Peek Tours Sydney

«Why, ‘allo sailor! Fancy a ‘Four-​Penny Knee Trembler’? ‘Ow’s about goin’ for a turn up m’ ol’ Suez Canal? You’ll get a sliced Achilles and a sockful o’ sand beaten ’round y’ brow for y’ trouble!»
No, the Suez Canal is not just a big ol’ waterway in Egypt. It’s also a teeny-​weeny alleyway in The Rocks, Sydney where lassies o’ the night once sold more than what might be mistaken today for a smutty-​sounding cocktail, and the notorious street gang «The Rocks Push» found ways of catching more than a glimpse o’ stocking in those pre-​Snapchat days by way of a well-​positioned mirror on their shoes.
The Suez Canal was one of the earlier stops on our journey through The Rocks and upon hearing these kinds o’ tales from our leader, the knowledgeable and gregarious Gregg Peek of Peek Tours, we knew we were in the presence of one who knows how to tart up history! Just how I like it! This guy loves what he does and it shows!
Gregg took us to see the archaeological remains of old laneways and an earlier incarnation of the Australian Heritage Hotel as well as artefacts uncovered at The Big Dig site. And along the way he introduced us to the colourful characters who called The Rocks home. The likes of George Cribb — who was suspected of illicit alcohol production but who managed to hide the evidence of his criminality for a good century-​and-​a-​half until his alcohol still was found by archaeologists in the well at the Big Dig site — and Louise Lovely, an Australian actress who wasn’t content with her silver screen time in Hollywood’s silent film era but also had to be centre of attention at the Glenmore.
«Beck» at the Australian Heritage Hotel treated us to Aussie beers, delicious pizzas and chicken wings and then it was on to the Hero of Waterloo where you go up to go down. That is, you go up some wee sandstoney steps and down some more to the haunted cellar where one ill-​fated woman fell down the steps and broke her neck back in the day and where more o’ those poor ol’ sailors were being set upon by more hussies. I might have allowed myself to be carried away by the thought of a woman lying at the foot o’ the stairs all broken-​necked, but one of our party chose that precise moment to announce that he felt like a Hobbit going through all the little doorways and such. So sombre I was not to be!
Our final stop: The Glenmore rooftop. There we enjoyed unrivalled harbour views, shots, wine, a bit o’ drizzle and friends — new and old.
Don’t just think this is one for the out-o’-towners! Go on then! Be a tourist in your own city!
* Review originally written and posted 23 January 2014.

I’m in the Circular Quay area every week, and I take ALL my visitors to The Rocks, so I kinda have a been-​there done-​that attitude with this part o’ town. But Gregg Peek did not disappoint. This was a lively tour, full of interesting tidbits and trivia.
Gregg is a great host, very friendly and informative. His info isn’t just a smattering of random facts, but rather he weaves a story that made the places come alive. We visited 3 pubs in total, and got a glass of beer (and a whole lotta stories) in each — just the perfect amount to enjoy the summer day and the tour without being too tipsy!

Gregg knows how to run a tour.
As someone who’s lived in Sydney most of my life, it might seem strange to do a tour within the city bounds. Saying that, I learned a lot, had a great time, and the group of people I was with were heaps of fun.
Gregg’s knowledge was excellent, and he was able to answer (without Googling!) almost every question he was thrown.
I would recommend this tour to both Sydneysiders and visitors to the harbour city, but you must enjoy a beer or three!

A walking tour of The Rocks? But I’m there almost every day anyway. (#FirstWorldProblems)
What’s that? There will be beer? I’m in!
I’m not ashamed to say the selling point for this tour, for me at least, was the «pub» factor. Happily, Greg outdid himself and stole the spotlight from my hoppy friend.
It was a treat to be In the presence of someone so passionately knowledgable. Greg easily related to our young group and spoke with factual ease as he led us on a 3 hour walking tour of the area (we went into OT). The Rocks area is filled with such a rich history, and Greg knows his stuff, and he LIKES his stuff.
Our group was made up of a mix of new and old Sydney residents, and we all learned a thing or two from our wonderful guide. And we saw the bottom of a few beer glasses as well.

Highly, highly recommended.
Okay so here’s the amazing scoop on the awesomeness that is Gregg Peek of Peek Tours. Let me lay some groundwork just before we begin this little ‘ol review.
1. I’m a history nut. I love it. I am fascinated and passionate about colonial Australian History. I read a lot, ya’know?
2. I’m a Sydne-​can. Syd-​wegian. ARGH. Sydnernian. GRRR! I mean Sydneysider (god I hate that collective!). And I’m proudly of convict heritage.
Gregg gets it. He truly does, and with an awesome penchant for being able to read a crowd (young and happening our tour was) he was able to tailor a walking, drinking, pub-​exploring history tour of the Rocks into a fun-​filled fact-​finding mission of utter enjoyment, aided naturally and considerably by the inclusion of booze at each lay-​over point.
But its more than that. Why does it matter than I’m a bit of a history nut, and that I live in Sydney? Glad you asked:
It matters because Gregg gets it absolutely, categorically right. I even tried to throw him a bit with one or two questions as we walked (sorry Gregg) and he didn’t bat an eyelid — solidly right, and backed up by that peripheral knowledge you can only get from having a deep understanding of a particular subject. This fella knows what he’s talking about. And I even surprised myself, because I learnt things too. I learnt things I had forgotten, and there were even one or two surprises that I didn’t know. Mind = Blown.
The tour of The Rocks was fun and informative. The pace is leisurely, and Gregg has a flair for building on the notoriety of The Rocks both past and present, transitioning smoothly from convictry to Regency and Edwardian/​WWI periods and beyond.
Gregg has a voice that easily carries, and I have a hunch he could still make himself heard even in a Force 9.
Tourists in Sydney would do well to have a wander around Ol’ Sydney town with this fantastic tour guide, and learn something interesting about us wild colonial boys (and gals) of yesteryear.
Kudos Gregg, and congratulations on a fantastic tour

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when we were all invited on this tour of the Rocks. A pub crawl you say? Well how bad can a bit of beer & history be right? Right, sign me up Cap’n!
Greg does his job so well that you don’t even realise how much walking you get done in this tour.
This man knows his history. And he shares it with willingness and entertainment. You can throw him questions and he isn’t fazed, he has the answer waiting.
I dare say he would be an awesome addition to your trivia table too!
Would I suggest his tours to anyone else? Oh yes, YES! Go do it, whether you’re visiting our shores for a brief period, a longer period or if you were born here.
I love learning about our shady past, you should too… book him for your own free tour!

Signed up to do this tour with my parents who are visiting from Ireland. We did the Saturday night (6.30pm) tour and I was really impressed. Gregg is friendly, down to earth, informative and honest. We had an excellent tour. We went to three pubs, had a drink in each of them, heard about the history of the pubs as well as the vicinity and he even wangled us a totally free meal which was delicious from the last bar we stopped in. The pubs were The Australian, The Hero of Waterloo and the Harbourview. An absolutle must tour! I’ve been living her for two years and had done a free rocks tour before but I learned more fun history from Gregg.

Gregg is one amazing tour guide.
You look for someone wearing red outside Customs House at either 10:30am or 2:30pm for an awesome three-​hour guided tour of the city.
Some history quirks are mentioned. For instance: why was the Sydney Opera House built over budget? Was the building of the Sydney Opera House Sydney’s response to compete with Melbourne?
An awesome city unfolds. See some amazing street art, and well as learn about an interesting tree at The Royal Botanical Gardens. Who knows you might get to touch the lucky pig. Discover the best parts of Macquarie Street, Hyde Park, Martin Place, The Ivy, Circular Quay and The Rocks.
Gregg really knows his stuff. A walking encyclopaedia. Peek Tours has been around for about three years, and Gregg conducted such tours in Europe prior. All you need to do is turn up at your allocated time. Unless you wish to walk in a group of 10 or more people, bookings need to be made at least 24 hours in advance. Peek Tours also conducts a Party Tour and a Rocks Pub Walk.
Had an awesome time. Check out the amazing group photos on their Facebook page.
Although the tour is free upfront, tips are advised — pay for what you feel the experience was worth to you at the end. Priceless.