Pyrmont Ultimo: visitors’ paradise

Ranked sixth in Travel & Leisure 2010 ‘World's Best Awards’, ahead of Paris, London and New York, Sydney is  also voted number one city in the Pacific region by international tourists. And an unfair share of its celebrated visitor attractions can be found in and around Pyrmont Utimo.

 

Whatever you’re into - it’s here. You can browse Australia’s biggest, most creative museum, discover the world at sea, meet our surprising wildlife face to face, marvel at the exotic creatures of the deep, tour the biggest fish markets in the Southern hemisphere and learn about the ancient culture of the First Australians ... Then relax in the world’s biggest IMAX movie theatre or have a fun-filled evening at the world-class casino....

 

 

There’s something for everyone at the Powerhouse Museum, Harris St, Ultimo. The iconic Powerhouse, Australia’s largest museum complex, aims to entertain and inform visitors

of all ages through exhibitions and programs that highlight Australian achievements. Its extensive

125 year old collection traces the ideas and technologies that have changed our world in science, technology, industry, decorative arts, design and social history, music, Industry, and space exploration.

 

As well as twenty-five major permanent and temporary exhibitions, regular weekly events and activities include film screenings in the Kings Cinema, highlight tours of the Museum and demonstrations, an experimental environment, Beta_space, where you can engage with the latest research in art and new technology...

 

The Powerhouse provides services for visitors with disabilities who are  hearing impaired or visually impaired, and sign language interpreters.

 

9.00 am - 5.00 pm daily http://www.powerhousemuseum.com

 

 

You can’t miss the distinctive Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, with its

roofline evoking waves and sails. Officially opened in 1991, and with over 40,000 items already in its collection, the museum presents exhibitions that explore Australia's links with the sea, with themes ranging from Indigenous lore and European seafaring to aquatic sport and the maritime defence.

 

Next door, Wharf 7 Maritime Heritage Centre houses the Vaughan Evans Library, while at the wharves is one of the biggest museum fleets in the world , including modern naval vessels, a full-scale replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour and several smaller vessels.

 

Entry free to core exhibitions, special temporary exhibitions, Wharf 7 Maritime Heritage Centre, North Wharf and marina, and Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse.

 

Open 9.30 am - 5.00 pm daily www.anmm.gov.au

 

 

 

Like to walk on the wild side? Head for Wildlife World - Darling Harbour, a wildlife park right in the city centre with the widest variety of Australian wildlife to be found under one roof, in 10 key viewing zones,

• Butterflies •Other Invertebrates •Reptiles •Kakadu Gorge •Koala Rooftop •Nocturnal •Semi-Arid Grasslands •Rainforest •Wallaby Cliffs •Koala Sanctuary.

Regular keeper talks give visitors unique oportunities to see and touch different animals, watch them being fed and learn about their habits.

If you ‘re brave enough,  you can even meet a huge, 5 metre crocodile face to face.... Rex, one of the world’s biggest saltwater crocodiles, joined Wildlife World in 2010, lives at the new Kakadu Gorge exhibit and likes meeting (not eating) visitors...

 

Open: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm daily                                                          Lively daily interactive schedule, talks and feeding, 10.00 am -3.30 pm Sydney Wildlife World 

 

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If you’re fascinated by fishy business, check out Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour.

 Shaped like a giant wave, it’s one of the largest aquariums in the world and has welcomed over 21 million visitors since opening in 1988.

Australia has an enormous diversity of aquatic environments, and Sydney Aquarium aims to present the unique aquatic life of some of these habitats to highlight their ecological importance and the need to conserve them.                                                                                        

The aqarium houses more than 12,000 sea creatures and 451 species in a main exhibition hall, two touch pools and two floating oceanariums - one dedicated to the Great Barrier Reef, the other a seal sanctuary. It’s famous for having the largest collection of sharks in captivity and the biggest indoor coral exhibit in existence. Visitors can observe water-dwellers from sharks and rays to crocodiles and platypi from underwater tunnels, and help feed carnivors with bait from a glass-bottomed boat . 

Open 9.00 am to 8.00 pm daily  www.sydneyaquarium.com.au  

 

 

 

 

 

For more fishy business, get up early for the Fish Markets , Pyrmont Bridge Road ...

 

Pyrmont Fish Markets is a working fishing port, with many types of fishing vessels in Blackwattle Bay, wholesale and retail fish markets, shops, indoor and outdoor eateries, and outdoor picnic tables.  It’s the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, offering more varieties of fish than anywhere else except Japan. Over 100 species are traded daily, with annual sales of 1400 tonnes.

The noisy wholesale fish auctions are an entertaining spectator sport  for visitors, starting at 7.00 am. Sydney Seafood School is also based here.     www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au 

 

 

 

 

 

You can’t lose at Star City, Pyrmont, a glittering,

five star complex boasting a casino, restaurants and bars, entertainment venues, hotel, apartments, and banquets and conference centres. 

 

Star City is Sydney’s only legal casino and the second largest in Australia, with two gaming floors, and offers 1500 pokies (slot machines), a TAB lounge for horse punters, Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, Sic Bo, Big Wheel, Roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker....

 

Star City’s range of top-class restaurants caters for all palates and occasions, from the award-winning Astral Restaurant, Fat Noodle for Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, or Sean’s kitchen, to the Lotus Pond and Garden Buffet, famous for all you-can-eat prawns.....

 

The 2000 seat Lyric Theatre is Sydney's premier live entertainment venue for musicals, theatre, opera and ballet. It has welcomed dozens of legendary performers over its 10-year history, and staged many international hits including the world premier of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. www.starcity.com.au

 

 

 

 

Discover the real Australia at the Outback Centre, Darling Harbour, one of the leading promoters of the Australian outback and Aboriginal culture. It has Australia’s largest collection of Australian gifts and souvenirs, including an extensive range of Aboriginal arts and crafts.

The Outback Gallery features work by established and emerging Aboriginal artists including canvases, prints and ceramics as well as many retail products with an Outback theme, specialising in those designed and crafted by authentic Aboriginal artisans.

The Outback Store stocks a huge range of Australian gifts and souvenirs for adults and children - clothing, music, books, homewares, and authentic aboriginal products including boomerangs and didjeridoos. Products are selected for their quality and their appeal for international visitors.

 

Open: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm daily  www.outbackcentre.com.au

 

 

Calling modern art lovers! The MLC Gallery, Ultimo near the Powerhouse Museum on Ultimo’s busy Harris Streeet, focuses on integrating education with fine design, and specialises in promoting emerging and mid-career artists.

The current artist in residence is Miriam Cabello, the first Australian artist to win the 2009 Faith & Form/IFRAA Design Award for "Stations of the Cross" .

If you’re passionate about contemporary art, you’ll want to spend a leisurely hour or so iexploring this relaxed, friendly gallery. Exhibitions change regularly, so check Local Events for up-to-date details.

Open; hours: Monday to Friday; 1:00am to 6:00pm, Saturday: 12:00 noon till 4:00pm,

  

See things differently at Sydney’s LG IMAX Theatre. Clad in eye-catching aluminium with a black and yellow checker board facade, it’s right in the the heart of Darling Harbour, surrounded by tempting restaurants and upscale bars.

 

Films are screened in 2D and 3D , using the IMAX film system, the largest film format in the world.

The giant film frames offer far greater resolution than 35mm film and all existing digital cinema projection systems (including IMAX Corporation's own digital multiplex cinema IMAX systems).

This is a completely different, real-life film experience. With super-sharp images projected onto the world's biggest screen, completely surrounded by digital sound, you can climb the world's highest mountains, feel the weightlessness of space, or meet great white sharks under the ocean...

 

Open from 10. 00 am daily  www.imax.com.au 

 

 

The only way to really appreciate Sydney’s magnificent Harbour is from the deck of one of Sydney Princess Cruises luxury cruising vessels. Sit back and relax in superb comfort on the calm blue water and watch the world drift by..

 

If you’re with a family group, or friends - especially if there’s something to celebrate - the company can arrange a customised cruise for you and your guests...

 

If it’s just the two of you, or you’re on your own, find out about the program of Special Events like the October Sunday Barbeque Lunch cruise, the Melbourne Cup and Thanksgiving cruises, or the fabulous Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Sydney Harbour cruise packages, all fully catered with on-board bar...

For details - send an online enquiry to the Sydney Princess Cruises team.

 

 

 

 

 

For reference - links for all the attractions described - they’re also in the copy

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