14 Sydney Museums For a Brilliant Day Out

Don’t wait for a rainy day to lose yourself in a Sydney museum crammed with insight into life well before our time.

You don’t have to be a history buff to get swept up in the rare and wonderful memorabilia showcased within Sydney’s best museums. From ocean-navigating vessels and iconic sporting keepsakes to historical artefacts out of The Rocks, home to one of Sydney’s best markets, any given Sydney museum is a guaranteed good time.

1. Museum of Sydney

Best for: Cultural insight into First Nations people.

Nestled within the sandstone precinct of the city’s CBD, Museum of Sydney provides a comprehensive look at the structures, people and events that have shaped Sydney. Built over the remains of the city’s First Government House, this Sydney museum invites people of all ages to soak up beautifully curated exhibitions.

Determined to shed light on and broaden education into First Nations culture, programs focus on First Nations history and the museum itself is currently planning a transformation into a dedicated First Nations cultural space. Entry is free and if you have littlies in tow, there’s a great Kids’ Trail that charts tales from First Government House.

two people entering the Museum of Sydney — Learn more about the First Nations people at the Museum of Sydney.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily.
Address: Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney

2. Justice & Police Museum

Best for: Gory details into Sydney’s most notorious crimes.

Sucker for true crime? The Justice & Police Museum in Sydney’s CBD houses a juicy treasure trove of stories and artefacts tracing the city’s most guilty. Spread across a former copshop and two courtrooms, the extraordinary Sydney museum was originally built in the 1850s and its historical relics go as far back as the bushranger era.

the police court at Justice & Police Museum — The Justice & Police Museum houses a police court and police station.

You’ll see vintage weaponry, mug shots and crime scene snaps up close and personal, plus you’ll also learn about the technological advances revolutionising Sydney’s current police force. There’s also original 1800s holding cells to explore in the flesh. Entry is free and children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

portraits on the wall inside Justice & Police Museum — Step into the gory history of crime at the Justice & Police Museum.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Address: Corner Albert and Phillip Streets, Sydney

3. Australian Museum

Best for: Priceless artefacts and an ongoing schedule of activities.

Celebrating all things science and nature within Australia, the Australian Museum is a mecca of wonder. You won’t miss it on approach — its grand sandstone structure, the country’s very first museum built in the 1850s, looms from the corner of Sydney’s CBD.

a group of visitors admiring a display inside Australian Museum — Marvel at the exhibitions within the Australian Museum. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Home to more than 21 million scientific specimens and extraordinary objects collected over time, there’s always something special happening to underpin its charms. Think meditation classes, animal yoga, after-hour talks and interactive playgroups for bubs. Plus, there’s always a stellar line-up of visiting attractions including this year’s Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, exhibition.

a group of visitors inside First Australians Gallery in the Australian Museum — You’ll find extraordinary displays and installations inside. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily
Address: 1 William Street, Sydney

4. Hyde Park Barracks Museum

Best for: Learning about Australia’s convict history.

The historic site of Hyde Park Barracks Museum was originally constructed to house convicts but these days, it’s a Sydney museum that pays tribute to the thousands of citizens it sheltered as well as the First Nations community affected by Australian colonialism.

two people inside Hyde Park Barracks Museum — Explore the heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks Museum. (Image: James Horan)

Self-guided tours throughout its beautiful restoration, dotted with artefacts stored in glass cases, shed significant light on our history and there’s also a very active educational program for school children.

artwork and displays at the UNESCO world heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney — Absorb yourself in the fascinating artworks and displays in Hyde Park Barracks. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm, daily.
Address: Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney

5. Australian National Maritime Museum

Best for: Oceanic memorabilia and mighty impressive vessels.

Dubbed Australia’s Museum of the Sea, the Australian National Maritime Museum explores everything that floats, sails and swims in the country and beyond. Our maritime history is thoroughly charted inside the Darling Harbour complex which encompasses three navy vessels you can jump on board to discover the history of the Royal Australian Navy.

a family exploring the HMB Endeavour, an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbou — See the Australian-built replica of James Cook’s ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Sydney museum also owns a fleet of tall ships, a Cold War submarine and restored ancient boats that scatter the harbour. There’s always plenty of interactive activity happening inside the main building with exhibitions curated for children and adults. Tickets start from $25 for adults, $15 for children over 4-15 and free for infants under four.

a family onboard an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship at Australian National Maritime Museum — Jump onboard to experience what it’s like to sail an ancient ship. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, daily.
Address: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney

6. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Best for: Discovering the best of contemporary art.

A musical chairs of more than 4,500 pieces of art consistently fill the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia located in The Rocks. The building itself is a modern masterpiece, expanded in 2012 by architect Sam Marshall who added to the original 1991 sandstone structure with a futuristic five-storey wing.

Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney. — The museum is located in the historic The Rocks. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Sydney museum now houses two gallery floors, an entire floor dedicated to educational programs, digital and multimedia studios, a lecture theatre and further event spaces including a rooftop haven offering harbour views. Past collections include Australia’s first survey exhibition by Yoko Ono. Entry is free and the MCA also runs free guided tours.

Make sure to book lunch for yourself at the newly-opened Canvas Restaurant on level four. You’ll experience delicious modern Australian fare and stunning Sydney Harbour views.

Ten Thousand Suns, 24th Biennale of Sydney 2024 at Museum of Contemporary Art — Discover the best of contemporary art at MCA. (Image: Document Photography)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm Thursday to Monday.
Address: 140 George Street, The Rocks

7. Sydney Observatory

Best for: Stargazing and insight into astronomy.

Located atop the highest natural point in Sydney Cove, the Sydney Observatory is a romantic space to learn more about science and evolution. The heritage-listed building was built in the 1850s and has served as everything from a defence fort and a meteorological station to an events space.

Today, the Sydney museum is home to memorabilia offering deep insight into archaeology, weather measurement, historical flag communications and of course everything in the sky. If you can climb the building’s narrow staircase, you’ll be rewarded with captivating artefacts and there are also guided tours with one skewed towards children. Entry is free.

Opening hours: Nightly tours staged from Wednesday to Saturday.
Address: 1003 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point

8. Susannah Place Museum

Best for: Utterly transporting oneself to the 1800s.

You won’t find miniature models or screens showing black-and-white footage at Susannah Place Museum . Instead, you’ll step right into a life that started more than 150 years ago.

Step into an 18th-century house at Susannah Place Museum. (Image: James Horan)

This Sydney museum is a cluster of four itty bitty terrace houses that have sheltered more than 100 families since they were built in 1844.

people heading upstairs towards the entrance of Susannah Place Museum — Swing by Susannah Place Museum when you’re in Sydney. (Image: James Horan)

Retaining original structures and features, including the crockery and furniture worn in by the final tenants, their remarkable resilience makes for an incredible portal into a bygone era. Entry is free.

the exterior of Susannah Place Museum — Be transported back to the 1800s at Susannah Place Museum. (Image: James Horan)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday.
Address: 58-64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

9. The Rocks Discovery Museum

Best for: Keeping the kids occupied.

Follow the cobblestone road to find The Rocks Discovery Museum , constructed across three buildings including Samson’s Cottage which dates to 1844. Focused on celebrating The Rocks’ history as the original settlement site in 1788 and everything it witnessed in the years that followed, the Sydney museum is spilling over with temporary exhibitions and a fabulous school program.

Expect flocks of students if you’re visiting on a weekday. If it’s school holidays, kids will still linger — a ripper school holiday program filled with arts and crafts and other engrossing activities attracts families from all over the city. Entry is free.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, daily.
Address: 2-8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks

10. Chau Chak Wing Museum

Best for: Stickybeaking archaeological artefacts from all over the world.

Did you know the University of Sydney has three outstanding collections of antiquities, historical photography and other extraordinary bits collected over the past 150 years? Chau Chak Wing Museum gathers every piece, almost half a million items in total, and presents them in a beautiful exhibition space right on site. This Sydney museum, designed by the award-winning design organisation Johnson Pilton Walker, is filled with works spanning First Nations art, ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt relics and more than 315,000 insects. Entry is free.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 10am to 9pm Thursday and 12pm to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Address: The University of Sydney, University Place, Camperdown

11. Sydney Bus Museum

Best for: Big boys’, and little boys’, toys.

Set in an old tram shed in Sydney’s inner west, the Sydney Bus Museum is an absolute must-visit if you’re into large-scale automobiles. As its name suggests, buses are the flavour of every month and it offers a glimpse at some of the world’s rarest sets of wheels.

the deckers in the night bus exploring the Sydney Harbour Bridge — Venture across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge at night on a double-decker bus.

You’ll spy more than 70 vehicles including double-deckers from across the globe, Australian masterpieces from the 1920s, 1940s and 1950s plus slick Mercedes-Benz varieties from the 1990s. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children aged between four and 16.

the pre-war Sydney double-decker bus, Leyland TD4 1379, Sydney Bus Museum — The pre-war Sydney double-decker bus, Leyland TD4 1379.

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, the first and third Sunday of every month.
Address: 25 Derbyshire Road, Leichhardt.

12. Sydney Jewish Museum

Best for: Extensive insight into Jewish culture and heritage.

Gather invaluable learnings about the Holocaust and Australia’s Jewish community at the Sydney Jewish Museum in the city’s eastern suburbs. The Sydney museum was constructed in 1992 by a group of Sydney-based holocaust survivors who longed for a place to share memories and educate the wider community.

Every piece on show within the museum tells a unique story of resilience and survival and it also serves as an events space for community discussions, book launches and more. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $11 for students while children under the age of 10 are free and entry for all is complimentary on Sunday.

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm, Friday, 10am to 4.00pm Sunday.
Address: 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst

13. Sydney Cricket Ground Museum

Best for: Sporting fans of all descriptions.

No matter your code or allegiance, the Sydney Cricket Ground Museum is a celebration of Australia’s sporting legends and the milestones played out in the city’s most historic sporting home. Spy brilliant behind-the-scenes photographs of iconic moments in the venue’s 160-year lifespan, plus great memorabilia like prized bats and balls and life-size sculptures of everyone’s heroes.

You’ll need to sign on for the Sydney museum’s 90-minute ‘SCG Tour’ to gain access, which must be pre-booked. Prices start from $33 for adults and $20 for children.

Opening hours: 10am to 11.30am, Monday to Saturday. Closed major match days.
Address: Behind the Ladies Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Driver Avenue, Moore Park.

14. Old Government House

Best for: Insight into Australia’s convict migration.

Step inside the oldest public building in the country at Old Government House in Parramatta. The magnificent Georgian house is home to an eye-watering collection of rare colonial furnishings but if you can get past the interiors, you’ll find emotional accounts from convicts and NSW’s first 10 Governors.

the property exterior of the Old Government House — The Old Government House once sheltered NSW’s first governors. (Image: Destination NSW)

Spend some time in the grounds before you leave as the manicured gardens are worthy of some glorious selfies and panoramic shots. Adult entry costs $15 and concession entry costs $12, plus children under the age of five are free.

the heritage-listed Old Government House, Parramatta — The magnificent Georgian house is set on spacious grounds. (Image: Destination NSW)

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Address: Parramatta Park, Pitt Street entrance, Parramatta

Keep reading our epic list of things to do in Sydney for more inspiration.

Make this dazzling stretch of beaches and natural wonders your home base for a grand adventure

Whether you’re setting out solo, bringing a mate, or packing in the whole family, no road trip along Australia’s East Coast is complete without at least a few days spent exploring the Coffs Coast. A stunning stretch of NSW coastline nestled between ancient high-elevation rainforests and magnificent, undiscovered beaches, Coffs offers amazing biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, and heaps of local charm, without the crowds. Pull up in Coffs Harbour , your perfect home base for these unforgettable day-trips.

1. Southern Beaches

The Coffs region boasts 30 of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, directly abutting a dramatic tableau of mountains and rainforests. Drive South of Coffs Harbour to find up-and-coming surf destinations where it’s still possible to catch an empty wave. First up is the picturesque Sawtell village . Wander the famous fig-tree-lined main street packed with laid-back places to eat and drink. Enjoy panoramic views and seasonal whale sightings at Bonville Headland on the Southern end of the beach.

Nearby Bongil Bongil National Park boasts seven kilometres of empty beach, along with hiking and cycling trails through beachfront rainforests – keep an eye out for koalas living in the trees. Boambee Beach and Boambee Creek Reserve are great for families, with shallow waters perfect for kayaking and SUPing, plus an off-leash dog beach.

family eating lunch in sawtell — Experience small-town charm in Sawtell.

2. Orara Valley Tourist Trail

The Orara Valley Tourist Trail has it all: hinterland bushwalks, birdwatching, horse riding, pristine swimming holes and rolling green pastures dotted with dairy farms and historic villages. And it’s only 15 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.

Sample produce at a roadside stall, stop into Coramba Hotel for a quintessential country pub lunch, or try the Idle in Cafe in Nana Glen for coffee and scones. Then spend the afternoon kayaking the Orara River or mountain biking on Mt Coramba. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the 4WD touring route along the Orara Escarpment in Bindarri National Park , a rugged landscape with dazzling views that winds through untouched eucalypt rainforests and waterfalls.

A family sitting by the Orara Valley Tourist Trail. — Explore the green heart of Coffs.

3. Dorrigo National Park

Enjoy a classic day trip from Coffs to forest bathe in some of the oldest subtropical rainforests in the world at Dorrigo National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. These million-year-old ecosystems promise rare bird sightings, towering strangler figs, and epic walking tracks and picnic spots. Try the 6.6 km Wonga Walk to experience dreamy Crystal Shower Falls (where you can walk behind the falls) and the Skywalk Lookout, which offers spectacular views of the valley and coast. Then stop in Dorrigo town for a homey lunch. It’s worth noting that a section of the road between Ulong and Dorrigo – which dates to the 1880s – is unsealed, adding to the area’s end-of-the-earth allure but making travel difficult in adverse weather conditions. Alternatively, head to Dorrigo via the delightful township of Bellingen .

Three people standing at the SkyWalk lookout. — Wander the Skywalk.

4. Northern Beaches

For another tranquil expanse of sun, sand and surf breaks, head north to Woolgoolga (Tourism Australia’s Best Mainland Beach for 2025. Taste the coffee and local-produce breakfast at one of several cafes, then spot whales during their migration season along the Woolgoolga Whale Trail to the headland. Emerald Beach offers clear blue waters and another headland walk, perfect for taking in views of South Solitary Island, a dramatically rocky-cliffed island with a historic lighthouse. Red Rock, some 40km north of Coffs and named for its striking coastal rock formations, boasts a gorgeous estuary reserve that’s perfect for languorous days spent picnicking, swimming, fishing, and connecting with the relaxed local pace.

Freshly caught seafood by the beach, with sparkling ocean views. — Enjoy fresh seafood overlooking Woolgoolga Beach.

5. Jetty precinct

You could easily spend a whole day exploring the Jetty precinct – from its foreshores to the marina to Muttonbird Island. Start with fresh fish and chips from local institution Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-op , before browsing the popular Harbourside Markets held every Sunday on the foreshores.

Take a scenic walk along the breakwall to Muttonbird Island , a cultural and ecological treasure with panoramic views and rich Gumbaynggirr heritage. The Giidany Miirlarl Education Space shares the island’s ancient stories, or join a guided moonlight tour to see the seasonal return of the muttonbirds.

Back at the Jetty Strip, find a buzzing mix of cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, open from morning until late. Don’t miss The Jetty Pavilion , a favourite for its unique menu blending modern Australian cuisine with vibrant world flavours.

walk to muttonbird island from coffs harbour — Walk the path where land meets sea and sky.

6. Grafton

Head inland from mid-October to early November to catch Grafton’s jacaranda season, when the town’s streets and parks are covered in purple. Even better, time your trip between 24 October and 2 November to attend the famous Jacaranda Festival, with special food items, performances and more. At any time of year, follow the self-guided Grafton Heritage Trail to discover the town’s historic buildings, landmarks and stories. Or get the blood pumping with a trip along the longest mapped white-water trail in Australia – the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. Book a tour with Exodus Adventures .

woman walking through jacaranda trees in grafton — Time your Grafton trip to see the jacarandas in full bloom. (Image: @myclarencevalley)

7. Nambucca

Just south of Coffs Harbour sits Nambucca, the ideal town for a relaxed, coastal day trip. Hire a canoe, kayak or boat to explore over 80 kilometres of waterways stretching from the hinterland to the ocean. For those who prefer to stay on dry land (or double up their adventure for the day), stretch your legs along the V-Wall – a scenic coastal walk along the Nambucca River – dotted with boulders painted by the community, sharing messages, art and local stories. Stop along the way to buy Sydney rock oysters direct from local farmers, or try your own hand at fishing. Before heading back to Coffs, refuel on fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas at Matilda’s in Nambucca .

a boat zooming through Nambucca Heads — Explore Nambucca’s waterways. (Image: Seen Australia)

Visit coffscoast.com and download the Coffs Coast Explorer App for more daytrips and trails.

14 Sydney museums that make for a brilliant day out