Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 3 . SYDNEY
tremble slightly, especially in a stiff breeze—I’m told it’s perfectly natural. Below
the tower are three floors of stores and restaurants. Allow 1 hour.
Pitt and Market sts.& 02/9223 0933. Admission A$20 (US$13) adults, A$13 (US$8.45) children 5–16, A$55
(US$36) families (up to 3 kids). Daily 9am–10:30pm. CityRail: St. James or Town Hall. Sydney Explorer bus.
Hyde Park Barracks Museum These Georgian-style barracks were
designed in 1819 by the convict/architect Francis Greenway. They were built by
convicts and inhabited by fellow prisoners. These days they house relics from
those early days in interesting, modern displays, including log books, early settlement
artifacts, and a room full of ships’ hammocks in which visitors can lie
and listen to fragments of prisoner conversation. If you are interested in Sydney’s
early beginnings, then I highly recommend a visit—the displays are also far
more straightforward that those at the Museum of Sydney (see later in this chapter).
The courtyard cafe is excellent. Allow for 1 hour or more.
Queens Sq., Macquarie St.& 02/9223 8922. Admission A$7 (US$4.55) adults,A$3 (US$1.95) children,A$17
(US$11) families. Daily 9:30am–5pm. CityRail: St. James or Martin Place. Sydney Explorer bus.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) This imposing sandstone museum
set back from the water on The Rocks side of Circular Quay offers wacky, entertaining,
inspiring, and befuddling displays of what’s new (and dated) in modern
art. It houses the J. W. Power Collection of more than 4,000 pieces, including
works by Andy Warhol, Christo, Marcel Duchamp, and Robert Rauschenberg,
as well as temporary exhibits. As it’s relatively new and still building up its collection,
don’t expect it to be as impressive as major modern art museums in, say,
London or New York. In mid-2001 there was talk of the museum closing
because of financial concerns. Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday
at noon and 2pm, and Sunday at 2pm. Worth at least an hour.
140 George St., Circular Quay West. & 02/9252 4033. www.mca.com.au. Free general admission. Daily
10am–6pm (5pm in winter). CityRail, bus, ferry: Circular Quay. Sydney Explorer bus.
Sydney Olympic Park The site of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games is
still very much a tourist attraction, as well as a major sporting venue. Most of
the Olympic venues are at this dedicated Olympic precinct at Homebush Bay,
which also has plenty of bars and restaurants. First port of call should be the
Homebush Bay Information Centre (& 02/9714 7888), which offers displays,
walking maps, and tour tips. It’s open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Nearby is Stadium Australia (& 02/8765 2300; www.stadiumaustralia.com.
au), the site of the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the track and field events,
and some Olympic soccer games. Today it stages Australian Rules games, rugby
league, rugby union, and soccer matches. A 20-minute tour of the stadium costs
A$15 (US$9.50) for adults, A$7.50 (US$4.90) for children, and A$42 (US$27)
for a family. A 1-hour “behind the scenes” tour is A$26 (US$17) for adults, A$13
(US$8.45) for children, and A$60 (US$39) for a family.
Also at the Olympic Park is the Sydney International Aquatic Centre (& 02/
9752 3666; www.siac.nsw.gov.au), which comprises the Olympic pool, diving
pool, and training facilities. To swim here costs a whopping A$16 (US$10) for
adults and A$10 (US$6.50) for children. At those prices, they should towel you
off afterward!
There are wonderful views of the Sydney Olympic Park and the city from
Level 17 of the Novotel hotel (& 02/8762 1111), located in the park. Entry to
the observation area costs A$4 (US$2.60) for adults, A$2 (US$1.30) for children
(free for kids under 8). You can purchase a SuperPass entitling you to entry