Embark on a guided or self-guided tour of heritage Sydney

Guided tours
Self-guided tours
Private group tours

Looking for things to do in Sydney? Book a tour with us and discover extraordinary places on the world’s best harbour.

Our program of tours caters for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts as well as families and social groups, including Probus groups and historical societies.

We offer guided tours on select days per week and a selection are also available for private group bookings (details below).

Guided tours

Dark Past Tour

Cost From $25 | Duration 75 mins | Available: Saturday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm

On this exciting after-dark tour, we'll unearth the island's raw, unfiltered truths as your explore the former convict prison and dockyard.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Convict Prison Tour

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

During this tour, our guide will lead you through the turbulent history of the island's former penal establishment.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Island Highlights Tour

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

Want a crash course in Cockatoo Island's history? This guided tour charts the island's transformation and different uses across time.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Shipyard Tales Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

Visit key landmarks – including the convict-built Fitzroy Dock, the cathedral-like Turbine Shop and Sutherland Dock – and learn how the dockyard evolved across the span of 135 years.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Lower Island Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Available: Private group bookings only

The Lower Island Tour is an engaging 60-minute journey through Cockatoo Island’s storied history and an accessible sightseeing activity for less mobile visitors.

Learn more

Georges Heights – Tunnels and Gunners Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 90 mins | When: 10:30am on select Sundays & Wednesdays

Our knowledgeable volunteer guide will lead you through 2 sets of demilitarised forts, including tunnels normally off limits to the public.

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Macquarie Lightstation – Discover Macquarie Lighthouse Tour

Cost: From $24 per person | Duration: 45 mins | Available: Select dates

A knowledgeable guide will share the history and recent developments behind this iconic Sydney landmark, including recent restoration work undertaken on the historic Greenway Wall.

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North Head Sanctuary – North Head Discovery Tour

Cost: From $8 | Duration: 40 mins | When: Select dates

Get a taste for North Head Sanctuary in Manly – and explore a Second World War era structure off limits to general visitors – on this bite-sized tour, ideal for new visitors including families!

Book tickets

North Head Sanctuary – Defence of Sydney Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 1 hour 45mins | When: 10:30am and 11:30am every Sunday

Walk in the footsteps of the men and women who served at North Fort. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, encounter historic gun emplacements and descend into underground military facilities, including a tunnel complex and a mysterious bunker.

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North Head Sanctuary – Third Quarantine Cemetery Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 60 mins | Hours: 11am to 12pm, select Sundays

During this volunteer-run tour, a knowledgeable guide will share stories of those who succumbed to small pox and other epidemics.

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Sub Base Platypus – Sub Base Stories Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | When: Private group bookings & special occasions

This 60-minute tour is an opportunity to explore a historic destination that was off-limits to the public for 150+ years.

Learn more

Dark Past Tour

Cost From $25 | Duration 75 mins | Available: Saturday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm

On this exciting after-dark tour, we'll unearth the island's raw, unfiltered truths as your explore the former convict prison and dockyard.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Convict Prison Tour

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

During this tour, our guide will lead you through the turbulent history of the island's former penal establishment.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Island Highlights Tour

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

Want a crash course in Cockatoo Island's history? This guided tour charts the island's transformation and different uses across time.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Shipyard Tales Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Select dates and times

Visit key landmarks – including the convict-built Fitzroy Dock, the cathedral-like Turbine Shop and Sutherland Dock – and learn how the dockyard evolved across the span of 135 years.

Book tickets

Cockatoo Island – Lower Island Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | Available: Private group bookings only

The Lower Island Tour is an engaging 60-minute journey through Cockatoo Island’s storied history and an accessible sightseeing activity for less mobile visitors.

Learn more

Georges Heights – Tunnels and Gunners Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 90 mins | When: 10:30am on select Sundays & Wednesdays

Our knowledgeable volunteer guide will lead you through 2 sets of demilitarised forts, including tunnels normally off limits to the public.

Book tickets

Macquarie Lightstation – Discover Macquarie Lighthouse Tour

Cost: From $24 per person | Duration: 45 mins | Available: Select dates

A knowledgeable guide will share the history and recent developments behind this iconic Sydney landmark, including recent restoration work undertaken on the historic Greenway Wall.

Book tickets

North Head Sanctuary – North Head Discovery Tour

Cost: From $8 | Duration: 40 mins | When: Select dates

Get a taste for North Head Sanctuary in Manly – and explore a Second World War era structure off limits to general visitors – on this bite-sized tour, ideal for new visitors including families!

Book tickets

North Head Sanctuary – Defence of Sydney Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 1 hour 45mins | When: 10:30am and 11:30am every Sunday

Book tickets

North Head Sanctuary – Third Quarantine Cemetery Tour

Cost: From $11 | Duration: 60 mins | Hours: 11am to 12pm, select Sundays

During this volunteer-run tour, a knowledgeable guide will share stories of those who succumbed to small pox and other epidemics.

Book tickets

Sub Base Platypus – Sub Base Stories Tour (accessible)

Cost: From $20 | Duration: 60 mins | When: Private group bookings & special occasions

This 60-minute tour is an opportunity to explore a historic destination that was off-limits to the public for 150+ years.

Learn more

Self-guided tours

Audio tour: How to Build a Ship

Cost: $10 per person (BYO device) | Available: Anytime

Cockatoo Island’s dock workers were renowned for building and repairing the most complex ships. Guided by their stories, you'll step back into the island’s shipbuilding heyday.

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Family tour: Our day at Cockatoo Island

Cost: $5 per booklet (includes a pencil & paper flags) | Available: 10am to 4pm daily

Across 8 exciting stops, you'll explore historic buildings, hear the First Nations story of Burriburri the whale, play a convict game and meet an ancient amphibian.

Learn more

Audio tour: Cockatoo’s Convicts

Cost: $10 per person (BYO device) | Available: Anytime

Delve into the history of Cockatoo Island's remnant penal establishment and learn about the sorts of characters who served out sentences on the island.

Learn more

Sandstone to Steel Audio Tour

Cost: $10 per person (BYO device) | Available: Anytime

Want to discover the highlights of Cockatoo Island’s layered history? This tour will give you a taste of it all – perfect for people who like ‘bite sized’ history!

Learn more

Request a private tour for your group

Want to arrange a private guided tour for your group? Use our enquiry form. Note: Minimum purchase of 10 tickets.

Enquiry form

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Tours

Looking for things to do in Sydney? Book a tour with us and discover extraordinary places on the world’s best harbour.

Guided tours

Dark Past Tour

Cockatoo Island – Convict Prison Tour

Cockatoo Island – Island Highlights Tour

Cockatoo Island – Shipyard Tales Tour (accessible)

Cockatoo Island – Lower Island Tour (accessible)

Georges Heights – Tunnels and Gunners Tour

Macquarie Lightstation – Discover Macquarie Lighthouse Tour

North Head Sanctuary – North Head Discovery Tour

North Head Sanctuary – Defence of Sydney Tour

North Head Sanctuary – Third Quarantine Cemetery Tour

Sub Base Platypus – Sub Base Stories Tour (accessible)

Dark Past Tour

Cockatoo Island – Convict Prison Tour

Cockatoo Island – Island Highlights Tour

Cockatoo Island – Shipyard Tales Tour (accessible)

Cockatoo Island – Lower Island Tour (accessible)

Georges Heights – Tunnels and Gunners Tour

Macquarie Lightstation – Discover Macquarie Lighthouse Tour

North Head Sanctuary – North Head Discovery Tour

North Head Sanctuary – Defence of Sydney Tour

North Head Sanctuary – Third Quarantine Cemetery Tour

Sub Base Platypus – Sub Base Stories Tour (accessible)

Self-guided tours

Audio tour: How to Build a Ship

Family tour: Our day at Cockatoo Island

Audio tour: Cockatoo’s Convicts

Sandstone to Steel Audio Tour

Audio tour: How to Build a Ship

Family tour: Our day at Cockatoo Island

Audio tour: Cockatoo’s Convicts

Sandstone to Steel Audio Tour

Request a private tour for your group

Helpful links

Learn more about our extraordinary places on Sydney Harbour.

Harbour history

Our places

Talking objects and animals

Alerts and disruptions