Sydney Fish Market tours

A Sydney Fish Market tour in Pyrmont covers the market’s history, auction floor, oyster shucking and sashimi-making. But you’ll have to get up early in the morning.

Not all tourist attractions have to smell good, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to the Sydney Fish Market. It is one of the biggest fish markets in the world (the largest is in Tokyo), and can be found in the harbourside suburb of Pyrmont.

The Sydney Fish Market opened in 1945, and for 44 years was the sole supplier of fresh fish to Sydney. Regulations meant that seafood had to come through the giant harbourside hub.

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Sydney fish market in Pyrmont — The Sydney Fish Market is in Pyrmont, just over the Pyrmont Bridge from Sydney CBD.

An astonishing variety of fish is on sale at the Sydney Fish Market – over 100 species. It’s a working fish market, which hosts auctions every day. While most people buying the fish are in the food trade, the Sydney Fish Market welcomes tourists too. It is also home to the Sydney Seafood School which runs seafood cookery courses.

Sydney fish market tour

Perhaps the best way of seeing the fish market is on an early morning tour. Beginning at 6.40am (and strictly 6.40am – no sleeping in for this one), the tour guide leads guests through the market. On the way, the history of the fish market in Pyrmont is covered. There’s also an explanation of how the Dutch auctions and buying system work.

The tour continues to the auction floor, viewing the more than 100 species of fish ready for sale.

After that, the tour gets into specifics, witnessing oysters being shucked and learning about sashimi.

At time of writing, these early morning tours of the Sydney Fish Market were suspended as an anti-Covid precaution. The market is still open to visitors, however.

Fish and Chips at Sydney Fish Market

Of course, the other option is to rock up and tuck into the freshest fish and chips imaginable, fighting off the seagulls as you look out over the harbour.

Pyrmont is a short walk over Darling Harbour on the pedestrian-only Pyrmont Bridge from Sydney CBD.