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Sydney Walking Tour: Uncover Australian History with Expert Guide
5.0
128 Ratings
Sydney
Uncover the rich history of Sydney on a small-group walking tour led by an expert guide. Explore iconic attractions, learn about Australian history and culture, and enjoy a drink with stunning views.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Customs House - We start at Customs House where you’ll see a scale model of all of Sydney and where we will walk (approx 4km / 2.5 miles). You’ll also learn some Aboriginal place names for parts of Sydney and explore the new precinct immediately behind Customs House.
- The Mint - We walk past the “Rum Hospital”, which now consists of NSW Parliament, the Sydney Hospital and the Mint.
- Hyde Park Barracks - We will stop outside Hyde Park Barracks as you hear the story of its construction and infamous architect. We do not enter the Barracks.
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - We will briefly enter the Royal Botanic Gardens to see the location of the former Garden Palace and Governor Phillip Fountain.
- Queen Victoria Building (QVB) - We will briefly enter the Queen Victoria Building, but mainly just to see it and for any guests to use the bathrooms.
- St. Mary’s Cathedral - We stop in Hyde Park where you will get a great view of St Mary’s Cathedral. We do not enter the cathedral or go up close to it (approximately 50 metres from the building).
- General Post Office (GPO) Sydney - We will stop in Martin Place and Pitt St to look at the General Post Office and hear the story of its controversial construction and design.
- Martin Place - We will stop in Martin Place to hear about the ANZAC Cenotaph and Australia’s involvement in World War 1.
- The Rocks - We will walk through part of The Rocks towards the end of the tour, visiting the Nurses Walk, Jack Mundey Place and lower George St.
- Sydney Opera House - We will see the Opera House from where we finish the tour and at Campbell’s Cove. We do not enter the Opera House but you will hear the story of its construction.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge - We will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from where the tour finishes. We do not get up on the bridge as part of the tour, but it is a short walk from the end point.
What's Included
- Group photos
- 1 small glass of craft beer (or soft drink or juice) Served for 18 years old and above.
- Map with recommendations
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Discover the story of Sydney on this expert-led small-group walking tour, while hitting all of the city’s main attractions.
Perfect for those who have just arrived, as well as locals and those who want to go deeper in learning about Australian history, culture, society & First Nations people.
Starting from Customs House, you’ll hear about Sydney’s colonisation by the British
Your guide will provide you with a range of perspectives on Sydney’s development, introducing Aboriginal people, British governors, convicts & entrepreneurs, and other multicultural migrants.
You’ll finish with a beer at a popular brewery with views of the Bridge, the Opera House and Sydney Harbour. Over a drink, your host will give you further tips and recommendations to make your time in Sydney special
Walk the streets in a small group so you’re not fighting to see & hear your guide or stay on the footpath.
- Must be able to comfortably walk 4km over 3 hours
- Tour not recommended for children under 12 years of age as it involves 3 hours of stories and significant walking (4km)
- Not recommended for travels uncomfortable walking 4km
Location
31 Alfred St
Alfred Street
We meet in front of Customs House, beside the steps and access ramp (on the right hand side as you face Customs House).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(128 Ratings)
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I4743hvkellyc
Jun 19, 2024
Fun day. Excellent tour. - Daniel was an excellent tour guide sharing lots of local history, insights into social issues, background on specific city leaders, and current hotspots. The length of the walk was enough to give a significant overview of the city area of Sydney. We kept a good pace and the small group was nice. I’d recommend the tour and Daniel’s lead in particular. Thanks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebeccalc4072wn
Jun 17, 2024
Great introduction to Sydney! - We had an amazing tour with Michael yesterday. We learned so much about the founding of Australia and Sydney. He shared tips and suggestions for our trip including sights to see and restaurants to visit. This was a wonderful way to begin our trip. What a great introduction to Sydney!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aj_a
Jun 13, 2024
Good tour and Dan is the man! - Very very nice tour. Offers a chance to see Sydney’s older parts and the history therein but also takes you to the newer areas to see how the city has grown up and is still changing and evolving today. Daniel, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and also did a great job paying homage to the indigenous peoples of Australia and their history in Sydney. Ends at a wonderful pub/bar across the harbor from the Sydney Opera House which makes for a great ambiance and start to your evening as well. Very well done.
Review provided by Viator
Urmila
Jun 13, 2024
Excellent guides, good historical perspectives - We really enjoyed the walking tour. The tour guide was excellent and gave us the history of the British landing in Sydney and from then on ... It was a very balanced look at the British-Australian history, my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity04597115343
Jun 12, 2024
Great walking tour of downtown Sydney - Considering that this was a historical walking tour, we really got our money’s worth. Our tour guide, Dan, was a wealth of knowledge about the history of Sydney and Australia in general. Informative and funny, Dan made the experience great. We ended the tour at the base of the Harbor Bridge, where we got some beautiful photos. We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
107gardam
Jun 9, 2024
Simply Terrific Tour - I took the tour with my husband who is American and has no knowledge of Sydney. I lived in Sydney before emigrating to the USA so I was prepared to be a little bored. Justin was our guide on a private tour and we were fascinated from beginning to end. We were so enthralled with the stories Justin told us that it wasn't until the near end of our tour that we even thought to take a photo. This tour is that good. Regardless of what you think you know about Sydney this tour is for you. It is interesting, funny at times and never boring. We were just starting out our vacation and this was the perfect beginning. I cannot recommend it enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stewart_h
Jun 5, 2024
A wonderful experience ! - I take a Walking Tour whenever I visit a new city and I was keen to see what Sydney offered. We had a terrific time on this tour. Michael was an excellent guide and the time passed quickly as he shared countless stories and facts about Sydney. We covered a lot of territory, and he was mindful of safety and everyone's capabilities. If you are planning a trip to Sydnet...this is a must !
Review provided by Viator
Richard
Jun 3, 2024
Choose this one! - Michael was awesome. Offered great incites into Sydney and its beginnings. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and resources.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Micale980
May 31, 2024
Enjoyable informative tour of Sydney - Jason gave a very good tour, taking us to a number of notable sites that were part of the development of Sydney from early times when first europeans and created Sydney to what it is now. His commentary on the characters that shaped Sydney was also very interesting. We were also fortunate to be here for Vivid and saw the light show. I would totally recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dealhound
May 31, 2024
Walking and Learning - This was a very informative tour about the culture and history of Sydney (and Australia). Michael was a very knowledgeable guide and he did a great job explaining much about the growth of Sydney. We really enjoyed it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
