Sydney: Flying Fox Bat Colony Tour & High-Zoom Photography

6,000 Flying Foxes in One Sydney Reserve: Watch Them Hunt at Midday

You get picked up near Circular Quay, driven to a Sydney reserve where 6,000 flying foxes live, and spend time watching them hunt and move at midday with high-zoom cameras and binoculars in hand. The guide explains why they're endangered and takes professional photos of the bats flying that you take home. Small groups, bottled water, snacks and air-conditioned transport are included, and you're back by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sydney bat colony visit and photo session

• Meet guide near Circular Quay
• Drive to Sydney bat reserve
• Learn about endemic fruit bats
• Observe bats at eye-level
• Use high-zoom cameras for photos

The experience

The guide meets you near Circular Quay and doesn't waste time with small talk. He hands you the high-zoom camera before you're even in the air-conditioned bus, and you realize right then that this isn't a typical wildlife tour where you squint at something far away. The drive to the Sydney reserve takes about thirty minutes, and he uses it to explain why these bats, called Bangu in Aboriginal language, are endangered and why they're most active during the day, not at night like you'd expect. By the time you arrive, you're already thinking differently about them.

The flying fox experience puts you at eye level with the colony. These aren't small creatures. Their wingspan stretches to three feet, and when they move through the air next to you, it's impossible to miss. You'll watch them squabble with each other, see how they hang and shift weight, catch the details of their faces and fur. The high-zoom cameras the tour supplies let you photograph that level of detail (the kind of shot you couldn't get with a phone), and the guide takes professional photos of the bats in flight that get sent to you afterward. Binoculars are there if you want them, but honestly, at this distance, you mostly don't need them.

Water and snacks come with the tour, and the small group size means you're not jostling for position or waiting for someone else to finish looking. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through a checklist. It's the only bat experience in Sydney that gets you this close to the colony, and it's the reason people who've done it still talk about the moment a flying fox turned its head and looked right at them.

What’s included

Your tour includes hotel or Circular Quay pickup, luxury air-conditioned bus transport to the Sydney reserve, high-zoom cameras and binoculars for wildlife viewing, bottled water and snacks throughout the day, a professional guide who explains the flying fox colony and its conservation status, and professional photographs of the bats in flight taken by the guide during your visit.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 18 Dec

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 89 years) · Youth (7 to 14 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Perfect Day Sydney

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Australia's largest bats up close without arranging your own transport or equipment: the small group size and supplied cameras mean you spend your time watching and photographing instead of figuring out logistics.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 14 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

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 24 h before the start.

How close do you get to the flying foxes?

Close enough to see them at eye level and photograph details of their faces and wings with the high-zoom cameras supplied. They fly near you during the tour.

What time of day do you see them?

Midday and daytime hours, when the colony is most active. Unlike most bats, flying foxes are extremely active during the day.

What's included in the tour?

High-zoom cameras, binoculars, bottled water, snacks, air-conditioned transport from Circular Quay, a professional guide, and professional photos of bats taken during your tour.

Is this the only bat tour in Sydney?

Yes, this is the only bat experience in Sydney that takes you to the flying fox colony.

Do I need my own camera?

No. High-zoom cameras are supplied, though you're welcome to bring your own. Professional guide photos are also included.

What are flying foxes?

Australia's largest bats, with wingspans up to three feet. They're fruit bats also known as Bangu in Aboriginal language, and they're an endangered species.