15 Drinking Tours in Sydney Worth the Ferry Fare

1.The Rocks Pub Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 447 reviews · from $82Our pick

Join a guide for a 2.5-hour walk through The Rocks, from Harts Pub to The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel. Along the way, visit four historic pubs, hear stories of convicts, larrikin gangs, the plague and local pub culture, and choose a 285ml craft beer, wine or soft drink at each stop. Guides have included Dave, Doug, Craig and Tanya.

“This was a fun and interesting tour! Lots of history and lots of beer! We were lucky enough to have Craig as our tour guide -- he was full of interesting information and history as well as lots of great and colorful local sayings! If you have a chance to take this tour -- do it!! And if you don't drink beer, there's always wine or cider!”

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2.Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 394 reviews · from $110

Meet in Surry Hills at 2:30 pm for a three to three-and-a-half-hour craft beer tour. A local guide chooses several breweries based on who is brewing that day, with Sydney Brewery listed as a 45-minute stop. Expect beer tastings, behind-the-scenes access, and air-conditioned minivan transport for a group of up to 10.

“Matt was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable with a massive passion that shows every time he is near a beer! Super fun experience. Went on with 18 year old son, would highly recommend!”

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3.Big Night Out Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · from $35

Start at The Scary Canary at 8 pm, then follow a guide to 3 Wise Monkeys, Scruffy Murphy’s, and Side Bar. Your $35.14 ticket includes entry, a drink at each stop, pizza and snacks, and discounts at some venues. Expect a social night with a group that can reach 150 people, plus dancing and DJs at the later stops.

“Made some nice friends in my first night in Sydney, too bad i lost them. You get a drink at every bar!”

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4.Sydney The Rocks Historical Pub Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $82

Walk The Rocks with a local guide, stopping at four historic pubs for four included drinks and stories about Sydney’s oldest European neighborhood. Guides such as Simon, Nick, Doug, and Colin have led the tour, which mixes pub history, local beer and cider options, and backstreet finds. Food is not included, so plan to eat before or after.

“It was a great tour we meet some people on the tour the beer was good overall a great experience the story about each place was very interesting”

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5.Sydney’s Secret Bars Nightlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 188 reviews · from $46

Join a small group of up to 12 for a three-to-four-hour Sydney bar walk, starting at 6:30 pm. Your route varies by night, taking in areas such as the CBD, The Rocks, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, or Chinatown. A beer or wine is included at the first bar, and guides such as Justin, Eddie, Bunny, and Kieran have led groups.

“I have done several tours with the company Local Sauce Tours and my guide Dan. This is a well organized and well run tour. The owner, Justin, is very clear with communications, from the moment you booked the tour to the start of the tour. Read more”

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6.Sydney Cocktail Harbour Bar Cruise with Charcuterie Board

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · from $56

Board Captain Cook Cruises at King Street Wharf 1 for an easygoing two-hour trip around Sydney Harbour. You get reserved lounge seating, a welcome cocktail, one more beer, wine, or soft drink, and an Australian cheese and charcuterie board for two. Head outside for views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Live music is scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Good charcuterie and drinks. Great live music without being too noisy. Easy hop on and hop off. Good service.”

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7.Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 151 reviews · from $129

Spend about eight hours visiting three to four Hunter Valley cellar doors by air-conditioned minibus, with wine and spirits tastings included. You can also try local cheese and chocolate, then buy lunch or an optional craft beer paddle at 4 Pines Brewhouse. The group is capped at 20, and guides such as Grant, Suzanne and Des have led the route.

“I visited hunter valley for the first time with my partner this weekend The tour was perfect! Des the driver was a lovely guy, made us feel comfortable from the start! Plenty of time at each place. Lunch was beautiful and such a beautiful setting too! Overall great day!!”

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8.Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 137 reviews · 4 hours · from $34

Join English-speaking local hosts for a four-hour Sydney night out, starting at The Scary Canary and moving through four venues before finishing at Side Bar. Expect one drink at each stop, pizza, games, prizes and a mostly young group. It is a party crawl, not a history tour, so bring your dancing shoes and valid ID.

“It was a good group and fun activity! First pub crawling in Sydney and enjoyed it!”

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9.The Rocks Pub Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 60 reviews

Walk The Rocks’ cobbled lanes with an English-speaking guide, stopping at four heritage-listed pubs for a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink at each. Hear tales of convicts, gangs and local characters, and learn why several pubs claim to be Sydney’s oldest. Guides have included Doug, Greg and Craig, though your guide may differ.

“Excellent way to experience some of historic Sydney and drink great craft beers.”

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10.Secret Bar Guided Tour with Complimentary Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 52 reviews · 3h 30m · from $46

Spend 3.5 hours visiting three or four small bars with a local English-speaking host. The route changes by night, from Newtown to the Rocks and Surry Hills. Your first beer or wine is included, and you’ll leave with a map of the bars and extra Sydney recommendations. Past hosts have included Ari, Eddy, Dan, and Daniel.

“It was a great experience!! definitely reccomend this tour if youre new to sydney and unsure on where to go for drinks. all the places that was in the tour had great drinks. all 4 have diff vibes”

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11.Hunter Valley Beer & Wine Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews · 11h 30m · from $159

Travel from central Sydney with a guide such as Colin, Chris or Crystal to meet Hunter Valley producers, tour a vineyard or winery, and sample wine, cheese and local spirits. Lunch includes a drink, and you can choose beer instead of some wine tastings or opt for wine with chocolate. Expect a full day, including a long drive.

“Great day in a small group tour. Hunter valley was well worth the long drive from Sydney & enjoyed visiting several different wineries. Especially loved the wine & chocolate pairing.”

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12.Sydney Grains and Grapes Hunter Valley Wine and Beer with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $161

Spend about 11.5 hours travelling from Sydney to the Hunter Valley for winery visits, a guided look at vineyard or production work, lunch, a family distillery tasting, wine and cheese, and a final choice of wine with chocolate or local craft beer. Groups are capped at 21. Guides including Chris and Glen have led days with a mix of regional stories and relaxed downtime.

“Had a wonderful time! Our guide (Chris) was great- talked just enough to give us an idea of the area and the history of Hunter Valley, but also gave us some nice quiet time to enjoy the sites and relax. Wine was delicious at all of the venues, Read more”

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13.Hunter Valley: Beer & Wine Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 6h 30m · from $159

Spend about six and a half hours touring Hunter Valley wineries, a family distillery and local producers with Dave’s Travel Group. Expect vineyard or winery access, tastings of wine, cheese and spirits, a one-course lunch, and a choice of beer or wine at select stops. Guides include Gaz, though your guide may vary.

“We had a wonderful experience and guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly.”

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14.3-Hour Craft Beer and Breweries Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 3h 30m · from $106

Meet your English-speaking guide at Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills, then visit three independent breweries and a craft beer bar. Taste beer and cider, learn about brewing with your senses, and get snacks and water. Brewery stops can change with daily operations. Guides have included Matt and Brad, though yours may be different.

“Matt was an excellent guide! He was informative and fun. We tried several different types of beers at 3 different breweries off the beaten path. We enjoyed getting to know other travelers and hearing their experiences.”

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15.Hop Hunter Brewery Tour – Full Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $161

Spend about seven hours visiting Hope Brewhouse, Lovedale Brewery, and Hunter Beer Co, with behind-the-scenes tours, beer and cider tastings, lunch, and transport. A guide adds context about Hunter Valley brewing, while a group capped at 10 keeps the day small. Pickups are available in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

“Greg was great. Such a fun day visiting the breweries. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves beer!”

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