Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Tours in Sydney

Hello All,

I'm going to Sydney in late August - I'm looking at various tours online (excluding airfare - land only). What tour groups would you recommend? Also, would you recommend private tour guides as opposed to group tours in Sydney? I've looked at the websites for Viator and Gray Line tours in Australia thus far - any comments/recommendations?

Thanks for your input!

Iloilo

try: www.penguinlimo.com.au

your own private chauffeur, take you anywhere and show you anything you want

I think it really depends on your budget, are you looking for a full private tourguide or are you happy to jump on the 70 seaters?

I think it really depends on your budget, are you looking for a full private tourguide or are you happy to jump on the 70 seaters?

I am (see my other thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/australia-new-zealand-south-pacific/962334-sydney-2-hop-hop-off-buses-better-also-free-555-bus-route-attractions.html) thinking of (at least for 48 hrs) thinking of a hop on/hop off bus on land, and perhaps a hop on, hop off harbour boat (another day).

I guess that other days we can travel alone getting a transit pass.

I guess one can get attraction discounts with a transit pass, using the Sydney and Beyond Smart Pass.

However, as the OP has asked, if I take a bus tour (perhaps with 70 passengers), which bus or tour company would you recommend for both land and harbour tours?

Vecta - thanks for the reply....

What's the going rate (hourly rate) for a private tour guide in Australian Dollars? Also, which would you recommend using? Do you have a link for the info?

I will probably end up using both private and bus tour companies.

Iloilo

APT http://www.aptouring.com.au/content.asp?document_id=80563#nsw does a good job. Have not used them in Sydney, but on longer trips to the Red Centre and Cairns/GBR/Cape Tribulation they deliver on everything they promise. AAT Kings is very reputable and also has Sydney tours http://www.aatkings.com/us/index.php?brochure_set_id=24337&brochure_id=3018.

Vecta - thanks for the reply....

What's the going rate (hourly rate) for a private tour guide in Australian Dollars? Also, which would you recommend using? Do you have a link for the info?

I will probably end up using both private and bus tour companies.

Iloilo

The hourly rate would depend on a few factors. Type of vehicle, # of pax, how long you book for, etc.
I haven't personally been on any private tours but have booked numerous groups onto them back in my concierge days. This was quite a few years ago now but essentially the services would (read should) be the same. Your best bet regarding private tours would be to shoot an email off to a few of them and get some prices, then perhaps post back here and if others have used them they could comment on specific tour groups.

A quick search comes up with:

http://www.asydneyday.com.au/
http://www.sydneyprivatetours.com/
http://www.city-discovery.com/sydney/private_tours

With regards to the large tour companies, they are all again quite similar in what they offer.

AAT Kings (http://www.aatkings.com/) - I've been on a few of these tours around Australia and the service and price is quite good and the busses are relatively new and clean.

The APT Touring link posted by Orlando Vic is also quite a reputable company with much the same offerings as AAT Kings.

Another tour company I have persoanly used is Grayline Tours (http://www.grayline.com.au/TourCategory.aspx?OCB=GL-SYD) and again, much like the other 2, they have clean new busses and tour guides that certainly know their stuff.

As for harbour touring, Captain Cook Cruises (http://www.captaincook.com.au/home.asp?pageid=1661F5DD27C61DDC&destinationid=4D0FA70C163BD880&mgid=183) have a wide range of harbour criuises. Persoanlly I have been on the Captains Club Dinner Cruise (http://www.captaincook.com.au/home.asp?pageid=1661F5DD27C61DDC&destinationid=55F0AB3672931FB9&cruiseid=BA8446BF79207F86) and the Coffee Cruise, which I can't see listed anymore. The Captains Club Cruise generally needs to be booked a little ahead of the date you want to crusie.

If there is one thing you should do on Sydney Harbour it has to be this:

Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, walk up The Corso to Manly Beach, have lunch somewhere and jump on the ferry and head back into the city. The return ferry ride is $AUD12.80 and is the best $12.80 you can spend whist in Sydney. 30 minutes each way, you go past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera house on your way and the photographic opportunies for the sights are arguably the best in Sydney.

Hope you have fun, post a TR if you get a chance. :)

get some prices, then perhaps post back here and if others have used them they could comment on specific tour groups.
http://www.sydneyprivatetours.com/


I've used Ian at Sydney Private Tours twice now, and found his service, his insight, his humour and his costs to be very good.

It is NOT cheap, but I think it's no more than 100 AUD/hour or perhaps less, but I would do it again, and actually am contemplating a trip to the Southern Highlands with him next time I have a trip to SYD planned.
Dave

and actually am contemplating a trip to the Southern Highlands with him next time I have a trip to SYD planned.
Dave

I would highly recommend that. IMO one of the most under rated parts of NSW.

Hey Iloilo,

I suggest to check out Make A Tour (http://www.makeatour.com.au). They specialise in personalised tours throughout Sydney. I think they charge $400 total for 4 hours for up to 5 passengers.. They are a well respected organisation..

Goodluck with it!

Cheers,

Speedyy

We used Oz Trails for a Blue Mts tour a few weeks ago. They have smaller buses and groups and they were great. They run other tours too. FYI, we prefer smaller groups rather than the mega-buses that herd everyone around.