When you're mapping out your travel plans to Sydney, remember to include a trip to the many museums and galleries. It's a great way to spend the time alone or with the entire family. What's more, you'll discover the history of Australia – from the native aboriginals to the English settlers – plus antiquities and contemporary art from around the world.
The Australian Museum
One of the oldest museums in Australia, it's internationally known in the field of natural history and anthropology. It was founded in 1827, by the then Secretary of the State for the Colonies and now has collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, mineralogy, palaeontology and anthropology. Open Monday-Wednesday 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 6:00 a.m.-11:00p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Prices vary.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Australia's leading museum offers five levels of Australian art-from colonial to modern, including one of the largest galleries of aboriginal art in the country. You'll also find works from China, Japan and South East Asia. Plus, an old master's gallery of European works covering the Renaissance to the Victorian time. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday open until 9 p.m. Free. Charges apply to some exhibits.
It's chock full of maritime antiquities, plus a replica of Captain Cook's 18th century ship, HM Bark Endeavour. View the Spirit of Australia boat, a former Navy destroyer, HMAS Vampire, an Oberon class submarine and a Vietnamese refugee boat. It's great for the whole family. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Open until 6 p.m. in January. Prices vary.
Located on beautiful Sydney's Harbour, this museum is known for bringing in some of the best international and local contemporary works. Their mission statement says its all, "...Dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and collecting contemporary art from across Australia and around the world.'"Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Christmas. Free.
Visiting this museum brings you into one of Sydney's most historical sites – Australia's first Government House. It was build by New South Wale's first Governor, Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788. The governor's records, possessions, artworks and furniture are displayed throughout the museum's three floors. These historical pieces are complemented with the contemporary such as modern video screens, film and sound installations. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Christmas and Good Friday. Prices vary.
A popular museum for the entire family featuring exhibits, events, workshops, talks and lectures. You'll find thousands of objects displayed from history, design, technology, music and space exploration displayed in a friendly hands-on manner. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Christmas. Adults $10 AUD; Children $5 AUD, Students $6 AUD. Family packages also available.
Takes you through events of World War II to the "final solution". Also, displays Jewish life during the European settlement in Australia. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Adults $10 AUD; Children $6 AUD, Students/Seniors $7 AUD; Family packages available.
