Sydney Discovery

• Experience a dazzling performance inside the famed Sydney Opera House
• Discover Aboriginal culture and create art on boomerangs
• Tour Sydney Harbour on a chartered boat for your group with a friendly captain
• See the Three Sisters from Echo Point in the Blue Mountains
• Swim or take a surf lesson at the incomparable Bondi Beach
• Enjoy Sydney Harbour National Park and the views from The Gap
• Stay in the quaint “Rocks” district and do a walking tour with your guide
• OPTIONAL Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Luna Park and/or our Urban Challenge!

• Risk assessment
• Sydney airport Meet & Greet and airport transfers
• Small World Journeys guide on Days 1, 2, 3, and 4
• Boat captain/guide on Day 2
• All activities and entrance fees as described in the itinerary
• Sydney ferry, bus and train pass
• 5 nights Sydney hostel (4 or 6 share single-gender rooms)*
• All continental breakfasts
• 3 dinners
• Small World Journeys reusable water bottle and cloth shopping bag
• NEW in 2024: we offset the carbon emissions from your trip activities AND your flight to Sydney!

*Two teacher rooms (private twin or triple share rooms) are included in the trip price for groups of 15 students or more. For trips with low numbers (10-14), one teacher room is included. A single supplement  is charged if an additional private room is required for the trip. If teachers are happy to share a room, no additional costs are incurred.

Small World Journeys reserves the right to change the order of activities for logistical reasons. Prices are valid for travel until 31 March, 2026.

• Airfare to Sydney
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• 5 lunches and 1 dinner
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

• Darling Harbour optional activities (prices vary)
• Surfing Lesson at Bondi Beach ($140 AUD pp)
• Unlimited rides pass at Luna Park ($75 AUD pp)
• Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (adult prices start at $294 AUD for standard week day climb)

Planning Your Trip

ACCESSIBILITY MENU: Small World Journeys’ website provides an accessibility menu. Visitors to our website can click on the “person” icon on the right side of the screen to bring up this menu. Options include increasing/decreasing font size, increasing/decreasing contrast, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and the ability to hide images, among other things.

BOOKING FORM: On our online booking form, we ask all participants to list any special needs they have, be them medical, dietary, or accessibility needs. We also offer free sensory packs to our guests who are neurodivergent, which include headphones, a timer for transitions, a squeezy fidget toy, and other treats to appeal to the senses like flavoured lip balm.

WAIVER FORMS: We understand that not all of our participants’ parents have a strong command of written English and therefore understanding and signing our on-line waiver may prove challenging. We therefore have our wavier form available in the following languages on request: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

Arrival & Departure at Sydney Airport

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS & DRINKING FOUNTAINS: Public toilets are located throughout the terminals. Each toilet facility includes an accessible toilet suitable for wheelchair access. View or download our terminal maps to view their locations. Wheelchair accessible drinking fountains are located throughout the terminals.

Google Maps Indoor Live View is now available at Sydney Airport. Indoor maps is a new augmented reality feature on Google Maps – available in both international and domestic terminals – designed to help passengers find gates, baggage claims, retail outlets, dining options, restrooms, ATMs and more.

For any wheelchair or accessibility passengers, please select the ‘Wheelchair accessible’ preference to find wheelchair, pram and suitcase friendly paths. You can also turn on audio navigation prompts, in addition to visual cues.

TGSI and HEARING LOOPS: The Sydney Airport makes use of Tactile Ground Service Indicators (TGSI) and Hearing Loops to assist people with vision impairments and hearing difficulties, respectively. For example, tactile ground surface indicators are also used within the terminal to provide people who are visually impaired, indication of changes of surface conditions. Look for the International Symbol, which is used to indicate that a hearing loop has been installed. More information about hearing loops can be found here.

If you are a blind or low visibility traveller, you can use a free service to help you navigate your way through Sydney Airport’s International and Domestic terminals. Please visit the Aira website to find out more.

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can contact Sydney Airport via the National Relay Service. Provide the NRS with the Sydney Airport Customer Care number, 133 793.

ASSISTANCE ANIMALS: Assistance animal toilet and watering facilities are available at the T1 International terminal after security on the arrivals level. A temporary animal relief facility is now open at T2, located on arrivals level, opposite baggage reclaim carousel 2.

HIDDEN DISABILITIES: Wearing a sunflower lanyard at Sydney Airport enables staff to recognise that you have a hidden disability. If you would like to identify your hidden disability, you can pick up a hidden disabilities lanyard at one of the following locations:

• The Airport Services Centre located on Level 3 (Administration) at T1 International terminal
• The Ambassadors information desk on Arrivals level at T2 Domestic terminal
• The oversized luggage counter on Departures level at T3 Domestic terminal

At security screening and passport control this lets staff know that you may need more time and support through processes. Where possible, staff will facilitate you through the special assistance lanes. Note this lanyard does not give you fast track access through security or passport control.

Our Safety Talks

Our arrival safety talk is done verbally but is supported by cards that illustrate the main talking points. Similarly, our snorkelling safety talk is done in the same manner, supported by cards with pictures and illustrations. We can provide a transcript of our safety talk to any hearing-impaired guest.

Transport

Please let us know in the planning phase of your trip if you have a member of your group using a wheelchair or mobility device and we can arrange for accessible transport options.

Hotels

FLEXIBILITY WITH ACCOMMODATION: We have flexibility with the accommodation we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose hotels that cater accordingly.

PREFERRED HOTEL (SYDNEY): The entire property is accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users. There are accessible rooms as well: the shower is a roll-in shower with a flip-down shower bench. The accessible accommodation is suitable for up to three people. There are lifts in the building to get to rooms and to street level. There are spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli or retreat to his/her room.

Meals & Restaurants

FLEXIBILITY WITH RESTAURANTS & CATERING: We have quite a bit of flexibility with the restaurants we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose restaurants that cater accordingly.

We offer flexible menu options for people who have food allergies or intolerances, and in many cases religious requirements relating to food.

Guests are given space on our online booking form to specify their allergy, intolerance or religious requirement. On arrival we then give them a bag containing, for example, lactose-free milk, nut-free cereal and snacks, and/or other food items that cater to this allergy or intolerance. Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee catering for preferences like low carb meals or FODMAP.

Similarly, we inform all caterers and restaurants of our guests’ food allergies or intolerances.  Breakfast is typically served at the hotel, whilst lunches are often boxed lunches as we move around quite a bit on our tours.

Activities

Activities vary from trip to trip. If we are informed in the planning phase of your trip about  any participants or (potential participants) who have disabilities or special needs, we can suggest certain activities over others. and adjust your itinerary for a custom group trip.

Barangaroo Walk with Indigenous Guide

Wulugul Walk, which follows the 1836 foreshore, is relatively level and, like all dedicated pedestrian pathways in the Reserve is 3.8m wide. At the northern end, Wulugul Walk provides stair-free access to the Waranara Terrace and the Stargazer Lawn for wheelchair or mobility device users. The Indigenous guide delivers his/her talk verbally, so there are not provisions made for those with hearing impairments. There are some spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Sydney Tower Eye

Accessibility for wheels:

• Access with Portable Ramp
• Accessible elevator
• Easy without assistance
• Accessible Toilet

Access for Visually Impaired:

• Braille description
• Audio Guide
• Place has Special Guide Service
• Service animals permitted
• Touch Gallery

There are not necessarily any spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Harbour Cruise

There are no accessible toilets on the boat and no provisions for people who use a wheelchair or mobility device. There are no separate spots on the boat where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli; however this is possible to find once disembarking the boat.  People with hearing impairments can easily be shown visually the boat safety procedures and those with vision impairments will be assisted by our guide. Please let us know in the planning phases if you have a wheelchair or mobility device user and we can make alternate choices.

Bondi Beach

Bondi park and promenade can be accessed from the main entrance on Campbell Parade, access to the beach is from the northern end of the beach via the accessible ramp. The promenade provides level access to view the surf and beach, attend an event or visit a local cafe.  The sand can be accessed by booking a beach wheelchair, or by using the beach access mat. Beach mat is available all year round on; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for people who prefer to use their own wheelchair.

Toilets
Accessible and ambulant toilets are located at the North Bondi amenities, close to the accessible ramp and beach wheelchair storage.

Showers
An outdoor shower is located alongside the beach wheelchair storage locker to enable people to wash away the sand before transferring back into their own wheelchair. An accessible shower and Changing Places facility are also located in Bondi Pavilion.

There are limited spots at this busy beach and esplanade site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Darling Harbour

There are several lifts located in Darling Harbour for ease of access.

• Pyrmont Bridge – Lifts are available on either side of the bridge, linking to Ultimo and the Sydney CBD.
• Cockle Bay – Lift adjacent to Home Nightclub, linking through to Druitt Street
• Darling Quarter – Lift linking to Bathurst St
• Convention Centre – Lift linking to Ultimo

Accessible toilets can be found in the Harbourside Shopping Centre.

Darling Harbour attractions such as Madame Tussaud’s Sydney Sea Life Aquarium and the Maritime Museum are all fully accessible.

There are limited spots at this busy harbour area where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Sydney Opera House

Optional Sydney Bridge Climb

For many, climbing to the top is a must-do experience. BridgeClimb has installed hearing loops on the bridge and Auslan-guided tours are conducted approximately twice a month or upon demand, accompanied by an Australian Sign Language interpreter who will explain the commentary about Sydney and the bridge. Continuous handrails are provided for guidance. Many people with vision impairment have climbed the bridge.  There are limited spots at this site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Optional Sydney Luna Park

Guests with accessibility requirements are invited to attend Guest Relations upon arrival at the Park where our team members will assist you with planning your visit. There are very limited spots in this busy area where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. 

Arrival: Welcome to Sydney!  On arrival you are greeted by your local guide, a “Sydneysider” with an intimate knowledge of Sydney’s best-loved sites.  She gives you an orientation and you are transferred to your accommodation.

Historic District Accommodation: Your accommodation is located right in ‘The Rocks’—the historic district where Sydney began.  All rooms have ensuites and air-conditioning, while the accommodation offers spacious communal areas, internet, coffee bar and large rooftop terrace with spectacular views directly to the Sydney Opera House!

Walking Tour: With your guide you learn about the cultural, historic and natural sites of Sydney as you follow in the steps of colonists and convicts.  Tracing cobblestone paths and narrow laneways, you learn where scandals emerged and history happened.

Aboriginal Culture in the City:  Later with an Aboriginal guide you trace a circuit through an area once inhabited by clans of the Indigenous Eora Nation. An enthusiastic Aboriginal tour guide provides an in-depth explanation of the Aboriginal history of Sydney Harbour and surrounds and in particular, the significance of this special reserve.  Although the reserve lies in the shadow of Sydney’s skyline, you weave among a mosaic of plants and herbs used by Aboriginal people, like a sweet and salty plant that also eases foot blisters, one that’s used for damper and for weaving fishing bags.  Your guide illustrates the beliefs of his people through the telling of stories and you learn the significance of this land to those living here thousands of years before European settlers.

Sydney Tower Eye: Your next stop lets you see the city from above. Standing at 309 metres (1014ft) tall, the Sydney Tower is the highest point in Sydney and has panoramic views stretching from Bondi Beach in the east to the Olympic Park and on a clear day the Blue Mountains in the west.

4-D Cinema: In the Tower you also see what makes Sydney the city it is through a whole new perspective with spectacular footage transporting you across Sydney Harbour, its famous coastline, iconic landmarks and events that are integral to the city. The engaging film experience is taken to the fourth dimension with evocative in-theatre effects including wind, bubbles and fire – a perfect way to get to know the inspiring city of Sydney.

Accommodation: Sydney Historic District budget accommodation
Meals Included: Dinner

City Highlights from the Water:  Today you travel all around the spectacular Sydney Harbour to get acquainted with the city’s highlights on a private boat just for your group! Your friendly captain gives you insight into Sydney’s sites as well as stories behind the people and places of this unforgettable city. You cruise by the holiday homes of the rich and famous such as Nicole Kidman, Delta Goodrem, Bono and Russell Crowe.

Sydney Harbour National Park:  Next your captain takes you to Sydney National Park, where the hustle and bustle of the city seems a world away.  Here the craggy coastline creates endless lookouts, with perhaps the best being a special spot called The Gap.  In the wintertime, you may see whales on their annual migration north.

Watsons Bay:  When you stop in the picturesque Watson’s Bay, you can be among the Sydneysiders sipping a refreshment, or sample some classic fish and chips from the famous Doyle’s on The Beach. This is a perfect day to see the famous and out-of-the-way gems of Sydney’s grand Harbour.

Accommodation: Sydney Historic District budget accommodation
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Blue Mountains National Park: This morning you’re up bright and early for a trip into the nearby Blue Mountains – named for the blue tinge the range takes on when viewed from afar. You ascend the mountains for a series of short walks, your guide teaching you about the significance of this UNESCO World-Heritage area.  More than 400 different kinds of animals live within the rugged gorges and tablelands, including in spotted-tailed quoll, the koala, the yellow-bellied glider, and the long-nosed potoroo.

Skyway, Cableway Ride & Scenic Rail: At Scenic World, you glide between clifftops and gaze at the rainforest canopy through the glass floor of the Scenic Skyway, ride the world’s steepest railway track down into the lush Jamison Valley, and view Three Sisters, Orphan Rock and Katoomba Falls from a unique cableway. A highlight is seeing the Three Sisters – a trio of giant sandstone pillars carved from nature and time that stand like sentinels above the Jamison Valley.

The Three Sisters: A highlight is seeing the Three Sisters – a trio of giant sandstone pillars carved from nature and time that stand like sentinels above the valley.  The kangaroos and wallabies are relaxed and plentiful in the Blue Mountains, enjoying the fertile grazing lands, and your chance of seeing these creatures in the wild is likely.

You return to Sydney at the end of the day.

Accommodation: Sydney Historic District budget accommodation
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Bondi Beach: Bondi Beach is an icon, world-renowned as one of the most popular beaches in Australia.  The beach hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics volleyball competition and multiple movies and shows have been filmed here, including Bondi Rescue.  The 1km length beach is perfect for people watching and swimming, and the trail from here to Bronte is considered one of Australia’s best coastal walks!

Optional Surf Lesson: Nothing soaks in the true spirit of Australia like surfing, and here if you wish you can get your feet wet learning how to catch some waves.   In a small beginner’s group, you start your lesson with ocean hydraulics, tides, rips and surf-related safety skills.  Then you learn about proper standing and paddling techniques, surfing etiquette and how even first-time surfers can catch a wave.  (Surf lesson is extra cost of $140 AUD).   

Darling Harbour:  Sydney’s most exciting harbour! Here you are free to explore and you can choose to shop at the Harbourside Shopping Centre, see what’s fishy at the famous Sydney Aquarium*, encounter Aussie animals at Wildlife World*, be blown away by special effects at the Imax 3-D Cinema theatre* or meet celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga at Mme Tussaud’s Wax Museum*(*extra cost)

Sydney Opera House Performance:  Later you attend a live performance in the Opera House–a quintessential Australian experience!  While exact schedule is not known until close to the date, you will be treated either to a play, symphony, opera or dance performance in one of the most famous buildings in the world.

Accommodation: Sydney Historic District budget accommodation
Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb: If you like you could plan to depart Sydney in the afternoon and spend your morning taking in views of the entire city atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge with an incomparable bridge climb. Led by a climb leader, you will “hike” to the summit of this world famous bridge, 134 metres (440 feet) above Sydney Harbour. It is a 3 ½ hour journey to the top of the Bridge along catwalks and all the way to the summit. When you reach the top, you will have a sense of achievement that you will remember forever – you’ve conquered an Australian icon recognized the world over. (Prices start at $294 AUD).

Optional Urban Challenge: If you have an afternoon flight, you can choose to participate in Small World Journeys’ Urban Challenge! (no extra cost) The Urban Challenge is a fun team-building exercise that allows students to learn more about the history, art and culture of Sydney.  Small group teams compete against time in this treasure hunt-type activity in Sydney’s Rocks historic district.  This is a popular activity for students and the winning team gets a prize!

OPTIONAL Luna Park: Just across the harbour is the iconic face that welcomes visitors to this historic fun park. Rides include the Devil’s Drop, the Wild Mouse roller coaster, and DodgeEm City. On the Ferris wheel you can take in amazing harbour views!  (park hours are more limited in wintertime; please ask us when planning your tour, entry is free but unlimited rides pass is an extra cost)

Later you are transferred to the Sydney airport for your flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast