Choose from 130 Fun Things to Do in Sydney
ShowingFilter 121-130 of 130 listings.
National Portrait Gallery
A great city and a great country must first be home to great people. After all, it's the lives and actions of its exemplary citizens that lay the foundation for greatness, and at Canberra's National Portrait Gallery, empowering portraits create an historical mosaic of the people who molded Australia.
All art mediums are utilized here, from paintings, drawings, sketches, and photography"”even sculpture and film. Portrait subjects are drawn from all corners of modern Australian society, from politicians and athletes to musicians and royalty. More than simply an art gallery, however, portraits are accompanied my multimedia guides and provide detailed background on the iconic figures who are literally staring you in the face. With over 400 portraits on the gallery grounds, and rotating exhibits that richly explore different segments of Australian culture, there is no better place hear the stories and see the faces of Australia's most inspiring citizens.
Practical Info
There is parking available for travelers with their own vehicle, and the Gallery is accessible on the bus lines 2, 3 and 934. The National Portrait Gallery is open every day except Christmas from 10am-5pm, and admission is free of charge.
Address: King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600, Australia
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm, Closed Christmas
From $ 140
Susannah Place Museum
At the foot of Sydney's Harbour Bridge lies the city's historic birthplace, the Rocks: a quarter of winding streets, small sandstone houses and some of the oldest pubs in town. It was here that the colonists from the First Fleet settled, and the site soon became home to the strong community network of Sydney's working class.
The Susannah Place Museum, a small complex dating back to 1844, tells the story of these former residents. It consists of four terrace houses and a mom-and-pop shop that sells historical artifacts and typical Australian souvenirs. The museum gives fascinating insight into the hard urban life of the working class during colonial times, with workers' stories reconstructed through oral histories. Visitors are shown a documentary about those who lived here and are then given a tour through the buildings, which are all preserved in their original condition. Only essential repairs were carried out on the houses, with their low ceilings, worn-out steps and old furniture from different epochs.
Practical Info
The Susannah Place Museum is open daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is only closed on school and public holidays. It's a 10-minute walk from Circular Quay to the museum.
Address: 58"“64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Hours: Open daily 2 pm - 5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Admission: Adults $12 AUD, Children (Age 5 - 15) $8 AUD (under 5 years free), Family $30 AUD, Members Free
From $ 81
Parliament House
The oldest building in Sydney, Parliament House is home to the political reigning body of New South Wales. Both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council gather inside what once served as Sydney Hospital to make important decisions about the state's operations. While ghosts are rumored to roam the building's halls, visitors most often come to learn about its rich history and gain a better understanding of Sydney's modern political operations.
Practical Info
Sydney's Parliament House is located at 6 Macquarie Street, near the corner of Hunter Street and the Royal Botanic Garden. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Address: 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
From $ 41
Sydney Tower Buffet Restaurant
Lofted above the metropolitan skyline atop the 1,014-foot (309-meter) Sydney Tower, the Sydney Tower Buffet is one of the Southern Hemisphere's highest revolving restaurants. Soak in 360-degree views of nearby landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, and (on a clear day) the Blue Mountains while enjoying lunch or dinner as the restaurant slowly rotates high above the city.
The Basics
The Sydney Tower Buffet offers a casual self-select dining experience, sans dress code, with more than 60 dishes covering both local and international cuisines. Try fresh seafood from Australia's shores, a variety of fresh meats and veggies, and national specialties such as crocodile or kangaroo. Book ahead to get the time slot that best fits your needs for lunch or dinner.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The buffet meal provides a casual dining option with an only-in-Sydney twist, and works well for families with kids and groups.
- The Sydney Tower Buffet is wheelchair accessible (advance notice is requested).
- Dining time is limited to 1.5 hours.
- The restaurant does not have a dedicated children's menu and does not charge for kids under 3.
- Gluten-free, vegetarian, and Halal options are available on the menu.
How to Get There
Located at Pitt and Market Streets, Sydney Tower is about a 10-minute walk from Circular Quay. The closest train stations are St. James and Town Hall, while city buses stop at Elizabeth Street, Castlereagh Street, and the Queen Victoria Building. Enter the Westfield Sydney shopping mall on Market St; the restaurant reception is on Level 4.
When to Get There
Sydney Tower Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, with booking windows running from 11:30am to 2pm for lunch and 5 to 11pm for dinner. Book ahead to make sure you get a table. To see the city in daylight, at sunset, and after dark, book your visit just before twilight.
Views at the Sydney Tower Restaurant
Turning at the rate of one full revolution every 80 minutes, the Sydney Tower Buffet offers different perspectives on Sydney throughout the meal. Every table is placed next to floor-to-ceiling picture windows.
Address: 100 Market Street, Sydney Centrepoint 2000, Australia
Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner
Admission: Pricing varies by day
From $ 44
Oxford Street
Home to some of Sydney's best shopping, Oxford Street is an edgy thoroughfare that runs from Sydney's CBD out east toward Bondi Junction. Lined with trendy shops and boutiques, it's also become a central hub of Sydney's late-night club scene, as well as the unofficial center of Sydney's LGBT community. To learn about Oxford Street's fascinating history, join in a guided walking tour that explores the quirky history and heritage of the infamous Sydney thoroughfare, or simply spend a few hours strolling the street and colorful streetside markets. Known as "Paddo" to Sydney locals, the suburb is home to The Intersection which teems with shops and boutiques, and comes alive on Saturday mornings with the weekly Paddington Market. Once per year, at the beginning of March, Oxford Street in Darlinghust is closed to traffic for the Oxford Street Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The festival celebrates 1978 when Sydney's gay and lesbian community stood up for their rights and marched in the street that now is one of the most energetic and vibrant spots in town.
Insider's Tip: The stretch of Oxford Street near the CBD is often referred to as "The Golden Mile."
Practical Info
Many of the bars, boutiques, and shops are clustered around Darlinghurst, to the east of Hyde Park, and around the Paddington Markets. While the area is great for shopping by day, it has gained a bit of a reputation as a troublesome spot by night.
Address: Oxford Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
From $ 44
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art has been showcasing the works of Australian artists in galleries designed to celebrate solo exhibitions since it first opened its doors back in 1991. The museum is housed in the former Maritime Services Board Building and offers visitors incredible views of the picturesque harbor and iconic opera house. Those who enjoy the Museum of Modern Art in New York City will likely find similar experimental work here. Travelers say that while the museum is small, it's worth the trip and a quiet cafe on the fourth floor is perfect for post-museum tea or weekend brunch with a view.
Practical Info
The museum is located at Circular Quay West and is easily accessible via bus, ferry and train. It is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. On Thursday the museum is open until 9 p.m.
Address: 140 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hours: Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. On Thursday the museum is open until 9 p.m. Closed Christmas Day
From $ 73
Palm Beach
Locals know this beautiful beach as the backdrop for the Aussie soap opera "Home and Away," but travelers love the quiet cove on the Pacific Ocean near the Tasman Sea for its white sandy shores, bright blue waters and relaxing vibe.
The scenic beach stretches some three kilometers. Its wavy rips are perfect for boarding, but locals also head to the calm waters of the unique 50-meter ocean swimming pool for early morning laps. Some of Australia's most exclusive real estate, including homes of famous celebrities and top-notch entrepreneurs, dot the well-forested hillsides surrounding Palm Beach.
Practical Info
Palm Beach is 41 kilometers north of the Sydney central business district at the end of Barrenjoey Road between Pittwater and Broken Bay. The beach, which has pubic toilets, showers and changing facilities, is easily accessible via public transportation using the L90 from Wynyard Station. Locals often refer to Palm Beach as "Palmy."
Address: Palm Beach, Sydney, Australia
From $ 59
Vaucluse House
Vaucluse has always been a neighborhood for the wealthy. Wonderful yet outrageously expensive villas, lovingly restored from the colonial era, stand together and increase in cost as the beauty of the view and location increases too. To gain insight into the life of Sydney's former high society, visit the Vaucluse House, a villa surrounded by a landscaped garden and wooded grounds. It was built in 1803 in the Gothic Revival style, with small turrets and battlements that make it look more like a castle than a house.
The Vaucluse House once belonged to ex-convict Sir Thomas Henry Browne Hayes, who got shipped off to Australia for abducting a banker's daughter and built this estate. It also once served as the residence of writer, explorer and politician William Charles Wentworth, who is known as the first person to climb the Blue Mountains and who restored this former cottage to the mansion it is today.
The house offers everything you'd expect from a manor home"”antique furniture, an extensive drawing room, lots of bedrooms, staff quarters, stables and a huge garden. The gardens are often used for wedding receptions and are an ideal place for a stroll. On top of that, the Vaucluse House also serves as a teahouse, where visitors can settle for a refreshment and enjoy the tranquility.
Practical Info
The Vaucluse House is located about six miles (10 km) outside of downtown Sydney. Bus 325 runs from Circular Quay and stops right outside the front gate, but if you'd like to arrive by ferry to the Watson's Bay terminal, you'll find the mansion after an enjoyable 30-minute walk along the shoreline. The site is open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the gardens can be visited around the clock.
Address: Wentworth Road, Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
Hours: The house is open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the gardens can be visited around the clock.
Admission: Adults $12 AUD, Children (Age 5 - 15) $8 AUD (under 5 years free), Family $30 AUD, Members Free
From $ 81
Justice and Police Museum
Hands up! Housed in a historic building that served as a police office and court from 1856 to 1888, the Justice and Police Museum now shows the judicial and criminal history of New South Wales. This chilling subject is reflected in the interior design: spiked gates, narrow door frames, winding staircases and a fairly scary cell block are all among the main features of the building. Here, you can step into the dark side of Sydney's past and see an impressive collection of murder weapons, a gallery of defendant mug shots and learn about the stories left behind by judges, officers, thugs and crooks.
In the 1850s, the convict transport to New South Wales had just ended, but crime was on the rise and the cases were notorious. Innocent or guilty, rough criminals or simply unlucky people"”they all passed through this building, and law and order was maintained. The crimes reach from simple public drunkenness to razor gangs, something called the Shark Arm Murder, the Pajama Girl Case and bushrangers terrorizing the colonies. And yes, visitors to the museum have the opportunity to get their fingerprints taken in the sergeant's office.
Practical Info
The Justice and Police Museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is only one block away from Circular Quay, which is serviced by a number trains, busses and ferries.
Address: Corner of Phillip & Albert Streets, Circular Quay, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Hours: Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults $12 AUD, Children (Age 5 - 15) $8 AUD (under 5 years free), Family $30 AUD, Members Free
From $ 81
Newtown
Forget the urban, corporate bustle of Sydney's CBD, and escape to the artsy, brick alleyways of the nearby Newtown suburb. Once a rough and tumble area to the south of downtown Sydney, the gentrified suburb has been completely revitalized as an outpost of foodies and shoppers. When walking the streets of funky Newtown"”which are often speckled with graffiti"”browse through trendy shopping boutiques or hip little corner cafes. Enjoy live music at the dozens of pubs and theaters scattered across town, and absorb the eclectic, creative vibes of this bohemian Sydney suburb. On King Street, vintage bookshops and music stores ironically sit next to antique shops, and the alternative, grunge, counterculture collective makes for some of the city's best people watching. From here, it's only a short drive to Sydney's beaches or the lights of Darling Harbor, but given Newtown's creative grit and casual sense of refinement, there's an indie sense of disconnect from the Sydney most travelers know.
Practical Info
By public transport, the train is one of the best ways of getting from Sydney to Newtown. It's also accessible by public bus lines 411, 423, and 370 from Coogee.
Address: Newton, Sydney, Australia, Australia
From $ 44