Where can I see Aboriginal rock art in Sydney?

There are thousands of Aboriginal rock art engravings around Sydney. Key sites include Grotto Point on the Spit Bridge to Manly Walk and Red Hands Cave in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.

Before the British settlers of the First Fleet arrived in Sydney back in 1788, there were several Indigenous groups inhabiting the Sydney area.

At first glance, it can be difficult to see any traces of Indigenous heritage in Sydney, but if you know where to look, this particular past opens itself up.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

Aboriginal rock art in Sydney: Grotto Point

More than 6,000 Aboriginal engravings have been discovered around Sydney. Some of these ancient rock art sites are more accessible than others, and one of the easiest to get to is at Grotto Point.

Grotto Point is on Dobroyd Head within Sydney Harbour National Park. You’ll encounter it on the Spit Bridge to Manly Walk, just after Castle Rock Beach in Clontarf.

The Grotto Point Aboriginal engraving site features images of fish, boomerangs and wallabies etched into the rock.

For more information, head to the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service website.

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Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.

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Aboriginal rock art in Sydney: Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park

There are more rock art sites within Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, in the north of the city. Several sites can be strung together in the 4.4km Aboriginal Heritage Walk, which starts at the Resolute Picnic Area in the West Head section of the park.

The most famous of the Aboriginal rock art sites in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is the Red Hands Cave. No prizes for guessing where that name comes from…

If you don’t have your own transport, or would prefer to visit as part of a guided tour, then a small group tour of Sydney’s Northern Beaches might do the trick.

This $285 day tour stops at other sights, including the Spit Bridge, the West Head Lookout and Palm Beach – the filming location for Home And Away.

Other places to see Aboriginal rock art in Sydney include the Jibbon Beach Loop Track in the Royal National Park.

Sydney Aboriginal tours

If you are particularly interested in Aboriginal culture, Sydney offers a 90 minute Indigenous-led walking tour of the Rocks area includes ochre painting, native plants and the Aboriginal significance of several sites.