Sydney Harbour - Sailing Hands-On Experience
- Duration
- 1 h 30 min
- Group size
- Up to 4 people
- Guide
- English
- Ages
- 7 and over
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Our take
This is the hands-on option on our harbour cruises page: doing rather than watching. Up to four people sail a 24 ft keelboat with a professional skipper from Manly, for 1.5 or 2.5 hours. You can help set the sails and steer, or simply sit back. The route passes waterfront homes and quiet harbour beaches. It is rated 5.0, from 25 reviews.
Read the fine print on the route. The Opera House and Harbour Bridge are only on the longer cruise and depend on the weather, so the 1.5-hour sail may not reach them. It also needs at least two people booked for safety; if not, the operator offers another date or time. You make your own way to Manly Yacht Club, which is a walk along the beachfront from the Manly ferry, about 30 minutes from Circular Quay. Children must be over 7, and basic swimming skills are recommended. The yacht club is wheelchair accessible, but the boat is not.
Good for
- Anyone who wants to sail, not just ride
- Small groups of two to four
Think twice if
- You mainly want the Opera House from the water. Book the longer sail or a cruise
- Wheelchair users
Written by SydneySide Tours from the listing, traveller reviews and the videos behind our comparison pages. Checked October 2026. How we review tours.
From the operator
Ahoy there, sailor! Embark on a sailing cruise and experience the magic of Sydney from the water. You'll be sailing a 24ft keelboat with our professional skippers.
Departing from Manly, you'll have the opportunity to help set the sails and steer the boat, or you can simply sit back, relax and take in the views.
Cruise past the multi-million dollar waterfront mansions of the rich and famous, discover hidden harbour beaches and revel in uninterrupted views of iconic attractions including the Sydney Opera House* and Harbour Bridge*.
Other things to note:
Basic swimming skills are recommended but not necessary
Important: we will only go ahead if there are two or more participants enrolled for safety reasons. Should there not be enough participants to proceed our team will contact you and offer you an alternative date/time.
- The sites seen are weather dependant. It is not possible to sail to Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House on the short cruise.
From the listing by Manly Sailing Pty Ltd on Viator.
The tour, stop by stop
- Sydney Harbour is spectacular and the best way to see it is on the water.
- World-Famous Sydney Opera house* seen from your very own Sail Yacht *only on longer cruise and weather dependant
- Such an iconic landmark for you to see from the water in Sydney *only on longer cruise and weather dependant
What's included
- Sailing Instruction (if wanted)
- Safety equipment
- 1.5 or 2.5 Hour Cruise on Sydney Harbour
- Experienced crew
Not included
- Please make your own way to and from Manly Sailing
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an Adult
- Basic swimming skills are recommended but not necessary
- Children must be over 7 years old to take part in this experience
Meeting point
We are in Manly and very easy to get to. If you arrive via ferry then head out of the ferry entrance and turn right, walk along the beach front until you reach the yacht club. Our office is located on the wharf overlooking the water.
We start our lessons on the wharf below Manly Yacht club.
Where it ends
We are in Manly and very easy to get to. If you arrive via ferry then head out of the ferry entrance and turn right, walk along the beach front until you reach the yacht club. Our office is located on the wharf overlooking the water.
We start our lessons on the wharf below Manly Yacht club.
Your Viator voucher confirms the exact spot and time.
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Manly Yacht club is stroller, wheelchair and service animal accessible but the boat is not
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How refunds and weather cancellations work is on our booking help page.
How it compares
We compare this tour with the other options on our harbour cruises page, with what each one includes and where it leaves from. How we choose tours.
More tours we compare on harbour cruises
-
1 h 30 min -
1 h 30 min -
1 hour -
1 h 30 min