CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. It's somehow appropriate that the Sydney Museum is located on the historical site of the city's first government house, since the museum's purpose is to document Sydney's colonial, indigenous, and cultural histories. Archeologists have actually preserved parts of the original building in glass encasements, and items uncovered during the excavation of the site are on display. A floor-to-ceiling video image of Sydney's environment as it was when the First Fleeters experienced it entices visitors, and display drawers encourage folks to sort through and uncover relevant objects. Short walk from Circular Quay.

INNER CITY. Visitors of all ages can enjoy this interactive, modern museum, which opened in 1988 and features 25 exhibits on science, technology, decorative arts, and Australian social history. Exhibits range from the first train in New South Wales and the oldest surviving wheel-turning steam engine in the world to women's roles in Australian history and the development of pharmacies in the nation. MONORAIL: to Haymarket and a short walk. Five minute walk from Railway Square at Central Station.

THE ROCKS. Susannah Place is a set of three cottages which function on a "Museum in the Making" concept. This set-up lets visitors learn about conservation techniques involved in museums and also portrays the limits of 19th century inner-city living. The house was inhabited from 1844 until the 1970s, and the shop sells items from that period. Five minutes walk from Circular Quay station.

DARLINGHURST. Documenting both the history of Jewish life in Australia and the history of the Holocaust, this museum employs state-of-the-art multimedia to provide comprehensive information about the era. Holocaust survivors work as tour guides and are more than willing to answer questions you may have. Another interesting part of the museum is the re-creation of George Street as it was in the 1840s. Expect to leave this experience re-evaluating your own ideas on democracy, morality, and human rights. Short walk from Kings Cross Station, or BUS: 389 from Circular Quay to Burton Street.