Museums & Galleries
Australian National Maritime Museum – $25
White Rabbit Gallery – Paid Exhibitions
Power House Museum – Free / Some Paid Exhibitions
Museum of Contemporary Art – Free / Some Paid Exhibitions
Australian Museum – Free / Some Paid Exhibitions
Art Gallery of New South Wales – Free / Some Paid Exhibitions
Explore Newtown
Newtown is the Capital Suburb of the Inner West (a.k.a. “Eye-Dub”), the heart of Sydney’s counter-culture.
Sydney Tower Eye & Westfield
Sydney Tower Eye is the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere, giving a truly unique perspective of Sydney. The tower stands above Westfield Sydney and the shopping district, including the Strand Arcade.
The Hayden Orpheum (Cinema)
The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, also known and originally as the Cremorne Orpheum Theatre, is a heritage-listed Art Deco cinema.
Queen Victoria Building
North Sydney Olympic Pool
If you’re already wet, why not go for a swim? The Sydney Harbour Bridge towers over the North Sydney Olympic Pool, built in 1936, which has views across the harbour. Rather go for a swim indoors? Check-out Cook Phillip Indoor Pool, near St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Live Music
Churches & Cathedrals
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Hyde Park & Botanic Gardens
If the rain is only light, grab an umbrella and go for a stroll in Sydney’s most beautiful parks. Starting at the ANZAC Memorial will put you in a contemplative mood for the walk. Time it properly and you could end up at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in order to watch the sun set behind the city’s skyline.
Rozelle Tramsheds
The historic Sydney tramsheds, abandoned to graffiti writers for decades, has been gentrified into a “a hub for culinary creativity”.
Oxford Street (Queer District)
Oxford Street is a main road connecting Hyde Park and Sydney’s CBD to Kings Cross and the Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Coogee, etc). Sydney is also a famous destination for queer people globally, and Oxford Street is the main queer district within Sydney, with plenty of queer bars, clubs, shops, and overall queer culture. It is the main strip for the annual Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras’ Parade.
It’s also worth stopping off at the Paddington Resevoir Gardens.
Kings Cross (Red Light District)
Where the rowdiest clubs are.
Blue Mountains & Waterfalls
You’ll need a raincoat and a towel for this one, but hear me out: The Blue Mountains are at their best in the rain. Go for a walk through the old town of Katoomba before heading to the Three Sister. The Leura Cascades, Katoomba Falls, and – my personal favourite – Wentworth Falls will all be flowing in the rain.
Stop of at the Everglades, if you still have time, before grabbing a warm pie and a hot chocolate.
Breweries
Helensburgh Tunnel
This one is a bit further away from the city than the rest, but you can still reach it via train. Helensburgh is home to an abandoned railway tunnel that lights up with glow worms at night (if you’re quiet). It floods during the rain – a little or a lot – and is somewhat beautiful when it does.
From here, you can travel down to Wollongong and Kiama, you can head towards the coast through the Royal National Park (or “Nasho”, as the locals call it).