The Private Tour Guide
The Private Tour Guide
5
City ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursWine Tours & Tastings
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view

About
Masters of personalised experiences of Sydney! Visit the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the historic ‘Rocks’ area, Royal Botanical Gardens, Bondi Beach, Manly and the northern beaches, South Head, Watsons Bay, Paddington, Chinatown, Darling Harbour and Sydney's exciting harbour suburbs & gardens. There's plenty to do on a Sydney tour; visit a craft brewery, vodka/ gin distillery, pasticerria or ice cream factory. Take a surf lesson, go indoor sky diving, tree roping, white water rafting, the bridge climb or an easy coastal cliff stroll. Sample wines from hand picked vineyards in the Hunter Valley, take a train ride through the Hunter Gardens, or sample cheese and chocolate. Hike the Blue Mountains and spot a kangaroo or go whale and dolphin watching in Port Stephens or Jervis Bay. We emphasise visiting local secret treasures, spotting Australian wildlife, whilst enjoying excellent food and wine. Perfect for couples or families from half a day to multi day packages.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar Experiences
The Private Tour Guide
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravellers talk about

(64 reviews)

(3 reviews)

(2 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
132 reviews
Excellent
127
Very good
5
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Alice
9 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Solo
Ben was a fantastic tour guide. He was on time with pick up and dynamically tailored the tour based on my interests and energy levels as the day went on. We went to the gorgeous Evans Lookout over the Grose Valley. We then hiked down to the bottom of the valley via the Grand Canyon Waking Track. It was incredible seeing the transition of the foliage from the top of the canyon to the bottom. We then had great lunch at the Bowery, which resides in a converted church. Then, at my request, we went straight the Sydney Zoo, where I got to feed kangaroos (they love sweet potato) and took pictures with koalas. Also got to see my first quoll and bull shark. Great zoo, fantastic experience!
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
get34
Secaucus, NJ6 contributions
Oct. 2019 • Couples
My husband, daughter & I enjoyed two tours with ‘The Private Tour Guide’ during our trip to Melbourne. Our tour guide for both excursions was Peter and he was excellent! We first traveled with Peter for the Penguin Parade tour. I had been in Melbourne 20+ years ago & had experienced the penguins back then & was concerned that the current experience would be too commercial & not as enjoyable as I remembered it. I was pleasantly surprised. The newly built nature center is fabulous! My family was as intrigued with the penguin parade as I was many years ago. Booking with The Private Tour Guide & having the Ranger tour and exclusive access to the viewing areas was well worth it and a must do! Our guide Peter led us on a well-thought out tour before getting to the nature center. We viewed the beautiful areas of Phillip Island. We took a second tour with Peter a few days later to tour The Great Ocean Road. This trip was also fabulous as it was once again well-planned with lots of opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the magnificent coastline, to see koalas in their natural habitat, kangaroos jumping about and a fun experience with beautiful birds. Peter is incredibly knowledgeable about ‘everything Australia’! He kept us entertained and had great suggestions as for photo opportunities and places to stop and stretch our legs. Peter even took us on a side tour to Brighton Beach before dropping us at our hotel as my daughter had this spot on her list to visit. He saved us a trip back out of Melbourne by swinging by there on our way home from our tour. I highly recommend this tour company. I did a lot of research of tours before booking and Simon was the easiest and most attentive tour guide to work with. We avoided the crowds on the big bus tours and enjoyed the family time since we traveled privately. We thoroughly both experiences with this tour company and Peter!
Written 30 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
youngsungh
Seoul, South Korea35 contributions
Sep. 2019 • Business
Two days with Scott were amazing. Worth every penny. I felt like traveling with my best friend who happens to be a tour guide, wildlife expert, amazing driver. On our way to Mudgee(Logan Wine, Lowe Wine), he showed me local spots and communicated with beautiful birds. Two hours of driving could not have been more exciting and fun. I will definitely visit Australia again and one of the reasons will be just to have a glass of wine with this reallly good friend I made on this trip.
Written 6 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ggg
2 contributions
Jun. 2019 • Family
Our family went on two separate one day tours with Ben. We toured the South Coast areas from Sydney one day and the Blue Mountains on another day. Ben customized and modified the tour to meet our needs and desires. Ben was outgoing, friendly and very knowledgeable. He was happy to answer our questions and enthusiastically showed us the sights. We never felt rushed or pressured and were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful coastal towns like Kiama and the Blue Mountains including some hikes and the impressive Three Sisters. We highly recommend The Private Tour Guide and truly enjoyed a memorable experience. Thanks Ben!
Written 29 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the two great days of touring. We saw some pretty spectacular stuff!
Regards,
Ben Barry
Written 1 July 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mcmc1225
Memphis, TN150 contributions
May 2019
Ben Barry was an excellent tour guide for two days. Ben was VERY organized and considerate of our wishes. We highly recommend him as he has an engaging personality, very interesting background and experiences, and an outstanding knowledge of a vast number of subjects. It is worth the cost. We chose for just the two of us to be on board but he can accommodate more passengers. His van is extremely comfortable and he was an excellent driver in the Sydney traffic and on the highways.
We drove on the first day to the Blue Mountains. Our first stop was in the national park at a panoramic overlook of the area, then a stop to look at six kangaroos, We saw the beautiful Jelly Bean pool, a natural swimming “hole” which was just a short walk down a trail.
At Katoomba, we saw the excellent Aboriginal show, a thirty-minute performance covering the history of Australia. There is a wonderful view of the Three Sisters from the Echo Point lookout and a nice gallery and gift shop. It was very crowded on a Monday in mid-May so we were glad Ben was there to assist us. The view from Echo Point and other locations he showed us gave us an idea of the huge vastness of the area. We took a River Cat catamaran to return to Circular Quay via the Parramatta River.
The second day we covered the beautiful Hunter Valley. After a two-hour drive to the valley, we visited three very different wineries which were all excellent. We wish we had more time there and more time with Ben's guidance.
We drove on the first day to the Blue Mountains. Our first stop was in the national park at a panoramic overlook of the area, then a stop to look at six kangaroos, We saw the beautiful Jelly Bean pool, a natural swimming “hole” which was just a short walk down a trail.
At Katoomba, we saw the excellent Aboriginal show, a thirty-minute performance covering the history of Australia. There is a wonderful view of the Three Sisters from the Echo Point lookout and a nice gallery and gift shop. It was very crowded on a Monday in mid-May so we were glad Ben was there to assist us. The view from Echo Point and other locations he showed us gave us an idea of the huge vastness of the area. We took a River Cat catamaran to return to Circular Quay via the Parramatta River.
The second day we covered the beautiful Hunter Valley. After a two-hour drive to the valley, we visited three very different wineries which were all excellent. We wish we had more time there and more time with Ben's guidance.
Written 26 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Mary and Shellie,
There's some amazing things to do in both the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains and it's been a pleasure helping you tick them off your bucket list.
Was so cute seeing the wild kangaroos and is always interesting even for a local to see.
Hope to see you both again one day.
Regards,
Ben Barry
Written 4 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Doris P
Columbus, OH154 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
My friend and I wanted to visit Australia like a local. We accomplished that today. We saw Australia at its finest and the best way ever, with a private tour.
Ben Barry is an outstanding tour guide surely one of the best you’ll ever have. A very safe driver and a gentleman. His knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious.
From the start of our trip, he shared the history and culture of Australia in addition to breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains.
We began at a secluded park. We felt like we had Australia to ourselves. The views looking over the valley were stunning. Ben filled us with information about flora and fauna surrounding us. We were immersed in nature. We were in the Australian bush.
Kangaroos were next to us eating in the wild. Ben continuously pointed out local birds and even imitated their sound. He definitely knew his birds. One highlight was an elusive Lyrebird Ben discovered. It is the symbol on the park signs.
We experienced the beauty of waterfalls, ducks in Wentworth lake,the Three Sisters, an unusual ant nest, Kookaburras feasting in the wild, fall color, and lovely towns.
One of the tour’s highlights was an aboriginal dance performance which tied together facts we had learned in our travels.
Ben took us to the Sydney Harbour ferry and made sure we were taken care of as he had all day. That feeling of being special was carried out throughout out the tour.
The tour was a highlight of our Australian holiday and will be treasured forever. In one day, I felt like Ben was a friend. Our friend was showing us Australia in its best light.
Ben Barry is an outstanding tour guide surely one of the best you’ll ever have. A very safe driver and a gentleman. His knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious.
From the start of our trip, he shared the history and culture of Australia in addition to breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains.
We began at a secluded park. We felt like we had Australia to ourselves. The views looking over the valley were stunning. Ben filled us with information about flora and fauna surrounding us. We were immersed in nature. We were in the Australian bush.
Kangaroos were next to us eating in the wild. Ben continuously pointed out local birds and even imitated their sound. He definitely knew his birds. One highlight was an elusive Lyrebird Ben discovered. It is the symbol on the park signs.
We experienced the beauty of waterfalls, ducks in Wentworth lake,the Three Sisters, an unusual ant nest, Kookaburras feasting in the wild, fall color, and lovely towns.
One of the tour’s highlights was an aboriginal dance performance which tied together facts we had learned in our travels.
Ben took us to the Sydney Harbour ferry and made sure we were taken care of as he had all day. That feeling of being special was carried out throughout out the tour.
The tour was a highlight of our Australian holiday and will be treasured forever. In one day, I felt like Ben was a friend. Our friend was showing us Australia in its best light.
Written 9 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Doris and Linda,
Wow - what beautiful words. Thank you for your sincerity and honesty. It really felt like we werer best friends sharing a few laughs on a few short walks and looking for wildlife. Was a superb day spent.
Let me know when you are back in Australia as I would love to see you both again.
Regards,
Ben Barry
Owner - The Private Tour Guide - Sydney
Written 12 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ramona M
Wittlich, Germany40 contributions
May 2019 • Family
Just got back from a fabulous day with Ben, our tour guide. Exhausted, but this is only due the fact I only arrived Sunday.
Making the reservation was straight forward and I contacted him directly through their website. The request was probably not that easy as I simply said what can you recommend? The answer was 4 different tours, each varying in style and attractions.
Ben was very prompt in getting back swiftly, never had to wait more than 24 hours (take into consideration time difference between Germany and Australia)
8 am sharp Ben was here to pick us up and he took us to some very lovely places. He is very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information on the places we visited. All in all a very fantastic trip and we truly enjoyed your company, Ben.
Making the reservation was straight forward and I contacted him directly through their website. The request was probably not that easy as I simply said what can you recommend? The answer was 4 different tours, each varying in style and attractions.
Ben was very prompt in getting back swiftly, never had to wait more than 24 hours (take into consideration time difference between Germany and Australia)
8 am sharp Ben was here to pick us up and he took us to some very lovely places. He is very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information on the places we visited. All in all a very fantastic trip and we truly enjoyed your company, Ben.
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Ramona and Aaliyah,
Thanks so much for such a fun day - especially the singing Aaliyah - you have an amazing voice and you will be a superstar one day soon!
Hope to see you next week if you're still wanting a tour to the northern beaches, Blue Mountains or South Coast.
Kindest Regards,
Ben
Owner of The Private Tour Guide - Sydney
Written 12 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bill P
Richmond, Virginia106 contributions
Mar. 2019 • Couples
If you are looking for a guide in Sydney, contact Ben Barry who is the best. My wife and I were interested in touring Sydney for a day and had the good fortune to discover Ben Barry. Ben met us promptly at the airport and we spent the day on a most fantastic tour seeing all the wonderful sights in Sydney. Ben is well informed and knowledgable. But best of all is his personality. We both felt like we had spent the day with a close friend. I highly recommend him.
Written 23 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Liz and Bill,
It was an absolute pleasure taking you both from the airport to the spectacular beaches, gardens, parks, cultural hubs and iconic sights of Sydney. I hope to meet you both again one day.
Regards,
Ben
Written 3 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diana K
1 contribution
Mar. 2019 • Family
Ben was completely committed to us for 3 days of unforgettable adventures and memories. This wouldn’t have been possible without Bens passion, knowledge, and expertise to bring out Sydney’s iconic landscapes, monuments, and beauty. Ben was always on time, friendly, patient, and provided a clean vehicle to explore Sydney’s finest destinations. He left no stone unturned and our hearts filled with happiness. We definitely recommend Ben as a Private Guide and can’t wait to use him again in the future.
Thank you Benny Boy. !!
Thank you Benny Boy. !!
Written 3 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Diana, Sam, Milania and Tristan,
It was incredible meeting you all and spending such valuable time in Bondi, Manly and Wolgan Valley. Some of the places that we saw off the beaten path were obscene! Hope to adventure more with you when the kids are a bit older.
Regards,
Ben
Written 3 April 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Larry G
Washington DC, DC27 contributions
Mar. 2019 • Couples
This is why we always try to do private tours. No crowds to fight. Off the beaten path sights. Extremely knowledgeable guide. Plenty of stops for photos. Ben's the best in Sydney. We can't wait to come back.
Written 21 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Larry and Marcy,
Thanks for two sensational days of touring Sydney and it';s magnificent harbour, beaches and 'out of the way' neighbourhoods. Plus, what more can I say about the majestic Blue Mountains. Breathtaking stuff!
Hope to see you both again!
Regards,
Ben Barry
+61 412 827187
Written 23 March 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Roland P
3 contributions
Wir würden gern die Blue-Mountain-Tour mit den Tree- Sisters und einer Bootstour machen. Wir sind ab dem 15. - 18. 10. 2019 in Sydney. Machen am 1. Tag mit den Grünhemden am Rathaus eine ca. 3-stündige kostenlose Stadttour und müssen uns vom Jetack erholen. Haben dann aber noch komplette Tage. Ist möglich einen deutschsprechenden Tourguide zu bekommen.
MfG
Roland
Hi Thanks for your information.
How do contact Ben?
Michael B
8 contributions
Ben is great, a pleasure to spend time with and you'll certainly enjoy your excursion with him.
uozo2000
singapore111 contributions
Hi,
I would like to book a tour with you. How can I do that? We are in a group of 6 - 4 adults and 2 children.
Thanks!
ThePrivateTourGuide
Sydney, Australia154 contributions
Hi there,
Are you able to click onto our website link and you will find the contact details on our website to email me. Unfortunately I can't reply with the exact details of how to email me as Trip Advisor wont post it.
I hope to hear from you.
Ben
lindadover2018
Dover, DE
What is the largest group that you can accommodate on your tours? We have a group of 13 visiting Sydney in April 2019. Two of them have limited mobility and we don't like to inconvenience others on large tours. Could not find your email address on trip advisor. Thank you.
ThePrivateTourGuide
Sydney, Australia154 contributions
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your enquiry. We specialise in private tours of all numbers and can certainly accommodate your group of 13. Extra tour information is on our website and you will also find our email address there.
(Trip Advisor doesn't allow me to provide my email address on this response bit you can find it on our website.)
I look forward to receiving your email.
Kindest Regards,
Ben
The Private Tour Guide
Wallis S
Boynton Beach, FL1 contribution
Four of us will be visiting Sydney after a 18 day cruise 3/18-3/21/18. Where do I locate a list of guides and a list of half day/full day tours in Sydney and the surrounding areas? Are the prices per person for each tour?
ThePrivateTourGuide
Sydney, Australia154 contributions
Hi there,
Thanks for your contact with The Private Tour Guide. I have availability for those dates whilst you're in Sydney.
Are you able to visit our website for various itineraries and costs please. There you will also find our contact details.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Ben
Gail V
Everett, WA370 contributions
I see the great reviews and am interested in this tour. My question is how do I book it? There is not a link on trip advisors. My other question is the cost in US $$. We will be in Sydney in Feb 2017.
ThePrivateTourGuide
Sydney, Australia154 contributions
Hello,
Thanks for your enquiry. Sydney is an amazing city with so much to see and do. I do have availability in February 2017 - do you know the exact dates you will be travelling in Sydney?
It's best to email me for more information - my email is found on the Trip Advisor page.
All tours are private, so it will be just you and/ or your group. I know numerous hidden places away from the big bus groups so you're sure to see some amazing things. Hope to hear from you.
Regards,
Ben
Rebecca M
Kariong, Australia
Hi there,
I really liked your tours on your website. Where exactly do you go in the Blue Mountains?
Regards,
Bec
ThePrivateTourGuide
Sydney, Australia154 contributions
Hi Bec,
Thanks so much for your enquiry. On The Majestic Blue Mountains tour we visit numerous sites within the Blue Mountains National Park including a morning tea/ coffee break near Euroka, a photo stop at Lincoln Rock, the Three Sisters at Echo Point and a visit either to Evans Lookout or Govetts Leap. We can stop at the Hydro Majestic in the afternoon for ice cream as well.
Being a private tour the itinerary is flexble and I know of a few other secrets spots to visit. If you're interested we can visit a wildlife park or ride the worlds steepest railway as well.
Let me know if you need any more advice.
Sincerely,
Ben