The Fine Print
Terms & Conditions
These terms apply when you book or take a tour, buy a gift voucher, or use our website. They are written to be clear and fair. Please read them before booking — by booking, you agree to them.
Last updated: 14 June 2026 · Effective: 14 June 2026
1. About these terms
These Terms & Conditions form the agreement between you and Explore Sydney Harbour for our tours, gift vouchers and website.
By making a booking, purchasing a gift voucher, or using our website, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these terms. If you are booking for other people, you agree to these terms on their behalf and are responsible for making sure they are aware of them. If you do not agree, please do not book.
These terms should be read together with our cancellation policy, our FAQ and our Privacy Policy.
2. Who we are
"Explore Sydney Harbour", "ESH", "we", "us" and "our" mean the business operating as Explore Sydney Harbour [Sailfish Holdings Pty Ltd, ABN 61 615 109 110], which provides self-drive guided speedboat tours departing from Rose Bay West Boat Ramp, Lyne Park, Rose Bay NSW 2029, Australia. "You" and "your" mean the person making the booking and each person taking part in the tour.
3. Bookings & confirmation
You can book online through our website, by phone on 0468 328 000, or by email at info@exploresydneyharbour.com.au. Online bookings are processed through our booking platform, FareHarbor.
A booking is only confirmed once you receive a confirmation from us (usually by email). Until then, your requested time is not guaranteed.
Each boat carries two people — one driver and one passenger — who may take turns driving. Larger groups can book multiple boats.
Please make sure the contact details and participant information you give us are accurate, including any accessibility, language or medical matters relevant to a safe tour.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your start time, as we begin the safety briefing promptly. Bookings are for a specific date and time.
4. Prices & payment
Prices are shown in Australian dollars (A$) and, where applicable, are inclusive of GST. Current prices are those displayed at the time of booking. Indicative pricing: Highlights Tour from A$149 per person; Grand Tour from A$199 per person. Prices may change from time to time, but the price confirmed for your booking will not change.
Payment is taken at the time of booking through our secure payment providers. We may offer Afterpay and other payment methods; these are subject to the provider's own terms.
There is no booking fee — there is nothing extra to pay on the day for what is included in your tour.
Your tour price includes your guide, life jackets, the safety briefing and the photos taken by your guide during the tour, as described for your chosen tour.
5. Gift vouchers
Gift vouchers are available for the Highlights Tour and the Grand Tour and are delivered by email.
Vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date of purchase and can be redeemed for any available tour date, subject to availability.
To redeem a voucher, book a tour and present the voucher code. Vouchers are redeemed in full against an eligible tour; they are not redeemable for cash and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Please keep your voucher code secure. We are not responsible for vouchers that are lost, stolen, or used by someone who obtains the code, except as required by law.
Bookings made using a voucher are subject to these terms, including the cancellation and rescheduling provisions below.
Nothing in this section limits any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable law.
6. Cancellations, rescheduling & refunds (by you)
We understand plans change. Our standard policy is:
When you cancel / change
What happens
More than 7 days before your tour
Full refund — no questions asked.
Reschedule, 48+ hours before
Move to another available date at no extra charge.
Within 7 days (but 48+ hours)
Non-refundable; we may rebook you to another available date, subject to availability and may incur a fee.
Within 48 hours
Non-refundable. Rescheduling is subject to availability and may incur a fee.
No-show or late arrival
Non-refundable. If you are more than 5 minutes late we may have to depart without you, as other guests are waiting.
If you are running late, please call us immediately on 0468 328 000 and we will do our best to accommodate you. To request a cancellation, refund or reschedule, contact us by phone or email as early as possible.
These conditions do not affect any rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law or other mandatory consumer protection laws (see Section 11).
7. Weather & cancellations by us
We operate in most weather conditions — light rain, cloud and normal wind conditions do not stop us, and the harbour is beautiful in all seasons. However, the safety of our guests always comes first.
The Sydney Weather Promise. If we cancel your tour because conditions are unsafe — for example strong winds, rough seas or a severe weather warning — you choose either a full refund or a free reschedule to another available date, with no deadline. We will contact you as early as we can, usually the evening before or the morning of your tour.
Our licensed guides make the final decision on whether it is safe to operate, based on conditions on the day, Bureau of Meteorology forecasts and Maritime NSW guidance. We may also shorten, alter or stop a tour if conditions change or for safety reasons; where a tour is materially curtailed for reasons within our control, we will offer a fair remedy.
8. Eligibility & participant requirements
No boat licence or prior experience is required — our tours are designed for beginners, and your guide provides a full safety and driving briefing. The following requirements apply for everyone's safety:
Drivers must be at least 16 years old.
Passengers must be at least 8 years old. There is no upper age limit.
At least one person in each boat must be 18 or over. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present in the boat.
For safety, the person driving must be able to understand and communicate in English.
You must be in a fit state to safely operate or ride in the boat and must follow your guide's instructions at all times.
If you have a medical condition, mobility limitation, are pregnant, or have any concern about suitability, please contact us before booking so we can advise. We may decline participation, or require additional precautions, where we reasonably consider it necessary for safety.
9. Safety & your conduct
Your guide leads the tour and is responsible for safety on the water. By taking part, you agree to:
attend and follow the safety briefing, and wear the provided life jacket for the entire tour;
follow all instructions from your guide, the rules of the waterway and applicable maritime laws, including speed limits;
not consume alcohol or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs before or during the tour — this is not permitted under our operating licence and affects safe operation of the boat;
operate the boat responsibly and not in a manner that endangers yourself, other people, vessels or property; and
take care of the equipment provided and keep all rubbish secured so it does not end up in the harbour.
Right to refuse service. For the safety of all guests, we may refuse to allow you to start or continue a tour — without refund — if you are affected by alcohol or drugs, behave unsafely or abusively, ignore your guide's instructions, or are otherwise unfit to take part.
10. Risk warning (recreational services)
Our tours are an adventure activity carried out on the water. As with any activity of this kind, participation involves inherent risks.
Risk Warning under the Australian Consumer Law and the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW): The recreational services and activities we provide are or may be dangerous recreational activities involving significant risks of physical harm. There is a risk that you may suffer harm — including personal injury, illness, or in rare cases death — and that property may be lost or damaged, as a result of participating, including from the conditions of the water and weather, the operation of the boat, the actions of other people, and your own actions. We ask you to read and accept this warning before taking part.
To the extent permitted by law, by participating you acknowledge and accept these risks. This risk warning does not remove any rights you have that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law (see Section 11).
11. Liability & your consumer rights
Australian Consumer Law
Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, including guarantees that services will be provided with due care and skill. Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that the law says cannot be excluded.
Where the law allows us to limit our liability for services, our liability for a failure to comply with a consumer guarantee is limited, at our option, to resupplying the services again or paying the cost of having them resupplied. To the maximum extent permitted by law, and except for liability that cannot be excluded, we are not liable for indirect, special or consequential loss, or for loss arising from risks you have accepted or from your failure to follow safety instructions.
We hold public liability insurance (A$10 million) and operate in compliance with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requirements. We are not liable for loss or damage to your personal belongings except to the extent caused by our failure to take reasonable care.
12. Damage to equipment
You agree to take reasonable care of the boat and equipment provided. To the extent permitted by law, you may be responsible for the reasonable cost of repair or replacement where loss or damage is caused by your reckless or deliberate misuse, or by your failure to follow your guide's reasonable instructions. Normal wear and ordinary use are our responsibility, not yours.
13. Photography & media
Your guide takes photos during the tour and shares them with you afterwards as part of the experience. From time to time we may wish to use tour photos or footage (including images that feature guests) in our marketing and on our website and social media.
If you do not want images that feature you or your group to be used for our marketing, please tell your guide on the day or contact us, and we will respect your request. Where required by law, we will seek your consent before using identifiable images, and you can withdraw consent at any time. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle personal information.
14. Intellectual property
The content of our website — including text, images, logos, branding and design — is owned by or licensed to Explore Sydney Harbour and is protected by intellectual property laws. You may view and use it for your own personal, non-commercial purposes, but you may not copy, reproduce or use it commercially without our permission.
15. Privacy
We handle your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these terms. Please read it to understand how we collect, use and protect your information.
16. Force majeure
We are not responsible for failing to perform our obligations where this is caused by events beyond our reasonable control — for example severe weather, natural disasters, emergencies, government restrictions, waterway closures, or other force majeure events. Where a tour cannot go ahead for such reasons, we will offer a reschedule or refund consistent with Section 7 and applicable law.
17. Governing law & jurisdiction
These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, and you and we submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.
18. Changes to these terms & how to contact us
We may update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to your booking is the one in force at the time you book. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when this page was last revised.
Questions about these terms?
Email: info@exploresydneyharbour.com.au
Phone: 0468 328 000 (within Australia) · +61 468 328 000 (international)
11/15 Huddart Ave, Normanhurst NSW 2076, Australia