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 walk along Australia's Memorial Walk and marvel at heritage gun emplacements, once capable of firing 26.4km. 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.
Update: From 19 May 2025, the North Fort tunnels at North Head Sanctuary will be closed for up to 8 weeks while they undergo remediation and conservation works. During this time, the Defence of Sydney Tour will follow a modified route. To account for the tunnels being inaccessible, Australia’s Memorial Walk will be incorporated into the tour. The modified tour will still run for 1 hour and 45 minutes. We apologise for any inconvenience.
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.
Planning to book a tour? For a hassle-free experience, refer to the information below ahead of your trip.
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.
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.
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/