Sydney’s Badass Women: Inspiring History Walking Tour
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Group size
- Up to 16 people
- Guide
- English
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Our take
This is the women's history walk on our Sydney walking tours page, one of the themed walks for a second walk or anyone who has seen the harbour. It starts at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, where the guide wears a pink She Shapes History shirt, and runs 2 hours down Macquarie Street, onto the Cahill Expressway for a harbour view and a group photo, through Nurses Walk and into The Rocks, ending on George Street.
The stories include the woman who saved Macquarie Street's colonial buildings from demolition, the nurse who reformed Sydney Hospital, the first woman elected to NSW Parliament, and a woman who dressed as a boy to sail to Australia and helped found a major bank. All stops are pass-by, so you hear the stories outside. You get a hand-drawn postcard and a reading list afterwards, and guides use headsets. It holds a perfect 5 from a modest record so far. Groups are capped at 16.
Good for
- A second walk with stories most tours leave out
- Anyone curious about Sydney's women's history
Think twice if
- You want to go inside buildings. Every stop is outside
- You want the classic overview walk first
Written by SydneySide Tours from the listing, traveller reviews and the videos behind our comparison pages. Checked October 2026. How we review tours.
From the operator
This isn’t your usual Sydney history tour.
Uncover Sydney’s hidden women’s history with your passionate and knowledgeable local guide. Step off the beaten path and discover a side of Sydney few ever see.
Together we’ll walk from leafy Hyde Park, down Macquarie Street and into The Rocks. We’ll learn about the woman who saved Macquarie Street’s iconic colonial era buildings and witness stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge while learning about the woman who managed the whole project. From there, we’ll head into Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood and learn about the woman who was a founding member of one of Australia’s major banks.
We promise you'll leave feeling inspired by Sydney’s remarkable and unexpected women's history, and you might even make a few new friends along the way!
- This walking tour is best suited to mobile travellers
- The tour runs for two hours
- Suitable for first-time and regular visitors to Sydney
- Learn about the women that history books overlook
From the listing by She Shapes History on Viator.
The tour, stop by stop
- We start our walk in Hyde Park, which was once a ritual contest ground and an important site for ceremony, gathering, and camping for local Aboriginal groups.
- Admire the view of Macquarie Street’s iconic 19th Century buildings while learning about the woman who saved them from demolition.
- Meet the Nightingale trained nurse who reformed Sydney hospital.
- Learn the story of the first woman elected to NSW Parliament, and why she’s still considered an icon today.
- Meet NSW’s first woman (and most popular!) governor since 1788.
- We stop on the Cahill Expressway to admire a stunning view of the Sydney Harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge (and to take a group photo of course!).
- We stop at Nurses Walk and commemorate the nurses who built Australia’s first hospital.
- This land was once owned by a woman who dressed as a boy to sail to Australia and was a founding member of one of Australia’s major banks.
- We finish our tour on George Street, near one of Australia’s oldest continuously operating art schools
What's included
- Hand-drawn souvenir postcard by a local artist
- A follow-up list of resources and further reading on the stories shared
- A group photo with your guide
- Passionate & Professional Local Guide
Meeting point
The tour begins at Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park. Your guide will be easy to spot in a pink She Shapes History shirt and tote bag.
Where it ends
The tour concludes on George Street in The Rocks.
Your Viator voucher confirms the exact spot and time.
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guides use headsets
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How refunds and weather cancellations work is on our booking help page.
How it compares
We compare this tour with the other options on our walking tours page, with what each one includes and where it leaves from. How we choose tours.
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