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Things to do in Sydney

Arts and culture

• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Customs House
• Dendy Opera Quays
• Sydney Opera House
• Sydney Theatre Company
• The Rocks Discovery Museum
• The Garrison Church

Outdoors

• Royal Botanic Gardens
• North Head Lookout
• The Rocks Self Guided Walking Tour
• Bridge Climb and The Sydney Harbour Bridge Visitor Centre

On the harbour

• Manly Ferry
• Cruise Sydney Harbour
• Fort Denison
• Sydney Fish Market
• Whale Watching

Darling Harbour

• Darling Harbour
• Chinese Gardens of Friendship
• IMAX Theatre
• Australian National Maritime Museum
• Powerhouse Museum

Darling Harbour

Why go there

Darling Harbour, just west of the city centre, is a popular waterfront destination, popular with Sydneysiders as well as visitors. Some of the city's most exciting attractions are here - Australian Maritime Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Chinese Gardens of Friendship, IMAX Theatre and Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife World.

It's also a great place to eat out and go shopping with plenty of choice to suit all tastes and budgets. Darling Harbour is a year-round venue for popular events and festivals that range from big spectaculars such as fireworks on New Years Day and Australia Day to jazz weekends and acrobatics.

Sydney Visitors Centre at Darling Harbour
Image: Patty Mazza

Don't miss

• Annual events such as Australia Day fireworks.
• Fun with the family at Tumbalong Park.
• Major attractions such as Australian Maritime Museum, Chinese Gardens of Friendship, IMAX Theatre and Sydney Aquarium.

Water features
Images: Patty Mazza

Access for all

The Darling Harbour Accessibility Map indicates the most accessible path of travel around the site as well as the location of accessible toilets and attractions.

Darling Harbour Accessibility Map

Getting around

Several people mover trackless trains (+61 2 97272413) operate daily between 10am to 5pm, and later during summer. There is a cost and access is at the rear which folds down creating a ramp. This facility will best suit some manual wheelchairs - the space in the centre of the ramp may trap some front wheels.

People-mover train
Images: Patty Mazza

Accessible toilets are located at:

• Palm Grove, adjacent to the Sydney Visitors Centre
• Harbourside
• Cockle Bay Wharf
• Pumphouse Tavern
• Powerhouse Museum
• Australian National Maritime Museum
• Sydney Aquarium
• Pyrmont Bridge (east and west side).

Map

• Darling Harbour Accessibility
• Downloadable PDF of the Darling Harbour Accessibility Map (PDF, 2MB)

To view the maps, you need Adobe Reader.

Eating out

There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to enjoy a casual meal, coffee or relax over a drink. Major dining spots are at Cockle Bay, Harbourside and each of the major attractions.

Cockle Bay Wharf and Harbourside
Image: Patty Mazza

How to get there

Darling Harbour is a short stroll from the city centre with access to Pyrmont Bridge, Ultimo and Haymarket from Market, Druitt and Bathurst streets.

Public transport

Accessible public transport options include bus from Circular Quay, Sydney Ferry from Circular Quay (access from floating pontoon wharves), Matilda City Loop ferry from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour wharf, light rail to Convention Centre station, Monorail to Darling Harbour stations.

Parking

Dedicated access parking is available at car parks in the Convention Centre, Entertainment Centre and Harbourside. Discounted parking costs may be available by validating the parking ticket at various attractions.