FAQs
The experience at Maitland Gaol is a little different due to COVID-19, you can find out more here.
Maitland Gaol is located at 6-18 John Street, East Maitland.
Driving
Maitland Gaol is situated in East Maitland, just a 30 minutes drive west of Newcastle, one hour north of Central Coast and two hours north of Sydney.
Train
Catch the train to East Maitland Train Station and walk 100m uphill to the entrance of Maitland Gaol.
Bus
Plan your bus trip with transportnsw. Keep your eye out for bus stops at Victoria Street Station, followed by a six minute walk and Melbourne Street, near New England Highway, followed by a 15 minute walk.
There are a number of different tour types available. Click here to view tour times, dates and prices.
The majority of the Gaol is accessible with assistance. See the disabled access and facilities page for further information.
Self guided audio tours have access to all public areas of the Gaol, similar to those accessed by the guided tours. At times some areas may be closed for private functions, maintenance work or safety reasons. If an area is closed staff at reception will inform you upon arrival, or you can call Maitland Gaol during business hours on (02) 4936 6482 to check.
All tours proceed regardless of inclement weather. Visitors are reminded to dress appropriately for the conditions.
There are a range of public and private guided tours available. For a full list of tour types available, please click here.
The kitchen workers cells and the chapel are the only two areas which require visitors to climb a flight of stairs. All other areas are accessible from the ground level. Please note however that this is a walking tour across a large site, most areas are accessible by ramps however some areas have one to two stairs to enter or exit the building.
Children are welcome and encouraged to visit Maitland Gaol. The self guided audio tour has a specific option 'Snitch's Gaol Exploration' which is an excellent option for children aged between 4 and 12.
Children’s tickets are available for all tours other than the Psychic, Ghost Hunting and Paranormal tours, however some tours are not recommended for children under the age of 14 years due to their content.
Tickets to all public guided tours are limited, and as such it is recommended that people book in advance to avoid disappointment. If tickets are still available for public day tours, these will be sold up until the time of the tour at the Gaol reception.
All night tours however must be pre-booked as tickets cannot be purchased at the gate on the evening of the tour. Tickets for all tours can be purchased online with print at home options which allow customers to purchase tickets for evening tours up to the time of the tour, using a mobile device to provide the guide with the appropriate ticket.
There are several toilets available for use in and around the Gaol site. These toilets are marked on the map that you will be provided before entering the site. If you are participating in a guided tour then your guide will be able to provide direction for you. Visitors are reminded that all toilets within the cells are decommissioned, and unable to be used.
For visitors with limited mobility, there are a number of areas around the site where people can sit whilst they listen to the tours, or simply to take a short break.
With the exception of assistance dogs, no pets are permitted into Maitland Gaol.
Maitland Gaol is a non smoking site. Smoking is not permitted inside the gaol, even in the open air areas.
Yes a range of souvenirs are available to purchase where you enter and exit the site. Staff are knowledgable about the products available and are available to assist you in choosing the right souvenir.
The cafe is run independent of Maitland Gaol.The cafe can be contacted directly on (02) 4933 7213. They are open 9.00am - 2.00pm 7 days. The cafe is accessible via John Street, it is not accessible from inside the Gaol. You can read more about the cafe here.
Battlezone Lasertag and Get Out Escape Rooms are run outside of Maitland Gaol operating hours. To make a booking you need to contact the companies directly on 1300 661 565.
Find out more information at the links below
Maitland Gaol can assist with some records for prisoners. Please check our family research section of the website for more information.