Is the Sydney Go City Explorer Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itWorth it for a week in Sydney with 3-5 big-ticket picks, like Taronga Zoo, the Opera House tour and a whale-watching or harbour cruise, done on different days.
- Skip itNot for three cheap picks. Spend your picks on the pricey ones, or Sydney Tower Eye online (A$29-34) is cheaper bought directly.
- Skip itNot for the Darling Harbour trio alone. Merlin's Sydney Attractions Pass covers SEA LIFE, WILD LIFE and Madame Tussauds.
- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
What is The Sydney Go City Explorer Pass?
Choose 3 to 7 attractions from 17, then use them any time in the 30 days after your first visit. Good for Sydney trips split with the Blue Mountains or the coast, where sightseeing days aren't back to back.
For Sydney it suits trips that mix the city with the Blue Mountains, the Hunter or the coast, so your paid days aren't back to back.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. Realistic with 3-5 picks that are big tickets.
- Price
- From A$149 (3 picks, adult)
- Child (4-15)
- From A$109
- Choose from
- 17 attractions
- Validity
- 30 days from first visit
How to get the most value out of The Sydney Go City Explorer Pass
Spend picks on Taronga, the Opera House tour and cruises; buy Sydney Tower Eye online if you want it.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Spend a pick on The Rocks walking tour | You can walk The Rocks yourself for free. Keep picks for Taronga, the Opera House tour and cruises. |
| Book the whale cruise for your last day | Cruises get cancelled in rough seas. Book it early so there's time to rebook within your 30 days. |
| Pick SEA LIFE and WILD LIFE on a hot weekend afternoon | Darling Harbour is busiest then. Go at opening on a weekday. |
| Go to the Opera House tour without lunch plans | Pair the tour with a walk through the Royal Botanic Garden next door; it's free. |
| Visit the Maritime Museum on a sunny day | Save indoor picks like the Maritime Museum for a rainy day within your 30 days. |
| Head to the Sydney Opera House without checking how busy it is | Check the Sydney Opera House's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Sydney sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for the Sydney Opera House, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Sydney →Who The Sydney Go City Explorer Pass is for
Good fit
- A week or more in Sydney with day trips out of the city
- Visitors who want Taronga and the Opera House but not a packed schedule
- Whale season (May-November) visitors
Skip it if
- You'll do 5+ sights in two days (compare the All-Inclusive)
- Only Darling Harbour's Merlin attractions
- Free Sydney only: Bondi, the Harbour Bridge walk, the Botanic Garden
- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
What the pass covers
Choose 3 to 7 of these 17 Sydney attractions, tours and cruises.
- Taronga Zoo (A$51.30 online) and the Opera House tour are the picks that make it pay.
- Whale watching (May-November) is on the Explorer, not on the cheaper Essentials pass.
- 30 days from your first visit gives you room for weather and day trips.
The big sights
- Taronga Zoo SydneyIncludedA$51.30 online on its own.
- Sydney Opera House tourBook a slotBook a time in the Go City app.
- Sydney Tower EyeIncludedA$29-34 online; a weak pick.
- SEA LIFE Sydney AquariumIncluded
- Sydney Harbour BridgeClimbNot includedNot on Go City's list.
Also on the pass
- Whale-watching cruise (May-Nov)
- Harbour Experience Cruise
- Madame Tussauds Sydney
- Australian Art Stories tour at the Art Gallery of NSW
- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
Pass vs individual tickets
At 3 picks (A$149) each pick needs to be worth about A$50. Taronga (A$51.30 online) just clears that; Sydney Tower Eye (A$29-34 online) doesn't. Pair Taronga with the Opera House tour and a cruise.
Explorer vs All-Inclusive in Sydney (adult)
| Explorer | All-Inclusive | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | A$149 (3 picks) | A$289 (2 days) |
| Child from | A$109 | A$199 |
| Time to use | 30 days | 2-5 days in a row |
| Taronga + Opera House tour | Yes | Yes |
- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
Fine print
- Validity
- 30 days from your first visit; activate within a year of purchase.
- Bookings
- The Opera House tour and cruises need a time booked in the app.
- Seasonal
- Whale watching runs May to November only.
- Refunds
- Full refund within 90 days of purchase if the pass hasn't been activated.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: The Sydney Go City Explorer Pass is Go City's, resold on GetYourGuide.
- Reassuring: Refunds: Full refund within 90 days of purchase if the pass hasn't been activated.
- Watch out: Cheap picks lose money against direct online prices.
- Watch out: 30 days start at your first visit.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Buy 7 picks for a 5-day trip | Most visitors use 3-5. Buy only what you're sure about. |
| Use picks on tours of free places | The Rocks and the Art Gallery of NSW are free to walk round on your own. |
| Queue at the Sydney Opera House at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for the Sydney Opera House's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Sydney. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with the Sydney Opera House.
Check live crowds in Sydney →- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
Alternatives
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Sydney’s attractions are right now →
- From A$149 (3 picks)
- 30 days to use
- Taronga + Opera House tour
FAQs
Is the Sydney Explorer Pass worth it?
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Yes with big-ticket picks like Taronga, the Opera House tour and a cruise. With cheap picks like Sydney Tower Eye, booking direct online is cheaper.
How long is the Sydney Explorer Pass valid?
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30 days from your first visit.
Does the Sydney Explorer Pass include whale watching?
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Yes, the whale-watching cruise is a pick from May to November.
How much is the Sydney Explorer Pass?
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From A$149 for 3 picks (adult) and A$109 for children aged 4-15.
Explorer or All-Inclusive in Sydney?
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Explorer for 3-5 big picks over a longer stay; All-Inclusive for two packed back-to-back days.