Australian Craftworks at the Old Police Station

Sydney's first general hospital was originally built on this site in 1788. The Police Station was built in 1882 and was used as such until 1974. It now housed Australian craftworks, a retail gallery for contemporary Australian crafts. Representing more than 400 Australian Artists, Australian craftworks offers a wide range of innovative hand made designs, many with a strong Australian reference. Media covered include ceramics, glass, wood, textiles, jewellery, leather, aboriginal art, editions and prints.

Australian National Maritime Museum

Devoted to Australia's maritime history, the museum offers much information about Australians' history and love of the sea. Organised tours of the galleries and current exhibitions are available.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of Australia's most famous beaches and among the world's most well known beaches. It is located in the Municipality of Waverley in east Sydney. The beach, roughly a kilometre long, is enclosed at the north and south by headlands. Every day of the year lifeguards patrol the beach between the yellow and red flags. Away from the beach there are numerous cafes, restaurants, as well as hostels, hotels, a great variety of shops, and even a small golf course.

Chinese Garden of Friendship

The garden was designed in China to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary, and presented as a gift to Sydney. It is one of the largest of its type outside Asia, with pavilions, lakes, waterfalls and a Chinese teahouse. Running water, towering willow trees, cool lagoons with lotus plants and large colourful fish make this an idyllic spot to read a book or simply relax and enjoy the tranquil ambience.

Colonial House Museum

Colonial house museum is a restored colonial terrace house authentically furnished in the style of the 1880s, with a vast photographic and artefacts collection.

Customs House

Customs House, built on the land of the traditional Indigenous owners the Eora people, and site of the First Fleet landing, is one of the most significant buildings in the history of European settlement in Australia. The historically and architecturally significant building has undergone a complete refurbishment is home to a collection of unique exhibits. Customs Square, at the entrance to Customs House, is a piece of Australian history. Paving in the square depicts the original tidal zone as it was at the time of the First Fleet landing prior to the construction of Circular Quay.

Darling Harbour

One of the world's most beautiful waterfront destinations, Darling Harbour is situated just minutes away from Central Sydney. Darling Harbour is a favourite entertainment area all year round and it does not only attract tourists but locals as well. Habour-side restaurants, cafes, numerous stores and fine museums make it a not-to-miss attraction!

Elizabeth Bay House

Elizabeth Bay House is part of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. Elizabeth Bay House was known as "The Finest House in the Colony" and is a magnificent example of Early Australian Architecture. The house was designed by John Verge for the Colonial Secretary, Alexander Macleay, his wife and family. It is elegantly furnished in the period 1839-45. The architectural design focuses on the symmetry of a central oval saloon with a domed ceiling and grand winding staircase. Located close to the Harbour, Elizabeth Bay House commands some of the best views in Sydney.

Garrison Church

The Garrison Church was built in 1840s by Henry Ginn with later additions by E. Blacket. Built of hand-hewn sandstone, this church still serves the local community, the Royal NSW Regiment, other army units and veteran organisations with regular services and is open during the day to visitors. Old school museum is also open for inspection by appointment.

IMAX Theatre

IMAX Theatre is a giant movie screen, more than eight stories high, with films shot in the ultra high-definition 75mm format. Brilliant IMAX films such as a voyage around the earth on a Space Shuttle, a climb to the top of Everest, and an excursion to Antarctica have been shown here. Speakers placed at different parts of the theatre and behind the screen create a sense of realism to the shows.

Justice & Police Museum

The Justice and Police Museum is part of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. Originally the Water Police Court (1856), Water Police Station (1858) and Police Court (1886), the Museum offers a unique insight into the fascinating world of law, policing and crime. It features a lavishly restored 1899 courthouse and theatrical recreation of a turn-of-the-century police station. An exciting slide show, together with thematic exhibits, showcase an amazing array of objects and artefacts, police memorabilia, relics of notorious crimes and sensational trials, and much more. The museum provides education services and interactive programs for legal studies, human society and its environment and forensic science. It is also available for hire as a venue for functions.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art is Australia's leading contemporary art museum. It seeks to make contemporary art and visual culture engaging for a broad spectrum of public audiences through a diverse range of exhibitions incorporating new and more traditional media, stimulating and hands-on educational programs and special events.

Paddy's Market at Haymarket

Offering fashion and accessories, souvenirs, sporting apparel, jewellery and watches, gifts, electrical and electronic products, leather goods, arts and crafts, footwear, pets and supplies, fresh produce, seafood, flowers and plants, homeware and more.

Royal Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens sit on a slope overlooking the harbour and covering 30 hectares in the heart of the city. Home to an extensive collection of some one million specimens, the garden was established in 1816 and is Australia's oldest scientific institution.

S H Ervin Gallery

Perched high on a hill overlooking The Rocks area of Sydney stands the National Trust Centre. Formerly the famous Fort Street High School and before that a Military hospital, the building today functions as a major private art gallery the S. H. Ervin Gallery, a cheerful cafe and the well stocked National Trust Shop. The site has one of the city's most spectacular views of Sydney Harbour Parramatta River, Sydney Observatory and Observatory Hill. The gallery showcases a lively program of changing exhibitions, covering works from historical and contemporary Australian art and culture. The shop features a range of Australian-made crafts, unusual gifts and art, cookery and gardening books. The gallery is available for function hire.

Santa's Cottage

Modelled on a similar business in Finland, Santa's Cottage features a North Pole Post Office, a toyshop staffed by a team of "elves", Santa's Throne Room, Mrs Claus' Lolly Shop, tearooms and Christmas displays. Santa is available for photo opportunities every weekend.

Susannah Place

Susannah Place is part of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. Built in 1844, Susannah Place is a small terrace of four brick houses including a corner grocer's shop, located in the heart of The Rocks. Susannah Place has never been substantially remodelled; it has never been converted into offices, factories or warehouses. Rare in the city of Sydney, it has a continuous history of domestic occupancy by working class families and demonstrates the way in which these homes were lived in from the mid 1840s to the late 20th Century. This is the Heritage significance of Susannah Place. Each house was solidly built, with originally, six rooms on three levels, including a basement kitchen. Each has fire isolation and ventilation, water supply and sewerage arrangements. These challenge popular ideas about the standards of housing in The Rocks in the mid 19th Century. Visitors will be exposed to a wide range of ideas about Museums and their aims through guided tours, an introductory video, recreated interiors from different periods including a working corner shop.

Sydney Aquarium

The Sydney Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world with more than 5,000 different Australian fish displayed in their natural habitats. Visitors can "walk on the ocean floor" through 145m of acrylic underwater tunnels.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Museum & Lookout

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout is open to the public daily. There are 200 stairs to climb to the Pylon with rest stops on the way up showing displays of the history of the construction of the Bridge. The Pylon offers magnificent views of Sydney Harbour, Botanical Gardens and the surrounding areas. On a clear day you can see are far as the Blue Mountains. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is 134m high, 502m long, 48.8m wide and weighs 52,800 tonnes. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was constructed between 1923 and 1932. Its nickname is "the coathanger".

Sydney Opera House

One of the great art centres of the world, Sydney Opera House is an architectural masterpiece and Australia's foremost tourist attraction. The roofs are the remaining legacy of Danish architect Jorn Utzon who left the project halfway through and has never been able to see the completed building. Subsequent architects took up the challenge of designing the complex of some 1,000 auditoria, theatres, restaurants and bars, which was finally opened in 1973. The four main auditoria – the Concert Hall, the Playhouse, the Opera Theatre and the Drama Theatre stage a total of 3,000 performances a year.

Sydney Visitor Centre & Heritage Gallery

The Sydney Visitor Centre at The Rocks is Sydney's main tourist information centre and is the first stop for any visitor to the city. It is located at 106 George Street, The Rocks and is open 365 days of the year. Services provided include information, brochures and maps on Sydney and New South Wales as well as offering Booking Boards from which you can book accommodation, day tours, restaurants, cruises and other activities. Multi-lingual staff is available to assist with advice, bookings and information. There are free permanent exhibition and video screenings detailing the history of Sydney Cove from pre-European settlement to today.

The Rocks

The Rocks is Australia's finest example of a restored colonial district. Every weekend and on especially themed event days, free entertainment fills this historic neighbourhood. Popular performers take you from rock to classical, from Latin to jazz, from one era to the next, while the outrageous antics of the street theatre characters capture your imagination. The weekend street market is a great attraction by itself, with more than 150 stalls offering creative crafts, art, antiques, jewellery and handmade pottery. Considered Sydney's most sophisticated street market, it is sure to delight all.

The Rocks Centre

The Rocks Centre features an excellent and diverse range of shopping outlets. The centre also incorporates "The Rocks Square" which includes a performance area and a large glass roofed portico and pergolas for light rain protection. The centre has food shops, some centred on the rocks square, and Playfair Street. These have external seating and tables with umbrellas giving a cosmopolitan feeling and a pleasant place to eat and drink. The Rocks Square features live entertainment daily.

The Rocks Market

Every weekend Sydneysiders and tourists flock to The Rocks to experience the extraordinary atmosphere of Sydney's favourite street market. Located at the northern end of George Street, in the shade of the Harbour Bridge, this incredible undercover market is filled with around 145 stalls which display an amazing collection of arts and crafts, home wares, jewellery and antiques, collectibles, toys, puzzles and tasty aromatic food. The Rocks Market is more than just a stylish street market. It is a fantastic place to enjoy the weekend and soak up the atmosphere of quintessential Sydney.

Writers Walk on Circular Quay

Writers walk consists of 34 authors and quotes on the bronze plaques, embedded along the walkway from the opera house on the eastern side of circular quay to the museum of contemporary art on the western side. Designed to commemorate and celebrate the lives of distinguished writers from Australia and overseas who in some way identified with Sydney or New South Wales. Writers represented are Miles Franklin, Eleanor Dark, Charles Darwin, David Williamson, Banjo Paterson, C.J. Denis, Christopher Brennan, Oogeroo Noonuccal, Kenneth Slessor, D.H. Lawrence, Jack London, Henry Lawson Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain, George Johnston, Christina Stead, Peter Corris, Arthur Conan Doyle, and many more.