One of those rags
to riches places, Darling Harbour, following a complete redesign and
overhaul in the 1980s, is now home to some of Sydney's premier
attractions. A little clinical for some tastes, this purpose built
visitor magnet is awash with ideas for days out, and places to grab a
bite to eat.
Even
getting to Darling Harbour can be an interesting adventure: pedestrian
access is via a series of bridges which help you to avoid the
sometimes perilous Sydney traffic, and also span parts of the harbour
area itself.
For
those who prefer a more sedentary conveyance, the futuristic monorail
will pick you up in the CBD and take a first floor glide into the
Harbour and drop you at any one of a number of stops. Set amongst
contemporary sculptures from award winning artists are a series of
museums and entertainment venues which will probably have you making
at least one return visit to the Harbour.
One
of the most popular destinations is the Powerhouse Museum - 500
Harris St, Ultimo, Tel: (02) 9217 0111, Fax: (02) 9217 0333,
http://www.phm.gov.au/
- so called because it is set in a cavernous former power station.
Covering a broad sweep from fashion to music to the space race, the
curators of this museum have really blown away any preconceptions that
people might have about museums and have put together some innovative,
stylish and engaging displays, without forgetting that those walking
out the exit should know something that they didn't when they handed
their coat in at the cloak room.
A
model for museums around the world, prices are pretty good too at $AUD
8, $AUD 2 for children and $AUD 3 concessions. There is also a family
option for $AUD 18, and the first Saturday of every month is free to
all.
Another
quality museum is the, not quite so snappily named, Australian
National Maritime Museum. A nation that was born of the sea, be it the
Aboriginal settlement estimated by some at around 50,000 years ago, to
the European settlement in 1788, this museum seeks to put Australian
history against a nautical background. It is worth taking one of the
free tours to fully appreciate the stories that are to be told by the
naval destroyer and racing yachts that are on display here.
Sticking
with the oceanic theme, another perennial favourite is the Sydney
Aquarium (http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/), Pyrmont Bridge, Darling
Harbour, Tel: (02) 9262 2300, Fax: (02) 9290 3553, E-mail: mail@sydneyaquarium.com.au
, home to all manner of aquaticlife. From the seals to the tropical
fish to the mean looking sharks, this is a must-see attraction,
especially if your visit to Australia does not allow you to take in
the reefs off the Queensland or Western Australian coasts. Prices are
$AUD 16.50, $AUD 8 for children or $AUD 39.50 for a family.
Concessions weigh in at $AUD 12.00.
