The Rocks Free Walking Tour
6pm daily. Click ‘join a tour’ to see up to date availability and book your place.
- Click 'Join a tour' for times
- 1½ hours walking tour
- FREE (Pay what you think it's worth)
- Tour starts at Cadmans Cottage (in the waterside courtyard in front of the building)
Uncover The Rocks District
Join us on this Rocks Free Tour and we’ll delve into the history of The Rocks, the site of Australia’s first European settlement. We’ll explore its lane ways, pubs, and historical buildings and share with you its stories of murders, muggings and mysteries.
What we'll cover
– The Rocks’ Laneways
– Historic Pubs and Breweries
– Australia’s Largest Bank Robbery
– The First Hanging in Sydney
– Convicts, Sailors and Rocks’ Characters
– Murders and Mysteries
– Sydney City’s Oldest House
– Observatory Hill
– Foundation Park
– The Rocks Today
– Susannah Place
– The Plague in Sydney
– The Big Dig archaeological site
Join a tour
Please note: We aren’t able to accept groups of 10+ or school / tertiary education groups of any size on the free tours. Instead we offer Private Tours. Separate registration of large groups will not be accepted on the day as it affects the tour for everyone else.
Happy snaps
How are we free?
Our tours are offered on a “pay what you think it’s worth” model so people of any budget are able to turn up and enjoy the tour and discover and learn the stories and history of The Rocks.
Join a Tour
Please note: We aren’t able to accept groups of 10+ or organised, school or tertiary education of any size on the free tours. Instead we offer Private Tours. Separate registration of large groups will not be accepted on the day as it affects the tour for everyone else.
At I'm Free we're all about
All I’m Free guides are experienced and knowledgeable locals who are excited to show you around their hometown.
We’re all about being real! Each of us will share with you our honest, local advice about where to explore, eat or drink. We are never paid to promote or advertise to you.
We will share with you the unique and quirky stories of our city as well as the history behind our main attractions.
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Reviews
We think we rock The Rocks, but don’t take our word for it, checkout what others think.
Where to meet
FAQs
We gather on the water side of Cadman’s Cottage (110 George St, The Rocks), between the Overseas Passenger terminal and the Museum of Contemporary Art, near Circular Quay. Look for your local guide wearing our iconic bright green I’m Free Tours t-shirt! It is also a 5 minute walk from Circular quay train station west along the water front. Click here for Google Maps directions.
Our guides finish nearby in the heart of The Rocks. Your guide will wrap up at a great local spot and can point you directly toward the harbour, public transport, or a great place for food and drinks.
This walk runs for approximately 1.5 hours, covering 2-2.5km (1.2-1.5 miles) through the laneways, courtyards, and heritage streets of Australia’s oldest colonial neighborhood. Due to the historic nature of The Rocks precinct it does have some stairs and up hills at points. However we walk at a leisurely pace, stopping to speak at regular intervals along the way.
Yes, The Rocks is famous for its historic sandstone staircases, narrow alleyways, and cobble-style paths! While we keep a gentle pace, there are a few flights of stairs and historic inclines along the standard route.
While parts of The Rocks feature steps and narrow alleys, our guides know the precinct inside out and can easily point out detours or adjust the route so guests with prams, strollers, or wheelchairs can stay right with the group.
The Sydney Sights walk gives you a broad orientation to the entire Sydney CBD (civic buildings, parks, and city layout). The Rocks tour is a focused, deep dive exclusively into local convict history, crime, historic pubs, hidden laneways, and heritage.
There is zero upfront cost or ticket fee! You reserve online, join the walk, and decide what the experience was worth at the finish line. Guides carry tap-and-go card readers taking credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, as well as cash. 
Yes! The Sydney Sights and Highlights tours finish next to the Rocks district and a short walk from the start of The Rocks tour, giving you time to explore The Rocks or find a spot for a drink or feed between the tours.
Because the historic laneways of The Rocks are narrow, we strictly cap group sizes so everyone can hear clearly. Student or other organised groups and groups of 10+ are not accepted on public walks, but you can easily book a Rocks Private Tour for your own dedicated guide!
Got questions about wet weather, luggage, bringing kids or anything else?
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