Planning A Marrickville Brewery Tour? Include These 6 Delicious Sydney Craft Breweries!

The Inner West suburb, Marrickville, is one of the best places to taste the best craft beers that Sydney has to offer. For those planning a Marrickville Brewery Tour, or even a wider Inner West Brewery Tour, we're sharing our 6 favourite Sydney craft breweries that you can't miss out on!

This Marrickville brewery tour ranges from once in a lifetime flavours at Wildflower Brewing & Blending to gorgeous seating areas at Willie The Boatman. Let's dig into the ultimate brewery pub crawl!

The Legendary Marrickville Brewery Tour

Willie The Boatman

The first stop on your Marrickville brewery tour is the gorgeous Willie The Boatman. Named after the legend of a convict boatman, self-proclaimed 'fat dads', Pat McInerney and Nick Newey, launched the brewery in 2012. Over the years, the craft brewery has become much loved by beer-loving Sydneysiders while remaining slightly unknown to the bigger crowd.

We recommend starting your craft beer pub crawl here as your head will still be clear enough to listen to the behind-the-scenes brewery tour. During this tour, you will learn how craft beer is made and why their craft beer is so special compared to your average larger.

If you're taking it easy and starting with only one beer, we go absolutely ballistic over Crazy Ivan IPA. The name perfectly embodies the flavour of this bold little firecracker and we highly recommend it.

Willie The Boatman brewery is on the edge of St Peters and Marrickville and is only open on Thursdays through Sundays.

Batch Brewing Co.

Next up on our the Marrickville Brewery tour, we head over to Batch Brewing Co! Plan this one in early as well as this craft brewery gets packed -with a capital P - later in the afternoon.

Batch Brewing make their beers the old-fashioned way; batch per batch. Changing the offer every two weeks, you will continuously be entertained with new batches of craft beer. Even if you live around the corner. Batch Brewing Co. brews its beers for its neighbourhood and is therefore open most days, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Similar to Willie The Boatman, you can ask for a private brewery tour where they share the "science and art behind each Batch". We highly recommend trying one of their beer tasting paddles with no less than 6 of their craft beers. Not crazy about tasting paddles? Try the India Pale Ale or the current equivalent instead!

Stockade Brew Co.

Cocktail lovers rejoice as Stockade Brew Co. is a place for both beer-lovers and their non-beer-loving friends. Serving limited-run beers is where Stockade Brew Co truly shines. Often serving craft beers that are exclusive to their tasting bar. If you get peckish, locally famous food truck Baby Rey's Burgers is parked outside and has got you covered!

Sauce Brewing Co.

We love Sauce Brewing Co. and include it in most of our inner west brewery tours as it has Sydney's best beer garden. Particularly if you are traveling with a bigger group, Sauce is a great stop during your Marrickville brewery tour!

With 12 taps of the best craft beers "this side of Pluto", you can easily spend all afternoon here. Sauce Brewing Co is open Thursdays to Sundays with an on-site food truck every Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Thursday evenings you can head straight here from work as they serve pizzas for their mid-week clientele.

Wildflower Brewery

The fifth stop on the Marrickville brewery tour is the Wildflower Brewery. The name is, as you can probably guess, inspired by the natural landscape of NSW. Not surprising at all if you know that the founders of the brewery look for natural sources of yeast and bacteria in said landscape.

Using natural yeasts is known in the industry as 'mixed fermentation' and it allows the brewery to create one of a kind Belgian-style sour ales. Another much-loved technique in Wildflower Brewery is blending old and new barrel-aged beers. This allows them to emphasize the complexity of their wild yeast flavours even more.

Head to their blog if you want to read more in-depth information about the thought process behind each and every beer created by this inner west brewery. Plan your brewery pub crawl on a Friday or Saturday if you don't want to miss out on Wildflower Brewery as they are closed every other day of the week.

The Grifter Brewing Co.

The Grifter Brewery was started by mates Matt, Glenn & Trent in 2012. Already making craft beer in their homes, they wanted to bring their version of a coldie to beer-loving Sydney. Edward, their friendly-named pale ale, became their first commercially brewed beer. Back then, it was only served in the newly opened Young Henry's. In 2015, many awards later, Edward was finally being served in its first proper home, The Grifter Brewery.

Keeping Edward, their pale ale, as the only permanent beer, they continuously try out new styles of beer. Our favourite, hands down, is the Grifter Pale Ale. It is one of those craft beers that gets better with every mouthful.

Grifters Brewery makes you feel like home and even allows you to bring your kiddo and your pooch. While Sydney restaurants are not very pet-friendly, most Inner West breweries happily welcome you and your furry friends!

Marrickville Brewery Itinerary

That's it guys, you now know everything you need to know to plan in an epic Marrickville Brewery Tour! We recommend following the craft breweries as we mention above. First stop at Willie The Boatman, followed by Batch Brewing Co., Stockade Brew Co., Sauce Brewing Co., Wildflower Brewery and finishing at The Grifter Brewing Co.

But wait, we can't let you go yet. Not without a special little bonus. A craft brewery that we could not leave out of this article, Young Henrys. Let me tell you why.

Bonus Brewery: Young Henrys

While we have to wander out of Marrickville and into Newtown to get to Young Henrys, we could not complete this article without mentioning our all-time favourite craft brewery.

Only a 15-min walk from the last craft brewery on your Marrickville brewery tour, Young Henrys is Urban Legends Tour Co.'s local brewery. Consequently, it is also home to our most beloved local beer, The Newtowner. As Urban Legends Tour Company was born in the heart of Newtown, our earliest meetings were always accompanied by a Newtowner. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that this brewery will always have a special place in our hearts.

Whether you plan you plan your own craft beer pub crawl or you come along on one of our own Inner West Brewery Tours, don't miss out on Young Henrys or any of the craft breweries mentioned in this article for that matter.

Happy bar hopping legends!

The 7 Best Easy Mountain Bike Trails in Sydney: Cycling Routes In & Around the NSW Capital

As the biggest city of Australia, Sydney is great to explore by bike. While any type of bike will do, Sydney's hilly landscape, especially near the beaches, is perfectly suited for mountain biking. In this article, we are exploring the 7 best easy mountain bike trails in Sydney plus a few more further away from the city. Great for first-time visitors or locals who want to explore the city in a new way! We focus on the easy cycle routes and will leave the challenging mountain bike trails to the experts.

Mountain Bike Trails in Sydney

Sydney and its surrounding suburbs are home to a few famous and must-do mountain bike trails. From classics such as cycling across the Harbour Bridge to local secrets in the Inner Western suburbs. The Sydney-based mountain bike trails are suitable for all levels of fitness and for city bikes as well. If you want to rough it, skip the inner city and head to the below section where we discover mountain bike trails outside of the city.

From The Harbour Bridge to The Anzac Bridge & The Rocks

Let's start with the most iconic bike trail in Sydney, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge. You get to explore The Rocks and its iconic landmarks including great views onto the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House; locations that are not to be missed on a trip to Sydney.

Start your bike adventure in Kirribilli, the suburb on the other side of the bridge and home to spectacular views of the CBD, Opera House, and bridge. From here, take the dedicated bike path across the bridge into the city to reach Kent Street cycleway. Both the bike path across the bridge and the Kent Street cycleway are perfectly made for bicycles, meaning that it is very safe from the busy traffic this area is known for.

Follow the Kent Street cycleway to the luxurious finger wharfs of Millers Point and along Barangaroo to the Pyrmont Bridge. Don't forget to stop by the Sydney Observatory to see one of Sydney's most epic views onto the Harbour Bridge. From here, cross over to Pyrmont via the Pyrmont Bridge and discover even more of the Sydney harbour area. Make your way around the suburb via the water or ride through Pyrmont streets to discover it's beautiful historic buildings.

The Bay Run: Cycle around Sydney’s Inner-West

The Bay Run is a 7km long shared-use path for both cyclists and pedestrians along the water in the inner western suburbs and another great mountain bike trail in Sydney. To reach the Bay Run route, you need only to cross the Anzac Bridge and keep going straight until you hit the water on the other side of Rozelle. We highly recommend going zigzagging through the wonderful areas of Rozelle, Lilyfield, Drummoyne and the beautiful waterfront areas close to Birkenhead Point. This trail is easily combined with the previous route from the Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge.

An alternative, one that we prefer for our Sydney mountain bike tours is bypassing the Anzac Bridge and riding along the gorgeous Blackwattle Bay of Glebe. As one of our founder Jared's favourite spots of all time, we consider it a must on your visit to Sydney. Besides, the view from across a bridge is always better than being on the actual bridge, am I right?

Narrabeen Lake Trail

For this mountain bike trail in Sydney, we head to the Northern Beaches. Narrabeen Lagoon is an 8.4km circumference, graded as easy and offering the perfect break from the big smoke. Surrounded by wildlife and nature, this cycle route replenishes the soul and will give you a good exercise fix. If you are looking to extend your day trip even more, rent one of the kayaks or paddle-boards and explore the area on the water.

Centennial Park

A green oasis in the middle of Sydney, Centennial Park is one of the most popular inner-city Sydney mountain bike trails. Centennial Park's Cyclists Avenue opened in 1900 and sees around 75.000 cyclists each year. It offers a 3.5km Grand Drive loop around the park showcasing the history of the park and its rich collection of native and exotic plants. While this might not satisfy your off-road cravings, it's an absolute cracker of a relaxing bike adventure in Sydney. We highly recommend sneaking in a cheeky picnic to complete the day.

Mountain Bike and Cycling Trails around Sydney

The Blue Mountains

Looking to go behind and discover your inner adventurer on real Sydney mountain bike that are fully off-road? The Blue Mountains is where you need to head! The mountainous forests of eucalyptus reachable by train or car from Sydney is famous for its blue hue and is home to many mountain bike trails. The trails through these forests are graded from easy to extremely challenging. Two easy mountain bike trails that we recommend are Hanging Rock Trail in Blackheath and Blue Gum Swamp Trail in Winmalee.

Both mountain bike trails are rated easy to medium difficulty and are a great way to explore this national park!

Hunter Valley

Sydney's favourite wine area, the Hunter Valley, is only a few hours north. Home to over 120 wineries, there is plenty of exploring to do. Offering a multitude of off-road locations, the Hunter Valley draws in all types of mountain bikers, from beginners to advanced. They even have an annual mountain bike festival! The Wollombi Wild Ride is a 13.5 km, 30 km or 60 km mountain bike trail all around the vineyards. Mountain biking is the perfect way to spend a day in the Hunter Valley and why not combine it with one of our Hunter Valley Wine Tours?

Mountain Bike & Cycling Tours & Bike Hire

There are many ways you get around the Sydney sights and bike riding is an absolutely fantastic option! There are a few locations that will allow you to rent you a bike for the day, have a look here to see where your closest bike rental is. There are even facilities both in the Blue Mountains and in the Hunter Valley that offer these services.

If you want to skip the research and jump on a mountain bike or cycling tour instead, we offer fully customisable bicycle tours for any size group. Focusing on local venues and showing you the spots that most tourists don't get to see, we absolutely love our exclusive cycle route. Jump on the chat if you have any questions or head to our detailed booking page to discover more!

Is Bike Riding Safe in Sydney?

We won't fool you to say that Sydney is as bike-friendly as Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but with a few precautions, you will find your cycling experience to be very safe. We have gathered a few safety tips if you are exploring Sydney by bike on your own. If you are partaking in one of our tours, we'll make sure that you are safe at all times:

1. Wearing a helmet is obligatory when cycling around Australia, please wear one at all times.

2. We recommend wearing a fluorescent vest if you are planning to bike ride around Sydney at dusk or in the dark.

3. Keep to the cycle paths as much as possible, if there is one available.

4. Try to keep to the left of the road as much as you can.

5. Use your arms to indicate your direction well in advance. Always look back to see whether it is safe before you cross the road.

6. Avoid busy roads if you are not comfortable with fast-paced traffic

That's it legends! Have a great time exploring the Sydney sights by bicycle or mountain bike!

Sydney in a Day: 5 Best Ways of Getting Around The Sydney Sights

Sydney is one of the most popular destinations in Australia and has many amazing sights. Do you want to see all of Sydney in a day? It is possible, but due to the many ways of getting around the city, it will be challenging! From the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge to Manly or Bondi Beach, there is a lot of ground to cover but it is worth it! After all, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities in the world and has the views to prove it.

Getting around Sydney is not always straightforward as the city is sprawled out across a large distance. With a variety of buses, trains, and ferries to take, it can be daunting to figure out the best way to navigate Sydney sightseeing. In this article, we are exploring the best ways to explore Sydney and take in all the sights. We know you don't want to miss out on any of it!

We will look at why public transport might not be your best option if you want to see as many Sydney sights in a day as possible, why a Sydney day tour could be a great idea and why riding a bike is a cool alternative that you might have not considered before!

Sydney Sights by Public Transport

Did you know that you can't take the train to any of the Sydney beaches? Public transport is the most popular way to get around the city but it's not always the most convenient. Many locals even opt to take an Uber instead of taking public transport as frequent transfers are not uncommon.

It also takes a while to figure out the myriad of trains, buses, and ferries in the city. Many people joke that Sydneysiders tend to stick to their own suburb. Ask any local about the Manly or Bondi Bubble and they will tell you how leaving their suburbs is just too much of a hassle. Neither Bondi nor Manly are connected to the city by train. Coincidence? You tell me! Besides, both suburbs have a lot to offer anyway, so why ever leave?

That being said, we do highly recommend getting on at least one of the ferries because the view of the harbour is simply breathtaking! To ride the ferry or any other kind of public transport in Sydney, you can either get an Opal card, which pays for all public transport, or you can tap on with your American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card. 

Discover Sydney By Car

Having a car in Sydney is often necessary. This makes Sydney very different from other big cities in the world, such as Singapore, New York or London, where public transport is so well organised that you don't need a car. Due to the sheer size of the city, having a car in Sydney can make your life a lot easier, unless, as we mentioned before, you stick to your suburb, you can easily get to a train or you live close to the CBD.

For visitors of the city, we would never recommend getting a car as most of the sightseeing is done close to the CBD and around areas where it is difficult, dare I say, impossible, to find a parking space (unless you pay a pretty penny in one of the CBD parking garages). If you are only in the city for a day or two, getting a car is not going to be your best option.

Bike Riding Through Sydney

The CBD of Sydney is very walkable. You can easily walk from the Botanic Gardens to the Sydney Opera House and on to Darling Harbour if you have a reasonable level of fitness. If you would like to see any of the beaches or more local areas such as the Inner West (which has great craft beer breweries), bike riding through Sydney is a great option!

One of the reasons we love living in Sydney so much is due to the amazing vistas that we have on offer. You'll be amazed at the breathtaking landscape within a 10km radius from the Sydney Opera House. Riding a bicycle offers you a great way to stop along the way to take in these beautiful views!

Here at Urban Legends Tour Co we actually offer our own Sydney bike tour where we take visitors around the most popular sights. On this day tour, we ride along one of the many mountain bike trails in Sydney. Riding past the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Fish Markets and take you into more local areas such as Blackwattle Bay (one of our favourite sunset spots) and much more.

Sydney's Hop On Hop Off Buses

While public transport buses might take you a little longer to get from hotspot to hotspot, a great alternative can be a Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus. The concept is simple, you can 'hop on and hop off' as much as you like along a predetermined route that goes past all the important Sydney sights. This allows you to see the maximum amount of sights at your own pace, often being the most efficient way to discover a new city.

Get on a Private Bus Tour

We’ve said it before, Sydney is not the easiest city to go sightseeing. This is due to it being the largest Australian city, meaning that the sights can be far as 10km apart! For those traveling in a large group, a private bus tour would be our recommended way of exploring Sydney. A guided bus tour allows you to talk to your operator, sometimes even tailoring the tour to your needs. 

When choosing the tour of your choice, make sure that you have a look at where the company is taking you, where you are going for lunch (there are touristy stops and there is also a great variety of local restaurants that are an experience in themselves) and whether the pick up and drop off spot is convenient.

We might be biased in loving our own Sydney private bus tours as we tailor the tour to whatever you would like to see. We take you to the best lunch locations and throw in a few epic local spots that you might never have found yourself.

What is the best way of getting around Sydney in a day?

So now that we have covered all of the different ways of getting around Sydney in a day, you might wonder, which one is the best? Well, we can't make that decision for you. It really depends on the type of travel that you prefer and the number of people that you are travelling with.

Do you want to experience a local way of seeing Sydney and step off the beaten track? Consider one of the Sydney bike tours.

Travelling in a large group and don't want to invest too much time into finding out where to go? A private bus tour or the hop on hop off bus is perfect for you.

Travelling by yourself and have a bit more time to explore? Get on one of the Sydney ferries and see Darling Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and Manly beach alongside the commuting Sydneysiders. It's quite the experience!

Whatever you choose, Sydney is a breathtaking city and we're confident you will have an amazing time. Dig your toes in the Sydney sand and take in the incredible vistas!