FAQs

Nor do we! They’re often really boring, aren’t they? But if you found us then you probably know what you’re looking for. We’re not professional guides by any stretch. We haven’t learnt a script. We’re practising architects who spend their days designing bits and pieces of the city and we guide because we’re passionate about architecture and design and love the research. Guiding is also our chance to moonlight a little and share things we love with the design-curious public.

SAW tours are carefully crafted urban narratives hidden beneath a guise of informality. They’re not touristic or aimed at a mid-market, lazy audience that wants to be hand fed a bunch of amazing facts. We explore ideas through architecture and try to get to the bottom of what makes our dreamy, grimy emerald city tick. They are both a celebration and a critique, celebrating contemporary architecture, art and design while also delving into the murky depths of politics, culture, history, and environment. They’re like a crash course in architecture and urbanism with a sharp focus on what is special and unique about Sydney.

If you’re 12 or older get a General ticket.

If you’re 11 or under, well, lucky you. We invite you for free - but you must bring an adult who has to pay.

Anyone can join our public tours which are advertised on specific days on our Tour Calendar. Bookings are online.

If the dates don’t work or you would prefer something different - you can book a private tour. These are tailored to your specific needs.

Don’t panic!

Give us a call or send a txt to 0403 888 390. If the tour has already started then we won’t answer the phone. Most tours begin with a 10-15 minute introduction at the meeting point, so if you’re fashionably late you will see us there.

As an outdoor event our tours are subject to weather. We have a “rain or shine” policy and try to go ahead with tours wherever possible, and do not cancel for light/intermittent/potential rain. We strongly recommend you dress appropriately and bring wet weather gear if there is any chance of rain.

Tours will be cancelled only if the weather poses a safety threat. We try to cancel as early as possible, however as weather conditions are unpredictable we may have to cancel up to 60 minutes prior to the start time. In the rare event that a tour is cancelled, ticket holders will receive an SMS and an EMAIL and you will receive a full refund.

You can change or cancel up to 48 hours before the tour. You can do that online or email us.

Not at all - all you need is curiosity.

Our tours explore the city from an architectural point of view. They are not ‘tours-for-architects’. That would be really boring for us and also for you.

We reckon that city-making is not that complicated and talking about cities and the buildings that define them is a conversation we should all be engaged with. Architecture is the great public art after all. As such, our conversations are full of small, simple words but rich, beautiful ideas and concepts.

No archi-jargon. Promise!

Yep. If you’re an architect then all our tours earn formal CPD points – 1 point per hour. At check-out you will be asked if you are eligible and we will send you details after the tour if you say “yes”. Please note that we only send you CPD details if you have completed the tour. More info on CPD here.

Yep. They are truly awesome. Promise!

We add dates seasonally – usually three months in advance. Tours generally fall on a Saturday morning. We can arrange special Group Tours at any time.

We sure do.

Yes! We love school groups. They’re generally high school kids but we also take tours for primary school from time to time. Steiner groups are a particular specialty of ours.

Tours range from 90 minutes to multiple-day itineraries though the majority are 2 to 3 hours long.

See Group Tours for more information and email us with your request. The more information you can give us the easier it will be to plan something super-special.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Stripe, Google Express and hugs. Only kidding. We don’t do Google Express.

Yes you do.

There are lots of bike-hire options but you need to organise that yourself. You will receive an automated email when you book that lists the bike rental options.