Destination's Journey

Tag: travel

  • Government House Sydney

    Government House Sydney

    Government House

    Located next to the Royal Botanic Garden on Sydney Harbour, Government House is the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales. Completed in 1845, the building is an example of the Gothic Revival style which is characterized by the towers and other medieval features.

    The Governor is appointed by the Sovereign and is her representative in New South Wales. As the formal head of state in New South Wales the Governor has an important constitutional, ceremonial and community role  In respect of constitutional matters, the Governor acts on the advice of his/her Ministers.

    Getting There

    We chose public transport, because it is easy and convenient. Only a ten-minute walk from Central Quay, it’s easily accessible using ferries, trains, light rail or buses.

    Walking through the Botanic Gardens, we only noticed it was open when we saw people wandering through the gardens. On walking up to the front gates, we saw the open times and decided to take the opportunity to go inside.

    Outside and Gardens

    Entry to the gardens is free and you are able to walk through them during opening hours. With views over Sydney Harbour, they are great to wander around and admire. At the same time, the outside of the building and it castle-like appearance look great surrounded by trees.

    • Front of Government House
      Front of Government House
    • Entrance
      Entrance
    • Fig Tree From the Entrance
      Fig Tree From the Entrance
    • Colonnade
      Colonnade
    • Decorative Ceiling Inside the Colonnade
      Decorative Ceiling Inside the Colonnade
    • Colonnade
      Colonnade
    • View Over the Gardens
      View Over the Gardens
    • Some of the Gardens at Government House
      Some of the Gardens at Government House
    • Stained Glass Windows
      Stained Glass Windows

    Interior Tour

    To go on the guided tour inside the building, you need to sign in at the gate house. Identification is required and bags must be left in the cloak room.

    With tours run every 30 minutes, they are convenient and regular. The first starts at 10.30am and the last at 3.00pm. The gardens and guided tours are free of charge, which is great.

    Photography is not permitted inside the house. This is a pity because the interior decorations and artwork are amazing.

    The tour takes you through the public rooms, where the guide explains the significance of the decorations and the house’s history. We learnt a lot about the Governor’s role and how it has changed since the early days of the NSW colony. Originally the Sovereign’s representative, in charge of running the colony, they are now responsible for ceremonial duties, while the Premier and their Ministers run the state.

    If you are able to go on the tour, we really recommend it, as we found it very interesting.

    What did We Think?

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Australian Museum Sydney

    Australian Museum Sydney

    Australian Museum

    Located near Hyde Park in the centre of Sydney, the Australian Museum is a wonderful place to spend a few hours wandering around the amazing displays. Designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis, the current building opening in 1857, although the museum’s collection dates back to 1827.

    An extensive refurbishment in 2021 has resulted in updated and refreshed exhibits, bringing the museum into the 21st century.

    Getting There

    The Domain carpark is the closest secure parking spot to the museum, being only a ten-minute walk away.

    Using Sydney’s public transport system is easy, with the Museum, St James and Town Hall train stations all within a ten-minute walk of the museum. Bus stops along Elizabeth Street, next to Hyde Park are another great option to get there.

    What to See

    Ground Level

    200 Treasures

    Located on the ground floor the 200 Treasures represent people and objects, that tell stories about Australia and the world.

    The displays range from Zulu shields and Pacific Island sculptures, to a skeleton man on a skeleton horse.

    • Skeleton Man on a Horse Australian Museum Sydney
      Skeleton Man on a Horse
    • Zulu Shields in Treasures of the Museum Australian Museum Sydney
      Zulu Shields in Treasures of the Museum
    • Australian Museum Sydney
      Australian Museum Sydney
    First Nations

    The First Nations display is part of the recent Museum refurbishment, giving an excellent overview of indigenous Australians before colonisation.

    We loved the range of boomerangs, shields and spears on display, along with their descriptions on information panels.

    • Australian Museum Sydney
    • Australian Museum Sydney
    • Australian Museum Sydney
    Wild Planet

    In Wild Planet, animals from Australia and around the world are on display. Two huge elephant skeletons show the size of these animals. Overhead, an even bigger sperm whale skeleton looks down from the ceiling.

    Over 400 animals are displayed here, including extinct and endangered species. This was a great place to learn about the animals and their habitats. Not only do the displays details the animals, but also explain how they are impacted by human activity.

    • Cassowary
      Cassowary
    • Giraffe and Zebra
      Giraffe and Zebra
    • Giraffe
      Giraffe
    • Adult and Juvenile Elephant Skeletons
      Adult and Juvenile Elephant Skeletons

    Level 2

    Birds of Australia

    Australian birds have a whole section to themselves because of their vast numbers and beauty. The displays vary from the giant emu and Cassowary to seabirds and colourful parrots. The parrot display shows the huge range of colours to be found in these birds.

    These displays are a great opportunity for people who don’t leave the city to see the colour of the outback.

    • King Parrot
      King Parrot
    Surviving Australia

    Specialising in the creatures of Australia, this section takes you from ancient megafauna to modern spiders and snakes.

    A model of an ancient diprotodon let you see how massive these giant wombat-like creatures were. Nearby the extinct Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger exhibit explains how the mammal went extinct on mainland Australia. The introduction of the dingo outcompeted them for food, driving them to extinction. Surviving until the 1930s in Tasmania, hunting by farmers caused them to die out there too.

    An excellent stop for tourists or locals who want to see some of Australia’s more dangerous animals. Displays of dangerous snakes, spiders and saltwater crocodile allow you to see them up close, but in complete safety.

    • Diprotodon
      Diprotodon
    • Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger
      Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger
    Pacific Spirit

    Pacific Spirit celebrates the culture of the Pacific Islands. Wonderful exhibits showcase the unique culture of these people, with masks, headgear, ceremonial poles and jewellery.

    Dinosaurs

    Having loved dinosaurs since being a kid this was one of my favourite exhibits. From T-Rex and velociraptors, there are many dinosaurs on display. One of Australia’s first discovered specimens is on display, muttaburrasaurus. Prior to its discovery in Queensland (near the town of Muttaburra!), very few dinosaur traces were found in Australia.

    • Muttaburrasaurus
      Muttaburrasaurus
    • Muttaburrasaurus Skeleton
      Muttaburrasaurus Skeleton

    The Hobbit Homo Floresiencis

    The discovery of homo floresiencis on the Indonesian Island of Flores caused a huge stir in the world of archaeology, because of its diminutive stature. Controversy about its place in the human family tree still rages in the scientific community. The museum has a small case displaying the hobbit as it has been called. This is not an easy display to find, because it is hidden away under a staircase, going up from the Wild Planet gallery.

    Homo Floresiensis Australian Museum Sydney
    Homo Floresiensis

    Mineralogy

    The mineralogy collection is the oldest rock and mineral collection in Australia, and the mineral component is the largest of any Australian collection. The meteorite collection is the oldest and second largest in the country. With nearly 80,000 specimens, only a few can be on display, however, these are some of the best available.

    Mineral Collection Australian Museum Sydney
    Australian Christmas Beetles Australian Museum Sydney
    Australian Christmas Beetles
    Circle Stone Money Australian Museum Sydney
    Circle Stone Money

    Refreshments

    Two eating areas provide a chance to re-fuel while at the museum. A family friendly kiosk on level 2 is great for a quick snack or light meal. The roof-top restaurant has views over Hyde Park and Sydney Harbour while you dine.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Gunnedah New South Wales

    Gunnedah New South Wales

    Gunnedah New South Wales

    Town History

    Located on the north west slopes of New South Wales, Gunnedah has a long history of habitation by the Kamilaroi people. The town’s name means Place of White Stones in the Kamilaroi language. Within 45 years

    Colonial settlers arrived in the area in 1833, taking advantage of the Patrick Plain fertile soil to farm sheep.

    Getting There

    Gunnedah was our second overnight stop on our road trip. Only a 90 minute drive from Dubbo, the road was in good condition the whole way. Direct from Sydney, it’s a five hour drive, but there are plenty of interesting stops along the way, the most notable of which is Coonabarabran.

    Attractions

    Gunnedah Town Centre

    The Gunnedah town centre is full of old historic buildings, making a walk though town interesting. While there, look at the buildings’ facades as they are often nicely decorated and show the year the building was built. Over time many buildings have changed owners but the original builder is often still displayed on the facade.

    Old Bank Chambers
    Old Bank Chambers
    Old Shop Fronts Kamilaroi Highway
    Old Shop Fronts Kamilaroi Highway
    Gunnedah Town Hall
    Gunnedah Town Hall
    Old Acropolis Café Building Kamilaroi Highway
    Old Acropolis Café Building Kamilaroi Highway

    Miners’ Memorial

    In the centre of town near Wolseley Park a statue pays tribute to the coal miners who brought wealth to the town. Many miners failed to return home because of the dangerous work and this is a memorial to them.

    Miners' Memorial Wolseley Park Gunnedah
    Miners’ Memorial Wolseley Park

    Red Chief Memorial

    Located in the town centre, adjacent to the NSW Government Offices building in Abbott Street this is first memorial erected in honour of an Aboriginal historical identity.

    Buried probably in late 1700`s. Cumbo Gunnerah was the legendary warrior and wise leader of the Gunn-e-darr people of the Kamilaroi tribe. He was buried, it is thought, in the late 1700’s in a manner befitting an Aboriginal man of great importance, that is in a sitting position, backed by a tree carved with totemic designs in his honour.

    Red Chief Memorial Gunnedah
    Red Chief Memorial

    Silo Art

    A beautiful piece of silo art now brightens one of Gunnedah’s old silos. Featuring Dorothea Mackellar and lines from My Country, it adds to the Mackellar presence in town. For our blog on the silo, click here.

    Gunnedah Maize Mill Silo Depicting Dorothea Mackellar and Lines From My Country
    Gunnedah Maize Mill Silo Depicting Dorothea Mackellar and Lines From My Country

    Gunnedah Water Tank Museum

    The Water Tank Museum contains artefacts from Gunnedah’s past, as well as an amazing mural on the outside, dedicated to the Vietnam War. To see our full blog and more photos click here.

    Gunnedah Water Tower mural
    Water Tower mural: Soldiers of 7RAR waiting to be picked up by Huey Helicopters by Jenny McCracken

    Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue

    In addition to the Silo art honouring Dorothea Mackellar, a statue of the poet riding a horse can be found near the Water Tower Museum. Our full blog and photos can be found here.

    Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue
    Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue

    Pensioners Hill Lookout and Sculptures

    This beautiful sculpture-filled park has great views over town, making it a must visit when you visit. An easy walk from the car park past the sculptures rewards you with magnificent views. Our blog and photos of all the sculptures is here.

    Aboriginal Man Sculpture Gunnedah
    Aboriginal Man Sculpture

    Gunnedah Rural Museum

    This is a fantastic place to visit especially for those interested in rural life in Australia from the late 1800s to late 1900s. We particularly liked the tractor and car collection, as they were extensive and in good condition. The museum also has a model railway out the front for rail enthusiasts. We really enjoyed this laid back huge museum. The full blog of our visit is here.

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    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.