Sydney is full of history and no more so than in the spooky of jails in and around the city... and one of the very easiest to get to in right in the heart of the city. Hyde Park Barracks, which saw around 50,000 convicts come to stay during its operation in the 1800's. Also currently the host of the Convict Sydney exhibition, entry to the Barracks is only $10 and is easily accessible from Martin Place and St James train stations.
Just a hop, skip and a short ferry ride away from Hyde Park Barracks is Cockatoo Island, with UNESCO World Heritage Listed prison buildings and a constant stream of art and other exhibitions, Cockatoo Island should not be overlooked if you are on the lookout for a piece of Sydney's history. Details on how to get there and tour dates/times are all on the Cockatoo Island website and remember to take your lunch money with you as there are no ATMs on site.
If all this seems a little bit ordinary, why not head north to Maitland where you can play out your own jail break, armed and all at the Maitland Gaol. Battlezone Playlive run laser skirmish at the Maitland Gaol, with twilight sessions for the bravest of the brave, this is a very unique way to experience this historic location! Of course it is still possible, and very worthwhile, to visit the Maitland Gaol at a slower pace by joining in on one of a wide range tours to get a real sense of this historic location. Tour details, activities and a bit of history are all available on the Gaol's website. More information about laser skirmish is available at the Battlezone Playlive website.