100 Things To Do You’ve Never Heard Of #024 See Sydney from below

Rather dim, damp and definitely not fun for people afraid of narrow spaces, nevertheless Sydney has an amazing undercover side to explore that’s totally distinct from the usual tourist tracks. Underground grain silos, tunnels and fortifications built by convicts are waiting to be discovered in different tours. Listen to the stories, wander through WWII tunnels, past gun emplacements and get to know Sydney from a very different point of view.

“I’VE HEARD THIS IS A SENSATIONAL TOUR AND FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.” – Sandra Sully

The Tank Stream has the most impressive history of all tunnels: it supplied fresh water for several decades at the time when the first settlers arrived and had also been used by local Aboriginal tribes before that. It’s completely underground today, still exists and is used as a stormwater pipe system.

Tours through this astonishing piece of history only take place twice a year and because of increasing demands a ballot system is used to give out the tickets. The Sydney underground world can also be explored at Middle Heads, Cockatoo Island, North Head and Chowder Bay.

Check out Sydney Water (www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/waterexhibition) for further information. And don’t forget your torch!
WHERE // Look down. This tour takes place beneath the very streets of Sydney.

DID YOU KNOW? // The Tank Stream is the only reason why the first Europeans settled in Sydney and not somewhere else. Without it, Sydney would no doubt be in a different spot on our Giant Wall Map.