Perched on Signal Hill with commanding views over Nobbys Beach, the harbour and Nobbys Head, Fort Scratchley is one of Newcastle’s most impressive family attractions. At 140 years old and beautifully preserved, it’s a place where kids’ imaginations run wild and adults genuinely enjoy the history too.
Whether you’re doing the full tunnel tour or just wandering the grounds with an ice cream, Fort Scratchley delivers one of the best free views in Newcastle, plus a genuinely engaging piece of local history.
The Tunnel Tour: What to Expect
The guided tunnel tour is the highlight for most families. It starts at the tunnel entrance, a spot many visitors walk straight past without realising what’s underneath.
Your guide, in full period uniform, greets you there and leads you back in time through the underground network.
Kids light up the moment they step into the tunnels. The guides are knowledgeable and genuinely funny, and they’re good at pulling children into the story, asking questions and testing them on facts as you go.
That interaction matters, because a 90-minute tour involves plenty of standing and listening, and keeping kids engaged through that takes skill.
The tour moves at a good pace between rooms and tunnels, so it rarely feels like 90 minutes.
Best age for the tour: We’d recommend it for kids aged 8 and up, especially those who enjoy war stories and historical artefacts. Younger children can find the pace and content less engaging.
What to Do If You Have Younger Kids
No tunnel tour doesn’t mean no visit. Fort Scratchley is a lovely spot for a relaxing afternoon with little ones. Grab an ice cream, take in the ocean views, and let the kids run on the grassy slopes leading down to the water.
You can also wander through the five museum rooms in the old army barracks, then head up the hill to see the guns up close. Every visit tends to turn up something new to look at.
The 1pm Gun Firing
If you’re visiting on a day the Fort is open, try to time it for the 1pm gun firing. It’s loud (genuinely loud), so give the kids a heads-up beforehand so it doesn’t catch them off guard. It’s a memorable moment and one of the reasons families come back more than once.
Food and Facilities
The onsite Artillery Store sells souvenirs, gifts and light refreshments, but it’s not set up for a full lunch. If you’re visiting around midday, pack something for the kids or plan to eat afterwards at one of the cafes in the East End.
Fort Scratchley Fun Facts
Fort Scratchley was built in 1882 by independent contractors and took just 18 months to complete. It was built to defend the port against a feared Russian attack, though in over a century it’s only fired on an enemy once, at a Japanese submarine attempting to enter the harbour during World War II.
The daily 1pm gun firing actually has a practical origin. It coincides with the dropping of the time ball at Customs House on Bond Street, which historically let sea captains reset their navigation instruments.
On days like Australia Day and Anzac Day, the Fort fires its big 6-inch Mk VII guns. They’re also fired on the June long weekend to mark the anniversary of the shelling of Newcastle, which happened at 2:17am on 8 June 1942.
Fort Scratchley: Need to Know
Address: Nobbys Road, Newcastle East, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 4974 5033
Hours: Fort Scratchley is open from
Cost: General admission to Fort Scratchley is free. Cost applies for full site and tunnel tours.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, due to the narrow stairs and hallways, the tour is unsuitable for wheelchairs, walkers, prams and strollers.
For more information, visit the Fort Scratchley website.
Frequently Asked Questions
General admission and access to the grounds and museum rooms is free. The tunnel tour and full site tour have a separate cost.
Around 90 minutes, though the pace makes it feel shorter.
It’s best suited to kids aged 8 and up, particularly those interested in war history.
The grounds and museum rooms are accessible, but the tunnel tour isn’t suitable for prams, strollers, wheelchairs or walkers due to narrow stairs and hallways.
1pm daily, except Tuesdays.
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