A curated selection of niche museums and unusual collections to keep your kids fascinated and engaged.
The Australian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum are undoubtedly among the best museums in Sydney, but they’re certainly not the city’s most niche. Hidden away within the sprawling metropolis is a network of specialty museums: some devoted to illusions, others to buses, illustrators or machines. Many of these smaller institutions offer children hands-on opportunities to explore subjects that fascinate or puzzle them, creating a welcoming, educational and enjoyable way for families to discover Australia’s past, present and pastimes.
If you’re visiting New South Wales’ capital city for the first time, then the best museums in Sydney for your itinerary are:
Australian Museum to learn about science, culture and nature in Australia, or to check out dinosaur exhibits. This is also the oldest museum in the country, and general entry is free.
Powerhouse Museum & Art Gallery is currently closed for relocation and renovation, but when it’s open, it displays a fantastic variety of exhibitions, from history and pop-culture to machinery, vehicles, art and fashion. However, the smaller Powerhouse Castle Hill outpost is still open.
Australian National Maritime Museum for insight into marine environments, history and historic vessels. This venue also hosts the National Geographic Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Chau Chak Wing Museum is a free public museum that’s part of the University of Sydney. It showcases art, science, history and ancient culture.
Art Gallery of New South Wales is the premier destination for Indigenous, Australian and International fine art, as well as interesting travelling exhibitions and installations. General entry is free.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is where you’ll find modern and contemporary artworks and conceptual exhibitions, along with a lovely cafe upstairs.
Museum of Human Disease: better suited to older children with an interest in biology or medicine, this exhibition is found on the ground floor of the University of NSW and presents specimens of diseases and ailments with clinical explanations.
Nutcote: Located in Neutral Bay, this heritage-listed home is the former abode and studio of beloved Australian illustrator and children’s book writer May Gibbs, famed for her 1918 series, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. Join a tour, peruse the shop, eat at the cafe and play in the gardens.
Museum of Illusions: Located in Sydney Westfield, this new interactive experience brings together a collection of mind-boggling rooms, installations and images that teach children how perspective, motion and light can alter ‘reality’.
Museum of Fire: Located in a historic Penrith power station, the Museum of Fire is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest firefighting museum. It blends heritage displays with interactive fire safety education for all ages. The warehouse is filled with retro fire trucks the kids can explore. Plus, there are fire engine rides every Tuesday and Friday, and at some selected weekends.
Justice & Police Museum: Got a little monkey or two who loves to dress up as a police official? This is one of the best museums in Sydney for kids, where they can check out ‘ye olde’ courthouse, dress up and learn about the way police conducted business in decades past. Parents will find the weaponry displays and criminal histories particularly interesting.
Sydney Bus Museum: Kids can climb aboard a hands-on collection of vintage buses, from classic double-deckers to historic city and school buses. Children can explore driver cabins, learn how public transport has evolved in Sydney, and enjoy interactive displays.
NSW Rail Museum: This is a paradise for train-loving kids, with steam locomotives, heritage carriages and regular train rides. Families can walk through restored trains, see massive engines up close, and learn about New South Wales’ rail history through exhibits and immersive experiences.
Sydney Tramway Museum: Take a step back into Sydney’s tram-filled past, with restored trams and scenic rides along the historic Royal National Park line. Children can check out different tram designs, ride vintage carriages and discover how trams once powered daily life across the city.
The Campbelltown Steam & Machinery Museum: Discover how machines work, explore science and technology through agricultural engines and equipment, and see fascinating machinery up close at this museum. The orgnisation hosts two field days per year in May and October, where children can see the machines in action, sawing, ploughing, hauling and other farm things – there’s even vintage cars and rides.
Sydney Observatory: This heritage-listed site is a place where kids can explore a weather station, gaze through telescopes from a real observatory, discover hands-on science exhibits and learn through fun educational activities.
These are the best museums in Sydney for parents who wish to teach their children about Sydney’s history, pre and post-European settlement.
The Rocks Discovery Museum is spread across three heritage buildings that date back to the early 19th century and display archaeological artefacts recovered from the area during the construction of today’s modern precinct. The venue offers tours tailored to children and school holiday programs.
Step back in time to the 19th century at Elizabeth Farm, a historic estate and Australia’s oldest surviving homestead. Here, children can immerse themselves in colonial life, including the games and chores of the era, sans electricity or running water!
Located on the site of Sydney’s first Government House, the Museum of Sydney explores the city’s history of colonisation and the complex relationships between Indigenous peoples and European settlers through exhibitions, public programs, and educational activities.
Originally built as a prison in 1819, Hyde Park Barracks has since been an asylum, hospital, mint and courthouse. Today, it is one of the best museums in Sydney, providing insight into Sydney’s colonial history with audio installations, artefacts and interactive exhibits.
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