Art Gallery of New South Wales is in the north eastern corner of the Sydney Domain. It has excellent permanent exhibitions of Australian, European, Japanese and tribal art, and has some inspired temporary exhibits. It also includes the outstanding Yiribana Gallery, an extensive permanent exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art. Open daily.

The Barracks and the Mint are now museums, the library hosts exhibitions and there are tours of both the hospital and Parliament House. Macquarie St is the eastern boundary of the CBD and borders the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens. It runs from Hyde Park to Circular Quay. The Barracks provide a museum with changing exhibitions of social history and a taste of life in convict Sydney. Open daily.

The Australian Museum is a traditional museum featuring archaeological exhibitions, located on College street, opposite Hyde Park. Rated one of the world's top five natural history collections, this fascinating museum dissects planet earth the a fascinating archive of plants, animals and geological specimens, especially from the Asia-Pacific region. Open daily.

The National Maritime museum has a large collection of nautical artifacts as well as vessels from Australia's past which are open for inspections. Located at Darling Harbour. Open daily.

Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay has a wide range of modern art work and sculptures and often hosts International exhibitions. Closed Tuesdays only.

Powerhouse Museum celebrating technological development with amazing interactive displays, located near Darling Harbour in Ultimo. With its fascinating collection of steam engines, computers and flying machines, this museum charts the history of the industrial age. Open daily.

Sydney Jewish Museum will give you the History of Jews since the settlement of Australia and Jewish culture as well as meeting survivors of the Holocaust and hear their stories. Closed Saturdays and Jewish public holidays.

Paddington is home to over 45 Art galleries featuring everything from the classic to the contemporary and Aboriginal Art Works.

Museum of Sydney is very subtle. Provocative displays explore Sydney's places and culture. Open daily from 3.30am to 5pm.

Government House is surrounded by the rolling green lawns of the Royal Botanic gardens. This gothic revival mansion was built to house the governor of NSW. Guided tours offer a glimpse of the former lifestyle of the Queens representative. The building is still used for official engagements. Open Friday to Sunday only.

Customs House is a magnificent Victorian building which has been given a new life as a cultural and gallery space. The Gallery houses the Australian Museum's collection of indigenous arts and crafts material from Australia and the South Pacific, largest of its kind in the country. Open daily.

Cadmans Cottage was built as a residence and boatshed for John Cadman in 1816. This modest cottage is the oldest house in Sydney and is now the information centre. Open daily.

Justice and Police Museum features a Magistrates Court, a place charge room, a remand cell, photographs of Sydney's early criminals and an array of spine chilling weapons. Open Weekends.

Elizabeth Bay House is one of Australia's outstanding colonial homes. Built by the architect John Verge Elizabeth Bay House is a superb example of colonial architecture in a magnificent setting overlooking Sydney Harbour. Open Tuesday to Sydney.

Vaucluse House is splendidly located on Sydney Harbour and nestled in a 19th century estate with a kitchen wing, stables and outbuildings surrounded by 10 hectares of gardens and grounds. The house reveals the social aspirations and lifestyles of the people who lived and worked there. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Victoria Barracks began in 1841 and is still occupied by the army. The 740 foot sandstone facade of this regency-style building is particularly impressive. An army bank performs here from 10am every Thursday, when visitors are welcome on a free tour.