Top New South Wales Cultural 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.

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.

Spend an afternoon visiting Palm Beach, aka Summer Bay from the famous Australian TV show ‘Home and Away.’ Your expert guide shares the inside scoop on the people and places from the hit TV series, and you can snap photos at outdoor filming locations from the show. You may even get meet some of the cast and watch the filming in action. Visit the seaside town of Manly and see other renowned surfing beaches. Choose from four different tour options to suit your schedule and budget.

Discover the dark side of Newcastle’s past—one that most visitors never experience—on this walking tour. With a guide to show you the city’s spookiest sights, uncover tales of true crimes that you might never hear otherwise. Hear about the Tomahawk Murderer, view locations such as the Convict Lumberyard and Old Jail; and absorb the creepy atmosphere as your guide reveals stories of killings, hauntings, fraud, and more.

Make the most of your time in Sydney on a morning or afternoon sightseeing tour that crams all the city’s best bits into just a few hours. Snap photos of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge; visit the glamorous Bondi Beach; travel through The Rocks and Paddington; and take in the views from Mrs. Macquarie’s Point.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and beyond during a scenic helicopter flight over Sydney. Take to the skies for a quick flight that provides stunning panoramic views of Sydney’s eastern coastline including Coogee Beach, Bondi Beach, Manly Cove, Sydney’s spectacular Harbor and city skyline, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Sydney Opera House. Learn about the city’s history from your knowledgeable pilot as you fly along the coast of the Pacific Ocean before your pilot whirs over Sydney Head marking the harbor’s entrance.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Creator of the novel that inspired “The Thorn Birds” TV series, author of 24 books, Colleen McCullough lived on Norfolk Island for almost 36 years—and you get exclusive access to her property, Out Yenna, on this small-group tour. View the priceless collection of artefacts she and her Norfolk Islander husband gathered on their travels and experience the luxurious serenity that fueled McCullough’s epic novels.

Escape the city and explore the Kiama Coast region, its bushland, forests, farmlands and coastal beaches on this full-day adventure. Travel from Sydney taking in panoramic views along the route including clifftop lookouts and multiple viewpoints. Look out for indigenous wildlife, walk across secluded beaches and discover aboriginal engravings before indulging in a freshly prepared BBQ lunch outdoors. Enjoy a more personal experience on this small-group tour led by a local guide.

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.

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.

Take a thrilling ride across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge on a trike or Harley Davidson. Cruise past Luna Park, Blues Point Reserve, the Opera House, stunning homes in the Eastern Suburbs, Bondi Beach, and more. Your local guide will provide live commentary by headset to enrich your trip. This tour includes helmet, jacket, gloves, and round-trip transport from CBD hotels.

Learn more about Maitland town on a guided tour that’s anything but average. Your local guide will take you on a walking tour that delves into Maitland’s murky past, uncovering secrets and crimes that some would prefer remain hidden. This small town has a full and colorful (or should we say, dark) history, hidden behind the walls of grand old buildings and down back alleys. Discover it all.