Top Sydney Historical Tours

Uncover the secrets of Sydney’s heritage as you explore The Rocks on this guided walking tour of the historic precinct. Offering amazing views over the Sydney Harbour and the Campbells Cove Wharves, your guide will lead you along shady laneways and cobbled courtyards where you’ll discover some of Sydney’s earliest buildings, including Cadman’s Cottage, built in 1816 and the Garrison Church, which dates back to the 1840s.

Head to The Rocks to learn about Sydney’s colorful past. Your historian guide will regale you with stories of the first convicts to arrive in Sydney, their early experiences in Australia, and how they ultimately transformed a shanty camp to an enduring settlement. Listen to tales of street gangs, see the city’s oldest cottage, visit the Customs House, and check out maps and murals of old and new Sydney.

This comprehensive tour of Sydney is perfect for first-time visitors or those short on time. Spend a half-day immersed in the history and culture of Sydney, learning through stops at landmarks such as Chinatown, Darling Harbour, and Australia’s largest urban development, Barangaroo. Your guide will follow a curated itinerary centered on the history of Sydney from 1788 to modern day, adding commentary to illuminate the details.

Cycling around Sydney is the perfect way to sightsee in this gorgeous harborside city. Join your expert guide for a fun and fascinating look at up to 30 top sights, including the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, along with many others. As you pedal around the city, learn about the history, culture and favorite local spots on your choice of four cycling routes. Choose from various tour durations depending on your schedule.

Discover the history of Sydney on a 2.5-hour walking tour and pub crawl in The Rocks. Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide takes you to four of Sydney's oldest pubs where you try a different glass of craft beer, cider, or wine in each venue. Learn about the early days of the British colony in Australia and hear the stories of these old-time pubs as you enjoy their rich atmosphere and tasty drinks.

Go behind the scenes at the Sydney Opera House for a fascinating look at this Sydney icon. Your knowledgeable guide leads you through the World Heritage–listed building on a walking tour, sharing entertaining stories about the revered performance center's history and providing access to off-limits parts of the house.

Take in panoramic views of top Sydney landmarks as you cruise through Sydney Harbour en route to Taronga Zoo. Your package includes round-trip cruise from Circular Quay to the zoo, and a ride on the Sky Safari Gondola, which whisks you uphill from the boat dock to the main entrance of Taronga Zoo. From the gondola, get an early peek at some of the zoo's inhabitants, such as giraffes, big apes, and native animals like kangaroos and koalas.

Located on shoreline of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Taronga Zoo is home to thousands of fascinating animals, including Australian natives such as the koala, kangaroo, and platypus. With your admission ticket, you gain entrance to the zoo along with the Sky Safari cable car, which gives you the chance to look down into the animal enclosures and enjoy sweeping views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city skyline. Check the schedule for daily keeper presentations, or book an animal encounter or guided tour (own expense) for a more in-depth experience.

Enjoy a full day out exploring both the highlights of the Blue Mountains, the Featherdale Wildlife sanctuary, and finishing with a river cruise ending at the Opera House. Some of the sights you’ll see in the Blue Mountains are the Grand Canyon, The 3 Sisters, Echo Point, and Kootomba Falls (plus more). You’ll see koalas and kangaroos at the sanctuary, and the iconic boat ride to finish the day.

Enjoy an in-depth experience of Sydney Taronga Zoo on a guided tour with a zoo guide who introduces you to Australian native animals including koalas and kangaroos. Go behind the scenes with the zoo guide to meet the zoo’s hand-raised native animals and have your photo taken with some furry friends. Learn more than you could on your own and gain access to areas that are normally off-limits to the public. This small-group tour is limited to six people and includes admission tickets to Taronga Zoo including Sky Safari.

Visit your choice of two, three or four of Sydney’s top attractions with the convenient and economical Sydney combo pass. Choose from a list of five options: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Sydney Tower Eye or Madame Tussauds Sydney. The Sydney Tower Eye observation deck offers sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and the city. The zoo and aquariums feature an amazing array of native Australian wildlife. Pose for photos with life-like wax statues of your favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds.

Go ashore when your cruise ship pulls into Sydney, learning about the city on a guided walking of the Rocks. The 90-minute walking tour proceeds at a leisurely pace and departs twice daily. Your informative guide shows you historic buildings and streets in the Rocks, along with views of famous icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Discover the history found in small alleys and some of the oldest streets in the city on a tour with a knowledgeable local guide.

Enjoy a full-day tour from Sydney to the Blue Mountains to discover the charms of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed region. Enjoy sweeping views of the Blue Mountains from Kings Tableland. Take a walk at Wentworth Falls or Leura Cascades; visit Leura and Katoomba; stop to see the Three Sisters rock formation and explore the rides at Scenic World (own expense). See ancient Aboriginal rock carvings, then take a boat cruise down the Parramatta River to Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour.

Spend some time like a classic Aussie on a historical pub tour of The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest neighborhood. Join a fun-loving and informative guide, and visit some of the quarter’s oldest drinking holes to experience authentic Aussie pub life. Enjoy five drinks and dinner; discover pubs' behind-the-scenes secrets; and uncover the The Rocks' history, discovering how its drink spots have shaped local culture. Includes souvenir gift, photos, and discount vouchers for local shops and restaurants.

If you've ever wondered how pearls are made and where they come from, this tour is for you. From the comfort of a catamaran you'll admire the nature of the Central Coast, maybe even spotting pelicans, turtles, and stingrays. Visit a pearl farm, where you'll have a chance to chat with the farmers, learn about Australia's pearl farming history, and see examples of beautiful Broken Bay pearls.

Enjoy an insider’s perspective on the iconic Sydney Opera House during a 1-hour walking tour. Learn about the performances, history, and architecture of the World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House as your expert guide fills you in on insider secrets and stories. Get photos ops from vantage points that are normally off-limits, and have the option to dine at the famous Opera Bar or Opera Kitchen. Tours are offered throughout the day, making it easy to schedule into your sightseeing when your cruise ship docks in Sydney.

Discover Sydney’s most infamous crime scenes and learn about its chilling past on this leisurely walking tour. The saying “Truth is stranger than fiction” plays out as you hear Sydney’s most terrifying tales, walk through its neighborhoods, and visit the sites of its true crimes. Your guide provides fascinating facts about the city’s dark history.

Discover a side to Sydney's history that the guide books don't tell you about. This walking tour takes you on a deep dive into a time of a war, when the infamous razor gangs dominated the crime scene. You'll explore the gangs' territories, the old streets and alleyways that they stalked, and learn about the speakeasies and the most-feared personalities of the 1920s and 30s.

Discover three of Sydney’s most fascinating inner-city neighborhoods—Pyrmont, Ultimo, and Glebe—on this small-group guided walking tour. You’ll learn about the area’s Aboriginal and colonial history, pick up some Aussie slang, and find out why there are so many pubs in these parts. Stop for coffee at a local café midway through the walk, then finish with a glass of craft beer at one of Sydney’s most unique pubs.

Explore Sydney on a private full-day tour with a guide who shows you around by car and on foot. Highlights include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Next, head to the eastern suburbs and see places that most visitors miss. Continue on to view the Pacific Ocean through The Gap and stop at Bondi Beach for lunch (own expense).

Cram all of Sydney’s most memorable landmarks into one tour! Enjoy a 4-hour sightseeing tour, jam-packed with photo opportunities and iconic sights, and pick up insider tips from your knowledgeable local guide. Take in the views from Mrs Macquarie's Chair and The Gap; marvel over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera house; and visit bustling Chinatown. After strolling neighborhoods like The Rocks, Paddington and Woolloomooloo, head to the coast to discover Bondi Beach, Rose Bay and Shark Beach.

Learn more about the history of Sydney and the people who used to live here at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks. Explore one of Australia’s most significant archeological collections at this living history museum, which shows visitors what life was like in early colonial-era Australia. This ticket includes the use of an audio-guide so you can tour at your own pace.

Sydney’s Chinatown is full of secrets and excellent restaurants, and on this experience, you’re going to see and taste a bit of everything! As you explore Chinatown, you’ll be introduced to several Chinese-Australians, starting from the first Chinese settler to arrive in Australia over 200 years ago. Along the way, you’ll sample a range of snacks from some of Chinatown’s best restaurants, with a minimum of 4 food stops included. All snacks are street foods that represent different parts of China and are designed to be eaten on the move. This tour has a strong focus on uncovering Sydney’s long connection with China, and the contributions Chinese-Australians have made to the community. You’ll learn more in 2 hours about Australia’s Chinese community than you could possibly imagine, and “pub trivia” style games will keep it interactive and fun. At the end of the tour, you’ll get a souvenir to take home, plus a map and guide to Chinatown, with all the best restaurants and what to order.

See Sydney’s top sights on a half-day private city tour that still leaves you with time to enjoy the rest of the day on your own. You’ll check off Sydney’s must-see attractions, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach and Circular Quay. Hear about the city’s history and modern-day culture from a private guide-driver, and take in daily life around neighborhoods like Paddington and Darlinghurst.