For a rainy day, an injection of culture, a learning experience, or to simply appreciate and admire—we love going to museums. Whether it's to soak up art, history, science, or all of the above, the Sydney/Eora region boasts some outstanding museums, and there's surely one out there for you.
In the heart of the city or worthy of a little day trip, here are 10 of the best museums in and around Sydney you can visit right now.
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Best Museums In Sydney
Museum Of Sydney
Corner of Bridge Street &, Phillip Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Museums of History NSW | Instagram
A testament to its name, the Museum of Sydney was built over and around Sydney's First Government House, showcasing a host of exhibitions and events that explore the culture of the city and celebrate First Nations custodians. It's also the host to the State Archives Collection, managing NSW's official documentary heritage and supporting the public's right to access information.
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- They also run free film screenings, with times and dates available on their website.
Australian National Maritime Museum
2 Murray Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Australian National Maritime Museum | Supplied
There's a good chance you visited the Australian National Maritime Museum for school if you grew up in or around the Sydney area. But we'd recommend revisiting the Darling Harbour museum as an adult to experience it for more than a day out of the classroom. Built in 1991, you can visit today to hop on and explore floating historical vessels, as well as artistic, cultural, scientific and historical exhibitions that explore our relationship with the sea.
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- This museum hosts collections that reflect Australia's storied maritime past whilst upholding respect for First Nations people, making it well worth the visit.
Australian Museum
1 William Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Australian Museum | Supplied
Established in 1827 as the country's first public museum before being moved, reconstructed, and expanded into what it is today, Darlinghurst's Australian Museum carries a rich history of storytelling, education, and research. The dynamic information and resource hub explores Australian nature and culture, holding more than 21 million objects and specimens that tell the history of the Australian and Pacific regions. You'll find dedicated pieces and exhibitions on the cultural and natural history of First Nations Australians as well as geologically priceless fossils, minerals, and meteorites. Finally, the Hyde Park-adjacent museum showcases our country's native flora and fauna and the devastating impact of climate change.
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- Great interactive elements for kids, with a designated play area for the littlest ones.
Chau Chak Wing Museum
University Place, Camperdown
Image credit: Chau Chak Wing Museum | Supplied
Housed within the magnificent University of Sydney campus grounds, the Chau Chak Wing Museum covers a lot of bases like art, science, history and ancient cultures–something for everyone. One of the newest buildings to join the campus, the four-level museum was built to share the university's rich historical collections with the broader public–a collection spanning millennia that's been growing behind the scenes for the last 150 years. It includes items from ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, First Nations art and contemporary works too.
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- Free entry, so you can save your pennies for the on-site coffee shop.
Sydney Tramway Museum
2 Pitt Street, Loftus
Image credit: Sydney Tramway Museum | Instagram
A unique day out in the Sutherland Shire, the Sydney Tramway Museum has been open for 50 years, preserving and operating Sydney's vintage trams. Grab your ticket from the conductor and jump on board for a 4km ride in an interstate collection of trams from Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Ballarat, as well as overseas imports from San Francisco, Nagasaki, Munich, Milan and Berlin.
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- They periodically allow dogs on board, so your fave furry friend can come along for the ride.
Hyde Park Barracks
Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Museums of History NSW | Instagram
Hyde Park Barracks is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the heart of Sydney's CBD, where thousands of men, women and children convicts were held or housed during the legacy of colonial Australia. The museum utilises immersive audio technology, with the guided audio experience taking you back in time as you peruse the halls of this pinnacle of Australian history. This tour also follows the stories of Aboriginal communities profoundly impacted by the effects of colonial expansion.
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- This spot is free to explore, making it a great day out for school holidays.
Best Museums Near Sydney
Bundanon Art Museum And Bridge for Creative Learning
170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo
Image credit: Bundanon Art Museum | Supplied
About 2.5 hours south of Sydney on the banks of the Shoalhaven River is Bundanon, a newly redesigned art gallery, creative learning space, hotel, and paddock-to-plate restaurant. The gallery, which sits on 1,000 hectares of south coast bush and parkland, was first donated to the Australian public back in 1993 by painter Arthur Boyd. Bundanon is home to 1,448 of Boyd's works, as well as those of his contemporaries, the work of modern artists, and rotating exhibitions. Come for an afternoon or spend the night in the 160-metre-long, sustainably built "Bridge" structure, high up above the sloping green hills.
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- A short drive from the museum is Arthur Boyd's studio and the homestead, entry fees for which are included in the museum ticket.
Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall Of Fame
St Jude Street, Bowral
Image credit: Bradman Museum | Supplied
There are several reasons to make the 90-minute drive southwest to the charming town of Bowral in the Southern Highlands. The area is filled with cafes, restaurants, boutique shopping, wineries and picturesque bushwalking tracks. But if you're a fan of cricket, the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is an absolute must. Built alongside Bradman cricket oval, the interactive museum celebrates the sport's history through every era.
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- Die-hard fans can head across the road to 52 Shepherd Street to visit Donald Bradman's childhood home and see the water tank the young cricketer famously practised against.
Science Space
Innovation Campus, 60 Squires Way, North Wollongong
You don't have to be a museum person to enjoy exploring Science Space. Just under 90 minutes down the coastline from the Sydney CBD, the North Wollongong museum is a dedicated and immersive space for learning about and exploring everything science and the cosmos. First opened in 1989, Science Space boasts over 90 interactive exhibits, science shows and workshops, with a must-visit planetarium to top it all off. This one's definitely for all ages because you can never be too young or too old to geek out over science.
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- Lots of hands-on, interactive activities which will keep the little ones occupied for hours.
Ngununggula
1 Art Gallery Lane, Bowral
Image credit: Ngununggula | Supplied
Opening in late 2021, Ngununggula is another must-visit for anyone passing through the Southern Highlands. The regional art gallery's name means "belonging" in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nations people of the area. Sustainably repurposing the space of an old dairy at East Bowral's Retford Park just a short drive from the town's centre, Ngununggula showcases Australian artists and cultural voices, and commissioned works. It also offers a dedicated Aboriginal art exhibition program.
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- Pop through the beautiful venue on Friday nights between 6 and 9pm for Ngununggula Nights, to see the gallery after dark and enjoy cocktails, food and live music.
Hungry after all that museum wandering? Check out Sydney's best restaurants here.
Image credit: Zan Wimberley, Destination NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art, Destination NSW, Destination NSW, Zan Wimberley, Destination NSW, Chau Chak Wing Museum, Ngununggula, Destination NSW