The Quarantine Station at North Head is one of Sydney Harbour's most atmospheric historic sites. Its old hospital buildings, dormitories, and wharf tell the story of the passengers held here when ships arrived with smallpox, cholera, Spanish flu, and other feared diseases.
Visits are usually by booked tour, which is the best way to understand how the station worked and why this remote headland was chosen. The site also has wide harbour views and sits inside Sydney Harbour National Park, so it pairs well with a walk around North Head.