Secrets of the City Circle walking tour

Discover the hidden history of Sydney’s City Circle railway on a guided journey through Central, Museum, St James, Circular Quay, Wynyard and Town Hall. Hear stories of ghost platforms, abandoned plans, wartime preparations, the 1916 Army Riot and John Bradfield’s vision for modern Sydney.

This tour operates entirely in publicly accessible station and train areas. It does not include access to tunnels, ghost platforms or restricted areas.

🚉 Highlights

• Explore six City Circle stations and the stories hidden in plain sight.

• Hear about abandoned platforms and rail plans that were never completed.

• Relive the 1916 Army Riot at Central Station.

• Discover how stations were prepared during the Second World War.

• Learn about John Bradfield and the creation of Sydney’s rail network.

🕑 Duration

Approximately 2.5 hours.

📍 Meeting Point

Central Station, Platform 1 entrance — beside the NSW TrainLink booking office. Your guide will be wearing a yellow hi-vis vest.

☔ Weather

The tour is fully undercover or underground, so it operates in most weather.

💳 What You Need

• A valid Opal card or contactless debit/credit card for train travel.

• Comfortable shoes for walking and standing.

♿ Accessibility

The tour uses publicly accessible railway stations. Lift availability and station access can change because of maintenance or service disruptions. Please contact the host before booking if you have specific access requirements.

📸 Photos and Video

Photos are welcome. Please do not film the guide during the tour.

🎟️ Tickets

Paid tickets guarantee your place. Limited free Community tickets may also be released and will appear at checkout when available. Guests using a Community ticket are welcome to support the guide with an optional tip after the tour.

👥 Group Size

Up to 40 participants.

🕵️ Private Bookings

Available for corporate groups, Probus clubs, community groups and special events.

👉 Book now to secure your place.