I've now updated this post to include the new Port Adventures in Sydney
I've given a run down of each tour, recommendations and what I would recommend. I can answer any more questions if you have them. Hope this helps.
Sydney, Opera House and Bondi (SYD07) $171USD
This is another good overview of the city highlights. You can book the Opera House Tour yourself for $43 and it's within walking distance from the ship. This tour goes one hour although there are other options if you're interested. From here, you can walk up through the Botanical Gardens and visit Mrs Macquaries Chair for a stunning view across the harbour. On the walk back, there are many photos ops of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge and then plenty of restaurants to choose from on the walk back to the ship.
Gourmet Icons of Sydney (SYD09) $298 USD
Honestly, this one is not worth the cost and the activities aren't amazing either. The fish markets are worth a visit, but you can catch a tram there or get a taxi for around $10-15 from the port. There are so many wonderful places to eat here. Personally, I don't think the Tram Sheds are a great spot for lunch. I'd recommend coming back into the city and visit one of the many restaurants within the QVB or somewhere along Circular Quay. It would be much cheaper and you'll have much better food options.
Discover Sydney Panorama (SYD04) $56USD
This is a highlight bus trip of the city and it's quite a good tour for the price. Most of the bus trip, you will just be driving past with only a few stops for photos ops so if you want an in depth tour, this isn't it. Many of the places they visit, are within walking distance from the ship (The Rocks, QVB, Mrs Macquaries Chair) and while Double Bay and Watsons Bay are lovely to visit, they're not a necessity. Bondi is beautiful but you can get a taxi to Coogee from the port for another great beach to visit.
Blue Mountains (SYD01) $194 USD
This is quite a good tour on offer. The only two issues I can see with it is that you will spend at least 3 to 3.5 hours on the bus getting there and back and there isn't a great view for most of the drive. The view is also very dependant on the weather and sometimes visibility is poor, even when it's very sunny in the city. But the villages are lovely to visit, the steepest railway is wonderful (watch a YouTube video on this, as it might bother some people)
Aussie Wildlife (SYD02) $148 USD
Featherdale is a lovely animal park but you'll spend 2 hours on the bus to get there and back, and the entire tour is only 4-4.5 hours. I would recommend visiting Wild Life Sydney Zoo. It's a 10 minute taxi trip from the port, or you can catch a ferry 5 minutes from the port, where you'll travel under the Harbour Bridge to get to Darling Harbour. It's a 5 minute walk from there. Admission is from $38. You can walk around with the Kangaroos and have your photo taken with a koala.
If you have time, you can add on a visit to Sydney Tower Eye. It's a 10 minute walk from Sydney Zoo and you can get an amazing view across all of the Harbour. It's $65 for both the Zoo and Sydney Tower.
You can also visit Taronga Zoo which is along the Harbour (you can see the Giraffes with Sydney Harbour in the background). You can catch a ferry back and forth from Circular Quay, which is a 5 minute walk from the ship.
The Rocks By Foot (SYD06) $114 US
You can walk to The Rocks from the ship yourself and explore at your leisure but if you're really interested in the history of The Rocks, the guided tour might be worth it. If you like historical buildings. you should also visit the Queen Victoria Building (called the QVB). It's around a 15-20 minute walk from the ship or you can catch the tram next to the ship and it's a 5 minute trip (you can use any credit card to catch the tram, you scan it at the station). It's a beautiful building.
BridgeClimb & The Rocks (SYD03) $551 USD
There are much cheaper ways to do this. If you book the BridgeClimb directly, you'll spend $344 AUD per person. Climbs are offered every hour. You can walk from the ship to where you meet them to do the tour (approximately a 10 minute walk). The
Disney Adventure takes you for a walk through The Rocks, which is a historic area of Sydney. Again, you can just walk this at your own leisure and visit Sydneys Oldest Pub called Fortune of War. There are plenty of restaurants within the Rocks as well to eat before returning to the ship.
Boutique Wineries of the Hunter Valley (SYD08) $344 USD
As lovely as the Wineries are, I can't recommend this Port Adventure. Of the 9-9.5 hours allocated, you will spent approximately 5-6 hours in the bus getting there and back. Most of the drive doesn't even have lovely views that you'll be able to enjoy. If you want to enjoy wine, there are plenty of restaurants close to the ship that will be wonderful selections but it's just too far to recommend.
Exclusive Cruise Around Sydney (SYD05) $229 USD
Within walking distance from the cruise terminal (5 minutes walk), you can book Captain Cook Cruises yourself. For $30 to $45 AUD, you will get a 90 minute cruise around the Harbour where you will see all the highlights. There are other options where you can have lunch on board for $90. Book online for a discount. I'd recommend booking the Top Deck Lunch from Captain Cook Cruises directly.
- 3-course à la carte menu with expanded main course options including Australian Premium Beef
- Your choice of one or two 90-minute circuits of Sydney Harbour for up to 3 hours onboard our air-conditioned super-cruiser Sydney 2000
- Two departures at 12:00pm and 12:30pm
It's within walking distance back to the ship as well.
Jet Boating Around Sydney (SYD 11A and SYD 11B) $160 or $230 USD
Jetboating is plenty of fun but I wouldn't organise this through
DCL. You can book this yourself for around $70 to $90 per person or for a family of 4 for about $230. If you are docking at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, you can walk to where the boats go from. If you're at White Bay, you can take a taxi to Circular Quay which will cost you about $15. There are plenty of companies that offer this and they all take you around for about 30 minutes. You can prebook online to save more money and the boats go all day.
Learn to Surf At Bondi Beach (SYD10) $378 USD
This is vastly overpriced. You can book a 2 hour lesson online for around $90 dollars AUD per adult. or a 1 on 1 lesson for around $145 and $80 per person if you want a private group lesson for just your own group/family. A taxi from the port to Bondi will cost about $30 each way.
Nightly Ghost Tours (SYD12A SYD 12B) $114USD or $184USD
The ghost tours are fun if you like that thing but you can book this yourself for cheaper. Most tours charge around $49 per person. If you're at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, you can walk from the ship. If you're not, you can get a taxi from White Bay for about $20 each way.