Sydney’s walking Tours

World Tours

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – With its renowned good weather and great harbor views, there is no better way to explore the sites and sounds of Sydney than on foot. Sydney offers much more for visitors, but some sights and attractions are essential.
Sydney was founded in 1788 when the 11 convict bearing ships of the First Fleet arrived from England to establish the colony of New South Wales. The city was named after Thomas Townsend, the first Viscount Sydney, who was secretary of State for the British colonies. Convicts were transported to Sydney and New South Wales from 1788 to 1840 when officially city of Sydney was created in 1842.

When your stay in Sydney is limited, it is important to use your time wisely. Exploring the center on foot is the best way using the guidance and compressed short itineraries. Three of the best and most commonly used walking tours offer guaranteed adventure of a lifetime.

Circular quay to Hyde Park is the first and most popular walking tour where you’ll pass by and visit Sydney Opera House, Government house, NSW Art Gallery, Hyde Park Barracks and St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Circular quay is an ideal departure point for day trips around Sydney, with regular ferries to Taronga ZOO, Manly and Cockatoo Island. Meander north down the promenade passing buskers, street performers and sopping wet victims of the Oz Jet Boat experience – before arriving at your first pit stop, the famous Sydney Opera House. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, this world class performing arts venue offers daily guided tours. From the Opera House, walk a short distance southeast to the Royal Botanic Garden for your daily dose of flora and fauna – all 30 hectares of it. Take a tour of the historic Government House, before following the waterfront loop to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a sandstone ‘bench’ rock formation carved for Governor Macquarie’s wife in 1810. With stunning views of Sydney Harbour, it’s a perfect spot for a lunchtime picnic.

Head south down Mrs Macquarie’s Road for approximately 10 minutes until you reach the Art Gallery of New South Wales. One of Australia’s foremost cultural institution, the gallery houses an extensive collection of Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian and contemporary art. Admission is free. Exiting the Gallery, walk northwest through the Domain and turn left onto Macquarie Street. Here you’ll come across the history Hyde Park Barracks, built in 1819 as convict quarters and today housing a fascinating museum covering their 190 year history. A short way down College Street, St Mary’s Cathedral stands opposite Hyde Park as one of the finest English-style gothic churches in the world.

The Australian Museum on the corner of College and William Street, is a great choise for families. It houses an extensive natural history collection, covering everything from dinosaurs to skeletons, Australian fauna and Aboriginal culture.

Having reached Hyde Park, the Anzac War Memorial is your last stop of the day. You’ll come across it at the southern end of the park – a grand concrete monument erected in 1934, which houses a small museum and various representational sculptures depicting events and personnel involved in World War I.
The second most recommended walking tour is Hyde Park to Darling Harbour, where you get familiarized with Sydney Tower Eye, Queen Victoria building, Sydney Town Hall, Chinatown and more sights of interest. We begin from Archibald Fountain in the center of Hyde Park, meander down Market Street to Sydney Tower eye – the tallest freestanding structure in the city. Step out into the open air for a breathtaking 45-minute skywalk tour to 268 metres above the city streets. Better hope you don’t get vertigo. Feet back on solid ground, continue down Market Street to the historic Queen Victoria Building, a restored Romanesque revival structure and shopping complex. Stop for high tea at the Tea Room, before exiting on George Street and coming face-to-face with Sydney Town Hall, an iconic civic and concert venue and popular local meeting place. Enyone hungry? Next stop is Chinatown for a colourful mix of Asian culture and cuisine. Walking south down George Street, turn right onto Liverpool, then left onto Dixon Street for a lunchtime dumpling fix.

Appetite seated the Chinese Garden of Friendship on the western border of Chinatown is sure to provide a little afternoon tranquility with it’s flowing waterfalls, exotic plants and hidden stone pathways.

From nature to industry, the Powerhouse Museum of science and design is your next iconic stopover offering a range of interactive exhibitions perfect for the family. If that isn’t enough, stroll on down Harris Street, turning right onto Allen and continuing along Murray until you reach the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Right on the water’s edge at Darling Harbour, you’ll find a range of maritime-themed exhibitions from indigenous lore and European seafaring to aquatic sport, shipwreck and maritime defence. Continuing with the, water’ theme, cross Pyrmont Bridge to reach your final three stops, Madame Tussauds, Wild Life Sydney and Sea Life Sydney aquarium. Here, you’ll have the chance to snap a photo with some of the world’s most famous faces, which are disturbingly lifelike, before walking through Australia’s iconic habitats and embarking on an underwater journey through some of the country’s unique maritime environments. Walking tour The Rocks, with its Rock’s Discovery Museum, Dawes Point Park, Sydney. Yofirst stop is the Museum of Contemporary Art, a newly redeveloped heaven for modern art buffs, incorporating spacious galleries, state of the art, public spaces and site-specific artists commissions. After exploring the permanent MCA collection and temporary exhibitions spend some time wandering
the old alleyways of The Rocks, with its high and designer stores and beautifully restored buildings, stopping by the free Rock’s Discovery Museum, to learn more about it history.

After a quick break for coffee at Sydney’s overseas Passenger Terminal, continue north for a picnic in Dawes Point Park, located right beneath the Harbor Bridge. While here, make sure you pay a visit to the Pylon Lookout for one of the best harbour views and a series of exhibits about the history of the bridge. Access is via pedestrian pathway, using the bridge stairs on Cumberland Street.

Following the foreshore along Hickinson Road, you’ll come across Sydney Theatre Company at Walsh bay. Stop by to watch a spectacular performance, or head to Bar at the End of the Wharf for a quick drink, free Wi-Fi and some afternoon sun. En route to your final destination, continue down Hickson Road, turn left to take the Windmill Street steps onto Kent Street, and take another left onto Argyle Street.

On Watson Road, you’ll come across the heritage listed Sydney observatory. Australia’s oldest observatory and one of the most significant sites in the nation’s scientific history. Located within Observatory park, it’s the perfect last stop – offering day and night tours, interactive exhibitions, and the chance to climb into a telescope dome and explore the sky with an experienced guide.

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