1 / 3Fort Scratchley
📍 Newcastle East, NSW
Is this your venue? Claim this listing →
Historic 1882 military fort on Newcastle headland with free grounds access, guided tunnel tours led by volunteer historians, coastal views, and a daily one o clock cannon firing. Open Wednesday to Monday.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with school-age children who respond to hands-on history told by passionate guides. The tunnel tour is the centrepiece - underground, torch-lit, and narrated with genuine enthusiasm by volunteer historians. Kids who arrive before one o clock get the cannon demonstration as a bonus.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,681 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Au_Z
11 months ago
“The volunteer staff were wonderful and brimming with knowledge of the fort, people who occupied it and the area. The tunnel tours were very informative and fun. Definitely in my top ten places to visit again if I make It back to NSW.”
Penny Emerton
10 months ago
“Free entry, with the option to donate during your visit. The volunteers were fantastic, very helpful and friendly. Information was clearly displayed and easy to read. Definitely worth a visit.”
L. Kennedy
a year ago
“Absolutely wonderful tunnel tour for $15 per adult. The historical society volunteer guides are great and explaining everything and happy to answer any questions. They’ve done a wonderful job at keeping the fort open to the public and restoring a huge piece of local history. Amazing views from the top with plenty of ocean life to watch. Would highly recommend.”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsTunnels
158 reviews
Fort
131 reviews
Tunnel tour
74 reviews
Cannon firing
44 reviews
Military history
36 reviews
Overview
Fort Scratchley sits on Newcastle headland and has operated since 1882. The fort grounds are free to access and include outdoor coastal views, historical displays, and outdoor exhibits. Paid guided tunnel tours are led by volunteer historians from the local historical society, covering the fort military role, the stories of those stationed here, and the tunnels construction. The one o clock cannon fires daily. Special events and the tunnel tours deliver the depth of the experience.
