Sydney Spring experiences

Spring in Sydney brings longer, milder days, and most of the good stuff happens on the harbour, in the air or out in the Blue Mountains. This page covers spring experiences in Sydney, from jet boat rides and sunrise kayaking to seaplane and balloon flights, plus day tours to the mountains.

Spring on Sydney Harbour: jet boat, sunrise kayak and Opera House tour

The Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride leaves from the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay and packs 30 minutes with 270-degree spins, power-brake stops and fishtails. Fort Denison, Goat Island, Taronga Zoo and the Harbour Bridge flash past between the splashes, so don't plan on stepping off dry.

If you'd rather go slow, the Sydney Harbour Sunrise Kayak with Breakfast is a 2 hour paddle from Kirribilli in single kayaks, past the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as the sun comes up. Groups top out at 12 paddlers, and photos are shared by the end of the day. A breakfast and coffee credit at the local Flying Bear cafe finishes it off.

The Sydney Opera House Guided Tour takes an hour inside Jørn Utzon's UNESCO World Heritage-listed building at Bennelong Point. You see theatres and foyers, and most general tours include a digital story with 270-degree visuals and surround sound. Tours run in English, German, French, Spanish and Mandarin.

Flights over Sydney: seaplane, helicopter, hot air balloon and indoor skydiving

The 30 Minute Scenic Flight over Sydney takes off from Lyne Park Seaplane Terminal at Rose Bay, heads north to Palm Beach (the Home and Away location), and returns over Pittwater for a circuit of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

The Sydney Heli Flight is 20 minutes in a shared helicopter from Mascot, with views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Bondi Beach. Headsets carry the commentary. More flights, including other helicopter options, sit in the Sydney flying experiences category.

Spring mornings suit the Sunrise Sydney Hot Air Balloon Flight from Camden. The balloon drifts over the Nepean River, the towns of Camden and Picton and farmland, with the Blue Mountains catching the first light and the Sydney skyline far off. A celebration breakfast at The Camden Valley Inn follows, and the balloon goes where the breeze does, so no two mornings look the same.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving in Penrith keeps you out of the weather. You train first, then float in a wind tunnel in a flight suit, helmet and goggles with an instructor beside you.

Jet skiing on the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney

The Hawkesbury River Jet Ski Tour starts at Brooklyn with a practice ride on a 1km track. Then you head out past cliffs, beaches, sandbars and islands, riding flat out or cruising the riverbanks and keeping an eye out for wildlife. It runs for 1 hour and the product page lists it as seasonal, so check dates before you build a trip around it.

Blue Mountains day tours from Sydney

The Blue Mountains Day Tour from Sydney with Harbour Cruise includes hotel pick-up and National Park fees. It leaves around 7:45am and gets back at about 6:30pm. Stops include the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, a bush walk to Wentworth Falls and Kings Tableland, before the Rivercat takes you back along the Parramatta River.

The Blue Mountains All Inclusive Full Day Tour with Scenic World adds Scenic World's Skyway, Railway and Cableway, a guided rainforest boardwalk in the Jamison Valley and a chef-prepared lunch at a mountainside hotel. A stop at a wildlife park lets you feed a kangaroo and see a koala. It also finishes with a river cruise into Sydney.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need kayaking experience for the Sydney Harbour Sunrise Kayak?

No. The Sydney Harbour Sunrise Kayak with Breakfast suits all skill levels, starts with a safety briefing and equipment fitting, and caps groups at 12 paddlers.

How long does the hot air balloon flight from Camden take?

The Sunrise Sydney Hot Air Balloon Flight from Camden is about an hour in the air. Allow around three hours in total, including the celebration breakfast at The Camden Valley Inn.

Do I need a licence for the Hawkesbury River jet ski tour?

No licence is needed for the Hawkesbury River Jet Ski Tour, and first-timers are welcome. Riders must be at least seven years old, and the tour starts with a safety induction and a practice ride.

What is the difference between the two Blue Mountains day tours?

The Blue Mountains All Inclusive Full Day Tour with Scenic World adds Scenic World rides, lunch and a wildlife park. The Harbour Cruise tour focuses on lookouts, waterfalls and a bush walk.

Local tip: The jet boat leaves from Circular Quay and the Opera House tour starts at Bennelong Point, so the two fit neatly into one harbourside day. Keep the balloon or the Blue Mountains for another morning.

Pick a harbour ride, a flight or a day in the mountains and lock it in. All good days are waiting.