Australian National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is located on the western shore of Darling Harbour in Sydney. Established in 1991, it is Australia’s most important maritime museum. In its first decade of operation, it attracted 3.3 million visitors. In 2010, the British Sunday Times ranked it among the world’s top ten coolest museums.

The Australian National Maritime Museum preserves and documents Australia’s maritime history, vividly showcasing the development of its seafaring heritage. With comprehensive resources and an extensive collection of artifacts, it highlights the nation’s inseparable connection to the sea. The museum now houses over 40,000 exhibits, with seven permanent galleries covering themes such as navigators, trade, and the navy. Authentic items include ships used for navigation, ship models, figures of maritime personalities, period clothing and tools, weapons, photographs, and historical records.

Outside the museum, there are also related vessel exhibitions. The highlight is the opportunity to board ships for tours, with the most famous being the HMAS Vampire, the Royal Australian Navy’s last major gunboat.

Australian National Maritime Museum

Must-visit reason: One of the world’s top ten coolest museums

Continent: Oceania

Country/Region: Australia

State/Province: New South Wales

City: Sydney