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Category: Guided Tours

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North Head Sanctuary and Tunnels

North Head Tunnels

North Head


Operated by Sydney Harbour Trust, North Head is an ex-army heritage listed site. Staffed by volunteers, the Visitor Centre is an ideal point to start your exploration of the area as they can provide you with an overview of what’s available. Our visit on a Sunday corresponded to the day that a guided tour was running for the site and underground tunnels. For a small fee a guide shows groups around while explaining the importance of each area. Importantly this is the only way to gain access to the tunnels which form a major part of the site.

Getting to North Head

Public Transport

Ferries to Manly run from Circular Quay, taking around 30 minutes for the trip. Alternately, the Manly Fast Ferry takes 20 minutes, but is more expensive. There is a Fast Ferry service to Q Station Wharf, if you want to start here instead of Manly.

From the Manly Ferry Wharf, bus 135 takes 20 minutes to drive to North Head. This bus runs every hour and connects well with the ferry arriving and departing Manly. Located outside the main entrance, bus stops are easy to find.

Walking

Taking 40 minutes, the shortest walk winds through Manly’s streets, past Q Station and onto North Head. A more scenic track runs along the shore, taking you past fantastic clifftop lookouts and historical gun emplacements, before passing Shelly Beach and ending at Manly Beach. At 4.2 km long, the scenic track takes around an hour one way, but has wonderful scenery to enjoy along the way.

Starting at Q Station, a 1.3 km track passes through bush land, passes the Third Quarantine Cemetery before ending at the North Head Sanctuary Visitors’ Centre. This well paved track is an easy 20-minute walk, with great views over Sydney Harbour.

Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery

Driving

Located outside the Visitor Centre is a pay for use car park, which makes driving yourself a convenient option

North Fort Tour


Starting with a short film on Sydney’s history of fortifications which was informative and gave us an insight into their original appearance.

View of South Head From North Head
View of South Head From North Head
View of Sydney From North Head
View of Sydney From North Head

Memorial Walk


The walking tour started with the Memorial Walk which is a paved pathway winding through Australian bush land. Many of the paving stones have been inscribed with the names of servicemen which gives a personal touch to the area.


Progressing along the path takes you to all the memorials for wars Australia has been involved in. Each of the memorials is made of Sydney sandstone and engraved with an overview of the conflict. The Gallipoli Memorial contains the only non-native species in the area, a cutting from the lone pine.

Memorial Walk
Memorial Walk
World War 1 Memorial
World War 1 Memorial
Lone Pine Gallipoli Memorial
Lone Pine Gallipoli Memorial

Fortifications


Continuing to the above ground fortifications we saw the remains of gun emplacements which now consist of concrete structures without any guns. The only remaining gun is a 9.2 inch (23.37 cm) barrel which is on display next to the forts.

9.2 Inch Gun
9.2 Inch Gun

Underground Tunnels


The highlight of the tour was the underground tunnels. These consist of the rooms and the tunnels needed to service the guns and protect the military personnel manning the forts. Our guide took us through each room, explaining their function and how each was operating when the fort was working.

In the magazine, dummy shells give an idea of the size of the projectiles used and a rack has them set up to show how it would have looked. Even the old diesel generators are in place, giving an idea of the power needed to run the fort.

Well lit with well maintained walkways, the tunnels were easy to walk through with some good photographic opportunities. Stairs in several areas are steep, but not very long, so should not be a problem for most people. Unfortunately, people with mobility issues will not be able to take the underground tour.

Dummy Shells in the Magazine
Dummy Shells in the Magazine
Underground Diesel Generator in the North Head Tunnels
Underground Diesel Generator in the North Head Tunnels
The Tunnels
The Tunnels
North Head Tunnels
North Head Tunnels

Food and Drinks

At the end of the tour, you can also walk down to the restaurant for food and beverages.

What Did We Think

North Head is a great place to visit, as it covers, Sydney’s history, with fantastic views and bush walks. Being easy to get to either by public transport or car makes it a great day out.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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North Head Quarantine Station Sydney

RMS Niagara Carving North Head Quarantine Station

North Head Quarantine Station

An important part of Sydney’s past, North Head Quarantine Station once protected the city from disease by acting as the quarantine station from early in the colonies founding until 1984.

Although now disused, and renamed Q Station, it contains accommodation and a restaurant, while preserving the historical significance of the area.


Getting to The Quarantine Station

Driving

Located outside the Visitor Centre is a car park, which makes driving yourself a convenient option.

Public Transport

From the Manly Ferry Wharf, bus 135 takes 10 minutes to drive to Q Station. This bus runs every hour and connects well with the ferry arriving and departing Manly. Located outside the main entrance, the bus stop is easy to find.

Ferries to Manly run from Circular Quay, taking around 30 minutes for the trip. Alternately, the Manly Fast Ferry takes 20 minutes, but is more expensive. There is a Fast Ferry service to Q Station Wharf, if you want to start here instead of in Manly.

Walking

Taking 30 minutes, the shortest walk winds through Manly’s streets, to the Q Station car park.

Shuttle Bus

A shuttle bus operates from the main entrance, down to the wharf area, removing the need for a steep walk. Running all day, the bus makes getting around far quicker than walking. Walking from the entrance to the wharf area takes around 10 minutes.

The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station

An interesting walk connects Q Station to North Head winding through coastal Australian bushland. This is a well structured path with lots of signs. The path also passes the third quarantine station cemetery which is an interesting place to walk around and view the old grave sites.

Guided Tours of the Quarantine Station

Tours of the historical buildings are available and can be booked online. The meeting point for the tour is near the wharf at the visitor centre. If you are not staying on site this means that you will walk though other old buildings on your way giving you a great overview of what is there (alternately, you can catch the shuttle bus).

You get to walk around the hospital, grounds, decontamination rooms, fumigation rooms and various other areas. The walk to the hospital at the top of the hill is very steep.

Starting at the wharf, the guide explained the use and history of the station before showing us the plaques carved into the rock face by ship’s passengers, many of which are quite artistic.

RMS Lusitania Carving North Head Quarantine Station
RMS Lusitania Carving
Ship Carving North Head Quarantine Station
Ship Carving
RMS Niagara Carving North Head Quarantine Station
RMS Niagara Carving

Our first stop was the decontamination rooms where patients were showered before entering the facility. We then saw the fumigation rooms where their belongings were placed in larger chambers and decontaminated. Several old suitcases and trolleys are set up to show how they were used.

Shower Cubicles
Shower Cubicles
Fumigation Chamber
Fumigation Chamber

Our last stop was the hospital at the top of the hill, where the sick were cared for.

Hospital
Hospital
Hospital Ward
Hospital Ward

Wharf Precinct

There is a little museum at the wharf, which is where you will find the ship’s plaques. This was a really interesting tour, and the guide had a lot of knowledge about the working and history of the fascility.

The area provided several magnificent views over Sydney Harbour and towards the city. Quarantine Beach sitting next to the wharf is a nice area with views back to the wharf and across the harbour to the city.

Quarantine Beach North Head Quarantine Station
Quarantine Beach
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station

The Third Quarantine Cemetery

At the end of the guided tour, we walked to the Third Quarantine Cemetery where the headstones are still standing amongst the Australian bush with views over the harbour.

Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Walking With Llamas in the Hunter Valley

Cool Llama Walking With Llamas

Walking With Llamas

Run by the Llama Collective and based at Lindemans Winery, Walking With Llamas is a fun and relaxing way to spend an hour in the Hunter Valley vineyards. Participants meet at the Lindeman’s car park where you can take pictures before you start your walk with your allocated Lama. The owners are very friendly, relaxed and amazing people that are passionate about their animals. When you get there, you have your name ticked off and then introducing to your llama. The name of our llama was Spudnik and being only a year old, was still learning what to do. Llamas were paired depending on the age and animal experience of participants.

  • Lindemans Winery
    Lindemans Winery
  • Spudnik the Llama walking with llamas
    Spudnik the Llama
  • Cool Llama Walking With Llamas
    Cool Llama
  • Walking With Llamas Ready to Go
    Walking With Llamas Ready to Go

Spudnik was great to lead around although he did like to stop and eat grass and leaves at every opportunity. At one stage he decided to lie down and refused to get up until he saw his friends walking off. They don’t like to be away from their friends at all.

The llamas all had individual personalities and friends. They liked to walk with friends which makes it easier to guide them.

There were plenty of stops to take photos with the llamas and the vineyards or Brokeback Range in the background. The owners will happily take photos for you!

Brokeback Ranges From Lindeman's Walking with Llamas
Brokeback Ranges From Lindeman’s

The hour went quickly and before we knew it we were back at the carpark where we said goodbye to Spudnik. We must add that we were not rushed at the end to go, we also got a certificate with a picture of our Llama!

Cheese Chocolate and Olive Oil at Lindemans

Whilst at the vineyard we decided to see what else there was on offer. On the second floor of the Lindemans Winery you will find Hunter Belle Cheese and Hunter Olive Co. This is a great place to go after you have finished with the llama walk and buy some great tasting products to take home. There is ample opportunity to do some amazing tasting!

Hunter Belle Cheese have some wonderful cheeses, all made from local products that are very tasty. We tasted at least six types of cheese, from brie and camembert to cheddar and blue, taking home the first two. They also have some chocolate for sale, which was also delicious, which we didn’t take home, because we ate it with our coffee from Lindemans Cafe.

Next door is Hunter Olive, selling olive oil in many different flavours, making it a great place to taste and buy more local produce.

  • Scenery Around Lindemans
    Scenery Around Lindemans
  • Hunter Belle Dairy Co.
    Hunter Belle Dairy Co.
  • Chocolate Tasting at Hunter Belle
    Chocolate Tasting at Hunter Belle
  • Hunter Valley Olive Co.
    Hunter Valley Olive Co.

What Did We Think?

We finished the morning with a coffee at the Lindeman’s Cafe overlooking the fantastic Hunter Valley scenery. Walking with Llamas was a great experience and something a little different to the usual winery tours in the Hunter Valley. We also enjoyed the cheese, chocolate and olive oil tasting, which are highly recommended.

To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on