Australian National Maritime Museum

An incredible experience climbing through real warships! We had an amazing time visiting the National Maritime Museum. Getting to step on board and explore both the submarine HMAS Onslow and the destroyer HMAS Vampire was an unbelievable experience and easily the absolute highlights of our visit—it's fascinating to see what life was like inside these massive vessels. To top it all off, catching the awesome view looking out from the historic Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse was the perfect bonus. ​We happened to visit on a free entry day, so there were heaps of people there and we had to wait extra long to get onto the ships, but it was still well worth it. That being said, I would recommend not going on a free entry day if you want to skip the crowds and the long lines! ​Overall, it's a fantastic, hands-on museum with so much to see. Highly recommend for a great day out!

What an amazing experience for the whole family! You could easily spend an entire day here. We thought it was so exciting to go inside a real submarine and a navy ship. The actual museum was full of interesting things and provided lots of information. The staff and volunteers were all very knowledgeable and friendly, they were more than happy to stop for a chat. Do note that some of the ships are only open at certain times, which I didn't see listed anywhere on the website. Luckily we arrived early in the day and were able to see them all. You will encounter a lot of ladders and stairs onboard the vessels, so keep that in mind if you have mobility issues.

I visited the National Maritime Museum in early June 2026 on a Tuesday afternoon before heading to the airport. I took an Uber there, but it was clear that the museum is super easy to access by public transport too, with ferries, trains and the light rail all nearby. The museum itself is hard to miss thanks to the huge ship mast out the front and plenty of signage directing you where to go. As I arrived with my suitcase, one of the first things I appreciated was that they offer free luggage storage. David at the front desk was incredibly welcoming and helped get me sorted with a luggage tag before pointing me in the direction of the historic ships. They also let me know where to find Tyler, who was helping visitors access the vessels that day. After heading outside, Tyler got me set up with a wristband and a map, then pointed out the ships to check out. He helped me hit all the things I wanted to see before I had to depart, and laid out closing times so I didn’t miss a thing. I started by exploring the Endeavour replica before moving on to the submarine and one of the large navy training ships. The volunteers were so generous with their time and knowledge, sharing stories about the vessels, their restoration, what life was like onboard and the role each ship played in Australia’s maritime history. It felt less like reading information boards and more like getting a personal history lesson from people who genuinely love what they do. It continued on the James Craig ship too with a lovely woman handing out self guided tour sheets as you board. One of my favourite parts was getting to explore the submarine. It’s always fascinating seeing just how cramped life would have been for the people serving onboard, and it really gives you a new appreciation for what sailors experienced. Being able to walk through so many different vessels in one visit was such a unique experience. I was also shocked to find out some of the ships still head out on the water with crews aboard. After spending quite a while out on the water side of the museum, I headed back inside to check out some of the exhibitions. I made sure to visit the Viking exhibition, which I found really interesting, and I wish I had allowed myself more time because there was so much to see throughout the museum. Even the free exhibition spaces were packed with information, interactive displays and maritime history. I also stopped by the gift shop, which was great to browse through and had plenty of books, souvenirs and maritime themed gifts. Before leaving, I grabbed something for lunch from the cafe overlooking the harbour. It was such a nice spot to sit for a few minutes and take in the views of the boats and Sydney skyline after spending the afternoon exploring. What surprised me most was just how much there is to do here. Between the ships, submarine, exhibitions, viewing areas, tours, cafe and gift shop, you could easily spend an entire day wandering around. Unfortunately I was running short on time because of my flight, but it’s definitely somewhere I’d love to come back to and properly explore. Overall, I had an amazing experience at the National Maritime Museum. The staff and volunteers were absolutely wonderful, the exhibits were fascinating, and the historic ships alone make it worth the visit. If you’re in Sydney and have any interest in history, ships or just learning something new, I highly recommend making time to visit.

Highly recommend anyone to visit. Definitely fascinating, informative history & the vast size is absolutely incredible. What our past & future navy crew endured was astounding & unreal. We very much appreciate & enjoyed the historical experience, information & understanding of our brave, courageous & tough crew. What they went through & still go through is beyond comprehension. Highly recommend this respected, professional experience. Definitely worth the money (actually should charge more), definitely a family friendly experience. Happy customers & 👍

Definitely worth the visit. Lots to see and do. I personally enjoyed the submarine and destroyer excursions. Give yourself 2-3hrs to cover most of the exhibits. Longer if you are a complete station reader and info gatherer.