Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales ©Tourism Australia
Sydney's best accessible attractions
Exploring Australia’s biggest city is easy with options for visitors of all abilities. We have the inside scoop on the most accessible attractions in Sydney.
By Carly Spek and Ashlea Wheeler
Explore Sydney's iconic harbour
A group of people in yellow kayaks paddling on a calm harbour towards an arched bridge and building with white sails, Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Aerial view over a building adorned in white sails, jutting out into a calm blue harbour at Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Cultural Attractions of Australia
A group of people stading on the top of an arched bridge overlooking a large harbour and surrounding suburbs with BridgeClimb, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
A family of five with four people walking and one person using a mobility device making their way to the Sydney Opera House with Australia In Style, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Sydney boasts an extensive list of attractions, and many of the most iconic can be found by the sparkling harbour. The Sydney Opera House aims to deliver barrier-free access through a suite of inclusive experiences, including dedicated relaxed performances, daily mobility access tours and Auslan interpreted performances. The team at BridgeClimb Sydney can support those with some mobility access needs to ascend the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and offer Auslan climbs on request. If you fancy seeing the harbour from a different angle, you can also join Sydney by Kayak, who offer Auslan interpreted tours and an additional guide for mobility assistance.
Hit the beach
Aerial view over a curved, golden beach with turquoise water surrounded by buildings at Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales © Hamilton Lund/Destination NSW
Let's Go Surfing, Bondi Beach, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Bondi Beach, Australia In Style, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Manly, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Whether you want to take a dip along Sydney's iconic coast, catch waves with the locals, or wine and dine along the waterfront, there are options for all travellers to soak up Australia's beach culture. In Bondi, the crew at Let's Go Surfing will arrange a bespoke lesson to help everyone enjoy the thrill of surfing, and Australia in Style can tailor a beach adventure during a bespoke, no-steps tour for travellers using a wheelchair. If it's swimming you're after, many sandy stretches including Bondi offer beach matting and wheelchairs, which you can find using the Accessible Beaches Directory.
Seek out some art
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales © Art Gallery of New South Wales
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales © Art Gallery of New South Wales
Most of Sydney’s museums and galleries offer mobility access plus some accessible tours and programs. One must-see is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which boasts an incredible permanent collection as well as world-class international exhibitions, and offers all-inclusive access programs from tactile and sensory tours to audio-described tours and Auslan interpreters. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, nestled right on the bustling Circular Quay waterfront, you’ll find that all public areas are wheelchair accessible and visual stories are available online for those with neurodivergence to prepare for a visit.
Meet Aussie wildlife
One of the highlights on any visit Down Under is meeting our cheeky wildlife. At Taronga Zoo Sydney, you’ll find plenty of mobility-friendly paths as well as the sky rail cable car, which can carry manual wheelchairs up to the top of the park. Visual stories and tranquil zones are also available to support visitors to the zoo with hidden disabilities. In Darling Harbour, those with limited mobility can say g'day to marine life at SEA LIFE Aquarium and native animals at WILD LIFE Sydney, while on the other side of the city, the Royal Botanic Gardens are a great place to spot native birds with flat, gently sloping paths woven throughout the harbourside property.
Attend Sydney's best events
From festivals to parties, concerts and sporting events, Sydney's events calendar is jam-packed with a stellar lineup, and there are accessible ways to experience the very best. Vivid Sydney have a host of resources to ensure everyone can revel in the city-wide outdoor art festival, from wheelchair hire to accessible viewing areas, visual stories and audio services. The vibrant Sydney Mardi Gras festival hosts Auslan interpreted events, assistive listening systems and wheelchair accessible viewing areas to ensure everyone can get amongst the fun. If sport is more your speed, most of Sydney's grounds and arenas, such as Sydney Cricket Ground, offer accessible ticketing and parking for those with limited mobility wishing to cheer on their favourite team, or those with sensory sensitivities can go behind the scenes on a tailored tour.
