Sydney · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
These are the 5 self-guided tours worth your money right now, each with what it costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Start with number one and work down.
Set out from Manly on a full-day, self-guided ride covering up to 12.5 miles of bike paths and off-road trails. Visit North Head, Q Station, Shelly Beach and Manly Beach at your own pace. A bike, helmet, lock and locker are included; there is no local guide, but staff can explain where to ride.
“This was a great way to see the Manly Beach area. They provided breakfast staff was held our stuff so we didn’t have to take it all with us.”
Set off from Blackheath on a Merida electric mountain bike after Sam fits your helmet, checks your setup, and explains the route and riding tips. Follow fire trails to Baltzer Lookout and Hanging Rock, then return to the start. Allow three to four hours, including the 30 to 40 minute briefing. Bring shoes with good grip.
“The organization was excellent and very professional sights were amazing Sam was excellent and had an enormous amount of knowledge”
Hire an electric bike for a day and follow the English-language Wheel Explorer app around Sydney’s sights, with turn-by-turn directions and audio through a supplied Bluetooth helmet. Start the clockwise loop in Pyrmont or join elsewhere, and pause whenever you like. You can cover the main harbor sights in a day, though two days gives you more time for the full route.
“We had booked an e-bike guided tour that was cancelled due to rain. We still wanted to tour Sydney by e-bike, so we booked this instead. The e-bikes we got worked great, the app was helpful in seeing the sites on our own time and the Bluetooth helmets were a fantastic way to keep in touch with each other. It saved our vacation day from being a total washout! Highly recommend!”
Launch from Mosman for a self-guided three-hour paddle around Middle Harbour in a double sea kayak. Sydney Harbour Kayaks supplies the kayak, life jacket, paddle, map and a safety briefing, then advises where to go based on the day’s conditions. You may find beaches, mangroves, old wrecks and native wildlife along the way.
“Awesome time, we were able to voyage around the harbour and get a lay of the water then venture further to explore the glorious scenery!”
Follow a phone-guided ghost story from Hyde Park Barracks through Sydney streets and historic sites to Bridge Stairs in The Rocks. Solve 11 puzzles at your own pace, day or night, with no guide or attraction tickets required. Plan for about 80 to 110 minutes of walking and story time.
“This was such a neat virtual mystery/ghost tour. We decided to do the tour at night, so it was even spookiest. There is alot of walking, but it was fun. We would probably recommend this for age 10+ due to the scary stories.”
Pick a deck, a cliff edge or a cellar door.
