Tour Guide Q&A With Sydney’s OutBack
Things to do in Sydney
Unlock Massive Savings When You Book Online!
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium – Daily Peak
1 Hour Jet Ski Safari
Sydney Shore Excursion | Luxury Private 6 Hr Tour
Island Cruise
James Craig | A Day At Sea
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo – Daily Offpeak
Tour Guide Q&A With Sydney’s OutBack
A new tour company at just over one year old, Sydney OutBack has been bringing visitors to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park for a taste of what lies just 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD. Step back in time with tour guide, Paul Pickering, and let him show you what Sydney Harbour used to look like…
How long have you been showing people Sydney’s northern beaches and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park?
Sydney OutBack celebrated its first birthday recently, marking its successful launch as a new tourism experience through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the highly competitive Sydney tourism market.
Why would you say Ku-ring-gai Chase is worth people’s attention?
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second oldest national park; a seemingly untouched wilderness just 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD that is like a time capsule of Sydney Harbour before colonialisation 230 years ago.
What is the biggest surprise about Ku-ring-gai Chase?
The world-class caliber of the destination: it’s home to the world’s most concentrated collection of recorded Aboriginal Heritage sites, as well as one of Sydney’s top lookouts over Broken Bay, which is the only place in the world where five waterways meet. The surprises are on land and by water; with some of the incredible, ancient rock art accessible only by boat, which is made possible with Sydney OutBack.
Where is your favourite location within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park?
There is one tributary in the river system that weaves through the National Park, which has the most magical atmosphere. It’s remote and peaceful, adorned with random Aboriginal sites of note, and incredibly picturesque. When cruising, we like to shut off the engines and encourage our guests to wait for the natural environment to speak to them with its silence and stillness.
What is your favourite beach in northern Sydney and why?
Everyone loves Manly, but if you venture northward, you have the choice of more than 20km of golden beaches. Many are listed among Sydney’s most dangerous beaches, so my favourite beaches are any with our famous Australian Surf Lifesavers on guard.
Where are the best photo opportunities?
One of the best photo opportunities are definitely at some of the Aboriginal sites we visit, especially those by water as it’s incredible to be on board our 64 pax motor catamaran looking at ancient rock art so easily missed if not pointed out. Another is at West Head lookout, which is simply an incredible vista of major northern Sydney landmarks including Barrenjoey Headland and its historic lighthouse, famous Palm Beach (where Home and Away is filmed), Pittwater and Broken Bay, and Lion Island, which is an island sanctuary for the world’s smallest penguin. When on the beaches, any headland will give you wonderful photos, but a particular favourite is North Head reserve, near Manly.
What do passengers discover about the Aboriginal heritage? Are there any practices they can get involved in?
Importantly, our guests discover that the Aboriginal culture is very much alive in the Aboriginal people in Australia. Its heritage is varied from region to region. In Sydney, we hope our guests discover that it is a culture rich in respect and tradition, with deep regard for its elders, an impressive appreciation of the land and local plants/animals, and knowledge of the night stars and the seasons. Our commentary is shaped so that guests experience a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony, with ochre painting, as well as opportunities to sample bush tucker flavours in the wild or at lunch, and to try things like playing the didgeridoo or seeing how rock art is created.
What wildlife can passengers see in this area?
Most Australian mammals and many birds are nocturnal, which makes daytime spotting less frequent but very special; echidnas, rock wallaby, swamp wallaby and lyrebirds. The region’s famous sea eagle is resident on the river, as are breeding pairs of lyrebirds and endangered birds.
What is your most memorable experience of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Northern Beaches to date?
The most memorable experiences for me are seeing the reactions of people throughout the journey; sometimes, for various reasons, travellers are guarded or even jaded after long stretches of living out of a suitcase. Sometimes, people join our tours with managed expectations and I love watching their shoulders relax, their faces soften and their eyes start to sparkle after a day in this remote, beautiful part of Sydney.
Let Paul take you on a journey through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and save 20% with code bbmlive when you book directly with Sydney OutBack!
Visit www.sydneyoutback.com.au
Images courtesy of Paul Pickering and Sydney OutBack
Check Out for Travel Guides New South Wales
More like thisRelated
Australian Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements for UK Visitors
Campervan Hire in Australia with Awesome Campers
Things You Should Know Before Moving to Australia 2025
Australian Government to Release New Skills List for 2025