Destination Guides > Australia > New South Wales > Sydney > Sights & Activities
Sydney
Sights
CITY CENTRE
The Central Business District (known as either the CBD or simply the City) stretches from Circular Quay at the harbour south to Central Station and encompasses the cluster of high-rise office buildings in between. Most of Sydney’s sights are here and other neighbourhoods such as Darling Harbour and The Rocks are within easy walking distance.
Sydney Tower
Sydney’s tallest building offers great views over the city centre and Sydney Harbour. Entry to the observation deck also includes OzTrek, a 35-minute virtual reality tour featuring 3D holograms and 180 degree cinema screens.
100 Market Street, Sydney
Monorail City Centre Train St James, Town Hall
Tel (02) 9333 9222
Website www.sydneytower.com.au
Admission $25 ($19.50 students)
Open Mon-Fri 9am-10.30pm, Sat 9am-11.30pm, Sun 9am-10.30pm
Sydney Tower Skywalk
The Centrepoint Tower is also the venue for the Sydney Tower Skywalk. This adventure activity involves getting into a harness and venturing out onto the roof of the tower and walking along external walkways to a platform suspended over the edge of the tower that offers even better city views than the observation deck.
Admission $40 (in addition to Sydney Tower entry fee)
Open 9.30am-8.45pm daily
Art Gallery of NSW
A good collection of permanent exhibits ranging from Australian artists and even including a few European masters. The Art Gallery of New South Wales also hosts a number of excellent temporary exhibits.
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney
Bus 441 Train Martin Place, St James
Tel (02) 9225 1744
Website www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Admission free, charge for temporary exhibits
Open 10am-5pm daily
Australian Museum
Australia’s first museum is home to impressive displays of Australian culture as well as stuffed animals and interactive science exhibits.
6 College Street, Sydney
Bus 200, 311, 312, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 389 Train Museum
Tel (02) 9320 6000
Website www.amonline.net.au
Admission $10
Open 9.30am-5pm daily
Government House
Although no longer the governor’s residence, Government House is still used for official functions. At other times visitors can enjoy one of Australia’s best examples of Gothic Revival architecture.
Macquarie Street, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Bus L82, L94, X94, X98, 301, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 323, 324, 325, 327, 373, 374, 376, 377, 380, 382, 389, 390, 391, 392, 394, 396, 397, 398, 399, 438, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9931 5222
Website www.hht.nsw.gov.au
Admission free
Open house Fri-Sun 10am-3pm; grounds 10am-4pm daily
Hyde Park Barracks
Designed by convict architect, Francis Greenway, Hyde Park Barracks have endured a colourful history as a home for convicts, an immigration depot and an asylum. It has now been converted into a museum with exhibits on convict life.
Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bus X90, X96 Train Martin Place, St James
Tel (02) 9223 8922
Website www.hht.nsw.gov.au
Admission $10
Open 9.30am-5pm daily
Justice & Police Museum
Formerly a police station and courtroom, the Justice & Police Museum has an interesting series of exhibits on crime, law and policing in New South Wales. Visitors have the opportunity to see mug shots of early criminals, weapons and forensic evidence as well as seeing the inside of a police charge room and a remand cell.
Corner Albert & Phillip Streets, Sydney
Bus L82, L94, X94, X98, 301, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 323, 324, 325, 327, 373, 374, 376, 377, 380, 382, 389, 390, 391, 392, 394, 396, 397, 398, 399, 438, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9252 1144
Website www.hht.nsw.gov.au
Admission $8
Open Jan 10am-5pm daily; Feb-Dec Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Museum of Sydney
Situated on the site of the original Government House, the Museum of Sydney delves into the history of Sydney from early Aboriginal culture through colonial times to the modern city that you see today.
Corner Bridge & Phillip Streets, Sydney
Bus L82, L94, X94, X98, 301, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 323, 324, 325, 327, 373, 374, 376, 377, 380, 382, 389, 390, 391, 392, 394, 396, 397, 398, 399, 438, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9251 5988
Website www.hht.nsw.gov.au
Admission $10
Open 9.30am-5pm daily
Queen Victoria Building
The Queen Victoria Building, or QVB, is an opulent Romanesque Revival shopping centre that fills the city block bordered by Druitt, George, Market and York Streets. It was built in 1898 and although threatened with demolition in the late 1950s, it reopened as an upmarket shopping centre in 1986. Although it is hardly a place where most backpackers come to shop, it’s a nice building to saunter through.
455 George Street, Sydney
Bus 151, 169, 175, 178, 180, 183, 184, 190, 200, 247, 254, 261, 264, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 441, 442, 461 Monorail Park Plaza Train Town Hall
Tel (02) 9264 1955
Website www.qvb.com.au
Admission free
Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens occupies the large area of parkland at the north eastern edge of the city centre. It is home to Government House, ponds, gardens and lots of fruit bats.
Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
Bus L82, L94, X94, X98, 301, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 323, 324, 325, 327, 373, 374, 376, 377, 380, 382, 389, 390, 391, 392, 394, 396, 397, 398, 399, 438, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9231 8125
Website www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Admission free
Open 6.30am-sunset
State Library of NSW
This impressive library contains more than two million books including historical treasures such as the logbooks of Captain Bligh and Captain Cook’s original journals.
Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bus 200 Train Martin Place
Tel (02) 9273 1414
Website www.slnsw.gov.au
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and built over a 14-year period. It was finally completed, way over budget, in 1973. The Opera House is one of Australia’s two internationally recognised urban landmarks (the Harbour Bridge is the other) and is widely recognised for its unique design and imposing position overlooking the harbour at the tip of Bennelong Point. The Opera House has four auditoria and features ballet, classical music, theatre and opera performances. Front of house tours run frequently but backstage tours run less often and need to be booked in advance.
Bennelong Point, Sydney
Bus all Circular Quay buses Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9250 7777
Website www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Tours cost $35 ($27.50 online); backstage tour $150
Tours depart every 30mins 9am-5pm daily
Town Hall
Sydney’s Town Hall is a fine example of Victorian architecture featuring a clock tower, while the interior contains a concert hall with an impressive 8,500-pipe organ.
483 George Street, Sydney
Bus 151, 169, 175, 178, 180, 183, 184, 190, 200, 247, 254, 261, 264, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 441, 442, 461 Monorail Park Plaza Train Town Hall
Tel (02) 9265 9007
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
DARLING HARBOUR
Just a short walk from the heart of the city centre, this harbour side precinct has been developed as new tourist area with hotels, museums, parks, shopping centres and plenty of fast food shops. Everything of interest in Darling Harbour was built in the last 20 years and parts of it seem quite sterile, however the area is home to several attractions including the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, the National Maritime Museum and the Powerhouse Museum.
Australian National Maritime Museum
An excellent maritime museum with exhibits which include the submarine HMAS Onslow.
2 Murray Street, Pyrmont
Bus 888 Ferry Darling Harbour Monorail Harbourside MLR Tram Pyrmont Bay
Tel (02) 9298 3777
Website www.anmm.gov.au
Admission museum free; boats & submarine $30
Open Jan 9.30am-6pm daily; Feb-Dec 9.30am-5pm daily
Powerhouse Museum
One of Australia’s largest museums has some excellent interactive displays and is host to a number of very good temporary exhibits. It is definitely one of Australia’s more enjoyable museums.
500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Bus 501 Ferry Darling Harbour Monorail Haymarket MLR Tram Haymarket
Tel (02) 9217 0100 or 9217 0444
Website www.phm.gov.au
Admission $10 ($6 students)
Open 10am-5pm daily
Sydney Aquarium
This aquarium is excellent and shows underwater life in different ecosystems from mangrove swamps to rivers and the Great Barrier Reef and features glass tunnels where you are surrounded by water.
Wheat Street, Sydney
Ferry Darling Harbour Monorail Darling Park Train Town Hall
Tel (02) 9262 2300
Website www.sydneyaquarium.com.au
Admission $29.50 ($20.50 students)
Open 9am-10pm daily (last entry 9pm)
Sydney Wildlife World
This small wildlife park has 65 exhibits with 100 different Australian species over three levels. It fits quite a lot into a small space and gets good reports from travellers, but it is really small and much larger wildlife parks outside Sydney are a lot cheaper.
Lime Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Monorail Darling Park Train Town Hall MLR Tram Convention, Pyrmont Bay
Tel (02) 9333 9288
Website www.sydneywildlifeworld.com.au
Admission $29.50 ($26.55 online)
Open 9am-10pm daily (last entry 9pm)
THE ROCKS
This area at the southern end of the Harbour Bridge is Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood and is a welcome departure from the towers of glass and steel just a few minutes walk away. Much of the area has been renovated with plenty of expensive restaurants and boutiques. The Rocks is also home to some of the city’s best pubs and can get quite busy on a Friday or Saturday night.
Museum of Contemporary Art
With an enviable location overlooking Sydney Cove from Circular Quay West, the Museum of Contemporay Art has a good collection of artworks including a number of excellent temporary exhibits.
140 George Street, The Rocks
Bus 435, 436, 437, 438, 440, 443, 470, 500, 501, 504, 506, 508, 510, 520, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9252 4033
Website www.mca.com.au
Admission free
Open 10am-5pm daily
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The world’s widest long-span bridge and tallest (134m), but not the longest, steel arch bridge opened in 1932 becoming Sydney’s first internationally recognised landmark. The bridge is such an enduring symbol of the city that it deserves more than just a quick look. Walking across is the cheapest and one of the best ways to experience the bridge, although you can also take a bus or train across. If you’ve got the money the best experience by far is the BridgeClimb. One of the bridge’s southern pylons houses the Harbour Bridge Museum that has great views from the top.
Access to the pedestrian lane is via the Bridge Stairs on Cumberland Street between Argyle and Gloucester Streets, The Rocks.
Bus X39, 339, X43, 343, 431, 432, 433, 434 Train Wynyard, Milsons Point
BridgeClimb
The BridgeClimb offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to climb the outer arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Although expensive and out of many backpackers’ budgets the BridgeClimb is established as Sydney’s top attraction. The BridgeClimb bills itself as an adventure activity although it’s not in the same league as skydiving or bungee jumping. The experience lasts for 3½ hours and gives you a fantastic view of the city and an appreciation of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
All climbers are fitted with a bridge suit and safety harness and given a safety briefing before heading out on to the bridge. Then small groups of around ten climb a series of ladders to the lower area of the top arch, from where they climb to the top of the bridge. There’s a photo session at the top, then you walk across a walkway to the other side where you descend back to street level. Bookings are essential and don’t go out on the town the night before as everyone is breathalysed before the climb.
5 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Bus all Wynyard & Circular Quay buses Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 8274 7777
Website www.bridgeclimb.com.au
Admission $179-295
Open 8am-5pm daily
Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout
The climb up the stairs inside one of the bridge’s southern pylons is a cheaper alternative to the BridgeClimb although the experience isn’t quite the same. There are great views from the top and the museum inside the pylon has exhibits about the bridge’s construction.
Hickson Road, Dawes Point. South East Pylon (access is via the pedestrian pathway on the Eastern side of the bridge).
Bus X39, 339, X43, 343, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 440, 443, 470, 500, 504, 506, 888 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9240 1100
Website www.pylonlookout.com.au
Admission $9.50
Open 10am-5pm daily
Sydney Observatory
Australia’s oldest observatory features an exhibition on astronomy and its context in Australian history.
Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks
Bus X39, 339, X43, 343, 431, 432, 433, 434 Ferry Circular Quay Train Circular Quay
Tel (02) 9217 0485
Website www.sydneyobservatory.com.au
Admission daytime $7; night time $15
Open 10am-5pm daily; night time hours vary
OTHER AREAS
Sydney’s suburbs go on and on and on so allow plenty of travelling time to get to the city’s more far-flung sights.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is one of Sydney’s most popular attractions. It is known as the zoo with a view and is one of the world’s more enjoyable zoos, partly because of its lovely harbour side setting. The zoo has the usual collection of animals from around the globe and a couple of good picnic and barbecue areas.
Bradleys Head Road, Mosman
Ferry Taronga Zoo
Tel (02) 9969 2777
Website www.zoo.nsw.gov.au
Admission $37 ($23 students); combined ferry & admission tickets available
Open 9am-5pm daily
