Our favourite way to explore a city is to find the unique local tours. These small group tours, activities or workshops hosted by locals are a great way to learn more about the place you are visiting and also to support the local economy.

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In Sydney, there are dozens of experiences offered by small independent operators covering everything from water activities like snorkelling, kayaking and boat rides, to photography classes, walking tours, street art tours, bike tours, food tours, and secret bar crawls.

There are also plenty of full-day trips and experiences in the Hunter Valley, the Blue Mountains, the South Coast and beyond. 

What makes these tours and activities unique compared to other tours is that group sizes are smaller and that your host or tour guide is often the owner of the experience. No more anonymous tour guides or tours without a personal connection! And because of the smaller group sizes, hosts can offer a more personalised experience that highlights their insider access and knowledge. 

Discover Sydney’s Urban Art in a Kombi with Frank

Frank’s experience, Discover Sydney’s Urban Art, will take you all over Sydney in one of his restored Kombis to check out the best urban art around town. Frank was formerly an illustrator, so he provides an excellent commentary on the variety of art styles and points out works by world-renowned street artists.

This experience visits over 15 sites in Glebe, Chippendale, Darlington, St Peters, Newtown, and Redfern over 3 hours.

Frank can offer a 20% discount if you mention Sydney Expert email him at [email protected]. 

Learn Photography Secrets in The Rocks with Alfonso

Professional photographer Alfonso is the host of several tours, including Smartphone Travel Photography and DSLR Night Photography. I took this tour a while back and had a fantastic experience. Alfonso is a natural teacher and had lots of patience with my beginners skills.

He will take you on a customised route along back streets of The Rocks to point out the best spots from which to shoot, including great angles of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

You’ll get to explore your phone or camera’s technical capabilities to master lighting and composition. Alfonso will offer a set of photographic challenges which are open to creative interpretation. He’ll also use his passion for history to help you caption your photos.

Book directly on Alfonso’s website and get $10 off using the promo code “sydneyexpert”.

Related: Check out the best pubs in the rocks for after your tour

Discover Hidden Nature Reserves and Aboriginal Carvings with Matt

Has this lockdown got you craving an escape into nature? You’re not alone! Avoid the more well-known locations with Matt’s Sydney Secrets – Nature, wildlife & more experience.

His experience combines the coast with the bush, visiting pristine uncrowded beaches and going on bush walks above untouched picturesque valleys.

As a volunteer Aboriginal site monitor, Matt is trained to locate, monitor and report on the condition of sites, and will point out some ancient Aboriginal carvings, unknown to locals.

Contact him directly at [email protected] and mention Sydney Expert or visit his website.

Eat Your Way Through Newtown and Check Out Street Art with Justin

One of the best things about Sydney is all the different multicultural cuisines on offer! And what is one of the best places to check them all out? Newtown! Join Justin on his Newtown Chewtown – Food & Street Art experience to combine great food with insightful stories about the local street art scene.

This food and street art tour includes a minimum of 4 food stops, with cuisine options including Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, Thai, Japanese, “Australian” (whatever that is) and more. Vegetarian and vegans are sorted too – Newtown is famous for its many vego-friendly restaurants.

Along the way, Justin will point out some of the neighbourhood’s best street art and introduce you to some of the biggest names in Sydney’s street art scene. Your tour also starts or finishes with a visit to Newtown’s most popular craft brewery. 

Justin is also the host of two other experiences, including a “Local Sydney, food and culture” walking tour through Pyrmont, Ultimo and Glebe, a Secret Bar Crawl in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills and their latest tour Chinatown – Street food and stories.

Explore Marrickville with Caite

Even if you’ve lived in Sydney your entire life, there are bound to be neighbourhoods you’ve never explored in depth. Is Marrickville on that list for you? If so, Caite’s experience, The Mixed Bag tour of Marrickville, will set you straight. 

Tag along with Caite and her doggie co-host Gea on a 3-hour walking tour exploring all the best bets of this inner-west enclave. Caite’s afternoon tour weaves in the history and development of Marrickville while stopping at independent boutique stores, restaurants, Vietnamese bakeries (banh mi included!), distilleries, breweries and more.

I recently joined Caite as her guest and had a fantastic afternoon. I only live a few kilometres from here but discovered new places to go back to on this walk.

Get $10 off if you mention Sydney Expert, email Caite through her website, Walk This Way Tours.

Race Around Sydney Harbour on a Speedboat with Dirk

Want something faster? Join Dirk for a Self-drive Speed Boat Adventure on Sydney Harbour. German-born Dirk has custom-built your ride, a 2-seater speed boat that sits just half a metre above the water.

If you’ve never driven a boat before – don’t panic. These speed boats are safe and easy to operate, and Dirk will be right there to help you! No experience or licence is required. 

Dirk’s 2-hour experience will take you on a whip-around of the harbour, starting in Rose Bay, crossing over towards Taronga Zoo, heading under the Harbour Bridge to Luna Park, before passing right beside the Opera House on your way back.

If you want to spend more time out on the harbour, Dirk also offers a 3-hour experience.

Discover Sydney by E-Bike with Grant and Linda

Seen all those delivery riders zipping around Sydney on electric bikes while you’re stuck in traffic and got jealous? Then jump on an electric bike with Linda and Grant’s Discover Sydney Harbour by e-Bike experience.

Linda and Grant’s e-bike tour takes you on a 20-kilometre ride around Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, The Domain, the Sydney Opera House, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and around hidden gems of the harbour.

You’ll stop for some of the best coffee in Sydney then riding back through Surry Hills and colourful Darlinghurst providing the perfect loop!

Related: Find more “active” things to do in Sydney

Snorkel at Shelly Beach with Tamila

The water might be getting cooler, but that won’t stop Tamila from warmly welcoming you on her snorkelling experience, Snorkel in Sydney with a Mermaid. Tamila is a Brazilian-Australian who has been living in Sydney for over 10 years.

A swimming teacher, sports manager and certified scuba diver, Tamila is an experienced and passionate snorkel guide. Even if you’re not a strong swimmer, you’ll be in safe hands! 

You’ll spend up to 1.5 hours in the water with Tamila as she takes you on a guided tour of Shelly Beach, pointing out all the fishes and other sea creatures that call this marine sanctuary home. Snorkels, masks and floatation devices are included with wetsuits available for hire, plus you’ll get underwater photos of your experience.

There are multiple times throughout the day, and private tours are also available.

Related: Check out our guide for the best things to do in Manly

Gorge on Wine and Cheese in the Hunter Valley with Sean

How does your own custom, highly personalised wine and cheese Hunter Valley tour sound? Then hop aboard Hunter Valley Wine, Cheese & Kangaroos with Sean. Starting and finishing in Manly, Sean takes groups of up to 7 people out to his favourite Hunter Valley wineries for an epic day adventure. Sean’s experience is rated 4.99 out of 5 from over 400 reviews on Airbnb, making this one of the top Airbnb Experiences in all of Australia.

Expect to visit 4 or 5 different smaller wineries, ones that the larger tour groups can’t visit. At your final winery, Sean will pair cheese with your wines for the ultimate tasting experience.

Contact Sean directly on 1800 CHEESE or at [email protected] prior to booking, mention “Sydney Expert” to get $20 per person (minimum 2 people). 

Hike to Hidden Viewpoints in the Blue Mountains with Peter

Avoid the crowds by going on Peter’s Blue Mountains Hike, Art and Coffee experience.

Peter’s experience only takes up to four people at a time, and he prides himself on going beyond the usual spots. The itinerary is always flexible but includes a 2-hour hike, a cool cafe stop, a quality art gallery and several other unique secret places. In Peter’s own words, “when people say they’ve seen the Blue Mountains, they haven’t really until they come with me.”

Book directly on Peter’s website and get 15% off if you mention Sydney Expert.

Related: Check out our list of 50 things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Discover Hidden Harbour Beaches with Jenny

“Let’s live like a local together – We go where the buses don’t go”

Meet your host, Jenny, at the Rose Bay ferry wharf after a spectacular 10-minute ferry ride from the city of Sydney’s main wharf, Circular Quay. With a small group of up to 3 passengers, it’s an enjoyable and relaxed 3-hour tour. This can be booked for a couple or solo.

You’ll get to walk part of this tour and then drive through affluent real estate towards hidden beaches, gaining a taste of Sydney’s East. Take in the area’s beauty and hear stories and history about Indigenous people and their sacred land, on which we will walk together.

Visit geographical and historical sights in the area with gorgeous views of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the local beauty.

During the winter months, the possibility of seeing whales migrating to warmer northern waters is very high.

Bring a bag with bathers for a swim en route and have a coffee at a local sandy beach cafe. We have towels onboard for you if needed. This Top Ten Harbour Beaches Tour will show you over 10 beautiful spots. We offer restaurant recommendations and will advise on more local ideas for you to do after you leave us.

You can read reviews of this tour here and book by contacting emailing Jenny directly or for more info, visit her website. Mention Sydney Expert for a 5% discount.

These experiences and tours are perfect for both locals and visitors, so why not support one of these small businesses and get to know another side of Sydney?

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