Tours
Immerse yourself in nature and history
Taking guided and self-guided tours of Parramatta Park is a great way to learn about its significance and gain insight into Australia’s early colonial history.
Guided tours
Old Government House
The National Trust runs guided tours of Old Government House, which is associated with all of the early Governors of New South Wales and contains a major collection of colonial furniture. The oldest standing public building in Australia, it is also one of the most historically significant.
Tours are offered Tuesday to Sunday (and on most public holidays), between 10am and 4pm.
Virtual tools with Google Arts & Culture
The Dairy and Rangers Cottages can be viewed in virtual reality from anywhere in the world, thanks to a partnership with Google Arts & Culture. Google captured 360-degree images from inside each building, allowing visitors to move through and inspect every detail in high definition. The free virtual tours showcase convict-era architecture and building techniques, and feature stories about the people who made the buildings their home.
You can go to Parramatta Park on Google Arts & Culture, read more about the cottages and see detailed video footage of some of the historic construction features. However, the virtual tour only comes to life if you use the Google Arts & Culture app. Use a pair of virtual reality goggles (which you can buy online or in Australian shops for $10 and up), to enjoy a fully immersive 3D experience.
The Google Arts & Culture app is available to download on both iOS and Android mobile devices. After downloading the app, search for Parramatta Park to access the virtual tour. All content is also available on the Google Arts & Culture website.
Self-guided walking tours
Colonial Rose Hill
Explore the colonial landscape of Rose Hill, the second settlement site the English established in Australia after Port Jackson. Despite the passage of time, the marks and signs of the early town and the former Governor’s Domain are still discernible within Parramatta Park.
Download the Colonial Rose Hill self-guided walking tour pamphlet.
Monuments and sites
This self-guided tour takes in many of the Park’s historic sites and monuments, including its gatehouses, the Crescent, the Observatory Transit Stones, the Bath House and the Boer War Memorial.
Download the monuments and sites self-guided walking tour pamphlet.