Things to do in Sydney
Sydney has a balmy climate, waterfront location and outdoor lifestyle. Go for a swim at Bondi Beach or take a Sydney Harbour Ferry Ride from Circular Quay. The Sydney Harbour Bridge can be crossed on foot and the Sydney Tower will help you get your bearings. The city's colonial past is dominant in The Rocks and at the Museum of Sydney. Most museums are scattered across the city, such as the Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour. They open daily from 9.30am to 5pm.
Museums and Galleries
Expand all1. Museum of Sydney - Colonial Sydney exhibits
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The sights and sounds of colonial Sydney come alive at the contemporary Museum of Sydney near Circular Quay. Imaginatively staged exhibits explore Aboriginal culture and the city's development since 1788. Foundations of the first Government House are preserved on site.E-mail this item
Cost
A$10; concessions A$5
Opening Hours
Daily 9.30am-5pm
Address
Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9251 5988
2. Powerhouse Museum - Interactive science and culture
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Powerhouse Museum, housed in a huge former power station near Darling Harbour, is one of the most creatively curated establishments around. It's hands-on and child-friendly, with exhibits like the 1930s cinema and Sydney's first train exploring Australian design, science and culture. Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
A$10; concessions A$6; 4-15s A$5; under 4s free
Opening Hours
Daily 9.30am-5pm
Address
500, Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9217 0111
3. Brett Whiteley Studio - Modern art master's studio
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Brett Whiteley captured Sydney's spirit like no other artist. A visit to the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney's Inner East offers a rare glimpse inside an artist's life. Unfinished paintings and personal memorabilia seem untouched since Whiteley's death in 1992.E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Sat & Sun 10am-4pm
Address
2, Raper Street, Surry Hills, Sydney 2010
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9225 1740
4. Art Gallery of New South Wales - Classic art collection
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The premier Art Gallery of New South Wales has a commanding position in the Domain. Significant European, Asian and contemporary collections are masterfully hung in traditional and modern surrounds. Australian art, featuring Roberts, Streeton and McCubbin, is particularly good.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free; temporary exhibitions may charge
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-5pm (until 9pm Wed)
Address
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9225 1700
Attractions
Expand all5. Sydney Aquarium - Marine life and conservation
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Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour is hugely popular. Underwater tunnels re-create Australia's river and ocean habitats, and feeding sessions are frenzied. The highlight is the Great Barrier Reef theatre and its mesmerising flurries of fish. Conservation issues are highlighted throughout.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
A$31.95; concessions A$22.50; 4-16s A$17.95
Opening Hours
Daily 9am-10pm
Address
Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 8251 7800
6. Bondi Beach - Impressive beach and waves
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Australia's most famous beach has a long curved stretch of sand and impressive waves. Bondi Beach lifeguards patrol the shark-netted beach daily and there are pools for calmer swimming. Cliff-top walks to neighbouring Tamarama and Bronte beaches are highly recommended.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily all day
Address
Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi, Sydney 2026
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 8362 3406 (Waverley Council's Beach Services Divisions)
7. Vaucluse House - Mock-gothic mansion
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A rare survivor of a colonial harbourside estate, Vaucluse House has formal gardens, a kitchen wing, stables and outbuildings. The lavish entertaining rooms feature period furnishings left by the original owners, the powerful Wentworth family. Refreshments are served in the tearooms.E-mail this item
Cost
A$8; concessions A$4
Opening Hours
Fri-Sun 9.30am-4pm (daily in Jan and NSW public holidays)
Address
Wentworth Road, Vaucluse, Sydney 2030
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9388 7922
8. Elizabeth Bay House - Colonial mansion
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Below Kings Cross, 1830s Elizabeth Bay House was considered the finest in the colony. It's still a stunning piece of architecture. Highlights are the curved staircase topped with an oval dome and the meticulously re-created interiors evoking aristocratic colonial life.E-mail this item
Cost
A$8; concessions A$4
Opening Hours
Fri-Sun 9.30am-4pm
Address
7, Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney 2011
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9356 3022
9. Royal Botanic Gardens - Inner-city oasis
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Royal Botanic Gardens' inner-city oasis stretches from Circular Quay to Woolloomooloo. Picnic lawns surround themed gardens exploring herbs, rainforest, roses and succulents. The Tropical Centre's glass pyramid displays exotic plants while threatened plants remind visitors of the gardens' conservation work.E-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily 7am-8pm (until 6.30pm Mar & Oct, 6pm Apr & Sep, 5.30pm May & Aug, 5pm Jun & Jul)
Address
Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9231 8111
10. Sydney Harbour Bridge - Iconic bridge
Show more The unmissable 1930s Sydney Harbour Bridge spans the water from The Rocks to Milsons Point. Walk across in 20 minutes and climb 200 steps to the pylon lookout for views and informative exhibits. The brave tackle the challenging Bridge Climb.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Pylon Lookout A$9.50; concessions A$6.50; children A$4
Opening Hours
Pylon Lookout Daily 10am-5pm
Address
Bridge Stairs, Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9240 1100
11. Sydney Tower - Sky-high observation deck
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Soaring over the city, Sydney Tower has views all the way to the Blue Mountains and harbour heads. Admission includes a virtual-reality show exploring Australian culture. The brave can don a harness and take the Skywalk on the tower's roof.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
A$25; concessions A$19.50; children A$15; Skywalk A$65; children A$45 (over 10s only)
Opening Hours
Daily 9am-10.30pm; closed Christmas Day
Address
100, Market Street, Podium Level, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9333 9222
12. Taronga Zoo - Harbourside wildlife sanctuary
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A classic ferry-trip destination, Taronga Zoo is stunningly located on the North Shore. The emphasis is on conservation and education, and themed animal exhibits are housed in revamped enclosures. For photo opportunities head to the giraffes and koalas.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
A$41; concessions A$28; 4-15s A$20; under 4s free
Opening Hours
Daily 9am-5pm
Address
Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, Sydney 2088
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9969 2777
Special things to do
Expand all13. Horse Riding in Centennial Park - Urban horse ride
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Hire an escort and go Horse Riding in Centennial Park, south-east of the city centre. Boots and helmet are provided. Centennial is a grand park in the European tradition, with wide avenues, woodlands and formal gardens.E-mail this item
Cost
A$70; escorted only
Opening Hours
Daily; various hours
Address
Moore Park Stables, Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre, Lang Road, Sydney 2021
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9360 8747
14. Sydney Observatory Night Visit - Nightime southern skies
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It is possible to visit during the day but a Sydney Observatory Night Visit is much more atmospheric. The two-hour tour includes a visit to the 3-D space theatre and viewing through telescopes, guided by an experienced astronomer.E-mail this item
Cost
A$15; concessions A$12; children A$10
Opening Hours
Daily 6.15pm-10pm (from 8.15pm Oct-Mar)
Address
Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9921 3485
15. Sydney Harbour Ferry Ride - Sightseeing by boat
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No visit is complete without taking a Sydney Harbour Ferry Ride. Ferries depart from the city centre's Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo, Balmain, Manly or upriver to Parramatta. Watsons Bay is popular for fish and chips and dramatic cliff-top walks.E-mail this item
Cost
A$5.20-A$7.70; concessions A$2.60-A$3.80
Opening Hours
Daily, varies according to route
Address
Circular Quay, Sydney 2000
Telephone
+61 (0) 2 9246 8300
