The Sydney Traveler

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The rugby league finals are just around the corner, so there’s no better time to check out the Powerhouse Museum’s latest exhibition. League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia is a brilliant look back at the game’s history.
It explores the game’s early days and its recent successes, with prized treasures including trophies, photos, and momentos from some of the game’s greatest legends.
You’ll see early rugby league caps, acclaimed radio commentator Frank Hyde’s binoculars, and jerseys worn by greats like Clive Churchill, Tommy Raudonikis, and Arthur Beetson.
“From the local under-sevens to the elite teams …read more

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Step back in time and discover Sydney’s convict past at the Hyde Parks Barracks Museum.
The site, built by convict architect Francis Greenway, housed 15, 000 male convicts between 1819 and 1848. Later it became a female immigration depot, before being transformed into a government asylum for destitute women.
The museum lets you immerse yourself in the history of this fascinating site. You’ll learn what it was like to be a convict, be spooked by the Soundscape, and discover the fascinating stories of the Barracks’ occupants. There’s also a free archaeological display on the ground floor which is sure to delight history …read more

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Nestled in the historic Rocks district, Susannah Place Museum offers a fun day out for adults and kids alike.
The museum is actually a terrace of four houses which date back to 1844. The houses were occupied by working-class Sydney families from that time to 1990. Today the museum allows us to see how average people lived in the city throughout history.
The many layers of paint, wallpaper, and floor coverings tell us much about the tastes of the occupants, and the way these changed over time. The buildings still have the original brick privies and open laundries, which are believed to …read more

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These days Melbourne is the tram capital of Australia. But did you know that trams were an important part of everyday life in Sydney for a century? Turn back the clock and explore this important part of local history at the Sydney Tramway Museum.
The Sydney Tramway Museum features exhibits and photos showing the development and operation of Sydney trams from 1861 to 1961. The best part is that it’s not just about looking. You can actually ride these old trams, a real novelty for Sydneysiders!
Trams travel to The Royal National Park, which is the perfect spot for lunch. The Lakewood …read more

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The Powerhouse Museum is Australia’s largest museum, so it’s well worth checking out these school holidays.
It’s often described as a science museum, but once you step inside you’ll realise it’s much more than that. The collection is diverse, with everything from space technology to steam engines, the latest innovations in design and technology, and studies in Australia’s indigenous and European history.
Exciting travelling exhibitions complement the exhaustive permanent displays. More than 250 of them are interactive, which will engage young minds and adults. See holographic images, play with touch screen computers, conduct science experiments, and experience the wonders of virtual reality.
Explore …read more

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They may have roamed the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, but dinosaurs are still hot stuff. So it’s no surprise that The Australian Museum’s latest dinosaur exhibition is creating huge buzz even before it opens his doors.
It combines modern day technical wizardry with the large lizards old world appeal to create something which will appeal to enthusiasts of all ages.
One of the exhibition’s major drawcards is a replica of the skeleton of a Jobaria tiguidensis. You may not have heard of this monster yet, but you definitely won’t forget him. The skeleton weighs 1.5 tonne and measures a …read more

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The Justice and Police Museum reveals the fascinating history of Australia’s criminals and their punishments.
The beautiful sandstone building has been fully restored while remaining faithful to its 1800s design. Inside the museum there are many winding steps and corridors, but the map will ensure you don’t get lost or miss any of the exhibits.
The museum features a magistrates court, a recreated police charge room and remand cells, a gallery of historic Sydney mug shots, and a chilling collection of weapons.
There is also some brilliant memorabilia from the infamous Pyjama Girl case, the Graeme Thorne kidnapping, and the days of legendary bushrangers …read more

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We’ve all seen the recent television commercials where the icemen Foötzi and Toötzi run amok at the Australian National Maritime Museum. The hilarious ads advertise the museum’s latest exhibition, Iceman: The Story of Ötzi.
But just who was Ötzi? Well, he was found 16 years ago in an Italian glacier, which had kept him preserved for around 5300 years. That makes him the oldest known wet mummy in the world. The exhibition explores the mystery surrounding Ötzi’s life and death. Kids can see a replica of the mummy and the reconstructed model of how Ötzi would have looked before he died.
Children …read more

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For the history buffs, The Rocks is the site of Australia’s first European settlement. Today though, its cobbled streets and heritage buildings are a great place to explore. Many of The Rocks’ colonial buildings now house art galleries, cafés, pubs, restaurants, and kitsch souvenir stores.
One of my favourite places to visit is La Renaissance Patisserie, a little bit of France in the middle of Sydney. Paris-trained Pierre Charkos and his wife Sally established the family business in 1974. Their signature cakes are a homage to the renaissance painters that inspired the patisserie’s name. Why not try a Mousse Van Gogh, …read more

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You’ve only got a couple of weeks left to catch the stunning Arts of Islam exhibition at The Art Gallery of New South Wales. 
It features more than 350 rare artworks, including illuminated manuscripts and Qur’ans, colourful ceramics, luster-painted glassware, and stunning woven textiles.
All the pieces are from the collection of Professor Nasser David Khalili, an Iranian-born collector who has the largest private stash of Islamic art in the world. His amazing collection features early works from the 7th century right through to pieces from the early 20th century.
Adult tickets cost $15, but gallery members and concessions can see it for $10. Family …read more

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