Established in 1827, the venerable Australian Museum (australian.museum; free), open 10am to 5pm, is a key contender for any Sydney itinerary. A wonderfully diverse array of objects is displayed in the 200 Treasures exhibition, ranging from a 10.7kg gold nugget to the skeleton of a horse and rider nicknamed "The Bone Ranger."
There's an excellent First Nations Gallery and a permanent gallery called Wansolmoana showcasing items from what is one of the largest collections of Pasifika (Pacific Island) artifacts in the world. An unexpected highlight is the dazzling Minerals gallery, packed with glistening gemstones and odd-shaped crystals. If you’ve come with kids, the Dinosaurs hall is bound to be popular, as is Burra, the dedicated immersive play space.
