Aboriginal Sky Dreaming Cruise
- 1hr Cruise departing from Darling Harbour at 6pm & Circular Quay at 6:20pm
- for a limited time only during the Sydney Solstice event
Fantasea Cruising has partnered with Tribal Warrior to bring you a new and unique Aboriginal Sky Dreaming experience on Sydney Harbour.
Join us for a 1hr cruise departing from Darling Harbour & Circular Quay and learn about Garwarrgay – The Emu in the Sky which is one of Australia’s most famous dark constellations, holding special meaning for Aboriginal Australians.
The First Nations cultures of Australia – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – speak over 250 distinct languages and stretch ba ck for over 65,000 years. This makes the First Australians the oldest astronomers and the oldest continuing cultures in the world.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed a number of practical ways to observe the Sun, Moon and stars to inform navigation, calendars, and predict weather.
It serves as the foundation for narratives that are passed down the generations through song, dance, and oral tradition over tens of thousands of years.
An Aboriginal astronomer will guide you through the cruise and share their stories of land, water and sky which have been passed down by Aboriginal ancestors.
Meet your Aboriginal Astronomers
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the oldest scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians in human history, yet are rarely acknowledged for their achievements or discoveries.
Gamilaroi woman Karlie Noon is passionate about amplifying the astronomical accomplishments of Australia’s First Nations peoples. For almost a decade, Karlie has been dedicated to making science accessible to people all across Australia.
Karlie was the first female, Indigenous Australian to graduate with combined degrees in mathematics and science after graduating in 2016 from the University of Newcastle. She has since completed a Masters of Astronomy and Astrophysics Advanced degree from the Australian National University in 2019, in which she received a high distinction for her research into the Milky Way galaxy.
Karlie has been involved in a variety of national and local activities including television appearances such as ABC’s The Drum and BBC’s Stargazing Live program and regular radio appearances.
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Peter Swanton is a Gamilaraay man from Mackay, QLD.
Peter graduated from The Australian National University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics, specialising in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Peter’s work in astronomy initially began with research around black holes and cosmology, but he has since shifted his focus to cultural astronomy and dark sky preservation.
Peter’s work will highlight the scientific importance of Indigenous star knowledges, and what we need to do in order to preserve these knowledges on Country, as well as in the night sky.
Our Vessels
Fantasea Cruising has a large fleet of vessels with unique vantage points which provide spectacular 360-degree uninterrupted viewing. There is ample space and viewing on the open top deck and front and back decks.
Route Map
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Wednesday – Thursday Friday – Sunday
Adult
$30 $40 Children (4-15) $20 $20 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $75 $100
Rated "Excellent" by 200+ Travellers!
My partner and I booked a night cruise to see the Vivid lights and we had a very good time. The vessel is very modern and roomy, with plenty of space indoors and outdoors and an open rooftop. Sailing was smooth and touched all relevant Vivid landmarks, particular note that the boat goes all the way into Circular Quai so you can see lights from relatively close distance. There is also a bar on board which serves alcohol, soft drinks and snack. Staff was lovely and the whole service was seamless. I would highly recommend this cruise particularly if you would like to grasp all major Sydney Vivid lights in one go (cruise last about 1 hour) or if you have limited time in Sydney.
– baby2017 | Sydney, Australia via TripAdvisor
I would highly recommend this cruise company, they were able to embark and disembark passages professionally and fast. The vivid lights were fantastic from the boat. Great way to beat the crowds and see the lights. They had a man singing and playing guitar which was fantastic. Definitely worth the money.
– karenwK7279GG | Sydney, Australia via TripAdvisor
Very impressed with the Fantasea cruise - we didn’t want dinner etc just the cruise and drinks - this was exactly what Fantasea delivered - arrived at the wharf on time and left the wharf exactly on time - great tour - very clean vessel and had an enjoyable time with lovely crew - highly recommend!
– Coffsharbour0 | Coffs Harbour, Australia via TripAdvisor
We booked the 8:30pm VIVID cruise on a Monday night, the boat was not packed at all, we actually had the whole front deck to ourselves on the return trip. The boat was exactly as described, even more pleasant than expected even. Smooth sailing, went up close to all the lights - VIVID itself was a bit mellow this year) but we got a great close up view of everything in Circular Quay then cruise close past the Opera House and around to the Botanical Gardens and past Mrs Macquarie Chair. Took a wide turn out in the harbour and came through under the centre of the bridge. We had a brilliant time and I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone interested. Great for all ages, I even noticed a kids play area inside the lower deck cabin.
– Stacey_Sunshine | Sydney, Australia via TripAdvisor
We spend the night in Sydney to get the whole Vivid experience. As part of the visit, we booked a trip with Fantasea cruises to look at the lights of Vivid. It was very economical, and in the 1hr cruise we got to see the city from the water from Darling Harbour right around to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. The view of the city, Botanical Gardens, Opera House and Harbour Bridge was fantastic, and allowed for some great photo opportunities that you can't get unless you're on the water. The cruise was not over crowded, and boarding and disembarking was well organised and simple. This is a great way to add to the whole Vivid experience
– Bellbirdweb | West Pennant Hills, Australia via TripAdvisor
This is such a great way to see vivid! First off, the boat is nice. It has something for everyone. You can sit inside, go out on the upper deck outside, or go down to the bar. They had a musician playing on the second level and he was really good! We loved the views and the experience was great. You really can't beat the value! Price point- good, boat- good, views-spectacular.
– HeatherC199502 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico via TripAdvisor