best boating days of the year, with less wind and fewer boats, making for calmer waters and more private bays and beaches.
The sunsets, albeit earlier in the evening, are just as stunning, and the drinks and canapes are just as delicious.
So, if you’ve been considering a luxury yacht charter or boat party on Sydney Harbour, it’s time to start planning!
Here’s our comprehensive guide to what’s on in Sydney to get you on the harbour this winter.
VIVID Sydney Festival
In what is shaping up to be the biggest and brightest light festival ever, the Vivid Sydney lights will turn back on from Friday, 24 May, to Saturday, 15 June 2024.
Vivid is one of Sydney’s most highly anticipated events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors, tourists, and locals alike. It features the world’s most spectacular, boundary-pushing light shows, which get better year after year.
With so much to see from the harbour, we have the inside scoop on which luxury charter boats are hosting special private two-hour Vivid Sydney luxury harbour cruises, where you and your favourite colleagues, friends or family can sit back, relax and enjoy the light show away from the crowds, traffic and slow walkers.
For those looking to attend with young families, we have boats perfect for kids. They have fewer stairs and an open-plan layout that makes supervising easier. This comes from experience, and our kids, who are 2, 4, and 6 years old, absolutely love being a part of the action!
Your 2024 Essential guide to vivid by boat
What can you see from the harbour this year? As seasoned festival veterans, we have combed the schedule and compiled a list of what you’ll see from your boat party on Sydney Harbour at Vivid Sydney 2024.
Because who doesn't love fireworks?!
And if you haven't experienced them from right there on the water in Sydney Harbour, you're in for a breathtaking experience!
Don't miss opening night fireworks on Fri, 24 May.
The famous Vivid Sydney drone show is back with a new theme.
More than 700 drones will take to the sky to form universal symbols of love across the night sky.
Love is in the Air is not to be missed and is only scheduled on 8 June, 9 June, and 15 June.
This year, Cockle Bay will host the incredible 8-minute Hika Rakuyo, combining reflective dark water, brilliant lasers and projections, and Japanese philosophy centred around flowers as a metaphor for the beauty of life.
This is truly a unique spectacle - it's a must!
Global Rainbow has previously lit up the skies of London, Berlin, Toronto and Northern Ireland.
It will see beams of rainbow lasers fan out from the iconic Sydney Tower Eye stretching 40km, uniting Sydney and lighting up the night sky for all to see.
The Harbour Bridge Pylons will explode into a kaleidoscope this year in a highly anticipated vision created by Indigenous artist Tori-Jay.
Faces of Change is a reminder of our connection to nature and the urgent imperative to protect it.
Catch this on the roof of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
BARANI, a Gadigal word meaning yesterday, offers bittersweet narrative looking at the juxtaposition of the Sydney cityscape and examines our current relationship to nature.
Four thousand LED candles will flicker along the sandstone blocks of Nawi Cove, each representing the increasing number of stateless people worldwide.
The artist of Stateless suggests cruising past this humbling work to absorb its beauty, gravity and strength of human spirit
Future Natives features a series of stylised light sculptures of Australian native birds in and around Circular Quay.
You'll see Rainbow Lorikeets and Cockatoos, as well as some more unique native species like Try to spot and identify all 13; it's harder than you think!
Vivid Light on Sydney Harbour showcases a flotilla of ferries and big boats alike lighting up in unison with the city’s skyscrapers.
This is truly spectacular and a nice reminder of the connection between land, sea and sky in this beautiful city.
The lights are back on at the Royal Botanical Gardens with a reimagined Lightscape installation that looks absolutely gorgeous.
PSA—if you're on foot, it’s a ticketed event that is always a fan favourite, so make sure you book early!
Experience vivid like never before
Book a private Vivid boat party Sydney Harbour Cruise today! Here are a few of our favourite yachts offering private Vivid Sydney cruise packages, available now.
$2,850
2hr BYO cruise for up to 15 guests
($25pp thereafter)
+ beverage package: $45pp for 2hrs
+ grazing board: $25pp, minimum 10pax
+ extra charter hours: $1000 per hour + $15pp for extra bev package hours
$2,400
2hr BYO cruise for up to 15 guests
($25pp thereafter)
+ beverage package: $45pp for 2hrs
+ grazing board: $25pp, minimum 10pax
+ extra charter hours: $800 per hour + $15pp for extra bev package hours
$8,500
2hr All-Inclusive VIVID Sydney Cruise
For up to 20 guests
Includes:
- Canapes
- Beverage Package
$7,570
2hr VIVID Sydney Cruise
For up to 20 guests
Includes:
- Canapes
BYO Beverages
$11,500
2hr All-Inclusive VIVID Sydney Cruise
For up to 35 guests
Includes:
- Grazing Board
- Beverage Package
$4,999
2hr All-Inclusive VIVID Sydney Cruise
For up to 20 guests
Includes:
- Grazing Board
- Beverage Package
$6,300
2hr All-Inclusive VIVID Sydney Cruise
For up to 30 guests
Includes:
- Grazing Board
- Beverage Package
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
COME OUT AND WATCH THE WHALES!
The great Australian whale migration is about to start and we have the perfect whale watching cruises that will get you up close and personal with these big friendly giants on our gorgeous boats.
Suitable for up to 12 guests, you and your guests will be picked up from a Sydney Harbour wharf of your choosing, and following a gorgeous hour-long harbour cruise, you’ll be out in the open ocean watching the gorgeous humpback whales as they move gracefully through the Tasman Sea.
Why not make brekkie or lunch out of it and either book a private chef to prepare a gorgeous meal for you and your family or keep it casual with a few platters or our oh-so-popular Classic BBQ menu? Drinks are a must, whether it be a few hot chocolates, a beer and champagne—or both!
The best sea conditions for whale watching is first thing in the morning, so we recommend a morning cruise from 8am – 12pm. Also, in our opinion, June and July are the best months for spotting whales so keep this in mind when booking a date.
want to know more?
Visit our experiences page dedicated to whale-watching charters for everything you need to know, including FAQs and your ideal cruise itinerary. If you have any questions, reach out and we’ll be happy to help!
Ready to set sail? We’re here to help!
VIVID Sydney is just one of those events you have to experience from the water. And seeing a gentle giant breech from a nearby boat? breathtaking!
Time is running out to make this year’s VIVID unforgettable but send us an email or give us a call straight away – we’ll get your itinerary sorted and have you on your way to an unforgettable event!
Our whale watching experiences are not to be missed – get in touch and we’ll make winter on the Harbour unmissable!
