Eastern Australia Trip. Day 3 : Sydney

The entirety of this day was set aside to explore the city center. Initially, we planned to explore the Hyde Park and Domain vicinity on the first day. Because most museums closed at 5 pm and we were still tired of the flight, we might not be able to make it. Saved it for later; we had a lot of things to do this day.

The biggest highlights other than Hyde Park and the Domain were the Royal Botanic Garden, Circular Quay (though we were here yesterday) and of course the city center vicinity. We skipped some of the less attractive sites, and pessimists think that we could cover the Rock neighborhood in the afternoon.

Looking at the St. Mary Cathedral from the Hyde Park 

The Archibald fountain is to commemorate the Australia&France association during the Great War

Taking a short walk in the Hyde Park Garden

The Hyde Park Barracks museum opened its doors at 10 am. It used to be a convict site for the penal colony from the British, set up in the early 18th century. Rather than a prison, the convicts forged a lively and established neighborhood, but with full surveillance. We had learned that it had turned into a court and immigrant depot in the 19th century. The entrance charges were included with the Sydney Living Museums family pass, including 12 other museums and historic sites. We spent about an hour in the barrack.

The old entrance gate of Hyde Park Barrack Museum

It's listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The female immigration depot was much better compared to the male dorm (at the topmost floor)

Among the women immigrants that brought into the New South wales

Some part of the barrack were left unrestored wall to get the feel of it

Nu'man experienced what it was like to sleep in such cramped quarters 

The court building looks newer than the barrack itself

I plead not guilty, Mr. Judge!

We had to skip The Mint and the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, 5 minutes' walk from the barracks, as it opens only on weekdays. Heard that the Mint is a must for any visit to Sydney; probably we can do that on the next trip. :P

After about 10 minutes of walking through the Domain park, we reached the New South Wales Art Gallery. Another must-visit site while in Sydney, it contained the collection of Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian, and contemporary art. The general admission to the gallery is free and it's open daily. This gallery has been open to the public since 1882. I was therefore intrigued by the architecture of this old building once we stepped into the gallery.

A Gothic-style sandstone fountain (left) and statue of Robert Burns, a famous poet (right)

Names of the sculptors appear on the northern half of the front

Staircases leading to the art gallery's entrance

Glad with the atmosphere whenever in a gallery/museum 

The Dancer (1904) by Bertram Mackennal

The James Fairfax Gallery: A collection of 15th-19th century of European art

An athlete wrestling with a python

There were several Malaysian artists' works that were displayed

The Malaysian artist's impression on the Sulu archipelago

An artist's creativity using the cardboard box

We took a cab heading to the Rocks, a historic neighborhood laneway towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We saw a long queue when we passed through the Museum of Contemporary Art. Thinking of stopping over later, we asked the driver to stop at Cadman's Cottage Historic Site. A water transport headquarters, located at the western side of the Circular Quay, is one of only a handful of colonial remnants.

It originally stood on a rocky shore with a small sandy beach

A two-story Georgian-style house

The site is named after the last & long-serving superintendent, John Cadman

We had lunch at one of the Thai restaurant nearby

Let's see what is interesting in the Pasar Tani...

The Rock Markets open on Friday to Sunday

After the lunch, we searched high and low for the Rock Discovery Museum. Up until the Argyle Cut before turning back to the Visitor Information Center. Too bad, the queue was a bit long so we continued searching on the other side of the Nurses Walk. The museum was actually on the backside of the information center.

The sandstone warehouse were built in 1805

The free-entrance museum the story of The Rocks from pre-European days to the present

An old-wooden staircase

We were inspired by its artifacts and surroundings

Artist and designer Judith Martinez transforms archival items from The Rock

A hand-operated winch which operated since 1850 to 2000

Strolled along the Nurses Walk

The walk was created in 1979 in honor of the nurses that work in that area between 1788 and 1816

We couldn't imagine what the distance was that we had gone through the Rock area. Not that we don't want to be lost; the area was not very scarce, though, but some reviews suggested spending at least a day wandering the neighborhood.

The other two sites that we visited were further up north of the Rock. The Big Dig contains the late 18th-century archaeological remains, part of the Sydney YHA. The excavation in the early 90s revealed the foundations of over 30 homes and shops, the earliest built in around 1795.

There were at least 46 buildings at this site

The excavation site located below the YHA hostel

Some of the artifacts found during the excavation began in 1994

It was said that the Cadigal People used to live in this slum area

Looking south along Carahers Lane

The original lane, named after the owner of house no. 1 (demolished in 1902)

While on the way to the Big Dig, we made a reservation for the 2.30 pm Susannah Place Museum tour. It was included with the museum pass. It tells a story about a family who lived in this conserved terrace house built in 1844.

There were plenty of signage so you won't feel lost

Described the neighborhood 

Let's choose the old path...

Former grocery store and workers' cottages 

Among the old items that still being kept in this museum

A tricycle

Taking picture at the backyard

A unique refrigerator

Taking picture with Con

We went back to Circular Quay and romped to the Sydney Opera House in the evening. There were still a lot of people hanging around one of the most famous icons in the world. We only managed to get pictures of the best view of it while we were strolling through the Royal Botanic Garden. My advice: head on to the park if you want to get the Opera House as the backdrop!

We had a barista bro while taking rest at Pullman Quay Grand

Crowds having drinks by the quay looking at the Harbour Bridge

Looking at the sphere...

Nu'man said that the roof looks like a toilet's tile. 

We missed out on the last ride of the Choo Choo train, as it was fully booked. It is the best way if you want to explore the Royal Botanic Garden, where you can hop on and off between four stops. Tickets can be purchased at the Queen Elizabeth II gate, just a 5-minute walk from the Opera House. So, we just walked in the gardens towards the Woolloomooloo Gate.

The best picture captured while walking along the cove

The Bennelong Lawn, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens

It's going to be spring soon.

Three days (two and a half to be exact) were just fine in Sydney, even though we missed certain things to do. Hope that we can make a comeback soon...