Museums & Landmarks in Sydney

Both places sit in Darling Harbour, so the choice comes down to what your kids want to do: climb on something or pose next to something. Australian National Maritime Museum is the free option, and Best Museums and Galleries for Kids in Sydney says gallery entry costs nothing, with payment only to board the vessels. Those vessels are the draw. Sydney.com lists a Cold War submarine, an Edwardian-era steam yacht and a replica of Captain Cook's HMB Endeavour docked at the waterfront, and reviewers return again and again to the submarine and destroyer tours. Our verdict puts it best for ages 4 to 14 who respond to history and scale, though the Best Museums source notes under-5s get their own Play Gallery, and Sydney.com mentions a school-holiday craft and dress-up space called Kids On Deck.

The catch is timing. Reviewers warn that some vessels close at noon or early afternoon, so a family wanting both the submarine and the destroyer needs a morning start, and booking ship tickets online is advised for weekends. Allow two to three hours.

Madame Tussauds Sydney is paid, fully indoors and built around recognition. Reviews praise realistic, detailed figures arranged in themed zones, with staff positioned throughout who will take family photos; a few mention accuracy slips on some figures. Our verdict is that children of roughly 7 and up get the most from it because they know the faces, while younger ones still enjoy the scale and the Marvel HQ zone, which reviewers single out as a hit with primary-school-age children. Reviewers suggest 1.5 to 2 hours and a weekday to skip queues.

In practice: a four-year-old who wants to climb into a submarine belongs at the maritime museum, a ten-year-old who wants a photo with a superhero belongs at Tussauds, and reviewers note the two combine easily into one Darling Harbour day.