Sydney nature tour with koalas and kangaroos: Private guide

Meet koalas and kangaroos, then climb into the bush where Sydney's tourists don't reach

A private, full-day nature and wildlife tour of Sydney with a professional Australian guide and driver covers Sydney Harbour landmarks, Berowra Valley National Park bushwalk with Aboriginal carvings, Walkabout Wildlife Park, and hidden valleys and coastal spots across the region. The guide speaks English, picks you up from your hotel, and the itinerary is fully customizable. You choose which optional stops (horse riding, chocolate factory, winery, gin distillery, coastal walks) fit your day. Children from age 2 are welcome. All vehicles and facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mrs Macquarie's Chair30m
2. Sydney Opera Housepass by
3. Sydney Harbour Bridgepass by

Explore Sydney and Surrounding Nature

• Visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair viewpoint
• Photograph Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
• Cross Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Walk in Berowra Valley National Park
• Enjoy coffee and croissant at Saddles Restaurant
• Visit Walkabout Wildlife Park
• See secret Hawkesbury River lookout

The Experience

The tour starts at Sydney Harbour, where you'll stand at Mrs Macquarie's Chair (a sandstone ledge carved by convicts in 1810) to photograph the Opera House and Harbour Bridge without the crowds. Your guide arranges a complimentary professional photo of you at the Opera House itself, then drives you across the Harbour Bridge (locals call it "The Giant Coathanger") into the bush. From the city's edge, the landscape shifts: you're heading toward Berowra Valley National Park for a guided bushwalk through rainforest, where you'll see Aboriginal rock carvings and the kind of native plants and rock pools most Sydney visitors never find.

The day builds around Walkabout Wildlife Park, where you encounter koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and other Australian wildlife in a sanctuary that funds conservation work. Between the major stops, your guide takes you to a hidden lookout over the Hawkesbury River and its mangrove valleys: a vantage point that rivals the Blue Mountains without the crowds. You'll stop at Saddles Restaurant, a boutique homestead owned by advertising legend John Singleton, for real coffee and a croissant before the wildlife park. The tour runs 11 to 12 hours, and your guide customizes the route based on what interests you: optional add-ons include horse riding through rainforest (2 hours, at your own cost, for riders age 7 and up), the Gosford Chocolate Factory, Firescreek Winery with complimentary tastings, Distillery Botanica for gin tasting, or a coastal stop at Terrigal for whale watching and gelato. If you're hungry, lunch at Avoca Beach Point Cafe overlooks rock pools where you might see pelicans.

You travel in an air-conditioned private SUV or van with your own driver and guide throughout. Wine (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), bottled water and chocolate are included. Lunch and coffee are at your own cost unless you choose a stop where tastings are complimentary. The guide speaks English and can adjust the pace and stops to suit your group. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with children from age 2. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles and facilities are available across all stops.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned private SUV or van transport with your own professional guide and driver.
• entry to Walkabout Wildlife Park.
• Australian wine (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), bottled water and chocolate.
• complimentary professional photographs at the Sydney Opera House.
• fully customized itinerary with flexible pace and optional stops including horse riding, chocolate factory, winery tastings, gin distillery and coastal walks.

Days and timesDaily · 08:00

AgesAges 7+ · 2 to 6 years

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Sydney Guided Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and the stops without language barriers. A straightforward advantage if you're not fluent in Australian slang or local geography. The private format means the pace and route adapt to your group's interests rather than locking you into a fixed schedule with strangers, which matters if you want to linger at the Aboriginal carvings or skip the chocolate factory to spend more time at the wildlife park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

2 to 6 years.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What animals will I actually see on this Sydney wildlife tour?

Walkabout Wildlife Park is the main wildlife stop, where you'll encounter koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and a diverse collection of native Australian animals. The park actively contributes to conservation, so the animals are part of a working sanctuary, not just a display.

Can I customize which stops we visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

The itinerary is fully customizable: your guide works with you to choose which optional stops fit your interests and time. Major stops like Berowra Valley bushwalk and Walkabout Wildlife Park are standard, but you decide whether to add horse riding, the chocolate factory, winery tastings, coastal walks or other options.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, your professional guide and driver, entry to Walkabout Wildlife Park, wine, water and chocolate, and complimentary professional photos at the Opera House. Lunch, coffee, pastries and optional activities like horse riding are at your own cost. Wine tastings at Firescreek Winery and gin tasting at Distillery Botanica are complimentary if you visit those stops.

How long is the tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours total. Your guide picks you up from your hotel as part of the booking, so the start time is arranged based on your location and preferences.

What makes Berowra Valley different from other bushwalks near Sydney?

Berowra Valley National Park is where your guide shows you Aboriginal rock carvings and hidden rock pools within rainforest: stops most Sydney day trips skip. The bushwalk is part of a guided experience, not a self-guided hike, so your guide explains the ecosystem and the cultural significance of the carvings as you walk.