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Sydney Walking Tour: Uncover Australian History with Expert Guide
5.0
148 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
(148 Ratings)
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Emm3cee
Aug 23, 2024
Best walking tour in Sydney - This is a fantastic fun and informative tour. Daniel was our tour guide and he was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging with a genuine passion for Sydney history.
As a walking tour this is a great mix of historical colonial sites as well as Indigenous history together with interesting anecdotes with a bit of bird watching thrown in (kookaburras in the Botanic gardens).
Daniel also shared some bar/restaurant tips and made sure over the 3 hours we had time for coffee and quick visit to the nicest loos in Sydney.
Small group of maximum 12 people so you’re not one of a herd. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K1752augeorget
Aug 16, 2024
Great Tour with Great Guide - I Recently Took the Ultimate Sydney Walking Tour with The Owner Justin From Local Sauce Tours and was not disappointed. Justin did an outstanding job on Highlighting the History of the Aborginal people in the Early days of its founding to the City of Sydney that most locals and Tourists are aware of today, while highlighting some of the more off the beaten sights in Sydney. I especially enjoyed the QVB and the Strand Arcades along with some of the more off the Path Hotels and Dives in the Rocks. The Doss House and Fortune of Wars I Highly Recommend. Justin is a great ambassador for Sydney and for those seeking to learn its Culture, Sights and History. For those looking for a Great tour of Sydney’s History, Culture and Architecture, look no further than Justin at Local Sauce Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maura_h
Aug 15, 2024
Highly recommend - Fantastic small group walking tour. Dan was a great guide and very knowledgeable about Sydney's history.
Review provided by Viator
George_t
Aug 9, 2024
Great Tour with a Great Guide - Took The Sydney Walking Tour with Justin the Owner of Local Sauce Tours and was not Disappointed. Justin was great in Highlighting the Sights of Sydney, But also showing the offbeat alleyways that have great bars and dives. Overall a great tour for those looking to learn about Sydney and its Culture past and present.
Review provided by Viator
Coreyb270
Aug 4, 2024
Fun learning and walking experience - We had a wonderful experience seeing the highlights of Sydney walking tour and learning about the local history and landmarks. It's hard to imagine a better tour guide than Michael, who was very kind, approachable, knowledgeable, funny, engaging, and group-aware.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meredithw638
Jul 24, 2024
Awesome tour! Learned a great deal and had a really fun time! - Loved this tour! Daniel was awesome. We loved it as did our teenage sons. They said Daniel was the best tour guide ever - which is a huge compliment from teenage boys haha. We had a great time and highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nilbethc
Jul 20, 2024
Sydney just one day - Daniel is a great guide, sharing his knowledge of Australian history while showing the corners of the city. He is also super patient and answers all questions. Thanks Daniel!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inma
Jul 20, 2024
Great experience and great guide! - Great experience, highly recommendable!! Dan was an amazing guide with a lot of patience to answer all our Q's. If you want a unique experience in Sydney - go ahead and book your tour☺️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E_n
Jul 17, 2024
Excellent tour with Michael - Excellent walking tour with Michael! He was friendly, organized, and knowledgeable. Got to see and learn a lot of history in >3.5 hrs. Michael also provided a list of enjoyable ferry rides and dining suggestions that was way better than our hotel’s concierge. Cheers!
Review provided by Viator
Lightpacker783657
Jul 15, 2024
Excellent first walking tour of Sydney - This was an excellent introduction to Sydney, including very interesting history. We saw several places that our guide recommended we could return to so it was a wonderful way to get ideas for exploring further. Our guide Michael was very engaging and knowledgable and attentive to the group. Highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
