Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grin & Bare It
If getting an all-over tan is your scene, you have a couple of options in
Sydney. Head either to the nudist beach at
Lady Jane Bay,
a short walk
from Camp Cove Beach (accessed from Cliff St. in Watsons Bay, reached by
walking along the strip of sand—to the right as you look at the sea—at
the back of the Watsons Bay Hotel). Or, you can try
Cobblers Beach,
accessed via a short, but steep, bush track that leads from the far side of
the playing field oval next to the main HMAS
Penguin
naval base at the
end of Bradley's Head Road in Mosman. (Follow the procession of men in
shorts.) Be prepared for a largely male-orientated scene—as well as the
odd boatload of beer-swigging peeping toms.
Fun Fact
swimming. Reach Balmoral via a ferry to Taronga Zoo and then a 5-minute ride
on a connecting bus from the ferry wharf, or catch the bus from the stop out-
side the zoo's top entrance.
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, HISTORIC HOUSES & MORE
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The numerous galleries here present
some of the best of Australian art and many fine examples by international artists,
including good displays of Aboriginal and Asian art. You enter from The Domain
parklands on the third floor of the museum. On the fourth floor you will find an
expensive restaurant and a gallery often showing free photography displays. On
the second floor is a wonderful cafe overlooking the wharves and warships of
Woolloomooloo. Every January and February there is a fabulous display of the
best work created by school students throughout the state. Allow at least 1 hour.
Art Gallery Rd., The Domain.
&
02/9225 1744.
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au. Free admission to most gal-
leries. Special exhibitions vary; expect to pay around A$12 (US$7.80) adults, A$7 (US$4.55) children. Daily
10am-5pm. Tours of general exhibits Tues-Fri 11am, noon, 1 and 2pm; Mon 1 and 2pm; Sat-Sun 11am, 1
and 2pm. Tours of Aboriginal galleries Tues-Sun 11am. Free Aboriginal performance Tues-Sat noon. CityRail:
St. James. Sydney Explorer bus.
Australian Museum
Though nowhere near as impressive as, say, the Natural
History Museum in London, Sydney's premier natural history museum is still
worth a look. Displays are presented thematically, the best being the Aboriginal
section with its traditional clothing, weapons, and everyday implements. There
are some sorry examples of stuffed Australian wildlife, too. Temporary exhibits
run from time to time. Allow 1 to 2 hours.
6 College St.
&
02/9320 6000.
www.austmus.gov.au. Admission A$8 (US$5.20) adults, A$3 (US$1.95) chil-
dren, A$19 (US$12) families. Special exhibits extra. Daily 9:30am-5pm. Closed Christmas. CityRail: Museum,
St. James, or Town Hall. Sydney Explorer bus.
Customs House
This museum, in the sandstone building with the clock and
flags across the large square opposite the Circular Quay CityRail station and the
ferry wharves, opened in December 1998. It's worth a look inside if you're inter-
ested in architecture. You might be hooked by the series of modern-art objects
displayed on the ground floor, and the traveling exhibits on the third floor—
though often you won't be. Outside in the square is a popular cafe selling rea-
sonably priced coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and the like. Allow 15 minutes.
Alfred St., Circular Quay.
&
02/9320 6429.
Free general admission. Daily 9:30am-5pm. CityRail, bus, or
ferry: Circular Quay.
