North Head Quarantine Station
Address:
Phone:
9466 1500Description:
Like New York's Ellis Island, where arriving immigrants would be processed or detained if diseased, so too North Head (in Sydney Harbor National Park at Manly) served as a quarantine station for any sickly passengers arriving after six arduous months at sea in an effort to protect locals from the threat of infection.It would have been a glorious location to recuperate in. Even better to visit if you're in good health. Isolated on an elevated, densely wooded ridge on the harbor's northern headland, the site commands unrivaled water and city views.
There are guided walking tours detailing the station's harrowing history as well as nature walks that explore the area's pristine native flora and aboriginal heritage. But by far, the most popular 'attraction' is the ghost tour. There's one for adults and a separate (less scary) version for children and families. And for that really extra-terrestrial encounter, check out the Spirit Investigator, a walking tour, lead by a medium, searching (often successfully, it's been said) for paranormal activity.
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