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Defence of Sydney Tour at North Head Sanctuary in Manly.

Defence of Sydney Tour

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Cost
  • $11 per adult
  • $8 per child
  • $8 per concession
  • $8 per senior
Further information
Hours
  • Times: 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2pm every Sunday 
  • Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Group tours also available (Mon-Fri)
Further information
Transport
  • Car
  • Bus
Plan your trip
Meeting point

North Head Sanctuary Visitor Centre (located in the North Fort precinct), North Head Scenic Drive, Manly, NSW 2095

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Established in 1936, North Fort is a remnant military complex at North Head Sanctuary in Manly.

Strategically placed at the northern entrance to Sydney Harbour, the fort was part of a defence system that spanned 300km of coastline during the Second World War.

The Defence of Sydney Tour is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the men and women who served at North Fort. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you will marvel at heritage gun emplacements, once capable of firing 26.4km, and descend into the 200-metre-long military tunnel complex. Finally, our guide will demystify an underground bunker once shrouded in secrecy: The Plotting Room. As you explore this facility, concealed within bushland, you’ll hear how our specialist volunteers faithfully restored it.

Book a tour
Embark on our next Defence of Sydney Tour to discover the military heritage of North Fort including the underground Plotting Room and tunnel network.
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Request a group tour

Want to arrange a Defence of Sydney Tour for a large group? Request a group tour using the webform on this page.

Subject to guide availability, we accept private group bookings from Monday to Friday. To request a private group tour, complete the form on this page.

Note: Bookings are required no fewer than 10 business days in advance of the requested date. All enquiries will receive a response within 5 business days. 

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Tour details
*Bookings are available between Monday and Friday (subject to guide availability). Due to high demand, bookings must be made at least 14 days in advance.
In case we can't accommodate your first preference, please nominate an alternative date (between Monday to Friday).


Plan ahead

Planning to book a tour? For a hassle-free experience, refer to the information below ahead of your trip.

Important information arrow
  • Weather conditions: This tour will proceed regardless of weather conditions except in the event of extreme weather. If the Rural Fire Service declares an extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating for the Greater Sydney Region (area 4), tours will be cancelled. Participants will be notified via email if the tour is cancelled and a full refund of the ticket price will be made. 
  • To ensure the safety of participants and Harbour Trust staff, at the discretion of the Harbour Trust, any participant(s) who appears intoxicated, disruptive or displays consistently unsafe behaviour, will not be permitted to take part in the tour, and / or may be asked to leave the tour at any time. Refunds will not be provided.
  • Cancellation / rescheduling: The Harbour Trust reserves the right to cancel, reschedule or alter tour dates and routes at its discretion. In instances where tours are cancelled or rescheduled, the Harbour Trust will endeavour to contact all pre-booked ticket holders, within a reasonable amount of time prior to the scheduled tour date and time. If the tour is cancelled by the Harbour Trust at its discretion, the Customer may contact the Harbour Trust and reschedule or seek a refund.
Content and mobility arrow
  • First Nations peoples: Our First Nations community are advised that this tour contains stories (and may contain images and/or visuals) of deceased persons.
  • Site conditions: This tour includes steep stairs and underground tunnels and some uneven surfaces, and it is not suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. A moderate level of fitness and mobility is required. You must comply with all directions of the guides, rangers and security. Although this is an all-ages tour, children must be able to walk and negotiate stairs independently due to the requirement to traverse steep and narrow staircases. Further, our safety requirements prevent ticketholders from carrying children in carriers or baby capsules on this tour.
  • Safety: All visitors must comply with the safety directives issued by guides, rangers and security staff.
  • Age restriction: People under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
What to bring arrow

Suitable walking shoes, a sunhat and wet weather gear (if needed). Please provide your own torch for the tunnels (phone torch is adequate). Please note: This tour has high touch points including hand rails and includes entry into confined spaces. As such, we recommend providing own hand sanitiser and wearing a face mask.

Getting here arrow

For information about getting to the North Fort, including by public transport, see: Visit North Head Sanctuary. This webpage also contains information on visitor parking and public facilities.

Booked tickets and want to change your booking? arrow

To exchange your ticket(s) or request a refund, please contact our ticket solutions provider, Ticketbooth, via their support webpage: support.ticketbooth.com.au/contact/

Helpful links

Want to learn more about North Head Sanctuary, including North Fort and the Third Quarantine Cemetery? You may find these links useful.