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Australia Day

This is your opportunity to celebrate Australia Day aboard Australia’s most awarded charter boat “Sydney Sundancer” that has won the Australia Day Councils prize for “Best Dressed Vessel”, ten times.

On the 26^th of January all around Australia, the sense of camaraderie and mate-ship is infectious.  Aussies gather to enjoy activities that we all hold dear but the biggest and best party of all is on Sydney Harbour.  We will be conducting a day cruise and an evening cruise to celebrate on Sydney Harbour, and on both cruises we will be right in the middle of all the action.

Sydney Sundancer dressed for Australia Day

Departure is from Rose Bay wharf at 10.30am & the order of events for our day cruise includes:

The Great Ferry Race, also known as the Ferrython.

Sydney Sundancer in the middle of all the action

The 21-gun salute to Australia

National Anthem sung by a large chorus of children aboard HMAS Canberra, Australia’s largest naval ship.

 “Water Ballet” of sailing yachts.

RAAF Hornet F18’s execute combat turns so tight that the wind movement across their wings vaporises creating an amazing mist like blanket on either side of their fuselage.  

The Australia Day Parade

  Around 30 entrants decorate their boats in Aussie themes and parade around the waterfront in front of thousands of cheering,  flag-waving crowds of onlookers!       The Australia Day Council has judged Sydney Sundancer to be “Best Dressed Vessel” on 10 previous Australia Days.  Participation in this event is just SO much fun!

So much fun aboard Sydney Sundancer at the Harbour Parade

The Tall Ships simulate a mock sea battle firing their ancient cannons

Search and rescue display

Helicopters demonstrate the rescue of sailors or flood victims from the water.

Army special services parachute into Sydney Harbour

Australia Day Regatta

The Australia Day Regatta, originally known as the Anniversary Regatta, was first held in 1836 and has been conducted every year since.  It is the world’s longest continually held sailing event.  At the conclusion of the regatta, we will return to Rose Bay wharf at around 3.45pm.

All the above is just $150 per person (refer to full details below)

Our evening cruise starts at 5pm, we will meet guests at Rose Bay wharf and immediately depart to participate in the evenings’ exciting events.  We will cruise past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge before joining in the Parade of decorated vessels for the early evening Working Boat Parade into Circular Quay.

The path of the Parade follows the waterfront into Circular Quay, where thousands of shore based spectators  have gathered to celebrate.

As we pass close to the crowded shore we shout “Aussie Aussie Aussie”

The crown responds “Oi, Oi, Oi” making everyone very proud to be Australian.

After sunset a flotilla of yachts perform intricate manoeuvres with their sails illuminated.

Next Jetskis whizz around, trailing fireworks in their wake!

The event everyone is waiting for is the Australia Day fireworks in Circular Quay!

The Australia Day fireworks are second only to Sydney’s New Years Eve celebration

         We will have a clear view of these fabulous fireworks because we will be positioned just off the Opera House and Circular Quay.

At the conclusion of the fireworks display we will return to Rose Bay wharf about 10pm

 The evening cruise will cost only $100 per person

For both cruises we will we provide :

• Green & Gold smock with Aussie flag sewen on front (one size fits all)
• Giant inflatable “Aussie Flag” pointing fingers
• Aussie flags to encourage response from shore based spectators
• Aussie hats & bunting
• an opportunity for you to be featured on television news celebrating Australia Day
• a fun based celebration second to none (refer TripAdvisor reviews below)

What you need to bring :

• camera & sunscreen (or warm jacket for the evening cruise)
• personal parafanalia eg “stick on” Aussie tatoos or Aussie sunglasses
• your own food & drinks (because there is so much happening all day and night that we do not have time to stop, anchor and serve a meal).  However there will be cold soft drinks, wines and beers available for purchase at reasonable prices, so you do not need to go dry if you run out….

Both cruises are strictly first come first served and there is always a long waiting list, so if you would like to join us, either email sailors@luxuryyacht.com.au or phone to book (telephone Lynne 0417 311941 or John 0428 311941) as delays will surely lead to disappointment.

Here are just a few of the many reviews on TripAdvisor about our Australia Day charters:

Outstanding and Fun Filled Australia Day Cruise on Sydney Harbour

We couldn’t stop the WOW’s…. They started when we saw the highly decorated yacht coming to the dock to pick us up, as from bow to stern it was decorated with Aussie Flags and green and gold one’s were shimmering in the rigging. The Happy Birthday Australia Flag in the centre said it all – this was going to be a celebration. The WOW’s continued as we were on the sidelines but still part of the flotilla for the Sydney Ferry Race and later the Tall Ship Parade. The provided gold smocks, large Aussie flags to pin to our fronts, small Aussie flags to wave and a giant plastic hand with the flag added to the party atmosphere. It made us proud to be Australian. John our Captain was obviously an expert sailor as we manoeuvred the busy Harbour and still went in and out of various bays. This was a real value for money experience and can’t wait to do another one at the end of the year.

Perfect!

We went on board to celebrate Australia Day and had just the best day. Such a great atmosphere. We want to do this every year now. We were right in the thick of the action on the harbour with ferry races and jet fly overs. Best location in the world. The captain and crew were the nicest people and very helpful and sweet and knowledgeable and well organised and professional. The boat is large and easily held all of us comfortably with a covered area and it was brilliantly decorated. We were given outfits to wear and we were the first of a flotilla and won best decorated. We were singing away and waving to crowds and they waved back and we were even filmed for the news. We then stopped for a relaxing lunch and we weren’t rushed. It was a perfect pace. We made new friends and couldn’t believe the day was over. Loved it! Definitely recommend using these guys again without hesitation.

Awesome Experience on the Harbour

We were fortunate to get onto the Australia Day cruise on Sydney Harbour. The Captain John Boyce is an amazing skipper. He positioned us in some incredible spots to witness the great ferry race and we followed the flotilla all the way to the finish line under the harbour bridge. The boat was adorned with flags and decorations and Lynne (1st mate) got us all dressed up to get into the spirit of the day. We won best dressed on the harbour and had a fantastic time. Would recommend John and Lynne for a trip on the harbour as they know where to go for the best vantage spots and ensure all on board have a good time.

Australia Day like you’ve never seen before !

It was definitely the most amazing cruise I’ve ever had been able to join and enjoy. Lynne and John are absolutely lovely and waited on all their guests hand and foot. John is a fabulous skipper and knows the best spots and the program of the different events during the day to offer you an unforgettable experience. It’s also a lot of fun given that the Sundancer competes every year for the best-dressed title at the harbour parade. The atmosphere was great, everyone socializing with everyone else. I therefore recommend this cruise and certify that you will have a fantastic day !

One of the best Australia Day we have celebrated

Over the years we have been on a number of boats on the harbour for Australia Day This year was by far the best. John & Lynne’s cruise is unique. The yacht all dressed up the ‘Australian music’ John & Lynne’s hospitality – at the end we felt we have been friends for years. BYO food & drinks reduced the costs which for many other cruises is over the top. No wonder people mixed so well & were repeat guests We will certainly be booking again for next year. PS this is the first time I have put a review on TripAdvisor which says it all. Thank you John & Lynne D & R