Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney: Photos, Reviews & Location

Harbourside attraction with naval vessels, a replica of Cook's Endeavor and temporary exhibitions.

At a glance

#15 of 27 Tourist attractions in Sydney #1 of 3 Conference centers in Sydney

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.60

1.1 km from the center of Sydney

Rating breakdown

5 ★68%
4 ★24%
3 ★5%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

sea.museum

+61 2 9298 3777

Photos of Australian National Maritime Museum (412)

View all

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 1

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 2

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 3

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 4

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 5

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 6

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 7

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 8

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 9

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 10

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 11

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Australian National Maritime Museum?: Australian National Maritime Museum is rated 4.6 out of 5 based on 5,271 reviews.
How does Australian National Maritime Museum rank in Sydney?: Australian National Maritime Museum is #15 of 27 Tourist attractions in Sydney by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Australian National Maritime Museum located?: 2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia — 1.1 km from the center of Sydney.
How can I contact Australian National Maritime Museum?: Phone: +61 2 9298 3777 · Website: sea.museum

Reviews (8)

Matthew Martin 2024 Jan 18

Our family ended our holiday cruise vacation and needed to spend the day occupying ourselves until our nighttime flight home. I found the National Maritime Museum was only about a 10 minute drive from the cruise terminal and we literally spent the entire day here. It is an absolutely terrific museum with beautiful indoor exhibits and displays, accompanied by a stunning array of real vessels—ships, even a submarine, which were all available to board and tour! We homeschool our kids and our travels are an extension of their education and they (11 & 14) both really enjoyed this place, as did all of the adults. A highlight to top off this amazing place are the knowledgeable and friendly volunteer staff that are onsite to teach you and answer questions about the ships and vessels. This is a remarkable and memorable museum—don’t miss it!

Anna Lobaczewski 2024 Jan 09

Great for the boys (6 and 3yrs). Wait for the submarine was long so we skipped it - too hard to wait in line so long with little kids. But otherwise all good. Buy a ticket online to save the entry queue. We went during the Summer school holidays so water play area was great. So was the Octopus Garden fun darkened area inside - the boys had fun chasing light-show crabs in the game they had set up, and jumping on the mountain of pebble-looking floor cushions. They loved checking out the open ships.

Draco Ts 2024 Jan 02

There were enough things to experience for hours. However, it will be more interesting to people who care about the history and development of maritime technology. You are not going to see high-tech stuff from the navy nor the very old systems of Aboriginal people.

Side note: There was a considerable wait time to see the submarine but the time spent in the submarine was very short.

Moie G Ara 2023 Dec 30

We had an extraordinary experience there. The day that we visited the museum was a public holiday and we had been waiting 30 min to get to the submarine. It was worthy to wait that long queue. Staff and volunteers are friendly and they were passionate about their job. They knew all the stuff about the vessel that they were representing, if you want to know more just ask the crew.

Seeing the world In a different way 2023 Dec 16

The outdoor displays of real military marine vessels makes this museum stand out. The ships appear to be in great condition and there is knowledge staff onboard each vessel to offer visitors information and answer questions you may have.

I also liked looking at related marine exhibits inside. While I was there, there was a marine photography display and it had some amazing National Geographic level photos. Just amazing. I only wish I could take a photo as good as they have.

Plan to spend at least one hour here. Note if you are tall or suffer from confined spaces then going into the submarine may not be such a good idea. It is cramped inside and if you are taller than 5 ft 6 then you will likely hit your head on something.

If you like my reviews, photos or videos then climb on board and batten down the like hatch and sail off for a great voyage.

June Osborne 2023 Oct 30

Caught ferry from Circular Quay. Enjoyed the museum. It was great being able to board a submarine and the other vessels that are moored there. Well done for preserving parts of our history and the volunteers that are working there, are both knowledgeable, and very pleasant.

MrKKMF 2023 Oct 06

I visited the Maritime Museum with general admission, which limited me to the free areas, but I must say it was a delightful experience. The museum was not only informative but also a lot of fun. A highlight of our visit was meeting David, the model maker, who was truly excellent. He went out of his way to explain many things to the kids and was friendly throughout. David's engaging explanations kept both kids and adults entertained, making our visit truly enjoyable. We had a great time exploring the museum!

Greg Shore 2023 Aug 19

A great place to spend a day with the family, or by yourself.
It is jam packed with information and in fun ways it has been presented.
I've been a few times, with years between my visits, and I always learn amazing facts.
The staff are always ready to help and explain, and share their own interpretation.
The location couldn't be better, easy to get there and move around the exhibits.
There is a Cafe with lots of tasty treats.
Something for everyone.
The entry price is a bargain for what you receive.