Sequinned Steps – LGBTQI+ Sydney Tour
From A$48 per person
Sequinned Steps is a 2-hour LGBTQI+ history walking tour exploring 200 years of Sydney's gay and lesbian history, from the evolution of Mardi Gras to the heart of Oxford Street, for guests 18 and over. It costs $48 AUD per person, runs in groups of up to 6, and starts at 2:00 PM from the main entrance gates of Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
About This Tour
Sydney didn't just welcome the world. It threw a parade for it.
Walking Sydney's Rainbow
There are cities that tolerate difference. Then there's Sydney, a city that built a parade around it, and turned that parade into one of the most watched events on the planet.
Walking Sydney's Rainbow takes you deep into 200 years of gay and lesbian history woven into the fabric of this city. This isn't a museum tour. It's a living, breathing walk through the streets, stories, and souls that shaped Sydney into one of the most celebrated LGBTQ+ destinations on earth.
It starts, as all good Sydney stories do, with a scandal. The city's early colonial history holds secrets that the British Empire would have preferred stayed buried, including a governor whose conduct set tongues wagging from Sydney Cove all the way back to London. From those hidden beginnings, we trace a remarkable journey through history, heartbreak, courage, and colour, right up to the spectacle of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, an event that drew 300,000 people to the streets and made the world sit up and pay attention.
You'll walk Oxford Street, the legendary strip that became the heart and soul of Sydney's gay and lesbian community, past venues that have seen it all and survived everything. We'll share the stories of the trailblazers, the activists, the artists, and the drag queens who made Sydney not just a safe city, but a city that celebrates.
And yes, we finish with a drink at one of Sydney's most iconic LGBTQ+ venues. Pull up a stool. Share a table. The crowd is always interesting.
Whether you're part of the community, an ally, a curious traveller, or someone who simply loves a great story told in a great city, this tour delivers history with heart and more than a little glitter.
Exclusions
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips or gratuities for guides (Not compulsory but welcome)
- Meals and drinks
- Bottled Water
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Fun, informative, cheeky interaction
- A digital record of our tour that includes a 3D map of where we walked and downloadable photos taken by the guide.
- A digital copy of our 100% Ridgy-didge Aussie slang survival guide (Volume 1)
What To Expect
Uncover the hidden stories of the gay and lesbian figures who quietly shaped Sydney's history and identity. Walk Oxford Street, the traditional beating heart of Sydney's LGBTQ+ scene, and hear the stories behind the strip. Learn the full, fascinating history of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, from its dangerous origins to global celebration. Raise a glass at an iconic LGBTQ+ venue where the welcome is genuine, the stories are legendary, and the company is unforgettable. Leave with a richer, deeper understanding of a city that didn't just change with the times, it helped change them.
Itinerary Highlights
- Gather at Hyde Park Barracks for a colonial scandal you won't read in the guidebooks
- Trace 200 years of LGBTQ+ Sydney through the streets that lived it
- Walk Oxford Street, the legendary heart of the community
- Hear the real story of Mardi Gras — from dangerous protest to global celebration
- Toast the tour with a drink at one of Sydney's most iconic LGBTQ+ venues
Tour Schedule
| Days | Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat |
| Starts | 2:00 PM |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Meeting Point | Main entrance gates. Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000 |
| Ending Point | Kinselas Hotel, 383 Bourke St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour 18+?
Yes, restricted to guests 18 and over.
What does the tour cover?
200 years of LGBTQI+ history in Sydney, including the origins of Mardi Gras and the evolution of Oxford Street as the city's queer heart.
Where do we meet?
The main entrance gates of Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
What time does it start?
2:00 PM.
