Embark on a Luxury Sydney Harbour Cruise

Sydney Luxury Cruise

Soak up mesmerising views of Sydney aboard a privately chartered boat on its iconic harbour. Discover hidden coves and beaches, or simply relax on deck as you navigate Sydney Harbour's sparkling waters with a crisp glass of wine in your hand and fresh local seafood at your fingertips. Whether you're keen to take charge yourself or would prefer an expert crew handle everything, you'll find a range of operators headquartered along the Sydney waterfront. Here's a selection of the most luxurious vessels to hire.

Live it up on a skippered vessel

Feel spoilt for choice with Sydney Harbour Yacht Charter's gleaming fleet of superyachts and motor yachts for up to 110 guests. These are some of Sydney's best-equipped boats, whether you prefer formal dining, fishing with state-of-the-art gear or spending the night in five-star digs. Slip into the role of a film star — or royalty — as you head out on the water. After all, the company has hosted British royalty, celebrities such as Robert de Niro, and US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Revel in a sense of style as you cruise Sydney Harbour, or up and down the east coast, with Ghost Elite Charters, a boutique outfit with two luxurious yachts to choose from. Feast on fare from the company's in-house culinary team or its stable of renowned freelance chefs. Make the most of your time on the harbour by staying the night on the Ghost II superyacht, which accommodates 12 guests overnight.

Take your pick from Sydney Luxury Cruise's veritable flotilla of opulent vessels ranging from a classic wooden speedboat to sleek cruisers and a superyacht. Or cast away on a voyage of discovery with Sydney Harbour Boat Tours, which specialises in half-day cruises on small boats to some of the harbour's lesser-known corners. Thrill to the discovery of secluded beaches and national parks as well as Sydney's most exclusive waterfront neighbourhoods on its private Sydney Harbour Discovery Cruise, and learn something new about Sydney from the local crew, who share their insider knowledge throughout the charter.

Be privy to some of the harbour's best-kept secrets with My Sydney Boat, which offers private eco-certified luxury charters for small groups. Feel the romance on a 90-minute Sydney Harbour Twilight Cruise, when the harbour is bathed in golden light, or make a longer booking to revel in the opportunity to explore secluded national park waterways and hidden beaches.

Enjoy the independence of self-drive options

Step into the captain's (boat)shoes for a day, or even a full weekend, on a bareboat charter, which comes minus the skipper and crew. Booking one in Sydney is quick and easy: generally, all you need to do is produce a valid boat licence or sign a statutory declaration confirming your ability. Companies specialising in bareboat charters include EastSail, located at Darling Point in the city's east, and Eastcoast Sailing, which offers pick-ups in Rushcutters Bay and Lavender Bay, also on the harbour's eastern shores.

Get a thrill driving a boat for the first time with operators such as Salty Boat Hire in Rose Bay and Manly Kayak Centre in Manly, which will let you hire a small boat after undertaking a basic training session. You can also enjoy an eco-friendly self-skippered jaunt on the harbour behind the wheel of Danish-designed electric GoBoat, based at Cabarita Point in Sydney's Inner West, which can fit up to eight people, as well as your pooch. Keep in mind that these vessels are speed-limited, so you won't be able to travel as far as you might on a skippered boat.

Leave the legwork to a cruise agent

Tap into the expert knowledge of an online cruise agent to book your next luxury harbour cruise. Any Boat brings together dozens of independent operators providing skippered services on Sydney Harbour. If only the biggest and best will do, check out Any Boat's luxury hire section, which spotlights 18 of Sydney's most lavish superyachts.

International broker Ahoy Club also caters to the top end of the market, with more than 100 skippered luxury yachts available for hire in Australia. Splash out on a four-hour harbour cruises or a weeklong jaunt along the New South Wales coast, departing from and returning to Sydney. (Note that prospective clients must register to access Ahoy Club's features.

Arrive at your harbourside destination in style

Lean into the convenience of flitting between waterfront hotspots on in your own water taxi. If you're overnighting at one of Sydney's dazzling waterfront luxury hotels, like the Park Hyatt Sydney or Pier One Sydney Harbour, stay in your luxury bubble by walking out of the lobby and straight into a water taxi to zip around the harbour. What better way to arrive at a waterside restaurant such as Catalina in Rose Bay? Speedy vessels from the likes of Majestic Water Taxis, VIP Water Taxis and Aquanox Water Taxis are a thrill to ride and, thanks to their compact size, can get into places on the shoreline that many larger boats can't.
* Destination NSW https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/

* Hannah Rayment at hannah.rayment@dnsw.com.au