Things to do
Arts and culture Sydney
Museums
Must do
Highlights
Chill out in Sydney
With its stunning natural beauty, meandering waterways and mild climate, Sydney is an easy city to relax in. Wander along the beach at Manly or Bondi, follow a coastal trail such as the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk or catch ferry across the harbour and explore Sydney Harbour National Park. You don't have to head indoors to chill out in Sydney.
Museums in Sydney
Many of the major public museums can be found in the Sydney city centre and are frequented by both tourists and locals. The Historic Houses Trust has fine colonial homes spread around Sydney which give you a taste of early colonial life and architecture.
Established in 1827, the Australian Museum is the country's first museum featuring extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts. It has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous research, community programs and exhibitions.
Located next door to Darling Harbour, the Powerhouse is one of Australia's largest and most diverse museums.More than 250 interactive exhibits bring the Powerhouse Museum to life with holographic images, touch screen computers, science experiments and virtual reality space. It features an extraordinary array of treasures across decorative arts and design, science, technology, space, transport and social history. The Australian National Maritime Museum is a distinctive indoor and outdoor attraction providing a great day's entertainment for kids and parents alike. The museum also hosts an ever-changing program of temporary exhibitions and a fleet of historic craft at its wharves.
The Museum of Sydney is a modern museum built on the historic site of the first Government House, built for Governor Phillip in 1788. It takes visitors on a journey exploring Sydney's people, places and culture from dreamtime to modern times. It is a place of many layers: from the archaeological remains of the colony's first Government House built in 1788 to the award-winning sculpture 'Edge of the Trees', interpreting the site of first contact between Aborigines and those arriving on the First Fleet.
Don't miss these art and culture experiences in Sydney
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Old Government House Parramatta Sydney West, Sydney, Parramatta
Standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic Parramatta, Old Government House is Australia's oldest public building. For seven decades, it ...
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The Rocks Discovery Museum
Sydney City, Sydney, The Rocks
The Rocks Discovery Museum, housed in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse, tells the story of The Rocks from pre-European days to the present. Home t...
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Elizabeth Farm
Sydney West, Sydney, Parramatta
Commenced in 1793, Elizabeth Farm contains the oldest surviving European building in Australia. Once home to Elizabeth and John Macarthur, pioneers of...
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Mary MacKillop Place Museum
Sydney North, Sydney, Surrounds
Mary MacKillop Place Museum is more than a Museum, offering a tribute to a great Australian. It is a unique attraction providing a cultural and learn...
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Brett Whiteley Studio
Inner Sydney, Sydney, Surry Hills
Explore one of Sydney's best kept secrets: the Brett Whiteley Studio, where one of Australia's most celebrated artists of the 20th century lived and w...
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Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Designed by convict architect Francis Greenway, the Hyde Park Barracks housed 15,000 male convicts in government employment between 1819 and 1848. Lat...
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Sydney Jewish Museum
Inner Sydney, Sydney, Darlinghurst
Since its opening in 1992 the Sydney Jewish Museum has become an integral part of the cultural life of Sydney. The Museum is dedicated to documenting ...
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Penrith Regional Gallery and Lewers Bequest
Sydney West, Sydney, Penrith
Penrith Regional Gallery and The Lewers Bequest is set on the western bank of the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains. The Gallery was esta...
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Nicholson Museum
Inner Sydney, Sydney, Surrounds
Australia's first University Museum, and the largest public collection of archaeological artefacts in the country, featuring objects from ancient Egyp...
sydney.edu.au/museums- Additional Information
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Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum
Sydney West, Sydney, Surrounds
Wollondilly Heritage Centre is a community museum which collects the stories and material culture from Burragorang Valley, Yerranderie and Wollondilly...
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