Indoor and Free – Museums and Galleries are great for rainy days in Sydney.
Winter is finally upon us, and while it is a surprise to many visitors to Sydney, it starts to get cold and wet. Today’s post is to give you some ideas of things to do in Sydney when it rains.
The Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay.
The large art deco style building that sits at the beginning of the Rocks by the wharves at Circular Quay is home to the Australian Museum of Contemporary Art. Entry is free, and there are free guided tours at 11 am and 1 pm each day.
The new cafe on the roof offers great views over Circular Quay, and although you do not have to eat there to take in the view for this part of town, I think the prices are pretty good.
Where: 140 George St Sydney – right at Circular Quay
When: 10am-5pm (Thursdays till 9 pm)
Find out more: MCA Website
Art Gallery of NSW
Located at the edge of the Royal Botanic Gardens the Art Gallery has a significant Aboriginal and Islander gallery called Yiribana on the lower floor. There are also paintings by two of my favourite artists Brett Whitely and John Olsen.
Free guided tours are on offer from Tuesday to Saturday with an Aboriginal art guided tour at 11 am, Asian galleries at noon and the Australia collection at 2 pm. There are also free talks on Wednesday night as part of the Art after-hours program. While entry to most of the gallery is free, there are charges for some exhibitions. Please confirm tour times have not changed before your visit.
Where: Art Gallery Road Sydney (Behind Sydney Hospital and the Domain)
When: Every day 10 am until 5 pm – Wednesday until 9 am
Find out more: Art Gallery of NSW
The Rocks Discovery Museum
Learn more about the indigenous culture of Sydney in this small but fascinating museum in The Rocks. Located under the visitor’s centre, the Discovery Museum tells the history of Sydney from before the arrival of the first Europeans to the present day. This small but well presented and modern museum is the perfect place to begin your time in The Rocks.
Where: Kendall Lane, The Rocks (enter via Argyle Street)
When: 10 am to 5 pm daily
Find out more: The Rocks Discovery Museum Website
Nicholson and Maclay Museums
Do you want to see a real mummy? How about a vast collection of bugs? Probably not suited to a short visit to Sydney but if you are here for a longer stay or even a local these two museums on the grounds of Sydney University are worth a look. The setting is lovely, large grounds for a picnic lunch
Where: The University of Sydney/Manning Rd, Camperdown
When: Monday – Friday 10am-4.30pm, First Saturday of the month- noon-4pm
Find out more: Nicholson Museum
Image credit: Nicholson Museum By John Dalton via Wikimedia Commons.
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