It was a rainy day in Sydney and so I needed to find something interesting indoors. Well, this was…read morean awesome find. First of all entry is free, which is always welcome. There is so much to see also, I would gladly have paid for entry. There is a large hall that features a lot of original native arts and animals from various regions around the world. Another area features animals from all areas around the globe. Of course a large area dedicated to Australia specific history, from it's people to it's animals including those unfortunately extinct. A whole section for dinosaurs. A children's area and a fabulous gift shop are also housed here. This is so worth a visit, especially on a rainy day.

A great FREE museum in Sydney. You can spend a few hours walking around checking all the different…read moreexhibits. It was fun to see and how museums are over in Australia. A must!

The museum is located by Sydney Harbor and close to circular Quay train stop. I've been looking…read moreforward to visiting, but the current exhibitions were not my preference. 30% of the exhibition were videos. The rooftop has minimal sculptures, but does have a restaurant with nice views of the Harbour. It's a large space but did not feel like there was a lot of content.

If you're interested in the modern art scene in Sydney, go to the Museum of Contemporary Art in…read more The Rocks area of town. A large space with a focus on Australian artists with a verity of styles and experiences. Worth a visit. Go across the street for a beer afterwards at Fortune of War.

Had this art gallery on my list of must do's when visiting Sydney. For starter's its free to visit!…read moreThey have so many great exhibit's and easy to get here. Located in the middle of the city, within walking distance. You are allowed to take photos here, avoid the flash. Came here to see their amazing European art collection. Claude Monet's Port Goulphar 1887, beautiful color with detailed brushstrokes. One of my favorite paintings. Vincent Van Gogh's hand of a peasant 1884 was great, lot's of people checking this one out. Another must see was Pablo Picasso's reclining women on a couch 1939. You can get lost in his paintings. I made sure to take time to walk through the Australian art section. I enjoyed seeing the paintings on the animal hides and showcasing so much history. Lot's of talented local artists.

Love visiting this place. I walk up through the Botanical Gardens envying nature's beauty then into…read morethe art gallery. This trip was to view the 2018 Archibald Prize. The talent was amazing. I loved the diversity of the work. The building has the beautiful old facade them you are into a modern building.

I love this type of stuff,you going around on those trains is really relaxing!…read more But the place at the back looks run down with kids equipment looking a little rusty and free bbq's to use but you have to start your own wood fire,that's right the bbq's are not electric Still I did enjoy myself and the fees are reasonable to hop onto the train Staff were very friendly which is a plus

This is actually a private residence. Have I gone balmy? Why am I reviewing a private residence on…read moreyelp? Well... it's like this, see? It ain't just any private residence like a fibro shack or a McMansion. OK, it might be a bit of a McMansion. A Georgian version of a McMansion anyway...because it's Australia's oldest private residence occupied by the descendants of its founders: the historically significant John and Elizabeth Macarthur. And for just one weekend a year, (the third weekend in September) it is open to the public. We set out for Camden Park House and Garden early on a Springy, sun-drenched Sunday morn. In less than an hour our suburban world lay behind us. O'er the one-lane bridge, past Belgenny Farm - where a number of the sheep today are descendants of the original and famous Macarthur Merino sheep - and at the end of a rather rough, dirt road was Camden House in all her circular driveway-ed, pillary glory. Vintage cars were on display and, tho' 'twas still early, a long line of people trailed from the impressive cedar doorway across the driveway and beyond. The owners' dogs trotted by us with indifference, as tho' there was nothing at all abnormal about so many strangers congregating on their doorstep thus. The line moved quickly enough, but it was also ever-present with more and more members of the public arriving throughout the day for a sticky beak. Therefore, I recommend you do arrive for a tour of Camden House as close to the opening time as possible to avoid standing in that line when the sun is at its peak. It was all very well organised, especially considering the sheer amount of human traffic that consistently moved through the property for hours on end. Visitors enjoyed a tour of the house by following the roped off areas and stopping in rooms and passageways where owners of the house and other relatives / volunteers were stationed to dispense relevant historical facts about their ancestors, the architecture, portraits and artefacts on display. Think mudstone and black marble flooring, mahogany tables and chairs, neo-rococo cabinetry and a whimsical book passage - an extension of the main library. Historical homes always have a quirky item or two and the standout one for me on this occasion was the breakfast table designed to double as a viewing table for the dearly departed! The numerous bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs were spacious and decorated in a manner authentic to the era. The wine cellar below the house was vast with many little alcoves we could walk through and inspect with more agricultural and domestic artefacts on display. Some of the wine bottles tucked away there were as old as the house itself! There was even a billiard table down there. Outside, Spring was busting out all over with wisteria draping itself like some sort of saucy nymph o'er ostentatious strengthy Georgian pillars and such. A history talk beneath a shady tree and tours of the sprawling gardens, which featured a fantastic garden sculpture exhibition, were also available on the day. I didn't get to the garden tour myself, but I did sit in and admire the beautiful, relaxing garden whilst enjoying a nice BBQ Sausage Roll with mustard and the obligatory onions as well as some jam and cream scones for dessert. With the very friendly extended Macarthur-Stanham family and their dogs amongst the attendees, I felt like I had gatecrashed a random family BBQ, but I didn't feel the slightest bit awkward about it! The big winner of the day was the wee Macarthur-Stanham dog that looked like a sausage with eyes and had the Oliver Twist act down pat. Methinks her name was "Poppy." I saw her score BBQ morsels from around 12 different people...and that is probably a conservative estimate! Who knows how long she'd been at that caper before I got out there. Overall, a delightful way to spend a few hours and a rare opportunity to tour a grand (private) home that is a part of our nation's history. * Review originally written and posted 20 October 2013.

A free must see history of Sydney. The main level holds a gift shop. The next level displays the…read morefirst fleet stories. The best part is a fascinating documentary about the first governor dealing with the native people whose land the Brits took over. The next floor has special exhibits and a coloring zone with trippy photographi murals displayed. A great thing to do on a rainy day.

Nice brief snapshot of the early history of Europeans colonization of Australia. Plus plenty of…read moredetails about Sydney's biggest pride & joy: Opera House. Both eye opening & sad facts about convicts, first nation's people, etc. Good way to kill an hour or two in a very modern informative space.....and best of all, it's free.