Cryptic Clues Tour The Rocks Sydney: Solve 13 Clues

Crack cryptic clues through Sydney's oldest streets and hidden courtyards

This cryptic clues tour takes you through The Rocks in Sydney using a web app to solve 13 puzzles that reveal the area's colonial history and hidden corners. You'll walk down alleyways and into secret courtyards, pass under the Harbour Bridge, and reach the Sydney Observatory for views across the harbour, with three beverage stops along the way. Teams of 2–4 players work best. Children from age 7 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Customs House
2. The Rocks1h 30m · entry included
3. Sydney Harbour Bridgepassing by
4. Sydney Observatorypassing by

Explore The Rocks with cryptic clues

• Search for clues in Customs House
• Explore history and secret courtyards
• Walk under Sydney Harbour Bridge
• View Sydney Harbour from Observatory

The experience

You arrive in The Rocks with a mission: solve 13 cryptic clues using the web app on your phone to uncover the location of the Captain's Ship. The clues send you down hidden alleyways and into mysterious courtyards, past the shortest street in Sydney, and through the living history of Australia's first settlement. Customs House is your first stop, where you search for clues while learning how the city took shape. The trail moves through the neighbourhood's colourful past (watch out for references to the notorious Rocks Push gang), and the clues guide you to places most visitors miss.

The route takes you under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and up to the Sydney Observatory, where you get the best views across the harbour. Along the way, the app marks three stop-off points where you can grab a drink and catch your breath. The whole thing runs between an hour and a half to three hours depending on how quickly you solve each puzzle and how long you linger at the stops. At the end, the app gives you your stats and a detailed breakdown of everything you've seen: the history, the sights, the stories behind each clue.

This works best as a team of 2 to 4 players, so you're solving together rather than solo. The web app does the guiding, which means no fixed meeting time or group schedule to coordinate around. You start when you're ready and move at your own pace through the streets. The admission ticket to The Rocks is included, so there's no separate entry fee to sort out when you arrive.

What’s included

• The Rocks admission ticket.
• access to the cryptic clues web app with 13 puzzles.
• three beverage stop locations marked in the app.
• detailed explanation of all sights and your final stats.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Adventure Clues

Is this one for you?At 1.5 to 3 hours, this tour fits into a free afternoon without eating your whole day, leaving time to explore other parts of Sydney before or after. The self-guided format means you start and stop on your own schedule, which works well if you're arriving mid-morning or have gaps between other plans.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (7 to 10 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

How many cryptic clues do I need to solve on this tour?

You solve 13 cryptic clues using the web app as you move through The Rocks. Each one leads you to a new location and reveals a piece of the area's history until you uncover the final destination, the Captain's Ship.

What is the shortest street in Sydney that I'll walk on?

The Rocks tour passes down the shortest street in Sydney as part of the trail through the neighbourhood's hidden corners and alleyways. The exact street is one of the discoveries you'll make as you solve the clues.

Are there places to stop for a drink during the tour?

Yes, the route includes three beverage stop-off points marked in the app where you can grab a drink and rest. These are optional, so you choose whether to stop at each one.

What happens at the Sydney Observatory at the end?

The Sydney Observatory is your final vantage point on the trail, offering the best views across Sydney Harbour. From there, the app provides your stats and a detailed explanation of all the sights and stories you've encountered.

Do I need to book a specific time to start the tour?

No fixed start time is required. You use the web app to begin whenever you're ready, so you can start in the morning, afternoon or whenever suits your schedule in Sydney.