SeeThe Rocks

Sydney Observatory

Australia's oldest observatory. It has a variety of exhibitions, a “beanbag planetarium” and of course, telescopes. The parks and views of the harbour from the Observatory Hill are exceptional. It's worth a visit even if you have no interest in astronomy and are not even going into the building. You can book a night tour guided by an astronomer, where you're allowed to use the telescope and see what is visible during night time. The old telescopes here aren't the most powerful around; the portable telescopes set up are just as powerful as the large ones in the domes. It makes for a fun, informative night out. Children are catered for in both the daytime and evening sessions.

Address: Watson Road, Observatory Hill
Hours: Daily 10AM–5PM. Closed Good Fri, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Price: Daytime admission is free. For night tours adults $20-22 and children $14-15
Website: sydneyobservatory.com.au (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Sydney/The Rocks, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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