This historic home and its grounds can be visited for free. It’s the former home of the Wentworths who originally owned a large area of the land in Vaucluse. If you visit here, make sure you walk through and enjoy the large yard. Access to the historic home is via an entry located at the rear of the property - near the stabling yards. There are toilets located at the rear of the property. There’s plenty of off-street and on-street parking located here. You’ll find a cafe / restaurant located near the home.

Very interesting to see such history in Sydney. The kids liked it. We were keen on hraijg and listening to the stories and how people lived not too long ago.

My ancestor, Captain John Piper bought Vaucluse House, later owned by Sir Wentworth & his family. Beautiful features, furniture & artworks. Surreal to stand in the place of my ancestors. A special place. Beautiful gardens to wander through & sit. Easy to get to on the bus.

Well maintained Vaucluse family house, now converted to a museum which shows the early history of migration in the aboriginal lands. This place has been well looked after and it’s worth visiting. Entry is free and a guided tour is provided. Staff are very friendly.

Amazing must do experience such an incredible piece of history right in the heart of Sydneys East. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to do something a little bit different with their spare time. Amazing customer service from the staff and really enthusiastic insights into this time in history could not recommend more

Exceptional estate! Vast grounds, knowledgable staff and the house itself is easy to walk through. Free entry. Pram friendly throughout the ground floor only, but there isn’t any accessibility to level 1 for prams/wheelchairs - however there is plenty to see downstairs. We toured the estate on 9 July 2022 at opening time and the two gentleman at the reception area were incredibly friendly, professional and were proactive in advising us of the baby facilities available which we greatly appreciate!

Vacluse House and the garden are great places to visit. Going there on 24 December was a good idea. Almost no visitors and just a couple of cars in the parking area. The map you receive is very messy. Not at all thought through. All the numbers do not reconcile to the numbers on the doors. We were not offered an audio guide. I did not even know they were available until seeing a tourist inside using one. You need to guess what is what. Also, the history of this place is way more interesting than a brief summary on the leaflet. Make sure you go to all the buildings and around the house including the kitchen garden . The entry was free and we'll worth it 5/5, but the organisation of it all could be better 2/5. Overall 3.5/5.

Photographer's review of this Sydney's little slice of 19th-century magic is here! I was lucky enough to capture the wedding here recently, and let me tell you, no wonder why this is one of the most popular venue for the wedding! The estate itself is like stepping into a time capsule. The mansion, surrounded by its gardens and sprawling grounds is all about elegance and heritage. As a photographer, this place is a dream! The heritage elements and the lush greenery, especially inside the museum building that makes me feel like I'm time travelling! The team have been absolutely professional and super friendly and kind! They DO understand the importance of every detail, ensuring that the shoot unfold seamlessly with this historic backdrop. Planning a wedding soon? Don't walk, just RUN! and GET YOUR DATE SECURED! (Thank me later hahaha)

Vaucluse House is definitely worth some time to discover. The 19th century mansion of Sarah and William Wentworth is beautiful and, with the help of the audio guide, recounts their story like if you jumped back in time. From the bedrooms to the advanced kitchen cooker for its time and the old washing machine, the attention to detail and the effort of conservation is impressive. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did! Kids will love it too 😊

Absolutely fantastic way to enjoy the day!! Very helpful,informative and entertaining young man who really brought the house alive. Well worth the exploring!

Grand old mansion added too over years on a large parcel of land Purchased by Wentworth and very much upgraded still origal condition and authentic and nice gardens enjoyed visiting very much

I took my mum here for a delayed Christmas present in mid January 2022 for High Tea. The food was delicious and filling. The staff were friendly, especially Lucy who was very kind and even took a picture of us too. I recommend the Lychee Prosecco! Mum hasn’t stopped raving about it since. I will be back again. Although it’s “pricey” ($70 per head), that’s pretty much the going rate for High Teas, plus it’s not like they’re a regular thing. The experience was lovely and it was worth the money. The gardens around are beautiful too, but it’s a shame it started raining as we were venturing through them.

use the service nsw voucher! didnt know that australia had no sewage system in the 19 century

It was a quiet weekday afternoon in Vaucluse during my holiday in Australia, and we'd just caught a bus direct from Watson's Bay-- very handy and fast. We walked through the leafy gardens in front, and there were no queues for the tour ( which wasn't expensive). I wisely chose to use the free audio guide, which filled me in on how the Wentworth family had established the house( possibly in 1827?), and their ups and downs due to scandals as the decades went by. Michael and I ( an old doctor friend I worked with in the 1980s) both enjoyed our leisurely and informative stroll around the decorated and furnished original rooms. And yes, it was the same pioneering Wentworth I learned about in school who crossed the Blue Mountains many years earlier! Unfortunately I doubt there is wheelchair access to upstairs. And no cafe. But highly recommended as a glimpse into our colonial past.

I have mixed emotions when visiting sites that gave so much luxury to so few. All the same, the Wentworths, who built the house, were not nobility and only married after having two children.

Located in one of the most prestigious suburbs in Sydney, Vaucluse House is Now served as a House Museum that had been transformed from a 19th Century Mansion. Accompanied with a pretty Tea Room and beautiful park grounds, Vaucluse House is looking particular Stunning during the Spring Seasons. A nice Wedding Photo venue. 3 photos attached.

Hidden gem of Vaucluse! Free to visit, and free audio tour. The house has been set up as if you are walking into the house as it was in the 1800's. The grand entrance hall, bedrooms and gardens are just gorgeous. This family lived large, for their time! 💅

Vaucluse House is one of Sydney’s few 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. When the towering colonial explorer, barrister and politician William Charles Wentworth bought the house in 1827, it was a single-story cottage in a secluded valley of partly cleared coastal scrub. In fits and starts over the next five decades, William and his wife Sarah developed Vaucluse into a large and picturesque estate. The grounds were extended and flourished to cover most of the present-day suburb of Vaucluse but the main house of the family’s dreams was left unfinished. In 1915 Vaucluse House became Australia’s first official house museum and continues to entice visitors to its lush and still secluded grounds.

I had my birthday high tea there yesterday. We were a party of 14. The food was exceptional and service was discreet and sophisticated. One of my friends said "I feel like I've been away for the weekend, in the bush with great vista, food and company". I can't recommend it highly enough.

This is a terrific exhibit which works from multiple angles. The house and backstory are fascinating. It’s brought alive by the wonderful tour leaders and the electronic aid. It’s very well done and well worth coming for that and the really interesting history. The small gift shop works extremely well too. It has a very effective range of books and goods which are all clearly very carefully chosen and, amazingly, often very affordable. The gardens here are great too. Lastly, the tea rooms next door are superb. Tea rooms understates it. It is a very fine but reasonably priced cafe restaurant. We had a brilliant lunch there. You could do this all in an hour or two. We took a bit more and wandered around beautiful Watson’s Bay and surrounds after a trip on the ferry and bus. This is a beautiful and interesting area of Sydney. Don’t miss the house but take time to do more around here if you can as you’ll be richly rewarded.

Had a very nice high tea here in some amazing gardens, you wouldn't think you were so close to the city. Nice place to wander around also

Best kept horticulture and greenery. Historically incredibly, significant and unique. A wonder of australia. Great coffee service.

We spent a few hours at Estate Vaucluse today, and it was delightful. From the moment we arrived (actually, it started from the phone reservation), we were greeted with warm hospitality by Annie and team, who made us feel at home. The high tea was lovely and indulgent, I was so well fed! There are not many places in Sydney that does good sweet and savory options. At $60per pax, in such tranquil surroundings - I’m definitely coming back. After tea, we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the estate and museum. Perfect!

Beautiful spot. Attended a wedding here. Could be more lighting back to the car park at night and the gravel in open toe shoes was a bit annoying but beautiful space and food.

Beautiful historical and architectural house. Very friendly staff and great tour guide. Really enjoyed to walk through the history. I love vintage furnishing and beautiful garden. Have free parking on site and Italian restaurant just near by, food very good, however very pricy. Access with pram and kids friendly place. However without pram would be better to walk through house. Thank you so much, would love to back in the future.

An interesting house with an interesting story. The Vaucluse House, which is now a free museum, is worth a walk. The restaurant on site is good too, offering both meals and afternoon tea. We ordered a beef cheek and a seafood pasta, both of which were quite good. It is a tranquil place with a beautiful garden. The long table at the restaurant is so perfect for a family gathering!

Came here on the guided tour to learn about its architecture. Very insightful & highly recommended for a 19th century vibe.

Historical sites, staff are friendly. Enter the attraction through a student special of 12AUD. Beautiful furnishings, bigger than the other houses visited before.

Beautifully preserved 19th century manor. Interesting to see how the previous occupants lived. Just wished me could explore more of the servant quarters.

Interesting place to look back at how the Wentworths lived in the 19th century. Nice park around the house. Parking not an issue

Stunning. The attention to detail and preservation is phenomenal. The tour guide Robin was fantastic and completely brought the place to life. And yes Robin, on your recommendation, I visited the Botanic Gardens 💕thank you for an amazing experience. Jackie

Absolutely beautiful lunch. We had burrata with fig for entree and mains were the pork and steak. Both delicious. Chocolate tart for dessert so yummy. Will be back!

A stunning example of a Sydney sandstone building built early in Sydney's history. Also beautiful gardens and a gorgeous tearoom.

Lovely location and very interesting history. Next is tea room , highly recommend to visit. I attached photos of Vaucluse museum

Amazing place,wonderful and beautiful. Thanks the narrator introduced all the history for us.they are super nice and friendly. we are from Taiwan, my mom first time visit Australia, and she so happy and enjoys everything here. Highly recommend every travelers come here.

Rich in history and every corner has amazing stories waiting to be heard (audio guide available) also Lianne is so knowledgeable and friendly, it's a wonderful experience visiting the Wentworth estate.

Large, well laid-out and attractive front garden, historical building providing a look back into Sydney past, located in a quiet and respectable surrounding inviting a stroll around as well. Well worth a visit😍😍😍

Vaucluse house is a historic 19th century estate located in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse which is named after the house. It is about a 30 minute bus ride from central Sydney. The property was acquired by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales in 1981 at which point it underwent major refurbishing to restore both the interior and exterior of the house, outbuildings and grounds as close as possible to their original setting. The first structure built on the location was a farm cottage built by Sir Henry Brown Hayes back in 1805 when the Governer insisted he live well out from the city due to his reputation as a troublemaker. The buildings you see today were constructed over a 25 year period beginning when wealthy statesman William Charles Wentworth purchased the property with his wife back in 1827. Vaucluse House was added onto at different times over the 25 years resulting in a mix of styles although the predominant architecture could be described as Gothic Revival. Wentworth also expanded the size of the estate to 515 acres. In the 1850s the Wentworths travelled around the continent and acquired a collection of art and furniture, much of which is still on display in the house today. In 1911 Vaucluse House and the immediate surroundings where purchased by the NSW government and a 28 acre park was created in honour of Wentworth. Beginning in 1920 the public was given access to the house and the grounds. If you would like to explore a little bit of history and get a break from the busy city Vaucluse House is a great place to visit.

This place was nice. Great atmosphere, food and pricing wasn’t too bad. Uniqueness? 10/10 Nature also 10/10 Love the plants and greenery all around. Highly recommend this place. Book in advance though if possible (especially if it’s a special occasion) as we saw people being turned around.

Very well-restored estate of a prominent colonial-era Australian statesman and his family. The MHNSW staff are highly knowledgeable. Great visit :))

What a great free entry experience for a whole family ! The place is adequately maintained and got renovated not long ago so looking pretty and quite aesthetic. As soon as you entered, the reception lady will give you a map of the house and instructed on where to start. It was such a wonderful little tour at Vancluse House as if I was traveling back in time at the old days with these set up and beautiful designs. The tour is self paced so you could do as quickly or as slowly up to your preferences. They also have audios for most of the destinations on the maps where you could listen on your headset to give you exclusive details but I didn’t do it on that day. There’s a restaurant near the exit garden and a big lawn where you could also bring picnic food to enjoy with your family.

Nice little spot for functions receptions wedding etc. Really nice views and the restaurant staff are very friendly. The menu options were quite extensive and the staff were very helpful in walking through the options. The drive there is a tad bit windy but it's nothing too daunting.

Came here for High Tea today and it was absolutely fantastic!! The staff, especially Jason, were amazing, friendly, professional and obliging, nothing was too much trouble. The food was not only looked beautiful, it was very tasty. Highly recommend! You have an exceptional employee in Jason, he’s an absolute asset to your business. Thank you for a wonderful day!!

Absolute gem! It gives you an idea of what the affluent colonial life looked like back in the day. Really well organised, preserved and curated, with some exceptional and friendly staff! Well worth a visit, especially since the entry is free!

This photo of me with the bride's dog was one of my most liked ever on Instagram. 5 stars no question.

Great information around and it's really cool to see how people used to live in the house. Really well presented and the staff are nice and friendly. Audioguides are great.

This is a beautiful place to visit. Would highly recommend. As one of Sydney's only surviving 19th century harbourside estates this is something that is a must see! You will not be disappointed!

I was really worried about taking my car to be fixed... but I shouldn't worry because the guys helped me with everything and it was just a service I needed. Thank you Vaucluse Auto.

Great food.good service.lovely surrounding.

Understaffed in the weekend

Excellent food and service.

High Tea for a hens party was a great venue and event. Food was tasty but value for money is questionable.

Bring a picnic rug and a picnic lunch here! You can eat it on the lovely grounds for free -- but the house is worth it too: A well-cared-for historic house & gardens, and an easy five stars due to the amazing guides. We had a really well presented tour with Graham, and equally knowledgeable Steve answering questions too. Value for money is incredible considering the knowledge they have about the place. By the way, do note that basically every less-than-five-stars review here is an accidental review intended for the nearby similarly-named cafe, *not* this museum. (But the cafe *is* conveniently placed to grab a coffee!)

Beautiful tearooms set in beaitiful gardens

Beautiful garden to wander thru plenty of parking .brilliant museum . This is how our history should be preseved . The tea house is lovely alfresco or indoor dining .Great Service . But for a Tea House NO SCONES ON THE MENU!!!! But the hand cut chips are to die for . Only a short walk to oue stunning Sydney Harbour .. my dear mum lived in Coolong road as a small child , the preschool teacher would walk along the street and call from front gate of homes , the children would then follow single file to the lawn by the fountain in front of Vaucluse house were Miss Ham would hold preschool . Mum is only 100 yrs old and enjoyed revisiting after many years, was funny to hear her say that she would sit by the fountain and eat her homemade biscuits her mother had sent with her and Mum’s words “ they were delicious . The Tallest Bunya tree in the gardens was Brought back from Papua New Guinea by my Grandfather Captain Surtees Rothery about 1925 . I’m very proud of this history and so please mum is still with us to share the memories .

Wow what a beautiful place, such a gem

Awesome

Beautiful house. Very friendly staff. Vaucluse House is one of Sydney’s few 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. When the towering colonial explorer, barrister and politician William Charles Wentworth bought the house in 1827, it was a single-storey cottage in a secluded valley of partly cleared coastal scrub. In fits and starts over the next five decades, William and his wife Sarah developed Vaucluse into a large and picturesque estate. The grounds were extended and flourished to cover most of the present-day suburb of Vaucluse but the main house of the family’s dreams was left unfinished. In 1915 Vaucluse House became Australia’s first official house museum and continues to entice visitors to its lush and still secluded grounds.

Quaint garden with an abundance of greenery and exotic plants.

Love this place on a rainy day.

I can't believe the scones are gone off the breakfast menu. The only reason to visit!

We explored the grounds with our toddler. He loved it... beautifully kept and perfect afternoon in early summer with the jacarandas, animals and the beach across the way

Well worth a visit. Our guide was excellent. We were very pleased particularly with the Irish connection.

A most beautiful journey back in time. Fantastic tour guides and don't forget to enjoy a lovely afternoon tea at the Vaucluse House Tearooms just outside the garden. Couldn't imagine an afternoon better spent.

It is a great place and very interesting museum. The cafe is wonderful. We had a very tasty fresh salad and smoked salmon sandwiches. All good. Coffee is very good too. I did want to leave the place. Tranquility ...

One of the most relaxing experiences you can have. Feels like you get transported into another time...the house is beautiful and well preserved, gorgeous, lush green gardens, friendly staff and yummy restaurant to top off your day.

Like an escape to the countryside, this estate offers beautiful gardens, preserved period architecture, cute farm animals and tranquility not far from the city. It’s also a spectacular wedding venue and the tea rooms are charming and usually pretty good with their food and coffee. Don’t miss the meadow up the back.

Beautiful tour and great café

Beautiful spot. Nice set up.

An interesting view into a life of yesteryear. Certainly worth a visitm Grab an audio guide or wait for a guided tour to take you around to appreciate this museum a little more and some of the ingenuity that went into this building. Sign up as a member and get unlimited annual access to a number of Sydney Living Museums and get a 20% discount (01/2020)

Excellent will be back

Well worth the visit if you want to learn about Sydney’s early Europeans.

The restaurant is under new management ... Lovely place for lunch in a relaxed and leafy atmosphere. Good food and friendly service.

The tour guide john had a very good grasp of knowledge about everything associated with Vaucluse house and surrounding Vaucluse area every word memorised and the bus of pensioners I took there were very well informed especially all the going ons inside the house highly recommend any tours to adventure there

There is a external toilet

Attended a wedding very good service, loved the food, beautiful location. I have no idea of the cost so can't comment. Fantastic event

Gorgeous atmosphere with magical scenery!

The beautiful Vaucluse House is a great setting for Yayoi Kusama's Narcissus Garden. The reflective balls are at home both inside and outside in the fountain.

Love the place, such good quality food! Indoor outdoor eating.. the huge beautiful grounds and photo oportunities

Lovely place to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon. High tea is well worth it

Last time we visited it was pretty disappointing. The scones were dry and tiny and had raisins for some reason. My friend's breakfast was overcooked. The coffees and hot chocolate were average. Nice location and staff though.

Period home belonging to the Wentworth family, descendents of English convicts. William Charles Wentworth as a young man with two others found a way through to the Blue Mountains. He was an explorer, a barrister and a Statesman.

Amazing history. The guide Bendiguz is fantastic! Extremely entertaining and informative. Beautiful gardens.

A beautiful taste of yesteryear. Bendeguz gave an informative & fun Childrens tour of the kitchen gardens, laundry outhouse, kitchens & the nursery. The cafe is beautifully situated & has lovely food.

Absolutely amazing, loved being able to do our own self-guided tour. The staff was beyond friendly and helpful, and the house was just awe-inspiring, a real treasure. We also ate at the tearoom and really enjoyed the gnocchi, bread and butter, and chicken burger.

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Superb tour led by Matthew