The Best of Australia - Australia 2004 - page 15

this 1870s settlement is as real as
history can get. See p. 371.
• Australian Aviation Heritage
Centre (Darwin, NT): The pride
of this hangar is a B-52 bomber
on permanent loan from the
United States. But there's loads
more, and not just planes,
engines, and other aviation para-
phernalia—there are stories, jokes,
and anecdotes associated with the
exhibits that will appeal even if
you don't have avgas (aviation
fuel) running in your veins. See
“Darwin” in chapter 8.
• Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural
Centre (NT): Reader Mari Fagin
of Oklahoma City wrote that this
small, stylish museum in Kakadu
National Park makes for a “very
memorable and moving experi-
ence! This museum is one of the
best of its type we've ever seen.”
Learn about Dreamtime myths
and daily life of Aboriginal people
in Kakadu. See “Kakadu National
Park” in chapter 8.
• Western Australian Maritime
Museum & the Adjacent Ship-
wrecks Museum (Perth, WA):
Housed in a brand-new building
in the historic port precinct of
Fremantle, Perth, this museum
tells tales of the harsh Western
Australian coastline since the
Dutch first bumped into it and
abandoned it as useless in the
1600s. Anyone who ever dreamed
of finding a shipwreck laden with
pieces of eight will relish the dis-
plays of treasure recovered from
the deep. See p. 442.

• New Norcia Museum & Art
Gallery (New Norcia, WA): The
collection of European Renaissance
art in this tiny museum in the
Spanish Benedictine monastery
town of New Norcia is mind-bog-
gling. The museum has all kinds of
memorabilia from the monks' past
manuscripts, clothing, instru-
ments, and gifts from Queen
Isabella of Spain. See “Side Trips
from Perth” in chapter 9.
• The Migration Museum (Ade-
laide, SA): This museum gives vis-
itors insight into the people who
came to Australia, how and where
they settled, and how many suf-
fered getting here. Don't expect a
lot of musty displays because this
museum is full of hands-on activ-
ities. See p. 498.
• Australian War Memorial (Can-
berra, ACT): Given its name, you
might think this museum is a
bleak sort of place, but you'd be
wrong. The museum gives impor-
tant insight into the Anzac (Aus-
tralian and New Zealand Army
Corps) spirit, including an exhibit
on the tragic battle of Gallipoli.
There's also a pretty good art col-
lection. See p. 604.
• National Museum of Australia
(ACT): Using state-of-the-art
technology and hands-on exhibits,
Australia's newest and most
impressive museum concentrates
on Australian society and its his-
tory since 1788, the interaction of
people with the Australian envi-
ronment, and Aboriginal and Tor-
res Strait Islander cultures and
histories. See p. 605.

11 The Best Luxury Accommodations
• Sir Stamford at Circular Quay,
Sydney ( & 1300/301 391 in
Australia, or 02/9252 4600): This
AAA-rated five-star hotel com-
bines old-world luxury with a
wonderful bar and nice views. I

like the top-hatted doorman who
valet-parked my rusting 1976
Toyota without a comment. See
p. 112.
• Park Hyatt Sydney ( & 800/633-
7313 in the U.S. and Canada or