Sydney Cultural Gems and Architecture Tour

It’s not just the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge!
A short way from Sydney’s iconic attractions are hidden gems that show the history of our city and its contemporary sparkle.

Here are some of our favourites:

Manly Beach and North Head lookout
Sydney University and museum
Harbour Bridge Pylon
Royal Botanic Gardens
NSW Art Gallery
Barangaroo Reserve
Wendy Whiteley's Garden
Paddington Reservoir
Barrenjoey lighthouse and Palm Beach

A visit to some of Sydney's best colonial, art deco or contemporary architecture can also be included in the day.

Another option is to have lunch at a restaurant or cafe of your choosing. If you would like advice we will forward a list of our favourites.

Is a visit to a boutique ice cream shop, gourmet chocolate, donut or cookie shop of interest?

Let us know what you are looking for and we will provide expert assistance. After consulting with you we prepare a day plan for your approval.

The tour is fully private with your own devoted tour guide.

What's included:

• mirrorless SLR photographs of your group at the places we visit
• 1 Sydney Nimble designer T shirt

Not included:

• Entrance fee to Police and Justice Museum ($12)

What to expect:

Duration: 9 hours

North Head

Fairfax Track, Manly, 2095, New South Wales

North Head has pristine heathland (including seasonal wildflowers) and panoramic views of the entrance into Sydney Harbour.
This headland is a tied island linked to Manly by a sandspit and has remnant military buildings, a memorial walk and a former quarantine station.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Barrenjoey Lighthouse

Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach, 2108, New South Wales

At Palm Beach we walk to the Barrenjoey lighthouse which was built in 1881. It dominates the headland and is a well maintained sandstone lighthouse.
The walk to the lighthouse provides outstanding coastal views of Pittwater and Lion Island and a chance to see interesting sandstone formations and the Australian bush.

After the lighthouse we will drive along Palm Beach and have the option of stopping at Summer Bay if you are a Home and Away (a long running tv series) devotee.

We then take the back route and some wonderful coastal scenery.

2 hours

Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden

Lavender St, Near Luna Park, North Sydney, 2060 NSW, New South Wales

A living work of art! Wendy's garden is a serene place in which to admire wonderful landscaping, lush plants and views of Sydney Harbour.

1 hour

Paddington Reservoir Gardens

251-255 Oxford St, , Sydney, 2021, New South Wales

The Paddington reservoir is a submerged structure that was built in 1864. A second chamber was added to the reservoir in 1876.
It was constructed to store water pumped from a dam located at the Botany swamps.
The columns in the reservoir were constructed from ironbark timber and supported segmental brick arches.
The reservoir only operated until 1899. After this time it was used as a storage facility and for several decades it operated as a service station.
However its roof collapsed and it ceased operating as a service station in 1990.
In 2006 work began to restore the reservoir and convert it into a re-imagined space.
Original brick, iron and timber fixtures were salvaged and the space that formerly stored water is now a serene area which includes a roof garden and a small pool and grassed area along with stairs allowing access to the area.
Occasionally you will see wedding photos being taken in the area.
The Paddington Reservoir is an oasis and a wonderful restoration project.

30 minutes

Barangaroo Reserve

Hickson Road, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales

Barangaroo is an inner city suburb of Sydney located on the north west side of Sydney’s CBD.
It was formerly a container wharf area and has been -transformed into a residential and commercial hub.

The suburb occupies 22 hectares and includes a 6 hectare headland park (Barangaroo Reserve) which was completed in 2015.

The reserve is essentially an artificial hill, but it certainly doesn’t look like one.

It was created by a clever feat of engineering and earthworks so that a massive void, known as The Cutaway, exists underneath the parkland above.

The roof of the cutaway required the fabrication, transportation and installation of enormous concrete spans, which underpin thousands of cubic metres of rock, soil, grass and trees.

The Cutaway provides a unique area for cultural events, exhibitions, television shoots, food events and large gatherings.

This visit includes a pleasant walk on a flat path around a around the reserve providing wonderful harbour views.

1 hour