Picture it. I'm on a tour of an historical home - Australia's OLDEST surviving homestead no less -…read moreand there's a kid putting his little sticky fingers all over every object he sees. It brings a tear to my history-lovin' eye. Because, for me, history has never just been words printed in a dusty old book by an equally dusty member of the academic elite. History SHOULD BE a multisensory experience for everyone of all ages. At good ol' Lizzie Farm...that's possible. For this, comrades, is a "museum without barriers." The house itself is, of course, the real Mccoy but everything in it is replica whilst remaining true to the period. So there is no stern lady pulling a cat's bum expression when you have a tinkle of the ol' ivories in the living room, throw on a lady's bonnet in the foyer, scale one of those insanely high beds they used to sleep on, pick up the chamber pot beneath, sit in the living room and read a newspaper from back in the day, or examine Elizabeth Macarthur's personal letters in her darling little letter-writing room. It is so well done, a few times I forgot everything was replica and stopped myself mid-touch only to remember that this action was both acceptable and actively encouraged by the guides! From the main area of the house you move into the sandstone courtyard area and look upon the female convicts' quarters. To the right is a beautiful big tree in the main courtyard area (could it be more serene here???? ) and to the left you can head off to the colonial kitchen with its entrance step worn down by countless shoes over the centuries and where you'll find a peep hole into the cellar beneath! (They think it was possibly for spying on the cons in case they were slacking off but also was good for ventilation). I want this kitchen. Heck! I want this house. They don't make 'em like they used' t' could! In that charming kitchen, the guide informed us, the wee'uns can make scones as part of the "Colonial Kids" program they also offer at the site. For the same program, the cellar below is closed off and darkened and is thereby transformed into the hull of a prison ship. The guide demonstrated this for us briefly and you could really appreciate how it would help children to imagine what it was like to be a convict being transported across the seas for the difficult months-long voyage. Even if you have been here before, go again! Not only is it a beautiful place to wile away a few hours,* it is also a place that changes over time as new historical research uncovers more information about the ways the original inhabitants used these rooms. Chances are, then, that the room you viewed once may now tell a different story to the one you heard previously. Our guide informed us that tours for large groups can also be tailored; e.g. if a girls' school visits they might like a feminist history angle so the tour will focus on Elizabeth Macarthur. You also have multiple options regarding how you interact with the site. There are guided tours, which are extremely engaging and informative and you are free to spend as much time as you like roaming around the site inspecting the rooms and objects at the conclusion of the guided tour. Or, if you've taken the tour before, you can opt for a self-guided tour from the get-go. The interactivity of the site is heightened by the optional iPad experience. Borrow one from the visitors' centre and click on a room in the house as you stand or sit in it and watch a short video clip with supplementary information about the room's history. They've thought of everything! The guided tour of Lizzie Farm is only 1 hour long approximately, but I bet you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from here after just one hour! I recommend you do this tour then walk (or drive) around the corner to John Macarthur's "Hambledon Cottage." Just don't think you can put your sticky fingers on the stuff at Hambledon Cottage...(it ain't replica) or there shall be cat's bum expressions aplenty. * Review originally written and posted 2 March 2013.

As I came up the hill through the little reserve, I started thinking strategically. If I was a…read morecolonial capitalist I'd pick that spot to make visible my wealth too. Defensible. Elizabeth Farm is the Macarthur's (wool industry guru) bungalow built in 1793, a stop on the Harris Farm Heritage Walk. Already stymied by calendrical difficulties at Hambledon Cottage, I found the situation worse here. Cue self-induced thwack to the head mark two. Ouch. It's only open Friday to Sunday, except January and school holidays when it's open all day. Still, got a good peek round the outside, including what must be one of the first long veradahs in Australian architecture (borrowed from India, I know). The grounds and green and lush and there were quite a few gardeners around keeping everything so. Had a giggle at the 'Eliz Farm' wheelie bin out the front too. Maybe it was the repeated blows to the head. Will update anon.

Customs House is a lovely building just across from the wharf. It is a fantastic place for…read moretourists, as it has lots of history about the city, but it had FREE wifi, which is rare in Sydney! They welcome everyone in. You can read the many newspapers they have available, sit in a comfy spot and surf the web, or enjoy the full scale model of the city underneath the glass floor. They have a cafe on the top floor that was too pricey for us to try and friendly staff at the information desk to answer your questions. I recommend that anyone visiting the city check it out.

You guys! You can pretend you're godzilla stomping all over a giant mini model of Sydney!…read more Okay so there's actually strong glass protecting the model city, but it's still heaps fun to walk all over it, the model itself is huge. And there's always tons of stuff happening inside, from functions to galas to the library on the First Floor (pro tip: there's tons of kids books if you're lugging the little ones around Circular Quay and they get tired). Oh and it's made of sandstone, my favourite of all building materials. And there's pretty pictures projected onto it when Vivid is on. And Cafe Sydney is on the top floor. It's a triple threat.

A fantastic art museum with free admission. They completed a new building primarily focused on…read morecontemporary art. The other building is near Hyde Park and has a good mix of mid- century art back to what I'm guessing is 19th century. They also have an Asian arts wing. During my visit three floors were open. They also have a café/restaurant in the building. Although it is a large building, it is manageable for a few hours visit as the work is well spaced out. Currently, they are hosting part of the Bienielle show and have a fair amount of aboriginal art. I particularly enjoyed the temporary exhibition of current Asian women voices.

I'd planned on visiting the museum after the botanical gardens and that is still true though I cut…read moremy botanical gardens trip short because I was rained on. Thus I arrived at the gallery sooner than later. Not only was it respite from the rain, but this museum holds a lot of great art and artifacts. I spent quite a bit of time wandering through the museum (which is actually in 2 buildings). I started in the rear building initially as it was closer to the botanical gardens and easier to run to. Overall good visit. This art museum is amazing AND free. Highly recommend.

The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) was built in 1898 and designed by 28-year old architect, George…read moreMcRae, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place during a severe recession. How? The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. The Stained Glass The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbor. Panel 1 (on the left-hand side) represents the Council of the City of Sydney and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B., on panel 3 (on the right), represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB in 2009. The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building, and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. The Queen's Secret Letter There is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney, to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. The Queen Victoria Statue Outside the QVB, on Town Hall Place, facing The Town Hall are the Royal Wishing Well and Queen Victoria's statue. My experience: This is the second time I have visited this building and on the second time, I found even more hidden historical things of note. It's a remarkable way to feel like you've stepped back in time, whether that's through shopping or through grabbing a coffee or tea and sitting in the atrium, taking it all in. TIP: Go to Haight's for some chocolate!

A must see building and a wonderful place to shop! Such fun stores and an incredible building to…read morewalk through. Very skinny as a building design which makes it so interesting to go through. Different floors to explore too! Love the historical building with some modern twists of restaurants and shops.

"Mrs Macquarie's Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie's Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into…read morethe shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales." - Wikipedia Located near the Royal Botanic Gardens, this is a great landmark to view the Syndey Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I recommend jogging around the whole gardens and taking a break at/around Mrs Macquarie's Chair to take in the air and scenery.

Great views of Sydney Harbour from this location…read more If you're walking and don't know what you're looking for you can miss it. The monument is an unmarked and simple concrete seat, but it plainly says Mrs Macquarie's Road... on it. Easy place to sit and relax, maybe not the best views on the peninsula, but it's peaceful enough. Plenty of flora around, the sounds of the harbour and water are evident. You are within a quarter mile of the Botanical Gardens on one side and Art Gallery of NSW on the other.

This is a non-staffed City of Sydney Library branch in Pyrmont, locates in the Pyrmont community…read morecenter. Once you become a member of City of Sydney Library, you can request your items (books, dvds etc) in-line and have them shipped to this location to pick up. It is a small location but convenient so you don't have to go to each branch to pick up your items. Since Pyrmont is the last location for their drop off on their route, your items are not ready to pick up until later afternoon, even though you receive a notice satisfied by your time is ready for pick up in mid day. Still, I think it is an awesome service that we can have items delivered to Pyrmont. Cozy and functional community center that I like to see the information board to see what's going on in the neighborhood.

Great spot located right next door to the beautiful Narrabeen lake and also the public car park…read more Coffee is sensational as is the food with generous sized servings delivers hot and fresh to your table Chill relaxed casual vibe as you would expect given its location With the friendly service and great pricing it's easy to see why it's a locals favourite and will keep us coming back. !

This is the large harbor area around the opera house…read more There is plenty of sightseeing and shopping in the area. There's a tram that drops off in the area, so navigating the city is pretty easy. There is a shopping center around this area, and plenty of shops/street market around the corner. I also went upstairs to the bike trail and got lost in a beautiful garden area around some sort of government building. Definitely a great day trip!

Circular Quay is a bustling, iconic waterfront precinct located on Sydney Cove between the Sydney…read moreOpera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It serves as a major transport hub--offering ferry, train, and light rail services--and is a primary tourist destination for dining, culture, and harbor views. A cruise ship terminal is also here. During our recent several days visiting Sydney, Gayle and I caught a Tram here (twice), took the Ferry to Manly (and back), and took Ferry in from Watson Bay. It was also the jumping off point to our tour of the Opera House and the Rocks. The other cool thing we did was reading the brass plaques recognizing 60 important characters of Australian literature featured in the Sydney writers walk.