Updated in October 2026, this Australian Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Australian Museum is a natural history and culture museum at 1 William Street in central Sydney, opposite Hyde Park. The permanent exhibition Surviving Australia is now open on Level 2, and there is still no public car parking on site. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the new exhibition, free general entry and the parking situation, which some older guides do not reflect.
Quick facts: the Australian Museum
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm daily. Closed Christmas Day. Burra and the Billabong Waterhole Café close at 4.30pm. |
| Ticket prices | Free general entry ($0) to permanent exhibitions. Fees apply to special exhibitions, and prices vary by exhibition. |
| Address | 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Gadigal Metro station is about a 5-minute walk. There is no public car park on site. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 4 hours |
Australian Museum opening hours
The museum is open 10am to 5pm every day, except Christmas Day. The official website lists no seasonal changes, so the hours are the same all year.
Two areas close earlier. The Burra learning and play space and the Billabong Waterhole Café close at 4.30pm.
The cloakroom is on Lower Ground and is open during business hours. Collect your items ten minutes before closing, because the museum can close the cloakroom without notice.
Australian Museum ticket prices
The Australian Museum has free general entry. This includes the permanent exhibitions, the Museum Shop and the Burra learning and play space.
- Permanent exhibitions: free, with no ticket needed.
- Special exhibitions: fees may apply. Prices vary, so check the What’s On calendar.
- School holiday programs, workshops, talks and education programs: tickets are required.
- Concessions: Seniors Card holders, student card holders and several pension and healthcare card holders receive reduced prices. Show the card on entry.
- Companion Card: carers enter special exhibitions free.
- Members: receive free or discounted tickets to special exhibitions.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026. The museum warns visitors not to buy tickets from unauthorised re-sellers.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
How to get to the Australian Museum
The main entrance is on the corner of College Street and William Street, opposite Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral. Walking from Town Hall in the CBD is a level 10-minute walk.
- By Metro: Gadigal station is about a 5-minute walk east along Park Street.
- By train: Museum, Town Hall and St James stations are each about a 7-minute walk through Hyde Park.
- By bus: services stop near Hyde Park and Town Hall, followed by a 7 to 10 minute walk east along Park Street.
- By hop-on hop-off bus: the museum is a stop on the Sydney and Bondi route, with buses stopping outside on College Street.
Use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner for current services.
Parking at the Australian Museum
There is no public car parking on site. The museum recommends nearby car parks or metered street parking.
- Wilson Parking: at 70 Riley Street, Darlinghurst and 1 St Mary’s Road, Domain, each about a 5-minute walk.
- Secure Parking: the Hilton Sydney Hotel car park on Pitt Street, about a 10-minute walk.
- Accessible parking: Enacon Parking on Cathedral Street has 11 accessible spaces, about a 5-minute step-free walk.
A bus drop-off zone on William Street operates from 8am to 5pm. A short-stay drop-off area on William Street is available for pick-up and drop-off. Rates and booking conditions vary, so check each car park’s website.
How long to spend at the Australian Museum
Plan about 2 to 4 hours to see the main permanent galleries. This is a planning estimate. The museum’s official itineraries are a full day from 10am to 4.30pm and a family half-day.
The official full-day itinerary starts with the Upper Ground galleries and moves to Level 2 in the afternoon. The official family itinerary starts on Level 2 with Burra, Surviving Australia and Dinosaurs.
Accessibility at the Australian Museum
The museum has lifts and ramps throughout. All doors are automatic. The main entrance via the Museum Walk ramp from College Street is wheelchair accessible.
The groups and accessible entrance is on William Street. It leads to a lift from the basement. Two lifts serve the levels.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are on Lower Ground, Ground, Level 2 and Level 3. A Changing Places facility is on Level 2.
Free audio description tours are available on your own mobile device. A Visual Story helps visitors on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities. The visitor map marks low, medium and high sensory areas. Only accredited assistance animals are allowed.
What to see at the Australian Museum
The museum was founded in 1827 and is Australia’s first museum. Start at the Crystal Hall on the Ground level, where the Admissions Desk and the Acknowledgement of Country are.
200 Treasures of the Australian Museum is in the Westpac Long Gallery. It pairs 100 treasures from the collections with 100 stories of influential Australians.
Wild Planet on Upper Ground shows more than 400 animals and explains biodiversity. Garrigarrang: Sea Country is the First Nations gallery on Upper Ground. It covers the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salt Water Peoples and includes Ghost Net sculptures.
Surviving Australia on Level 2 shows how Australian animals have survived. It includes giant wombats, fanged kangaroos, fossils and digital displays.
The Dinosaurs gallery on Level 2 has life-size dinosaur skeletons. Many fossil displays can be touched. The gallery includes realistic roars and flashing strobe lights.
Birds of Australia on Level 2 is a low-sensory gallery. Wansolmoana on Level 2 is the Pasifika gallery. Its name means ‘One Salt Ocean’.
Minerals on Level 1 has more than 1,800 minerals in a darker, quieter gallery. Burra on Level 2 is a hands-on learning and play space for children, based on the migration of an eel.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Burra and the Billabong Waterhole Café close at 4.30pm, half an hour before the museum closes at 5pm. |
| Crowds | Burra can be busy and loud during school holidays. Noise-reducing headphones may help sensitive children. |
| Layout | Collect a free map at the Admissions Desk. Galleries are on Upper Ground, Level 1 and Level 2. |
| Entry process | No ticket is needed for permanent exhibitions. Enter special exhibitions through Hintze Hall with a ticket. |
| On-site logistics | Use the free cloakroom on Lower Ground. Bags larger than A3, long umbrellas, scooters and tripods are not allowed. |
Frequently asked questions about the Australian Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Australian Museum free to enter? | Yes. General entry is free and includes the permanent exhibitions. Special exhibitions may need a ticket. |
| Is the Australian Museum suitable for children? | Yes. It has Burra, a learning and play space, and a Dinosaurs gallery. Workshops run in school holidays. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Australian Museum? | No ticket is needed for general entry. Book special exhibitions and programs online in advance. |
| Is the Australian Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except Christmas Day. |
| Are bags allowed at the Australian Museum? | Small bags are allowed. Bags larger than A3, carry-on luggage and wheeled shopping carts are not. Use the cloakroom. |
Things to do near the Australian Museum
- Hyde Park: the city park directly across the road from the museum, with paths that lead to the nearby train stations.
- St Mary’s Cathedral: the cathedral opposite the museum, at the edge of Hyde Park.
- Anzac Memorial: a war memorial in Hyde Park, a short walk from the museum.
- Hyde Park Barracks Museum: a World Heritage listed convict site at Queens Square on Macquarie Street, just north of Hyde Park.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales: the state art museum on Art Gallery Road in The Domain, east of the CBD.
Alternative attractions
- Powerhouse Castle Hill: the former Museums Discovery Centre in Castle Hill, in north-west Sydney. It holds collection storage and research facilities and opens to visitors at weekends.
- Australian National Maritime Museum: a national maritime museum at 2 Murray Street in Darling Harbour, with a collection of historic vessels.
- Sydney Observatory: a Powerhouse site on Observatory Hill in The Rocks, focused on astronomy.
- Australian Reptile Park: a wildlife park at Somersby on the Central Coast, about 84 km and 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive north of Sydney.
- Newcastle Museum: a regional museum in the Honeysuckle railway workshops, about 2.5 hours’ drive north of Sydney. It covers natural environment, industry and science.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Sydney’s top historic museums – including the Justice and Police Museum, Susannah Place Museum, Hyde Park Barracks and Museum of Sydney.
- Learn about the Sydney Harbour Bridge at BridgeMuseum.
- 7 fantastic attractions in Sydney that most visitors overlook – including the Sirius anchor, the Macquarie Lighthouse, the Anzac Memorial, the Quarantine Station, the State Library of NSW and Elizabeth Farm.
- Guides to Sydney’s beaches: Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach, Milk Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Shark Beach, Yarra Bay Beach.
- Swimming in Sydney: The best open-air pools, including the Maccallum Seawater Pool and Marranawi Cove.
