Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
16 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Michael N
Lawson, Australia1,163 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
FREE ! The Australian Navy Heritage Centre is on Garden Island in Sydney Harbour. Although now no longer an island, it can only be accessed by ferry (or book for a bus tour). There is no direct land access.
A 5 minute ride from Circular Quay and immediately you've got some of the best views of Sydney Harbour bridge and the Opera House. Walk up to the lookout and the views are even more stunning.
The Heritage Centre itself covers the history of the Australian Navy from its earliest beginnings in Convict days. There are uniforms, equipment, weapons and navigational aids right through both the World Wars and beyond. Highlights for me were seeing one of the Japanese subs which entered Sydney Harbour and seeing the harbour views through a working telescope.
There is a small café in the building where you can get snacks, coffee etc. and watch the life of the harbour.
Walk around outside and there are memorials to the many ships of the fleet and also a range of weapons and radar units.
All the displays are in immaculate condition and coupled with video screens provide a real insight into the work of the navy.
The museum is open from 9.30sm to 3.30pm almost every day of the year. Entry is free!
Allocate at least 3 hours just to see all they have to offer. Probably better fro older children as very little might get bored. A must see for adults.
A 5 minute ride from Circular Quay and immediately you've got some of the best views of Sydney Harbour bridge and the Opera House. Walk up to the lookout and the views are even more stunning.
The Heritage Centre itself covers the history of the Australian Navy from its earliest beginnings in Convict days. There are uniforms, equipment, weapons and navigational aids right through both the World Wars and beyond. Highlights for me were seeing one of the Japanese subs which entered Sydney Harbour and seeing the harbour views through a working telescope.
There is a small café in the building where you can get snacks, coffee etc. and watch the life of the harbour.
Walk around outside and there are memorials to the many ships of the fleet and also a range of weapons and radar units.
All the displays are in immaculate condition and coupled with video screens provide a real insight into the work of the navy.
The museum is open from 9.30sm to 3.30pm almost every day of the year. Entry is free!
Allocate at least 3 hours just to see all they have to offer. Probably better fro older children as very little might get bored. A must see for adults.
Written August 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle B
Adelaide, Australia84 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
Good place to go and have a look at navy history. Can only get there/back by ferry so check the times so you have time to leisurely walk around. Make sure to take the steps to the top of one of the buildings to have a view with the bridge, opera house and botantic gdns. The guide was great and helped out with our questions. We were looking for items on the hmas Shropshire and found a few. Very interesting and free entry into the museum. Enjoyed the visit and will go back again.
Written September 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TNJP_Explorer
Yokohama, Japan100 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Took me a bit of time to figure it out but access is only available by ferry from Circular Quay (to Garden Island). The site has a main building and a small boat shed with a few displays and a cafe as well. Also, there are some poorly labeled displays (weapons, anchor, equipment etc.) outside that you can enjoy if the weather is nice. I did not see any other visitors while I was there, it was nice to get away from the busy tourist area. The ferry ride had a cost but museum and wandering around Garden Island is free.
Written December 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray F
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia2,438 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
The RAN Museum is located at the end of Garden Island which is an active navy base. The only land access is if you are on a tour bus, otherwise the Manly ferry & some Captain Cook hop-on hop-off cruises stop here during museum hours. The main display is in a large dockside building, telling of Australia’s naval history from the present back to when the states had colonial navies. There is a large collection of documents, photos, models, uniforms, medals, weapons, trophies, ensigns, crests & other artefacts. There are radar, sonar & asdic panels, and a periscope with which you can view Sydney Harbour traffic. This area is over 2 floors & there is a lift available. In the other half of this building is a café for coffee & light meals plus other artefacts including a figure head, life boat, torpedo, gun & a section of a Japanese midget submarine for the WW2 raid on Sydney. Outside are a gun mount, anti-aircraft gun, missile mountings & control boxes & several gun barrels from different classes of ship. You can also see the entrance to one of the tunnels that traversed under Garden Island. On the highest part of the island is the old signals building which has a lookout on top from which you have a 360 degree view of the harbour. There are several memorials on the walk back to the landing area, to Australia’s original 2 submarines AE1 & AE2, the Australian cruises & corvettes, plus the bow of the HMAS Parramatta from our first naval fleet. I spent 3½ hours here looking at all the displays & having lunch. For the curious I would recommend 2 hours.
Written December 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andyhow
Kadina, Australia15 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The Navy museum on Garden Island is well worh visiting if you are interested in maritime history. It is FREE, has a good cafe and shop, a lift and good handicapped toilet. Enjoy looking at the whaler and the boat that traversed the harbour during WW2.
Excellent displays including medals and telescopes, china, ceremonial silverware and a marvellous set of drums. The conning tower of the japanese sub, depth charge loader, the huge steering wheel of "the Protector" originally from the South Australian Navy, uniforms and individuals' personal effects. All made a worthwhile visit. The volunteer on duty at the ferry stopping place was friendly and not too effusive. Grounds were well maintained and once could sit and watch the sailing boats, ferries and the harbour bridge.
Excellent displays including medals and telescopes, china, ceremonial silverware and a marvellous set of drums. The conning tower of the japanese sub, depth charge loader, the huge steering wheel of "the Protector" originally from the South Australian Navy, uniforms and individuals' personal effects. All made a worthwhile visit. The volunteer on duty at the ferry stopping place was friendly and not too effusive. Grounds were well maintained and once could sit and watch the sailing boats, ferries and the harbour bridge.
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Restless59
Bournemouth, UK1,147 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
Jumped on ferry to Watson Bay and took the chance to take 1st stop at Garden Is to visit the Heritage Centre. so glad I did nice way to spend an hour learning the importance of Naval history of this country
Written August 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrdom
8,475 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I only found out about the public area at the tip of Garden Island a week ago and you probably never see many people out here (partly because it’s only open weekdays) but it’s worth a visit. The F7 ferry line goes there hourly, leaving Circular Quay at X:57, with returns at around X:29, so you might want to plan on a 1.5 or 2.5 hour visit. The heritage centre itself has a two-floor museum of the RAN’s history - maybe not the greatest museum but has some very interesting things. There’s also a garden on the hill with some great views of the navy base and the city - not as good of the harbour due to the tall trees but the area generally is a wonderfully peaceful spot out in the harbour. There are picnic spots plus a basic cafe that does decent coffee and has a great waterside deck.
Written August 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smackinlay
Bordeaux, France707 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
I thought I had seen most of Sydney’s museums until I realised this one existed. Great place and only accessible by ferry. Very friendly ranger meets the ferry and gives a quick overview. The centre section of one of the Japanese midget submarines is here and lots more. Well worth it!
Written April 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia25,776 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Located on the northern part of garden island. (Access is by ferry). The centre, houses a museum (definitely worth a visit, for lovers of all things naval) and a cafe, (excellent coffee and snacks) with outdoor seating. If you go on a Sunday, all public transport is capped at $2.50 on the opal card, including ferries.
Written April 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bronwyn E
Sydney, Australia127 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
Fabulous place to visit, Heritage very interesting, Cafe very reasonably priced and good food . Gardens beautiful and views spectacular. Access is via ferry which is inexpensive and a beautiful way to get around Sydney. Wheelchair friendly in most parts. Able to picnic and use the free bbq faciliites as well.
Naturally as a working Military base you don't get access all and must respect the rules.
A beautiful piece of Sydney that should be promoted more.
Naturally as a working Military base you don't get access all and must respect the rules.
A beautiful piece of Sydney that should be promoted more.
Written April 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi my father served on the HMS Shropshire that then became HMAS Shropshire I'm visiting Sydney in late oct and wanted to know what you had there of the old ship
Regards
Mark
Written September 22, 2016
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