Convicts and The Rocks: Sydney's Walking Tour Led by Historian
Overview
Expect fascinating history, delivered with energy and insight on a walking exploration of Sydney's colonial birthplace: The Rocks. Together your group will uncover the scallywag stories of convicts, soldiers, sailors, rum & rebellions. This tour is led by vibrant historians who share their passion for the past through great storytelling, visual imagery and extensive research.
Before reaching the narrow alleyways & hidden ruins of The Rocks district, you’ll enter inside Sydney’s historical Customs House & discover the colonial relics at Macquarie Place.
In The Rocks your guide will bring to life the convicts, craftsmen & cut-throats littered throughout its early history. You'll also venture below street level to discover a sandstone cellar connected to Sydney's gold-rush era.
After getting lost in the area's rich history this tour finishes in the heart of The Rocks surrounded by heritage pubs, cafes, boutique shopping, art galleries & the local market on Saturdays. Welcome aboard!
Before reaching the narrow alleyways & hidden ruins of The Rocks district, you’ll enter inside Sydney’s historical Customs House & discover the colonial relics at Macquarie Place.
In The Rocks your guide will bring to life the convicts, craftsmen & cut-throats littered throughout its early history. You'll also venture below street level to discover a sandstone cellar connected to Sydney's gold-rush era.
After getting lost in the area's rich history this tour finishes in the heart of The Rocks surrounded by heritage pubs, cafes, boutique shopping, art galleries & the local market on Saturdays. Welcome aboard!
Inclusions
- A local Sydney crime historian as your tour guide
- 2.5 hour walking tour covering approximately 20 historic sites and stories
- Tour finishes in the heart of The Rocks beside historic pubs and cafes with local recommendations
- A visit inside Customs House to discover scale model of Sydney from above
- A visual folder with historic imagery, maps and portraits of the area presented by your guide
- Entry/Admission - The Argyle
- Entry/Admission - Customs House
- Entry/Admission - Macquarie Place Park
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Journey Walks, Sydney Customs House 31 Alfred St, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Meet you guide at our Journey Walks starting point in front of Customs House at Circular Quay for an introduction. Your guide will be located on right hand side of the building if facing the entrance with a CONVICT HISTORY tour folder.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sydney Customs House 31 Alfred St Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Begin your journey by unraveling the elaborate sandstone facade of Sydney Customs House — the gateway for people and goods arriving by ship into Sydney through the 19th & 20th Century.
Then enter inside Customs House see a unique model of the entire city including Circular Quay and The Rocks in miniature (scale 1:500) below your feet as your guide illustrates the forming of the natural harbour and the urban settlement of Sydney.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Macquarie Place Park, Bridge Street, Sydney, New South Wales Australia
Discover the hidden and forgotten relics found in Macquarie Place including the underground Edwardian lavatory, the First Fleet anchor and the Obelisk of distances — Sydney's first public monument designed and built by convicts for the Governor of NSW.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Tank Stream Fountain, 5010 Herald Square, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Uncover the secrets of Sydney's original fresh water source, now hidden below your feet. The Tank stream not only helped Sydney's convict colony survive but it was one of the main reasons this cove was chosen as the site of Australia's first penal settlement
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
In The Rocks you'll find yourself wandering though back alleys and along cobbled lanes, passing some of the oldest pubs and houses in Sydney and getting lost in the stories of convicts, sailors and street gangs who occupied and worked in the area. Your guide will lead you to hidden sandstone ruins, old slums and underground cellars turned speak easy bars. The Rocks area is full of character, quirks and surprises.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Stop At: The Argyle, 18 Argyle Street The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Finish your tour in the heart of The Rocks nearby the Argyle Stores surrounded by historic pubs, converted storehouses, shops, cafes, and beer gardens
Duration: 10 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Journey Walks, Sydney Customs House 31 Alfred St, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Meet you guide at our Journey Walks starting point in front of Customs House at Circular Quay for an introduction. Your guide will be located on right hand side of the building if facing the entrance with a CONVICT HISTORY tour folder.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sydney Customs House 31 Alfred St Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Begin your journey by unraveling the elaborate sandstone facade of Sydney Customs House — the gateway for people and goods arriving by ship into Sydney through the 19th & 20th Century.
Then enter inside Customs House see a unique model of the entire city including Circular Quay and The Rocks in miniature (scale 1:500) below your feet as your guide illustrates the forming of the natural harbour and the urban settlement of Sydney.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Macquarie Place Park, Bridge Street, Sydney, New South Wales Australia
Discover the hidden and forgotten relics found in Macquarie Place including the underground Edwardian lavatory, the First Fleet anchor and the Obelisk of distances — Sydney's first public monument designed and built by convicts for the Governor of NSW.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Tank Stream Fountain, 5010 Herald Square, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Uncover the secrets of Sydney's original fresh water source, now hidden below your feet. The Tank stream not only helped Sydney's convict colony survive but it was one of the main reasons this cove was chosen as the site of Australia's first penal settlement
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
In The Rocks you'll find yourself wandering though back alleys and along cobbled lanes, passing some of the oldest pubs and houses in Sydney and getting lost in the stories of convicts, sailors and street gangs who occupied and worked in the area. Your guide will lead you to hidden sandstone ruins, old slums and underground cellars turned speak easy bars. The Rocks area is full of character, quirks and surprises.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Stop At: The Argyle, 18 Argyle Street The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
Finish your tour in the heart of The Rocks nearby the Argyle Stores surrounded by historic pubs, converted storehouses, shops, cafes, and beer gardens
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional information
- We continue our tours in all weather conditions so please dress accordingly. Umbrella's are a good idea if wet weather seems likely.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Due to the layout of The Rocks, some stairs are unavoidable at certain points along the way, but majority of the route follows flat terrain.
- Anyone requiring special assistance is kindly asked to make contact with your local operator in advance.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised that this tour may include the names and images of people who are now deceased.
- Your guide is a native English speaker and will carry tour folder with A3 size images to help illustrate the area's past
- Near public transportation
- Groups are kept small (10 person maximum) and we encourage questions and interaction.
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Your guide will ensure that Covid-safe social distancing measures and a contact free policy is in place throughout the tour
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
lynnecD7624OS
January 2023
Excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Max's presentation of the history of Sydney Cove and The Rocks was very entertaining and informative. We were only in Sydney for a few days, with our main focus being a couple of shows, but we thought we would add a couple of short tours in as well ...
Excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Max's presentation of the history of Sydney Cove and The Rocks was very entertaining and informative. We were only in Sydney for a few days, with our main focus being a couple of shows, but we thought we would add a couple of short tours in as well - very glad we selected this one. Highly recommended.Luce31A
October 2020
Phenomenal tour!! These guys are not only super interesting but fun and friendly .. thanks for having us :)
Phenomenal tour!! These guys are not only super interesting but fun and friendly .. thanks for having us :)7gailm
February 2021
Today my sister and I joined this walking tour with April who took us on a journey into the past history of Sydney Cove and the Rocks area. As descendants of the First Fleet, we thought we knew a little of our history, but we quickly realised that April was far more knowledgeable on the subject...
Today my sister and I joined this walking tour with April who took us on a journey into the past history of Sydney Cove and the Rocks area. As descendants of the First Fleet, we thought we knew a little of our history, but we quickly realised that April was far more knowledgeable on the subject. Her enthusiasm was contagious and her stories were captivating! Highly recommend this tour!Lympip
September 2020
Danica was an engaging and enthusiastic guide who brought history alive. They were fun, knowledgeable and inspiring. What a great way to understand Sydney, and I will never look at Circular Quay and The Rocks in the same way again. Highly recommended
Danica was an engaging and enthusiastic guide who brought history alive. They were fun, knowledgeable and inspiring. What a great way to understand Sydney, and I will never look at Circular Quay and The Rocks in the same way again. Highly recommendedMargaret2567
March 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour yesterday with April. We saw parts of Sydney we have never seen, her knowledge of the area and its history is second to none. Her commentary brings the past to life.
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour yesterday with April. We saw parts of Sydney we have never seen, her knowledge of the area and its history is second to none. Her commentary brings the past to life.lobelc2022
April 2022
We did the tour in April 2022 and enjoyed all 2.5 hours of it. Max was very engaging and enthusiastic and held our interest the whole time with the stories and the places he took us. We had no idea what to expect but came out learning a lot and having a great time. Our two boys (16 and 12) were e...
We did the tour in April 2022 and enjoyed all 2.5 hours of it. Max was very engaging and enthusiastic and held our interest the whole time with the stories and the places he took us. We had no idea what to expect but came out learning a lot and having a great time. Our two boys (16 and 12) were equally engaged, so we would highly recommend it for kids as well as adults.