Best Museums in City of Parramatta Council

"At the Australian National Maritime Museum, you’ll find a great day’s entertainment for the whole family. There’s so much to see and do, with exhibitions that tell stories of adventure on the water—naval battles and mutiny—migrants venturing across the seas to settle on our shores—ancient saltwater traditions—modern beach culture—and aquatic sporting achievements. Make a splash at the Australian National Maritime Museum these school holidays."

"For a very different museum experience, you can’t go past the National Maritime Museum. This is also fantastic if you are looking for indoor activities for kids Sydney and surrounds, which will also be fun for the adults. The Australian National Maritime Museum is Australia’s national centre for maritime collections, exhibitions, research and archaeology."

"Housed in a historic Art Deco building it contains more than 4,000 works of modern art and is dedicated to showcasing the works of living artists from Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, along with artists around the world. It displays paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, film, and performance art. Whilst you're indulging your creative..."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is one of the city’s must-see museums dedicated to living artists. Located on the bank of the picturesque Sydney Harbour, it’s home to a vast collection of both international and Australian masterpieces of painting, sculpture, photography and moving images. It also has a large collection of works from indigenous artists."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is a cultural marvel and houses a brilliant range of contemporary art. The venue is free to visit and children are warmly received. Throughout both the school term and the Sydney school holidays, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia offers a range of family fun activities."

"Feature: A mix of Aboriginal history and artefacts from the expedition of French Explore La Perouse who reached Australia in 1788 just days after the English. Unlike many on this list, this Museum is well outside the CBD, in the coastal suburb of La Perouse. Housed in the old Cable Station, which once connected Australia to the rest of the world via telegraph, the Museum commemorates the famous La Perouse expedition, a French scientific endeavour whose ships arrived around Port Jackson at roughly the same time as the First Fleet."

"The last one on this list of free Sydney museums is not as well-known as most other museums, but La Perouse Museum at the southern end of Anzac Parade is certainly worth a visit. The museum is housed in the former Telegraph Cable Station building on the La Perouse headland, and is home to a large collection of exhibits related to the 1787–1788 expedition of a French naval officer and explorer. This expedition arrived in Australia one week after the First Fleet, and vanished without a trace months later."

"The La Perouse Museum is a heritage-listed building that tells the story of the La Perouse expedition. First opened in 1988, the museum is home to collectibles that detail the expedition, its famed arrival in 1788..."

"Built by famous convict architect Francis Greenway, Sydney’s Conservatorium, part of the University of Sydney, began life as a Gothic picturesque stable for Governor Macquarie. Known as “a palace for horses”, the building was so expensive it caused Macquarie to be recalled to Mother England. Today you can visit the building to attend one of the many concerts put on by students or stroll the outside when touring the Botanic Gardens."

"Sydney’s premier music school is on the edge of the Royal Botanic Garden. The building looks like a castle but was actually originally built as stables for the nearby Government House. Because it’s a school, not all areas are open to the public but you can see three levels of the atrium."

"A landmark building near Circular Quay, this is the location of the library. It used to be the headquarters of the Customs service and is an impressive building to walk through. One of the best features to check out is a small scale model of Sydney under the glass floor."

"In our view, taking a tour to Sydney Observatory hill is the second-best spot to capture a great photo of Sydney at night. It’s a million-dollar view offered free to the public. We highly recommend taking an Observatory Sydney night photography tour irrespective how many times you have travelled to Sydney."

"Sydney Observatory is great for kids fascinated by our universe and all things in it. Explore the historic site at Miller’s Point, peek through Australia’s oldest working telescope and discover more about the planets, the galaxy, and beyond. Explore the Sun, Moon and some planets through their telescopes."

"The Sydney Observatory is an Australian landmark offering some of the best views across the city. Entry is free providing access to all of the rooms other than the top observation areas where the telescopes are used for tours. One of the highlights for us was the LEGO room which is also free."

"Before the light rail returned to Sydney, trams were something that many people believed was a Melbourne thing unaware that Sydney had an extensive tram system in place. It makes sense then that the Sydney Tramway Museum is Australia’s oldest tramway museum and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The Sydney Tramway Museum boasts quite a collection of trams including Sydney trams from 1896 to 1997 as well as trams from across Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Ballarat and Adelaide) and even from overseas such as San Francisco, Nagasaki, Berlin, Munich and Milan."

"The Sydney Tramway Museum is the oldest museum of its kind in Australia and is a fantastic family-friendly destination. For anyone who has wondered what it would be like to get on board a tram in the early 20th century..."

"New to the city, the Exchange is the focal point of a rejuvenated Darling Square. Designed by a Japanese architectural firm headed by Kengo Kuma, this spiralling hive of wooden ribbons is a monument to movement at the heart of a bustling city. Over 20,000 metres of Accoya softwood wood covers the six-story building, which features a library, childcare centre and dining options."

"This brand new library is houses inside The Exchange “birds nest” building. It has a great kids’ section with little nooks for kids to curl up and read with a book and family activities throughout the week and school holidays. Get more info on the Darling Square Library."

"What makes it special: You get to experience absinthe in the charmingly professional way it was intended to with their nonpareil fountain equipment and the thrill of a new and lucid experience!. Regardless of whether absinthe is a mythical drink you’ve yet to encounter, or a good old friend you frequently venture with, the experts at The Absinthe Salon will treat you just right!. The one of a kind experience begins from their fancy yet skilfully engineered fountain filled."

"The Absinthesalon is an intimate little establishment that’s ideal for taking a trip back to la belle époque. This bar features 30 varieties of French and Swiss absinthe. The intoxicating green liquid is prepared in the traditional fashion, with ice cold water dripping gently over a sugar cube in your glass."

"A party-time oasis of pink flamingos and private cabanas for the past 12 years, Ivy Pool Club underwent a refresh in 2020 to provide more al fresco dining options. Additional booths and poolside tables were installed, and chef Vincenzo Biondini expanded his menu to include Italian-ish salads and antipasto such as mortadella, burrata and giardiniera. Pool Club now has table service too, and guests really keen to push out the inflatable swan can order caviar and Dom Perignon from Uccello next door."

"Inspired by the Italian coastline, this rooftop pool bar is a taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of the city. “I arrived here just 2 weeks before the lockdown and a lot of my friends told me that this venue was great!. So, I just want to live the experience as well!"

"Ivy Pool Club is one of Sydney's most popular bars, found at the top of the Ivy complex in Sydney CBD. Recline in a private cabana or take a dip in the crystal clear water under the city skyline, with premium cocktails and Italian-style bites available if you get hungry."

"A quirky flea market, Paddy’s Market is the best place for some cheap clothes, souvenirs, and antiques. The market also has a food section which has excellent fresh produce of fruits and vegetables, and also meat and seafood!. It is popular amongst tourists because of its fun vibe and atmosphere."

"Paddy’s Markets This huge market hall pretty much has everything you could imagine under it – and I mean everything!. When I visited I saw clothes, cosmetics, crafts, antiques, jewellery, fruit, veggies, hot food as well as some wacky souvenirs."

"It’s been a significant fixture in the local community, having been around now for over 150 years. Its origins date back to 1834 when then-Governor..."

"Built by famous convict architect Francis Greenway, Sydney’s Conservatorium, part of the University of Sydney, began life as a Gothic picturesque stable for Governor Macquarie. Known as “a palace for horses”, the building was so expensive it caused Macquarie to be recalled to Mother England. Today you can visit the building to attend one of the many concerts put on by students or stroll the outside when touring the Botanic Gardens."

"Sydney’s premier music school is on the edge of the Royal Botanic Garden. The building looks like a castle but was actually originally built as stables for the nearby Government House. Because it’s a school, not all areas are open to the public but you can see three levels of the atrium."

"The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre is part of Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks heritage precinct of Sydney. The centre facilitates hands-on archaeology educational experiences and opens the archaeological site to the public. Opening Times: The Big Dig welcomes the general public to visit the site during daylight hoursTicket Prices: varied depending on programAddress: 110 Cumberland St, Sydney NSWWebsite:thebigdig.com.au"

"The Big Dig Cumberland Street Archaeological Site is a heritage-listed archaeological site in The Rocks. The centre is part of Sydney Harbour YHA,, and while it is no longer an “active” excavation site, it does facilitate hands-on archaeology educational experiences and opens the archaeological site to the public. The general public are welcome to visit the Big Dig site during daylight hours."

"You’ll see a great mix of architecture as well as Sydney’s Oldest pub, the Big Dig Archaeological Site underneath the YHA hostel, Suez Lane which was once run by gangs and 4 houses preserved from different decades at Susannah Place. Head to The Rocks Square for plenty of dining options or the famous Rocks Markets on Saturdays for some independent stalls and delicious food."