The Australian National Maritime Museum on Darling Harbour is Sydney's hands-on, big-scale museum of all things sea. Inside the galleries, families explore everything from First Nations watercraft to surf culture and convict transports; outside on the wharves, kids can board a Navy destroyer, climb through a Cold War-era submarine and step onto a HMB Endeavour replica. It is one of the rare city museums where kids burn off as much energy as they take in information.

Why We Love It

• Climb aboard real ships and a submarine — HMAS Vampire, HMAS Onslow and the HMB Endeavour replica are walk-through, not look-only; the submarine is the highlight for most primary-aged kids.

• Action Stations is theatre as much as museum — immersive Navy missions with simulators and effects, built for big-feelings storytelling rather than dry display cards.

• Set up for parenting — borrow strollers, sensory backpacks and wheelchairs free at the cloakroom; baby change rooms on the lower level and near the foyer.

• Sensory-Friendly Sundays — quieter, lower-stimulation sessions run periodically for families who need them, in addition to standard accessibility.

• Under-4s and carers free — children under 4 enter at no cost and carers with a Companion Card are also free; family Big Tickets bundle the whole experience for two adults plus up to three kids.

• Right on the harbour — easy to fold into a wider Darling Harbour day, with Pyrmont Bay light rail, ferries and Town Hall train station all close.