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Free Walking Tour Sydney

Join i'm free walking tours on a fantastic tour around sydney and get local insights into australia's most famous city, free  sydney walking tour.

G’day mate!

We are your local guides at I’m Free Walking Tours. We’re your complete connection to Sydney and Melbourne’s history, sights, and culture. As Sydneysiders, we will share with you the stories and history of the city we have grown up in and love . Not only the stories behind our famous icons, but also parts of the city that many locals don’t know.

Did you know that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened by a sword wielding man on horseback?

To help you best experience our city whilst you’re here we will provide you with 100% independent advice on what to see and do.

Operating since 2009 , we believe in helping you get the most out of your time in Sydney. For this reason we will share with you our personal recommendations, not places we are paid to promote!

Head to our website for more information about our tours of Sydney’s sights and historical Rocks district , and to register for a tour that suits you.

Pictures from our walks

What visitors think about Free  Sydney Walking Tour?

Frequently asked questions about the tour

What is the difference between the sydney sights and the rocks tour which one should i do, do i need to book an i’m free tour of sydney, where does the tour start and how do i find my i’m free tour guide, is the tour ever cancelled, are your tours accessible for wheelchairs and prams, get inspired by the free tour community blog.

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Free Walking Tour Sydney

Audio and Puzzle tour covering Sydney's inner-city highlights

PER PERSON | NO ADDITIONAL FEES OR TIPS

• Approx 2 hours
• 9 Tour Stops
• Audio + Puzzles

🔈 Listen To Our Commentary

Simply the best free tour in Sydney , our free Sydney walking tour helps you uncover the city's historic landmarks as you stroll through the streets on this carefully crafted tour. This free walking tour is delivered via our mobile app, so you can do it on any day or time you please.

See The Historical Sights of Sydney

As you embark on this self-guided adventure, you'll start in the lush Hyde Park, where the city's history unfolds in front of us. Discover the intriguing past of the nearby Barracks, Rum Hospital and Martin Place, home to many of Sydney and Australias financial institutions. While exploring down into The Rocks and Circular Quay, you'll get a glimpse into the city's colonial history and waterfront beauty. Join us for a memorable day of exploration, learning, and problem-solving as you discover the beauty and intrigue of Sydney's most iconic landmarks. Experience the city in a whole new way with our free walking tour – it's an adventure you won't want to miss!

Escape-Room Style Puzzles to Solve

As you explore, you will also  solve puzzles , that will encourage you to interact with your surroundings as well as reveal fantastic views of the city and the harbour. It might be finding secret text in a statue, decoding text from a memorial plaque, or looking around the heritage-listed sites to figure out what items are missing - only you can solve them! 

Note that puzzles range in difficulty just like an indoor escape room, so are suitable for both teenagers (7 and up) and adults.  

Accessible through our Mobile App

Our tours are easy to use and accessed through the app (both Apple or Android compatible). You can pause/resume the tour as you please if you stop to explore or grab a bite to eat.

Is the tour really free? Not even tips?

Yes, that's right, completely free . Because our tours are delivered via our mobile app, there is no guide to tip. No tips, no gratuities, nothing. Just Sydney's best free tour.

This tour is free so that people can see Sydney, and get a taste of what a tour with Unlocked Tours is like. Don't worry, this tour still has the audiobook-quality commentary and outdoor escape-room puzzles that we are famous for. We're so confident you'll love this tour, that you will be back to do more tours with us!

What's the difference between this free tour and your paid tours?

This tour is a purely digital experience (it is delivered via app only), whereas our other tours have a physical component to them as well, through our tour booklets, puzzle tools, postcards, pencil etc.

Because of this limitation, the commentary and puzzles on this tour are a little bit less sophisticated than our other tours - this is still the best free tour in Sydney, but our other tours are a step above, with more detailed commentary, more voice actors and sound effects, and more advanced puzzles (and more of them!)

Customer Reviews

Fantastic! Perfect length of time, distance and commentary.

My husband and I are Sydney siders and often look for ways to play tourist in our own city. Although we know the city well, we were impressed with how much of the city you got to explore. We were even surprised about some history that we didn’t know. We thought it was great. If you’re a visitor, you’ll think it’s excellent!

You don't know what you don't know about your own city, and this tour proved the old saying. A couple suggestions: 1) Add the War Memorial in Hyde Park to the start of your tour 2) Give yourself time to do the (free) audio tour of the Hyde Park Barracks. I'd suggest an hour minimum

Clear, concise and informative. It was a excellent choice of route which takes in the highlights of Sydney.

I did this tour on my own, and was amazed to discover so much about Sydney in a short time, despite having living here my whole life. The puzzles were tricky too which I liked!

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Free Sydney Walking Tour: A Quick, Easy City Center Loop

Posted by Lauren | Expat Life in Sydney

Table of Contents

Sydney Walking Tour Map and Route

Our Sydney Walking Tour will take you from the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park down to the Opera House and onto the Royal Botanic Gardens to enjoy a lazy afternoon picnic in the park.

Then, after counting the flying foxes in the tree tops and feeding the cockatoos and eels, we’ll continue through the gardens on to Woolloomooloo followed by the NSW Art Gallery in The Domain.

After the NSW Art Gallery, you can either cut through The Domain back to Macquarie Street or continue on to St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Anzac War Memorial.

The walking tour is not meant to be done in a hurry. Instead, take it slow and enjoy all the different views of the harbour and city.

Throughout the tour I’ll point out places to eat and other facilities plus good spots to stop for a photo or two.

Full Sydney Walking Tour Map and Attractions

Sydney opera house tour.

Before you head out, you might want to consider booking your Sydney Opera House Guided Tour online.

There are two options for touring the Opera House: The Backstage Tour is $175 and The Essentials Tour is $42.

The latter is given in several different languages and more frequently throughout the day. There are also dinner plus show packages available starting at $300 per person.

If you choose not to do a tour but instead want to see a production at the Opera House then definitely book your tickets in advance , especially if you want to get good seats.

Sydney Attractions Hours & Admission Fees

To help you arrange your time better, I should point out that there are a few places on this walking tour that have time constraints.

• NSW Parliament offers free one hour tours at 1:30pm every Monday and Friday.
• Government House is free and open Friday-Sunday 10:30am-3pm, access is by tour only. Book at the gatehouse. Located in the Royal Botanic Gardens above the Opera House.
• Hyde Park Barracks are open daily 9:30am — 5pm, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.  Entrance fee for adults $10, children $5 and family are $20.
• NSW Art Gallery is free for all general exhibits, open daily 10am-5pm, Wed. until 9pm.
• Anzac War Memorial is free and open every day 9am – 5pm except Good Friday and Christmas Day.

David Jones Food Hall

The food hall is also a good spot to stop while in the city for a bite to eat or to grab a quick dinner to have back at your rental apartment or hotel.

For dessert, try one of the chocolate covered strawberries.

After you have purchased your picnic supplies, walk east on Market towards Hyde Park.

At Hyde Park you will see the St. James station entrance. Cross the street and walk to the art deco Archibald Fountain.

Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park

On your way to the fountain check out the large public chess set. There is usually a game going on with a few people watching.

It was sculpted by Francois Sicard to commemorate the association between Australia and France in World War I.

A bronze Apollo is surrounded by other mythical figures. Horses’ heads, dolphins and tortoises vigorously spray jets of water.

Be sure to keep a look out for possums in the trees of Hyde Park.

They are usually asleep in the treetops during the day but in the evening can be seen running tree to tree through the park.

They might be hard to spot at first because the possums in Australia do not look like possums in North America.

Macquarie Street

At the Archibald Fountain turn north towards the Sydney Harbour.

At the end of the park cross the street at the crosswalk on your right.

The junction where King, Phillip and Macquarie Streets meet is Queen’s Square, named for the statue of Queen Victoria on the left side of Macquarie Street.

Queen Victoria is facing north towards the Law Courts Building.

Across the street is a statue of Prince Albert facing west towards his Queen.

The Hyde Park Barracks were designed by the convict-turned-architect Francis Greenway. Ah, irony, you gotta love it.

There is a mosaic relief memorial for Greenway set in the ground in front of the Law Courts Building if you want to wander over and take a look. It’s really not that impressive so don’t feel like you’re missing out if you decide to skip it.

If you would like to explore Australia’s convict past, stop in the barracks. It’s open daily 9:30am — 5pm, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Entrance fee for adults $10, children $5 and families are $20.

Governor Macquarie’s Rum Hospital

Continue down Macquarie to the Sydney Hospital.

Just before Il Porcellino, the large brass boar (a copy of the original boar statue located in Florence, Italy), you’ll notice a plaque in the sidewalk. Take a moment and read it.

Governor Macquarie had big plans for Sydney.

When he arrived in 1810, the only hospital Sydney had – if you could even call it that – consisted of tents and a few temporary buildings at Sydney Cove, where Circular Quay is today.

Macquarie knew that Sydney was going to continue to grow and needed a larger, more permanent hospital to provide better healthcare to the colony. Unfortunately, the British Government disagreed and refused to provide hospital funding for the convict colony.

At the time rum was very popular with Sydneysiders. To fund the hospital Macquarie agreed to give three businessmen a Rum Monopoly, the exclusive rights to selling all the rum imported into Sydney. The total finally agreed upon was 60,000 gallons of rum. That’s a lot of Cuba Libres!

Part of the Macquarie’s deal was “free” convict labour and supplies. It was a pretty sweet deal that seemed to favour the monopoly though Macquarie’s hospital ended up having many more uses and was central to Sydney’s growth.

The original hospital was demolished in 1879. The classically Victorian Revival building you see today was built in 1880.

Stop and make a wish at Il Porcellino .

Just south of the boar before the Kiosk is a pathway to a courtyard with a black swan fountain and a small coffee shop to have a rest if you need one.

The brick and sandstone Gothic Revival building just behind the fountain was the first Australian School of Nursing built to Florence Nightingale’s specifications.

Bathrooms are located in the cafe.

The North and South Wing

Due to the prominent location and size, the hospital's north and south wings were used for more than patient care.

The Mint, the building between the barracks and the hospital, was originally the south wing of the Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital.

Gold was discovered in New South Wales in 1851. To stop unrefined gold from being traded on the black market and used for currency, the NSW Government suggested to the British Colonial Secretary that Sydney needed its own mint.

In 1853, the British Government approved the first branch of the Royal Mint outside of England.

The Mint has a very nice gift shop if you're looking for something special to bring back as a gift. Yes, it has some of the usual touristy trinkets, but more unique artisan items than you will find in The Rocks or Circular Quay gift shops.

Free Tour of NSW Parliament House.  

The oldest part of the Parliament House is the original north wing of the “Rum Hospital”. This is also the part of the Parliament House that is rumored to be haunted by ghosts of former staff and patients of the old hospital.

Next to the present day hospital is the NSW Parliament which offers free one hour tours at 1:30pm every Monday and Friday.

“Trim” The Ship’s Cat Statue

Trim sailed with Flinders on his voyage to circumnavigate Australia and survived the shipwreck of the Porpoise in 1803.

Flinders’ faithful companion even shared his captivity in Mauritius when Flinders was accused of spying and imprisoned by the French on the voyage home to England.

Trim later escaped captivity and disappeared without a trace.

In Flinders biographical tribute to Trim, he described Trim as ‘one of the finest animals I ever saw’.

The Mitchell Library is worth a quick peek inside. It’s open M-Th 9am-8pm, F 9am-5pm, Sat. 10am-5pm and closed Sunday.

Bathrooms are located in the library if needed.

The Con and the Royal Botanic Gardens

It depicts Shakespeare plus five of his most famous characters: Hamlet, Romeo, Juliet, Portia and Falstaff.

Once you have crossed the street, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens will be on your right.

There are several gates along the way to enter the gardens, if you choose to explore the gardens before heading to the Opera House.

The first of the gates is the Morshead Fountain Gate, directly on your right side once across the street.

The Con is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia. It is a community-based Conservatorium Open Academy, plus the Conservatorium High School and has ties to the University of Sydney.

As you may have guessed, the Gothic style building was not always a music school. In fact, it was originally designed by Francis Greenway (yes, the same convict-turned-architect that designed the Hyde Park Barracks) to be the stables for the Government House of New South Wales, also partly designed by Greenway.

Cahill Expressway Viewing Platform

Walk along until you are under a bridge. The Cahill Expressway will be directly above you.

There is a small sign saying “Cahill Walkway to Harbour Bridge”, but it is easy to miss.

At the top of the stairs, walk along the expressway to the shaded platform for a view of Circular Quay.

There is a plaque with a bit of history about Sydney and it’s diverse population.

There will be several people passing the platform, as the walkway is used regularly by commuters. Most are more than happy to take your picture with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

Circular Quay

From the glass lift, walk along the Circular Quay promenade toward the Sydney Opera House.

Circular Quay is where it all began.

In 1788, Governor Phillip arrived with 11 ships to establish a British convict colony at was then mud flats.

Circular Quay is the heart of Sydney if not Australia. To one side is the World Heritage Sydney Opera House and on the other side is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The two most recognizable icons of Australia.

Wanting to get in good with the boss back home, Governor Phillip named the cove Sydney after the British Home Secretary, Lord Sydney.

As you walking along the promenade, you might notice a few things.

The first being Circular Quay isn’t really circular. The quay was originally, and more accurately, called Semi-Circular Quay but, in true Aussie fashion, it has since been shortened.

The Circular Quay promenade is full of restaurants all targeted towards tourists.

The Toaster

Sydney-siders were against the buildings because they blocked the view of the Royal Botanic Gardens from Circular Quay plus none of the buildings are aesthetically pleasing.

In fact, the building closest to the Opera House, the first to be completed, has been nicknamed “The Toaster” due to its resemblance to the kitchen appliance. Now, of course, it's one of the hottest real estate spots in the world.

In 2007, an apartment in The Toaster sold for $8.4 million . With an internal area of 190 square metres, the price of $44,210 per square metre was an Australian record.

Even though Sydneysiders dislike these buildings they can't deny one of the benefits of having them, the pedestrian only walkway. Can't imagine Circular Quay any other way.

Bennelong Point

Bennelong and Governor Phillip had a very interesting relationship with a lot of twists and turns.

Bennelong soon escaped his captors only to return as a free man to continue to aid Governor Phillip.

Shortly after his return, Bennelong arranged to have Governor Phillip visit Manly where the Governor was speared in the shoulder as punishment for kidnapping Bennelong in the first place.

Really, it would have been so much easier to have just asked Bennelong politely instead.

Later, in a strange turn of events, Bennelong gave Governor Phillip an aboriginal name in a gesture of kinship and then requested to have a hut built for him on the point, to which the Governor agreed.

Interesting note: Full citizenship rights were not granted to aborigines until 1973.

Bennelong Point in 1906. Can you pick out where the Opera House is today?

Circular Quay to the Sydney Opera House

At the end of the promenade is the main event: the Sydney Opera House.

Seeing it up close with the Sydney Harbour Bridge across Circular Quay is pretty darn amazing. I’ve lived here since 2008 and still I cannot resist taking a picture every time. Walk around and get your fill of photos. It is difficult to take a bad one.

Then head up the stairs and inside to check out all the events happening.

Tickets can be hard to come by so make a booking in advance.

There are two different tours options: The Backstage Tour and The Essentials Tour given in several different languages. There are also dinner plus show packages .

If you’re hungry and want to get something to eat I would recommend getting bar snacks at the Opera Bar or stick to burgers and fries at the Opera Kitchen. My husband always gets the sliders and the truffle parmesan fries at the Opera Kitchen. The truffle parm fries are addictive. Be prepared for the seagulls, bad service and to pay way too much for food. It's all about the location. If you have time, go back for breakfast when it's less crowded for a coffee and breakfast panini at the Opera Kitchen or on the weekend for a Croque Madame at the Opera Bar.

Bathrooms are located in the Opera House, upper and lower levels, and by the Opera Bar.

Fast Facts about the Sydney Opera House

In 1955, an international design competition was held to find an original design for the projected opera house. Jorn Utzon was announced the winner in 1957.

Jorn Utzon designed the Opera House to represent a ship with full sails to fit in with the setting of the harbour. Many websites and guidebooks mistakenly call the sails, shells but in Sydney you'll hear residents refer to the sails of the Opera House, such as the Lighting of the Sails during Vivid Light Festival, well worth going to if you're in Sydney at the end of May – beginning of June.

Image Credit: State Records NSW

Unfortunately, Utzon never saw his masterpiece in person. In 1966, he resigned from the project and left Australia after many disagreements with the State Government about the cost and completion time of the building.

The original estimated completion date was January 1963 with a cost of $7 million.

The building was actually completed 10 years later in 1973 with a final price tag of $102 million!

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House on October 20th, 1973. Utzon was not invited to the ceremony nor was his name even mentioned in the Queen's speech that day.

The Sydney Opera House was World Heritage listed by UNESCO in 2007.

Utzon ended up receiving the Pritzker Prize, an architect's highest honour, in 2003.

More about the Opera House

Unable to wait for the official opening, there were several concerts and performances held during the construction mostly for the enjoyment of those working on the site. What a perk!

Today, there is a lot more happening at the Opera House than opera.

There are seven performance spaces: the Concert Hall, Opera Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse, Studio, Utzon room and, when Oprah is in town, the Forecourt area out front.

There is an opera written about the Opera House called “Eighth Wonder”.

The 1,056,006 glossy white granite tiles were special ordered from Sweden and each  individually inspected before being shipped to Sydney.

There are 200,000 guided tours of the Opera House each year. ( You booked your tour ahead of time, didn't you? Might want to do that now if not.)

Sydney Harbour Bridge

You have probably read in a guidebook or online somewhere that the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been nicknamed the “Coat Hanger” on account of its shape. I can safely say that I have never heard anyone in Sydney call it that. Most just creatively call it “The Bridge”.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest and widest steel arch bridge.

From the Opera House, look closely at the bridge. You should be able to see at least one group of tourists and locals alike, making their way up to the top of the bridge to where the two flags are.

The Sydney Bridge Climb is one of the most popular activities in Sydney.

If you’re afraid of heights or just not interested in the Bridge Climb, I highly recommend at least going up the first pylon. It will cost you around $11. A bargain compared to the $280 Bridge Climb! The view of the harbour is well worth $11.

I use to walk across the bridge everyday on my way to work and I can tell you that it never got old.

Sydney Opera House to Royal Botanic Gardens

Royal botanic gardens.

There are a few things you don’t want to miss in the gardens.

If you are visiting during spring-early summer, October-December in Australia, you might want to check out the Rose Garden located near the Palace Garden Gate.

The first fleet arrived with 1,044 people packed in eleven ships. There were officers with their wives and children, free men, and, of course, convicts.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a single person among them with farming experience. Not even “an intelligent gardener” as Governor Philip would later complain.

The only livestock that survived the journey to Sydney were: 7 horses, 29 sheep, 74 swine, 7 cattle, and 6 rabbits. (Rabbits are now an uncontrollable feral pest in Australia.)

Philip had to rely solely on convict labour for ploughing all the fields, taking away precious labour from other projects.

Philip's farm was abandoned after only two years.

Admiralty House

Admiralty House photo from the NSW State Records .

Looking directly across the harbour from Farm Cove is Kirribilli.

You’ll notice a large area of land with a stately looking house at the tip of Kirribilli Point. This is Admiralty House were the Governor-General lives.

The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen to be her representative in Australia. The appointment is at the Queen’s pleasure which basically means it is for an indefinite period of time though in practice is usually a five year term. The appointment of the Governor-General is the only action performed by The Queen under the Constitution.

Present day photo of Admiralty House Admiralty House by Charlie Brewer .

Even so, the Governor-General does play an interesting role in Parliament.

The Governor-General has the power to appoint a Prime Minister if an election results in a ‘hung parliament’. The Governor-General can also dismiss a Prime Minister if he or she has lost the confidence of the Parliament or has acted unlawfully. The Governor-General reserves the power to refuse to dissolve the House of Representatives despite a request from the Prime Minister.

The Governor-General has many important ceremonial duties to perform such as, but not limited to, entertaining royalty and other foreign dignitaries at Admiralty House.

Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair

Walking along this path is one of my favorite things to do because each step presents a different view of the Opera House and the city behind the gardens. During the summer I like to begin by finding one of the ice cream carts then eating the quickly melting ice cream bar while strolling along the path. Try one of the Magnum ice cream bars. Ego is my favorite though they are all very good.

Once you’ve finished taking your photos continue around the peninsula towards Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. Don’t worry, you won’t miss it. Look for the writing on the wall. Oops sorry, I meant rocks.

Fort Denison

Photo Credit: Powerhouse Museum

From Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair you’ll see Fort Denison out in the heart of Sydney Harbour. The island that Fort Denison is located on is called Pinchgut perhaps due to Philip’s failed farming attempt. Your guess is as good as mine.

If you happen to be out at 1pm you’ll hear a gun fired from the fort’s Martello Tower, the only such tower built in Australia and the last to be built within the British Empire.

Martello towers, or Martellos, are small defensive forts that were built throughout the British Empire during the 19th century, from the Napoleonic Wars on.

The One O'clock Gun was fired each day from 1906 to 1942 to allow ships to set the chronometer to the local time. It was stopped during World War II to avoid frightening Sydneysiders but was later started up again in 1986.

Captain Cook Cruises has a regular ferry service to the fort from both Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.

Mrs. Macquarie’s Bushland Walk

Directly across from the Poolside Cafe is the Woolloomooloo Wharf, full of restaurants and expensive apartments plus a hotel. Russell Crowe lives in one of these apartments. Not hard to believe once you see all the yachts and sailboats moored out front.

Woolloomooloo Wharf

Further along the path there are other ways to cut across to the wharf that are a bit easier including one that is a bridge to the rooftop garden of an apartment building right on the wharf.

If you walk all the way down the path toward the NSW Art Gallery, just before you reach the gallery, there is a stairway on your left that will take you straight down to a crosswalk to Woolloomooloo Wharf.

Harry’s Cafe de Wheels

There is not much to see or do in Woolloomooloo other than eat and drink.  You can walk along the Woolloomooloo Wharf to the very tip, checking out all the different boats moored along the way.

As you can probably guess from the hours it’s open, Harry’s is very popular with the late night crowd. Once you have your pie with mushy peas and mash topped off with gravy, sit down on the wood blocks along the water and dig in.

This is a good tip for all over Australia. No one will stop you, just look like you've been there before or simply ask.

Art Gallery of NSW 

The NSW Art Gallery is free for all general exhibits (open daily 10am – 5pm, Wednesday until 9pm). There is often a special exhibit happening which will cost between $10 – $20 per ticket for an adult.

Speaker’s Corner

In the tradition of London’s Hyde Park Corner, across from the NSW Art Gallery towards Sydney Hospital is Speaker’s Corner.

Every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm anyone and everyone is free to set up their soapbox and speak on issues that matter to them.

Topics range from Australian politics to alien invasion. It is often very entertaining to strike up a conversation with one of the speakers if you have the time.

There isn't much traffic usually on the street here so crossing should be no problem.

St. Mary’s is open M – F 8:30am – 5pm. The side door located across from Hyde Park is usually open when the church is. Or you can walk around to the front entrance.

Finish at the Anzac War Memorial

Our walk today has taken us past two community pool. There are plenty more in the city. No wonder Australians do so well in competitive swimming.

Other Sydney Walking Tours

Sydney Guided Walking Tour : A 2-hour guided walking tour taking in the main sights of the Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks and Hyde Park.

Sydney Harbour Cruise and Goat Island Walking Tour : Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history and take in the sites of Sydney Harbour aboard a restored 1920s ferry. Travel to Goat Island, where you'll learn about Australia's convict history on a guided walking tour before enjoying a cold buffet lunch with complimentary sparkling wine.

Sydney Crimes and Passions Walking Tour of Kings Cross : Soak up the atmosphere on a walking tour of Sydney through the vibrant and famous Kings Cross, Australia's red light capital. Uncover Kings Cross speckled history of fame, fortunes, murders, drug-obsessions, mysteries, crimes and romances.

Haunted Sydney Ghost Tour : Hear true stories of murder, suicide, hangings, hauntings and ghosts as you journey along the cobblestone lanes into the hidden areas of the birthplace of Australia.

Sydney Architecture Walks : Tours guided by architects on bike or on foot. You’ll never look at the city the same again. Tours are jargon-free.

I hope you enjoyed the tour!

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SYDNEY FREE WALKING TOURS

Take part in a tour of Sydney - Australia's largest and most famous destination.

Over 5 million residents call Sydney home and why wouldn't they? The capital of New South Wales, with its luxurious harbour and jaw dropping Opera House, epitomises what Australia means to so many across the world.

See our favourite Sydney tours here. Some are free with no upfront cost and operate on a tipping basis, while others have associated costs.

We only list tours we'd personally use.  I f you click links on our site, we may earn a small commission. T ours  not operated by Buddy Free Walk ing Tours. ​

Free Walking Tours of Sydney

Daily Sydney walkings tours operated by I'm Free Tours . Choose between the main Sydney Sights and the Free Sydney Rocks tours. Your tour guide will wear green. For information regarding starting times, lengths of the tours as well as meeting points, please visit their website .

Free Tours Sydney offers a single daily walking tour that encompasses both Sydney and the The Rocks District. Lasting about two and half hours, the tour meets at the Archibald Fountain at Hyde Park daily at 10:30am (time and meeting place may change, please visit tour page for details.

Experience a warm introduction and welcome from a Sydney Greeter. A volunteer who loves Sydney guides you through their favourite spots in the city, local style. For more details and to book a tour, visit the Sydney Greeter page . 

The Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney offers tours of the gallery, some of which are free. Worthwhile to visit and check it out.

Free guided tours of The Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney. Explore the vast heritage and range of picturesque plant life at the botanic garden with a friendly local guide. Details here .

Audio Guided Tour of Sydney

An alternative to a classic tour and for those that like the independence. The no hassle 2 hour guided audio tour of Sydney takes you through the major sights of Sydney including the Sydney Opera House, St James’ Church and the Museum of Sydney before taking in the beauty of the Rocks, the General Post Office, Sydney Parliament and the Government House. Learn more  about the tour .

Other Sydney Tours (not free but highly rated)

"Sydney is a marvellous and inspiring place"

Dani, visitor to Sydney in December 2022

Sydney - Australia's most popular destination

Whether you plan to take it easy on sunny picturesque beaches, visit some world famous restaurants and bars or explore the nature and wildlife in and around Sydney, the city has so much to offer for all types of visitors and budgets. Major sights not to miss include Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi and Manly beaches, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Circular Quay, botanical gardens, Hyde park, Chinese Garden of Friendship and numerous museums and art galleries.

When you arrive to Sydney, why not take a free walking tour to get a friendly and easy introduction to this amazing city.

The list above shows which free tours are currently operating.

The tours listed are described as free. What does this mean? Generally, it means the tours have no upfront cost. Some tours may operate on a tips only basis where if you like the tour, you can pay your guide how much the tour was worth to you at the end. Didn't like it? No obligations to pay. Check each tour for details.

Most tours operate in English but some tours may be available in other languages including Spanish (tour gratis de Sydney en español), Chinese (免费城市徒步之旅), Italian (tour a piedi gratuito di Sydney in italiano) and French (visite gratuite de Sydney en français).

The tours of Sydney listed here are not operated by Buddy Free Walking Tours. Therefore, we advise you to visit the websites and find out directly from the operators up to date times, dates and other details of the tours. The information listed here is only a snapshot and we take no responsibility for any missing infor mation or safety of tours.  See details on tour operator website for details and any COVID-19 restrictions currently in place and if the tour is active at the moment.

Are you a tour operator in or around Sydney? Contact us to get listed here.

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• Tours in Sydney

Rocks at 6pm Free Walking Tour

Overview of the tour in Sydney

Come with us as we embark on an adventure through the history of The Rocks, the site of Australia's first European settlement. We will make our way through its alleys, pubs, and historic buildings. Discuss our indigenous history and marvel at the beautiful sites as we explore this incredible district.

This activity includes:

• Cadmans Cottage
• Susannah Place
• Sydney Laneways - Sydney Culture History Walks
• Foundation Park
• The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre
• Murders and Mysteries
• The First Hanging
• Convicts, Sailors and Rocks’ Characters
• Australia’s Largest Bank Robbery
• Historic Pubs and Breweries
• Sydney Cities Oldest House
• The current Rocks Protests

Meeting point

in front (water side) of Cadman’s Cottage.

110 George St (water Side) in front of Cadman’s Cottage in Circular Quay west.

Things to note

If you are a group of 10 or more. Please register with us at least 24 hours in advance.

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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Free Walking Tour › Sydney

Free Walking Tour Sydney

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Free Walking Tour Sydney & The Rocks

Walk with local guides who are experts in history, love their city and enjoy sharing their favourite places with you. The tour will give you a rare insight into the fascinating past as a British colony. You will explore The Rocks - the first convict settlement in Australia with its stories of survival, convicts, gangs and pubs.

Also, you will be introduced to Sydney as a modern vibrant city with lots of photo opportunities, tips on places to visit and things to do.

For the schedule and details of the 'Free Walking Tour Sydney & the Rocks' please visit their website.

Accessibility

Actively welcomes people with access needs.

Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)

Train your staff in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges

Train your staff in disability awareness

Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)

Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tour

It's time to feel new.

Pure joy as you wake to the sunrise. Awe as you make it to the snowy peak. A sense of adventure as you motor across red plains. The relief of rejuvenation as you wade into an alpine stream. Connection as you taste native, fragrant leaves. A sense of belonging as you return to your favourite holiday house. Freedom as you dash into the waves. Discover the endless feelings a visit to NSW can inspire.

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Destination NSW acknowledges and respects Aboriginal people as the state’s first people and nations and recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and occupants of New South Wales land and water.

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Sydney.com is the official tourism site for Destination NSW. © Copyright 2024 Destination NSW. All rights reserved

I'm Free Tours of Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland

Explore Australia & New Zealand’s most popular cities with your friendly and knowledgeable local I’m Free Tour guides.

Local Free Tours of Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland

Explore three of Australasia’s best cities on a free tour with your friendly and knowledgeable local tour guides.

Experience the culture and lifestyle as we delve into the history, stories and culture to ensure that you get the best out of your stay in Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland.

Join us on a tour!

Choose which city you would like to join a tour and we look forward to showing you around!

Free Tour Community

We are a member of the Free Tour Community , a global group of independent local organisations operating free, pay what you feel tours. Check out th e link to find us in over 80 cities around the world.

The Free Tour concept

We love the Free Tour concept. For for many people it’s a new idea, so we’ve answered some common questions.

What is a Free Tour?

Free tours are an accessible way to get a great local introduction to a city. They are offered for free, allowing you the ability to turn up, meet your knowledgeable guide and get to know the history and culture of a city without the commitment of upfront payment. Free Tours allow all those who attend the ability to decide what they thought their service was worth. This encourages your trained local guide, whose job it is to show you the magic of their city, to offer everyone the best service every time. 

Are Free Tours really free?

Free Tours have developed over the past 20 years as a way to offer tours of cities in a way that is more accessible to people, no matter their budget or circumstances.

Are Free Tour guides as good as other tour guides?

The beauty of the free tour guide is, they have lots of practice. They know your questions inside and out and because there’s no upfront fee, you get to decide what to leave the guide. In a nutshell, Free Tour Guides know they have to impress you, so their tours are designed to be memorable, entertaining explorations of a city.

Why aren’t Free Tours called Pay-what-you-want tours?

Some companies have gone that way, because they feel it better describes the concept. However, we feel the term free tour is more recognisable and representative of the freedom that free tours offer.

Why should I join an I'm Free Tour?

We at I’m Free Walking Tours are all locals to our cities and go through an extensive learning and interview process before guiding. Secondly, all our recommendations are honest and independent and we work continuously to improve our tours and share with you the best sights, culture and history that our city has to offer.

How much should I give my guide?

We don’t like to specify as we want to make sure everyone can have a great experience in Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland no matter their budget. 

How do I join a Free Tour?

We require bookings so that we can manage numbers and staffing. You can book online for a Sydney Tour,   Melbourne Tour or Auckland Tour .

Some companies allow you to turn up without reservation, but most across the world require pre-booking to help manage numbers and guide availability, so check with each company directly.

Just remember to avoid unnecessary charges for you or your free tour guide, register directly with the free tour company of your choice rather than guruwalk, freetour.com or other similar booking engines. If you want a great list of independent companies across the world, have a look at freetourcommunity.com .

TOURS WEEKLY

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Which city would you like to explore with us?

*We require that all participants book ahead to help us manage people on our tours and to help keep us all safe. See here for our COVID Safe protocols.

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NEW TOURS : We are now offering tours in Auckland. If you're heading to New Zealand on your travels head to the Auckland page to see more details and book your place!

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Sydney Tours

Sydney is our speciality

We restart tours on 1 December 2021.

Please visit the Free Walking and Sydney Bus tour pages for schedule and booking.

posted 11/11/2021

Please note that Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tours will operate twice a day at 10.30am and 2pm from 26th of December 2018 until 15th January 2019.

Please note that will not have any tours from 1 September 2019 until 8 September 2019.

Welcome to Locl Tour Sydney

Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tours

Free Sydney Walking Tours

How to join:

1. Select the Bus or Walking tour below

2. Click "Book Now" to see availability

Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tour

"kings cross - rose bay - watsons bay - bondi beach".

• The most affordable bus tour in Sydney
• 3 hours guided bus tour of Sydney
• Live tour guide, not a prerecorded tour
• Multiple stops for amazing lookouts and also a stop for coffee
• Comfort with air-conditioned bus
• Recommended by Lonely Planet

Free Walking Tour Sydney & The Rocks

"colonial walk in modern sydney".

• Explore City and The Rocks sights on a single tour
• 2.5-hour historical walking tour
• Experienced local tour guides
• Famous sights and hidden secrets
• Get advices on things to do in Sydney

We're recommended by:

@freetourssydney