History buffs and paranormal enthusiasts, if you aren’t scared of a few ghosts, spirits and mysteries then book yourself in to one of Sydney’s famous ghost tours.  Ghost tours are a great way to learn about Sydney’s dark history and a chance to visit important historical sites where ghost tours are full of stories, adventures, and some spooky encounters.
 
Here are a couple of our favourite ghost tours in Sydney that will have you keeping the light on at night.
 
Q Station
 
Reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites, Q Station on Manly’s North Head has been operating ghost tours since the early 1990’s and have number of tours available depending on your scare level. From the 1830’s right up to 1984, migrants and crew arriving by ship to Sydney with suspected contagious disease were forced into quarantine at Q Station. Their ghost tours will take you through the historic buildings, burial grounds and empty pathways where stories of ghosts and paranormal occurrences have entwined throughout its history.
 
For those wanting to go beyond the typical history and ghost lore tour, make sure to sign up for their Extreme Ghost Tour. Psychics and mediums will guide you through the tour while undertaking experiments to encourage paranormal activity.
 
If that still isn’t enough supernatural activity for you, then head along to their Spirit Investigator tour. On this tour you get to try out the latest ghost hunting equipment and carry out experiments yourself to communicate with the spirits.
 
Finally for those who really like an adventure Q Station also offers a ‘Spirit Searching Sleepover’. When you’ve finished the Spirit Investigator Tour (and you’ve conjured up the station’s spirits), you’ll then be lead to your room for the night… that’s right you’ll be sleeping over with your new spirit friends.
 
Q Station also takes group bookings for all of their ghost tours, so you can also drag along all of your supernatural loving friends. 
  
Cockatoo Island
 
Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour was once an island prison known for housing re-offending convicts. After closing the prison, Cockatoo Island was transformed into a working shipyard for more than a century and is now full of stories of untimely deaths and paranormal sightings. Tours will guide you through the convict workshops and gaol, coffin like prison cells, the grain silos, Dog Leg Tunnel and Biloela House. Visitors have reported feeling gusts of air, smells of tobacco, and even sites of ghostly figures.
 
St Bartholomews Church
 
When you think of a haunted place a church and cemetery is sure to come to mind. Dating back to 1841, St Bartholomews Church and Cemetery is home to the stories and graves of many early settlers including explorer William Lawson. The tour guides visitors through the Churches’ long history and recounts the stories of the many lives that are now buried within the cemetery. If you are lucky you may even encounter their famous troublesome ghost, with many tour participants claiming to have experience extreme nausea and being unable to move when approaching his tombstone.
 
 The Rocks
 
An iconic part of Sydney’s history, The Rocks was home to convicts from as early as 1788, which means there are loads of stories of crimes, murders and mysteries.  Offering two tours which cover different routes and stories, you’ll visit Cadman’s Cottage, Australia’s oldest home, Susannah Place where someone was found buried in the cellar, and Observatory Hill where the old Signal Master’s spirit is set to reside.  The tour will also take you to many ‘off limit’ locations and see you walking through dark alleyways only lit by lanterns. This is one of those tours that is sure to send goose bumps up your back.
 
So, whether you’re a Sydney local wanting to explore your own city a little bit, or a visitor who isn’t afraid of a few ghosts, make sure to check out the after dark side of Sydney. 

A significant part of Australia’s history, Q Station provides  the perfect outdoor classroom where students can learn about First Contacts, Australia’s waves of migration, race, gender and  class segregation, and important medical and technological advances through the 19th and 20th century.
 
Located on a 30-hectare site on the North Head of Manly, Q Station is only a short ferry ride from Sydney CBD and boasts original buildings constructed between the 1870s and 1920s. With a range of educational programs across all stages and aligned to the NSW and Australian National Curriculum, Q Station is a must do for your next Sydney school excursion.

• Get up close with protected wildlife and native bushland

While Q Station has preserved the heritage buildings of the Quarantine Station, it is also home to native bushland and a range of protected wildlife, including little penguins, long-nosed bandicoots, 90 species of native birds, and the many creatures of the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve. The site also boasts varied flora including the rare sunshine wattle and eastern suburbs banksia scrub.
  

• Get hands on with artefacts and primary sources

Q Station’s Heritage collection is home to thousands of artefacts unique to the North Head Quarantine Station. Every education program includes the opportunity to handle and engage with original artefacts, to interact with primary sources and explore the natural and built environment.
 
Students can visit the replica cabins of the RMS Niagara to give them a sense of what sea travel was like 100 years ago, study the sandstone inscriptions and apply their skills of historical enquiry to consider what information can be gleaned from this source or enhance their learning experience by analysing one of our case studies- Immigration Detention or Operation Babylift.

•  Bring your classroom novel to life

​Start your excursion in the classroom by reading Felicity Pulman’s Ghost Boy and then follow the novel’s journey through your visit to Quarantine Station. Appropriate for Stages 2 - 4, students will see the story come to life as they learn about the differences between Tad’s world of the 1880s smallpox epidemic and their own.
 
Students will visit key locations within the text and the program is designed to challenge them to think about society’s changes from Tad’s time to now, by considering topics of migration, class, race and identity.

•  Site Investigation for Modern History

​The Quarantine Station is suggested as a site to investigate in the NSW Modern History Curriculum and a chapter is dedicated to the site in Modern History Transformed by Cambridge University Press - The Investigation of Historical Sites and Sources: Death, Disease and Division: The Quarantine Station. In our site investigation program, Stage 6 students undertake a close study of the site, its stories, artefacts, the built environment, primary and secondary sources to apply their skills of historical inquiry and to consider the interplay of historical evidence, argument, interpretation, memory, intuition and bias. Changing phases of the site provide a microcosm of the development of Contemporary Australia. From a close study of the site, students develop a more refined analysis and interpretation of the broader developments that shaped the site, and an increased empathy for how those developments affected people who were here, as well as a deeper appreciation for the interplay between the individual, the community, the environment, politics, judgement, and differing perspectives that shape the world today.

•  Make it an overnight stay

​For those wanting their students to have a fully immersive excursion, our former Doctors & Nurses Quarters can sleep a maximum of 24 students and supervisors in dormitory style accommodation. It’s a great way for students to explore in-depth the natural surroundings and historical significance of the site. An overnight stay also gives the opportunity to join a Ghost Tour where you’ll discover more intriguing stories of Q Station’s history and its eccentric characters.
 
School excursions at Q Station allow students of all ages from primary to tertiary, to experience an important part of Australia’s history through themes of migration, medical advancements, class, gender, and race segregation and technological advancements through 19th and 20th century. With lots of hands on experiences students can explore a range of primary and secondary sources, within natural and manmade environments.  So next time you’re planning a Sydney school excursion make sure to add Q Station to your itinerary.

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show the most special lady in your life how much you appreciate and care about her.  Whether it be the mother of your children, your own mum, mother in law (or all 3!), forget the flowers and chocolate this year and instead gift her the most perfect day out in Sydney that she will cherish and appreciate forever at Q Station, located at  scenic North Head,  Manly, on the edge of Sydney Harbour.

The recipe to creating a perfect day out is all the planning, so be sure to do your homework to ensure what you are putting together is something that the special ladies in your life will enjoy and appreciate. 
To help you show the special mothers in your life how much you care, we have created a guide to the most perfect Mother’s Day out that you can take credit for!

CRUISE FROM SYDNEY HARBOUR

Leave the car at home and enjoy a scenic 20-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay direct to the Q Station wharf.  The Ferry ride on the Manly Fast Ferry operates  7 days a week and the 20 minute journey is long enough to freshen you up as you breathe in the fresh air and take in the scenic backdrop of Sydney’s beautiful harbour .  The ferry will drop you right off on our door step just like our passengers of the past would have and it is an enjoyable and relaxing way to begin your Q Station experience. 

If you are planning a memorable Mother’s Day weekend in Sydney, the Manly Fast Ferry 48 hour hop on-hop off pass  with its five different ferry services included in one pass is a fun and affordable way to explore the Sydney attractions.  Why not enjoy the first day of your Mother’s Day weekend visiting the popular Sydney Harbour locations like; Manly, Darling Harbour, Watsons Bay, Taronga Zoo, Circular Quay, Rose Bay, Pyrmont Bay and Milsons Point before arriving at Q Station, enjoying a sleep in on Mother’s Day before delighting Mum with the rest of her Mother’s Day experience.

EXPLORE A LITTLE HISTORY TOGETHER

While a visit to  Q Station is an incredible experience for its impressive Sydney Harbour National Park location with varied flora and fauna, wildlife and endangered species like the eastern long-nosed bandicoots and little penguins, the former Quarantine Station also comes with an incredible 60,000 year history of the Aboriginal people and of the compelling historic stories of survival during the early migration and settlement; before it was transformed from the often harsh reality of a quarantine station to what we see today in the beautiful and peaceful location and experiences that the modern day Q Station has to offer. 
 
When you arrive at Q Station Wharf, be sure to pop in to our Visitor Centre, located on the wharf adjacent to Quarantine Beach.  Formerly the luggage storage facility of Sydney’s former Quarantine Station, the Q Station Visitor Centre also operates as a  free entry museum featuring stories and heritage artefacts from ships, quarantine staff, medical advances, natural disasters and wildlife.  A walk through this little museum is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the history of the old Quarantine Station,see memorabilia from the past and to pick up a map for a little exploring during the day.
 
Once you have explored the museum, either head out on an adventure of your own or treat mum to a Wharf Wanderer history tour which you can book online in advance or book on the day at the Visitor Centre.  The Wharf Wander Tour is the perfect way to understand the arrival and daily operation of residents at the Quarantine Station.  The walking history tour runs for 45 minutes, exploring the heritage buildings and discover the stories of migrants through the 19th and 20th centuries.   We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes for before the start of the tour and wear comfy walking shoes!
 
Mother’s Day Wharf Wander Tour Discount:  On Mother’s Day you can experience the Wharf Wander Tour at either 11am or 3:30pm (or 2pm if purchasing the High Tea package) at a discounted rate of $15 per adult and $10 per child/concession when purchased with the Mother’s Day Long Lunch or Mother’s Day High Tea.  

SPOIL MUM WITH A MEAL

MOTHER’S DAY LONG LUNCH

Spoil Mum with a leisurely and exquisite Sunday Long Lunch in Sydney.  Here at Q Station’s Boilerhouse Restaurant & Bar, feast on a delicious ten plate share menu designed by our Executive Chef utilising the freshest of Australian produce with mouth-watering menu inclusions such as  the grass-fed lam rump, South Australian  mussels with Cambodian curry sauce and a to die for caramelized pineapple pavlova or white chocolate parfait for dessert.
 
Housed in the original boiler house building from the days of the Sydney’s former Quarantine Station and refurbished into a uniquely styled restaurant, at the Boilerhouse you’ll show mum how much you appreciate her as you enjoy the long lunch meal while overlooking one of the most magnificent views of Sydney for only $90.00 per adult and $35 per child aged 12 years old or under.  All the mums on the day will also receive a glass of sparkling wine on arrival.
 
MOTHER’S DAY HIGH TEA

If you a looking for something a little lighter, treat the mums to High Tea in the Hospital Precinct of Sydney’s Former Quarantine with the stunning views and backdrop of Sydney Harbour.  For only $70 per adult and $35 per child (aged 12 years old or under), here the whole family can enjoy a substantial high tea of savouries, sweets, continuous tea and coffee plus a glass of sparkling on arrival for all the mums.  A cash bar will also be available.  
 
Bookings are essential for both popular events.
 
TAKE A SCENIC COASTAL WALK

A scenic, easy and enjoyable coastal walk offers the perfect opportunity to walk off an incredible lunch.  The Fairfax walk on North Head takes between 30 – 60 minutes to complete, depending on how leisurely you walk, and the 1 kilometre loop ideal for all fitness levels.  The path is paved, well maintained and it is a Sydney Harbour National park wheelchair accessible walk, perfect for all levels of fitness.
The walk has exceptional views and the track starts at the end of the North Head Scenic Drive and then loops around the top of North Head.  The circuit has three lookout points offering postcard views over the ocean or Sydney Harbour to the CBD which would create a picturesque backdrop for a Mother’s Day family photo  to remember!  It’s an exceptional walk for keen wildlife watchers and you can even spot sea life in the ocean so be sure to pack your binoculars!

RELAX ON QUARANTINE BEACH

Be sure to experience the unspoilt natural beauty that Quarantine Beach has to offer while you’re visiting North Head.  Only 200m long and facing northwest into Little Manly, , the serene and peaceful Quarantine Beach offers a private and sheltered location hemmed in by rocks and national park with silvery sand and clear, calm water.
Bring your snorkels too! So many gorgeous sea creatures have made quarantine beach and wharf their home. If you are brave enough to face the crisp May ocean, snorkels, kayaks and stand up paddleboards are available for hire from Q Station’s Visitor Centre.
Bring a picnic blanket and relax with the family on the beach making the most of your day together.  Watch the kids build sandcastles, throw a frisbee, dip your toes in the water (or take an exhilarating swim in the ocean!) and simply allow your Mum to enjoy some quality relaxing time with the family in a beautiful setting.

MAKE IT A MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND

Looking to top the perfect Mother’s Day out experience?  If you are wanting to make the most of your visit to Q Station and transform  the perfect Mother’s Day out into the perfect Mother’s Day weekend, an overnight stay in our luxurious and historic Q Station accommodation will give your special ladies a weekend away that they will always remember.
Add a little pampering to their weekend away, gifting them with manicure and/pedicure at Ruby Nails & Waxing salon in Manly, and if you are wanting to step up the experience send them there in style via a Manly Stretch Limo Hire with Beachwheels Automotive.

Make the celebration even more special and memorable as you watch the sunset over the Darling Harbour before heading out to dinner, or as darkness descends over the historic Q Station’s buildings and burial grounds (and if you dare), treat the family to a thrilling interactive Sydney Ghost tour on the Q Station grounds - reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites – listening to stories and if you are lucky experience  a paranormal encounter or two.

KICK BACK AND RELAX
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After such a perfect day out (and all the planning involved),  wind down and relax enjoying a coffee at our Visitor Centre Café as you await your ferry ride home and begin thinking about how you are possibly going to top this experience next year! 

The Easter School Holidays are upon us again and if you are like many parents, you may be thinking of fun and unique ways to keep the kids occupied, engaged, happy (and as far away from their iPads as possible) with Easter school holiday activities in Sydney.  Life can become so busy during the school terms with sport and extracurricular activities. The holidays are about spending quality time with your children, but that is not always achievable for parents on a full time work schedule with kids committed to sports and music programs.  This means it isn’t always possible to take long breaks away together as a family, so if you can get getaway for a few days and spend some fun time together that would be a bonus, right?

So, if you are looking for a family holiday filled with a unique historical difference, Q Station, located at North Head on the shores of Sydney Harbour, is the ideal base for your Sydney holiday and with our “Egg-Stra special” Q Station Easter accommodation offer  – there is even more reason to book an extended stay!

Hidden amongst native Australian bush land within Sydney Harbour National Park, with stunning views overlooking  Sydney Harbour, here you are only a short ferry ride away from all the action and school holiday activities in Sydney, in the heart of the city, yet far enough away to feel like a relaxing retreat.

To take the stress out of the school holidays we have created a 72 hour itinerary for you and the kids to  explore Sydney’s ‘backyard’ and learn a lot about our history and culture along the way.

Day 1

7:00am: Enjoy a hearty breakfast

Kick off day 1 of your Sydney school holiday adventure by fueling your bodies with a hearty early morning breakfast at  Q Station’s Views Restaurant overlooking the picturesque views of the Sydney Harbour you’ll be  ready for a jam-packed day! 

The best part about staying at North Head within Sydney Harbour National Park is that you’re surrounded by bushwalks, native wildlife, tours, fun activities for all ages, hidden beaches and delicious restaurant options as well as opportunities for kayaks, snorkeling or ferry transport. Stock up your backpacks with water and snacks for the day and you can set off straight from the hotel to explore. Be extra prepared and download Q Station’s map to find your way around.

We recommend that you arrive the night before to get a good night’s sleep (guaranteed with the comfy beds in the historic and unique Q Station accommodation), so you have plenty of energy to greet the day.

8:30am: Fairfax Walk

The Fairfax walk offers an easy and enjoyable 1 kilometre loop which the entire family can enjoy.   The path along one of Sydney’s most scenic walks is ideal for children and as the path is paved, offering a smooth partially wheelchair accessible track in Sydney.  The Fairfax track begins at the end of the North Head Scenic Drive and  loops around the top of North Head featuring breath-taking views of the ocean, Sydney Harbour and Sydney CBD. Depending on whether you are looking for a more leisurely stroll or get the heart rate going, it will take approximately 30 – 60 minutes to complete.  It’s an exceptional walk for keen whale watchers during the June-July and August-October migration seasons so bring your binoculars!

If you have time and energy to burn after completing the walk you can decide to continue on through the North Head Sanctuary  and from here you can wind your way back down to Manly to join the Manly Scenic Walkway. Once you’re in Manly, treat the family with a coffee or ice cream break!

10:00am: Explore Q Station Visitor Centre
                                                                                                                                                       
After  returning from your rejuvenating morning walk, head to the Q Station Visitor Centre and  immerse yourself into the history and heritage of the Q Station.  The Visitor Centre is located on the wharf adjacent to Quarantine Beach, within what was the luggage storage facility of Sydney’s former Quarantine Station which also functions as a museum with significant features being preserved.  The centre offers free admission so pick up a takeaway coffee at the Visitor Centre Café and explore the museum yourself until the Wharf Wanderer history tour begins.

11:00am: Wharf Wander History Tour

 The Wharf Wander Tour is an interactive opportunity to understand the arrival and daily operation of passengers and staff  at the former Quarantine Station.  The tour runs for 45 minutes  and explores heritage buildings to discover the stories of migrants through the 19th and 20th centuries.   We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes for before the start of the tour and make certain you are still wearing comfy walking shoes!

If you are here on a weekend you may want to take part in the more in-depth Quarantine Station Story Tour where you will really find out what it was like to be quarantined!

Book a tour online or in person at the Visitor Information Centre.

12:00pm: Enjoy a Light Lunch

Enjoy a light lunch from the selection of sandwiches, pies and snacks at the Visitor Centre Café and spend more time immersing yourself in the history and heritage we have to offer at Q Station.

1:30pm:  Spend the afternoon at Quarantine beach

After a busy and informative morning, head back to your room and change for some family time at Quarantine Beach..    The beach is 200m long, faces northwest and is in a quiet and sheltered location hemmed in by rocks with silvery sand and clear, calm water.  Relax on the beach, build sandcastles or throw a frisbee with the kids and dip your toes in the water if you are game!

If you are keen to head out on the water, hire out some single or double kayaks and paddle boards at Q Station and paddle out on the calm water to Collins Beach and back before heading back to the room to get ready for an early dinner.

5:00pm: Early Dinner at the Engine Room Bar

Enjoy an early relaxed dinner at the Engine Room Bar which overlooks the beautiful Quarantine Beach.  The tasty pizza or burger menu will be sure to warm your belly before getting the chills on a ghost tour!

Alternatively, if your children are a little older (15+) and are true Sydney foodies, book in a Ghosty Dine experience and enjoy an eight plate share menu at the Boilerhouse Restaurant & Bar at 6pm before joining the Ghostly Encounters tour at 8pm.

6.30pm: Get prepared to be Scared!

Reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites, Sydney ghost tours have operated at the Q Station since the early 1990’s.  Where you consider yourself believers or non-believers this is a great way to bring the whole family together as you take part in the Ghost Trackers Ghost Tour for a spooky night traversing the well-worn paths around and through the buildings of the former Quarantine Station as you listen to ghost stories and do a little ghost hunting!  Running for 2.5hours the tour is recommended for children 8 years and over and their accompanying adults.

Day 2

09:00am: Snorkeling at Shelly Beach

After a leisurely breakfast at the Views Restaurant, pack your bag with swimmers and a towel, lace up the walking shoes and head to the tour desk to hire a snorkel and flippers for a walk out to the gorgeous Shelley Beach for the morning – approximately a 35-40 minute trail walk from the hotel (if your feet are a little tired from yesterday, it’s only a short drive from the hotel). 

Popular with scuba divers and snorkelers alike, Shelley Beach is a protected marine reserve which lies adjacent to North Head.  With a maximum depth of 12 metres it is home to a large variety of marine life which can be viewed in the relatively shallow water. 

1:00pm: Enjoy Lunch at The Boat House Restaurant (Shelly Beach)

Set right on the beach The Boat House Shelly Beach is an idyllic spot to enjoy an incredible seafood lunch after all that snorkeling.  If you are a lover of seafood delish menu selections like the Kingfish Carpaccio, Cold Seafood Platter or a simple light lunch of a bucket of tiger prawns and sourdough washed down will an icy cold bear or glass of wine are exquisite. 

3:00pm:   Explore North Head Sanctuary

Dry off and head along down the walking track to North Head Sanctuary for a well-deserved refreshment at Bella Vista Café, located inside the heritage listed North Fort Building at North Head Sanctuary.. Bella Vista overlooks incredible views of Sydney Harbour and if you enjoy Italian food, you may decide instead to leave Shelly Beach a little early and enjoy a lunch at Bella Vista Café with the delicious flavours of homemade traditional and modern Italian cuisine.

Along the 1.5 – 2 hour North Head Sanctuary Loop which passes by former School of Artillery buildings, you will spot a diverse range of birdlife and flowering plants as well asmilitary remains and incredible views of the city and harbour. 

6:00pm: Dinner at the Boilerhouse

Enjoy fresh modern Australian cuisine at the Boilerhouse Restaurant & Bar.  Housed in the original boiler house building from the days of the Sydney’s former Quarantine Station and refurbished into a uniquely styled restaurant, the Boilerhouse has an incredible atmosphere of natural surroundings and you might just spot some hungry water dragons looking for leftovers!

8:00pm: Adults Only – Extreme Ghost Tour    

Leave the kids with a babysitter and have a quick drink in Engine Room Bar for courage before heading back to the Visitor Centre to take part in the Extreme Ghost Tour.  Not for the faint hearted (or for people under the age of 18 years) this tour offers a personal emersion into the spiritual energy of the Quarantine Station site and takes a unique path through stories of the darker side of the quarantine as told by psychics and mediums.  

Day 3

09:00am:  Experience Sailing with the family

After a leisurely breakfast at the Views Restaurant, take a 10-15 minute drive to the Manly Yacht Club and meet with the team from Champagne Sailing who will take you and the entire family on a fun and enjoyable private charter catamaran sailing experience on the Sydney Harbour.  Their professional skippers can literally show you the ropes, so you can help sail the yacht around the harbour – or you can just sit back, relax and take in the view. 
Champagne Sailing have catamarans to suit groups from 2 up to 40 guests and you can either choose to enjoy lunch on the boat or head into one of the many Manly restaurants for a delicious meal.   For more information and bookings, contact the Champagne Sailing team directly.

1:00pm:  Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Manly

After all that fresh air you will surely have worked up an appetite and if the family enjoys seafood, you can enjoy the freshest Australian seafood in Sydney at Garfish Restaurant and Bar Manly.  Idyllically located on the harbour side of Manly with incredible  views of the East Esplanade Park, affectionately known as ‘The Office’ by Manly locals. At Garfish  you can share delicious entrees like the hiramasa kingfish sashimi, salt and pepper squid, grilled scallops and pork belly, as well as hearty main meals such as Moreton bay bugs, sri lankan fish & king prawn curry (divine!) or steamed kinkawooka black mussels.  If seafood isn’t your thing (really?!) there are plenty of mouthwatering vegetarian, meat and poultry dishes to choose from. 
 
Looking for something a little more low key yet super tasty?  Beaches Pizza Bar boasts the best pizza in Manly with a large range of pizzas on their Beaches pizza menu or you can give you can satisfy those taste buds with some delicious Manly Mexican fare at Mex & Co Manly.
 
3:00pm:  Relax and Unwind on Manly Bach
 
After a big day of sailing spending a few hours relaxing on Manly Beach with the family is a great way to wind down the day.  Go for a stroll along the beach, take a dip in the ocean or if the kids have energy to spare (and let’s face it, they usually do!) why not enroll them in a Manly learn to surf program.  Manly is renown for its surf culture so it’s the perfect spot to give surfing a go for the first time or refine those surfing skills. Manly Surf School has experienced instructors who will make this a fun and safe learn to surf experience – and one that the big (adult) kids will enjoy too!

6:00pm: Dinner at the Engine Room Bar

After a jam packed 3 days we think you can be certain of a relaxed and quiet dinner with the kids at the Engine Room Bar followed by an early bedtime where the groans of ‘I’m bored’ will be replaced by ‘I’m tired’ and the good news is you won’t have to hear it for long before they crash out leaving mum and dad time to enjoy what’s left of the last night and think about the incredible time away you’ve spent together.
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There’s still so much more to experience without needing to roam too far from the hotel and this brochure gives you even more insight on the tracks and tours.  They are even more things to see and experience around Manly and the heart of Sydney too so if you don’t have time this trip we are fairly certain you will be back to explore and stay with us again at Q Station.
 
 

I have been here for nearly eleven years and what an amazing experience it has been! As a lifelong learner and educator, this exceptional site has pushed me to abandon any pretence of ‘knowing it all’ or ever  ‘being the expert’- as the richness and complexity of it is always more than any one person can encompass.

This site of Q Station reveals the 60,000 year history of the Aboriginal people who have known this place, North Head, as a rocky out crop on the banks of a river when the land extended much further out into what is now the Tasman Sea.  Clues of this culture now known to be the oldest continuing culture in the world and one to have survived and adapted to an ice age and all that came after that, are here when we pay attention.

This place reminds us of first contacts, early migration and settlement, of infectious disease, death and survival. It tells of ships’ voyages and the hopes and dreams of those on the ships. It reminds us of the doctors and nurses who worked and died here, of families that lived here, immigrants detained here, and the Vietnamese orphans brought here at the fall of Saigon. And, then, of course, there’s the ghosts!

When the penguins make their way into the harbour at fire light, when the white cockatoos forage on the cones from the massive Hoop Pine, when that big crow sits in the tree outside the Visitor Centre and squawks loudly as I try to talk with a school excursion group, when the black cockatoos cry out in those plaintive tones, the blue tongue lizards sun on the pathway, and the echidnas wander the grassy area on the hill, you realise that there is more here than any one of us can ever  fully know.

So, my tactic as a learner and educator has been to try to stay humble and curious and to look at how the Teaching & Learning team can facilitate an experience that is about discovery and meaning-making. On the Education Programs you will hear a few dates and lots of stories, go into heritage buildings, play in the sand, get your hands on artefacts, and the Education guides will ask a lot of questions. And while the programs are aligned with the NSW and Australian curriculum, our whole purpose, really, is to facilitate a meaningful experience that connects us with this place and its many stories.  

In a recent article in Education HQ Gordon Cairns comments on what he observes of himself and his colleagues as mimicking badly behaved students in Professional Development (PD) situations. At Q Station, while we may occasionally get cold reactions or suspicious eyebrows at the beginning of a school’s visit or teacher PD workshop, we very rarely see that by the end of it. Cairns suggests that teachers put the mobile phones away and use such experiences to understand what is meaningful for any age learner, and how to foster relevant learning situations. This is what the Teaching & Learning team at Q Station do every day –as our teaching environment is always changing and there is always more to learn.  

I have often thought that with so many educational services moving to online delivery, places like Q Station Sydney Harbour National Park will become even more crucial in how we, humans, learn to make sense of how we live on this planet.

I feel privileged and honoured to have worked at Q Station and to have gotten this opportunity to know this exceptional site. It is the banksias & tea trees, the flannel flowers,  sandstone outcroppings, the sparkling harbour, and the sunshine wattle that have taught me about my adopted country of Australia and what it means for me to be Australian. For this, I will be forever grateful!
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If you would like to bring your class to Q Station for a school excursion, contact 02 9466 1566 or H8773-CR3@accor.com or alternatively fill out the Education Program enquiry form here.

There is no better way to kick start a productive and collaborative working environment than by organising a team bonding activity.  Implementing regular team building activities can help improve morale and internal communication, set goals, strengthen internal support networks and increase self-motivation. 

If you are on the hunt for unique team building ideas in Sydney, Q Station, located in the picturesque Sydney Harbour National Park on the edge of the Sydney Harbour, is the perfect choice.  Q Station team building activities include a variety of structured and informal team building programs and options either hosted onsite or close by.  Set on the site of the former Quarantine Station, our team building programs have a focus on collaboration, communication and fun in addition to practical skills focused around leadership and problem solving.  Choose to spend the entire day participating in your chosen activities or combine with a half day strategy meeting in one of our 11 Heritage listed meeting rooms. 
With the best team building activities in Sydney a short ferry ride away from the city, the team will return to the office empowered, focused, clear on their objectives and ready to get started.

OUTBREAK
90 Minutes / 10-70 people
 
Your organisation has been quarantined!  It’s up to you and your team to survive the outbreak! Hiding out in the former Quarantine station is the best place to survive an unknown disease so it’s lucky you are in the right place. Forming teams, you set out on a hunt for your personal protection equipment solving puzzles along the way.  As a team unit you must work together to form a strategy to ensure your team collects the correct vaccine, ultimately saving yourselves.
 
WHO DUN IT?
90 Minutes / Up to 24 people
 
Ideal for smaller teams, in this Q Station ‘Who dun it?’ mystery your team will go back in time to the 1800’s to solve a murder before they can be released from quarantine.  Each team member will take on the role and identity of a quarantined passenger or Quarantine staff member.  Together you will visit key locations to search for clues and working together to unravel the mystery.  To build excitement in the lead up to the team building day, teams can find out their characters role and information in the weeks before the day to prepare a costume for the role, or we can provide an assortment of accessories on the day.

QUEST
60 Minutes / 12 people
 
A Sydney scavenger hunt with a difference and inspired by the Quarantine Stations history, your team will immerse themselves in multiple team activities.  Offering something for everyone your team will work together to solve the clues and puzzles in scavenger hunt that is focused around various precincts on site.
 
TEAM BUILDING GAMES
Varied timeframes
 
Perfect for an informal team building activity, interacting with team building games is a great way for team members to tap into their competitive spirit (in a fun way) and mingle with other departments and management in a fun and relaxed environment.  Combine a delicious team lunch with an afternoon of beach cricket, bocce, fun oversized boardgames, a kayak circuit race, and even a sand castle building competition. For something more formal we work with a variety of experienced Sydney Team Building companies who can put together a day of entertainment structured to fit your objectives. 

GHOST TOURS
2-10 hours
 
For smaller groups our Quarantine Station Ghost Tours offer an after-hours team building activity with a difference.  Reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites, the Quarantine Station is home to some of the best Ghost Tours in Sydney having operated here since the early 1990s.  Whether your team are sceptics or believers, with stories of ghosts and paranormal occurrences entwined throughout its history, our Ghost Tours will give them all something to talk about in the lunch room the next day!  Choose from a Ghostly Encounters tour, Ghost Trackers tour, Extreme Ghost tour or if you dare, a 10 hour overnight ghost tour on the Spirit Searching Sleepover.  Combined with a ‘to die for’ dinner in Boilerhouse Restaurant and an  overnight stay in one of our heritage listed accommodation is a great way to spoil the team and reward them for their efforts. 

BUSH WALKING TEAM ADVENTURE
30-60 minutes
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After long hours in the office, getting back to nature, breathing in the fresh air and leaving the city behind for a few hours can be a revitalising experience for the entire team. The scenic Fairfax walk is an ideal walk to take the team taking approximately 30 minutes to an hour and the 1 kilometre loop ideal for all fitness levels.  The views from the lookouts over the Sydney Harbour are well worth the roundtrip and the path is paved, well maintained and wheelchair accessible.  The trail is only a short distance from the hotel so it’s a perfect activity to combine with a team breakfast in Views Restaurant or lunch before or after the walk. 

It’s only a few days until Christmas and already the countdown to the New Year 2019 is upon us.  New Year’s Eve offers the ultimate celebration and if you are planning on celebrating in Sydney, you are not alone with more than a million people expected to flock to Sydney New Year’s Eve venues to celebrate and to experience the 2018 Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular.

If you would prefer to lose the crowds this New Year’s Eve 2018-19, then look no further than our very own Hospital Precinct, situated on the headland above Quarantine Wharf at Q Station, offering hands down one of the best Sydney New Year Eve fireworks vantage points.  Here you can enjoy a family friendly New Year’s Eve event where you can celebrate the magic of New Year’s Eve together, creating lasting memories with all the family, young and old.

Start your NYE celebration off with a pre-dinner drink at The Engine Room Bar before enjoying one of two incredible Sydney New Year’s Eve packages 2018.  Choose between a six-course degustation dinner  at the Boilerhouse Restaurant & Bar featuring favourites from the new Boilerhouse Menu while enjoying a 3-hour premium drinks package; or if you are a fan of Seafood, our famous Q Station seafood buffet will not disappoint.  Our P27 Governor Bourke Ballroom will be serving a family seafood buffet, featuring a range of delicacies including oysters and prawns in addition to favourites such as lamb, barramundi, Porchetta and pavlova as you enjoy views of the Sydney Harbour lights.

After dinner, the celebration continues as you move to the Hospital Precinct from 10:30pm to countdown the New Year!  The exclusive ‘Hospital Bar’ will be open when you arrive with drinks available for purchase.  Enjoy conversations with friends as you take in the amazing panoramic views of South Head, the Sydney Harbour, Balmoral and Manly and raise your glass at midnight as you farewell 2018 and watch the night sky light up with  the Sydney fireworks.

Avoid the taxi queue (and the traffic congestion) at the end of the night by staying the night with us.  This way you can celebrate until after midnight and not have to worry about the drive home (not to mention who’s driving!)  Simply stroll back to your room hand in hand at the end of the night on incredibly comfortable beds.  Enjoy the best start to 2019 by waking up on New Year’s Day to a delicious breakfast at Views Restaurant (that you didn’t have to cook), a refreshing swim at Quarantine Beach and a morning stroll along the Fairfax walk watching the spectacular sunrise on New Year’s Day from one of three panoramic lookout points.

​Outstanding tourism businesses from across New South Wales were honoured last week as the winners of the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards were announced at the Big Top Luna Park, Sydney.

We are so proud of all our staff members at Q Station for working together to continually improve our site and services.  We came away with a SILVER in the Unique Accommodation category! 

​Managed by the Tourism Industry division of the NSW Business Chamber, the state’s peak business organisation, and proudly supported by the NSW Government, the NSW Tourism Awards celebrate and acknowledge tourism excellence in NSW.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall congratulated the winners and said they exemplify the high standard and diverse range of tourism experiences on offer in NSW. “Tourism is big business and it’s a vital industry to our State’s economy so to be recognised at the NSW Tourism Awards is an outstanding achievement and I thank all of the winners for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to offering the very best tourism and events experiences,” Mr Marshall said

It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us and if you haven’t already started – and let’s face of it not many of us have – now is the perfect time to start planning your Christmas gift giving!

Christmas is a festive time of year where you come together with family and friends to celebrate, eat, drink and exchange gifts.  And there is no better feeling than when you know you have nailed the perfect gift or when someone has taken the time to find the perfect Christmas gift for you.

Forget wading through the Christmas crowds at the shopping centres looking for Christmas present ideas for friends and family. We are helping you to get it right this year and make it a Christmas to remember with the ultimate Christmas gift ideas at Q Station.

A WEEKEND AWAY

Gift someone the ultimate experience of a weekend or overnight stay in the privacy and comfort of our Quarantine Station accommodation in one of our historic heritage or deluxe rooms.  This is without a doubt a truly wonderful (and unique) Christmas gift and one which will make you popular this Christmas.  Here your recipient can relax and unwind in a unique natural setting, with gorgeous views of  Sydney Harbour.  Better yet, if you are gifting this to your partner you will have the bonus of enjoying the gift too!

During their stay they can experience the serene beauty of Quarantine Beach taking a swim, relaxing in the sun with a book in hand, join a history tour, wander through the free museum and hike the many scenic walking tracks in  Sydney Harbour National Park, truly getting away from it all.

KIDS GLAMPING

The kids will be all smiles with a Kids Glamping experience  at Q Station.  The best Christmas gift idea for kids, they will love hanging out in their indoor teepee where they can watch unlimited tv, play board games and enjoy popcorn and other treats, leaving their parents to enjoy a glass of wine on their balcony overlooking the beautiful tranquil surroundings of  Sydney Harbour National Park!

GHOSTLY FUN

BOO! Sydney’s Quarantine Station is reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites and we have plenty of spooky Ghost Tours on offer for adults and children (aged 8+).   Whether they believe in ghost or not, the tours will keep them entertained as they discover the intriguing stories of Q Station’s history and it’s most eccentric characters, making this a perfect and unique Christmas gift and one that will be sure to get their hearts racing! 

WINE & DINE

Have a foodie on the gift list? A dinner voucher to experience the exquisitely crafted menu at Boilerhouse Restaurant and Bar is the ultimate gift for food lovers.  Housed in the original boiler house building from the days of Sydney’s former Quarantine Station, the restaurant has been refurbished into a uniquely styled restaurant with an incredible atmosphere.  Here your giftee can enjoy the ultimate Sydney foodie experience while dining in the outdoor terrace, surrounded by nature and overlooking one of the most incredible views of Sydney. 

HIGH TEA & HISTORY

The High Tea & History package is an incredible gift for the entire family.  Here your group can immerse themselves in the history of  Q Station on the Quarantine Wander Tour followed by an indulgent high tea in the original First-Class Dining Room.  Feast on delicious beef and red wine pie with mustard pickles, sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, blueberry friands, salted caramel macaroons and pistachio and fig biscotti washed down with barista style tea and coffee as your guide enthralls you with tales from the past.

BIKE TOUR OF  SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK

The outdoors lover with enjoy the unique gift of a self-guided bike tour of  Sydney Harbour National Park.  Suitable for beginner bike riders and above, your gift includes bike hire from Manly Bike Tours where they can set off on  Sydney Harbour National Park Explore Tour.  On the self-guided tour they can explore the secluded Collins Beach and waterfall, Little Manly Point, St Patrick’s Estate, North Fort Artillery Museum,  Sydney Harbour National Park and our Q Station Visitor Centre and Museum taking in the scenic ocean views and the peace beauty the tour has to offer.

ALL OF THE ABOVE!

If you are not sure which option to choose, a gift voucher with a monetary value is perfect for the person who has everything!  All gift vouchers have a validity of 3-years, so they will have plenty of time to use and the flexibility of deciding what to use the voucher towards. 

Whichever option or gift you choose, we have all you need here at the Q Station to ensure its smiles all round this Christmas!

Join MED Festival Sydney for a day of talks, tours and short films at our unique Q Station. Investigate the history of infectious disease in Sydney and learn how medical science is keeping us one sneeze away from the next pandemic.

For over 150 years the Quarantine Station was for many, the beginning of a new life in Australia after making the arduous & lengthy journey from their homelands.

Ships suspected of harbouring people infected with contagious disease such as Spanish Influenza, Smallpox or Bubonic Plague were quarantined here so that these deadly diseases would not reach the general population in Sydney.
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On Sunday 25th November join us for a program of events looking at the history of quarantine and disease.

25 November 2018 from 10am - 4pm. 

For all program details - More Info Here.