Ever wanted to know where your seafood comes from? What the Australian seafood industry does to ensure your seafood is sustainable? Or where the top-level restaurants go to get the freshest of the fresh?

On a Behind the Scenes Tour of SFM you'll answer all these questions and more!

Each weekday, SFM hosts the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the world's second largest seafood market outside Japan.  Approximately 2,800 crates (around 50 tonnes) of seafood is auctioned each day through the computerised Dutch auction system to approximately 150 buyers.  The incredible variety of seafood is sourced from individual fishermen, Co-ops, fishing businesses and aquaculture farms in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific Region.

Tours are conducted by trained SFM guides and take you behind-the-scenes to explore all facets of the Market and its operations - including the auction floor, sashimi pavilion and crab and lobster pen. 

Behind the Scenes Tours are held every Monday, Thursday and now Friday (except Public Holidays and between Christmas and New Year).

We take up to 10 people per booking, with our tour group being a maximum of 20 people per day on Monday and Thursday and 10 people on a Friday. Bookings for these tours are essential. Bookings must be made Monday - Friday during business hours. Call or email us on (02) 9004 1143.

What you will experience on the TOUR

• Explanation of how the Dutch Auction and buying system works
• Tour of Sydney Seafood School
• Tour of the Auction Floor, viewing over 100 species
• Witness oyster shucking right before your eyes
• Find out about sashimi, live product and our retail arcade
• Duration of a tour is usually 1 - 1 1/2 hours
• ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST WEAR ENCLOSED SHOES
• Free parking & a coffee/tea are included

Where and when?

• Tours begin at 6.55am sharp and will end around 8:30am
• The Auction itself starts at 5.30am and continues until all product is sold. The volume of product varies each day and it may finish as early as 7.30am
• Meeting point is outside Doyle's Seafood Cafe

Cost

• $20 adult (please have exact change)
• $10 children under 13 years old
  (Children must be at least 6 years of age)

What to wear?

Due to Occupational Health and Safety concerns, all visitors to the auction must wear enclosed shoes.  Those who do not wear enclosed shoes, will not be granted access to the auction floor.

The auction floor can be wet and it is best to avoid wearing leather shoes as they tend to absorb the water.  It is recommended that you roll up your long pants/jeans.

School and Group Tours

SFM tries it's best to accommodate school and group tours. These specialised tours will only be held on Tuesday and Wednesday and are subject to availability.

Small groups of up to 10 people may be accommodated on the regular Behind the Scenes tours, which run on a Monday, Thursday and Friday. Bookings for these tours are essential and are subject to availability.

Payment for all school and group tours must be paid prior to the tour date. No refunds will be issued. Please ensure that the group arrives promptly at 6.50am.

Click here for SFM's registered Buyer and Supplier Tour policy>>

Click here for information on how to get to Sydney Fish Market >

Tour Availability