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Get a behind the scenes tour at a couple of theatrical hot spots in Sydney, check out art in the open air with stunning harbour views, go to an art school, visit the big art galleries and museums, and some of Sydney's more interesting theatres.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
1. The Wharf and Sydney Theatre
Check out the costume and wig department, see where performers rehearse their lines, find out how props are made, go backstage past a row of Dickensian workshops to come out on stage and take a bow.
Behind the Scenes Tours - The Wharf and Sydney Theatre
Pier 4, Dickson Rd, Walsh Bay
Starts: 10:30am on the first and third Thursday of each month by arrangement. Ph: (02) 9250 1778
www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Click HERE to find out how to get to the STC
2. Sydney Opera House - The Essential Tour
The Sydney Opera House as it is, almost didn't happen. The design was thrown into the rejection pile, only to be pulled out by a Finnish judge and declared the winner. Climb stairs that will take you all the way to the top, find out how many tiles make up the Opera House sails, what conflicts marred the building's development, and why did it take two years to tune the building's organ?
These hour long tours are held daily. They depart every 30minsutes from 9am - 5pm. Bookings: (02) 9250 7250
www.sydneyoperahouse.com
The Sydney Opera House is at Circular Quay in the city. All ferries dock at Circular Quay. Plenty of buses stop at Circular Quay too www.sydneybuses.info. It is easily reached by train via the City Circle line. www.cityrail.info
3. Brett Whiteley Studio
Visit the studio space where famous Australian artist Brett Whiteley created some of his masterpieces.
Open weekends from 10am -4pm. 2 Raper St, Surry Hills. Ph: (02) 9225 1790 www.brettwhiteley.org
For information on how to get here: go to www.whereis.com/whereis/directions.do
ART OUTDOORS:
Art School at Lower Georges Heights
Cobbittee Art School is a community-based art school situated in Mosman on the Lower North Shore of Sydney. It offers after-school classes for children; school holiday programmes; drawing and painting classes for adults, and specialised one day Landscape Art classes for visitors to Sydney.
The school is located in a beautiful, recently restored site of the Sydney Harbour Trust overlooking Sydney Harbour and Watson'sBay. It's on the corner of Cobbittee St and Middle Head Road, Mosman. Some of Australia's most famous artists from the Heidelberg school painted harbour scenes from around this area.
Ph: (02) 9967 4034
www.cobbiteeart.com.au
Open Air Art - at Lower Georges Heights
The Middle Head Artists’ Colony is on Middle Head Road in Lower Georges Heights. (02 8969 21000). Painters and sculptors live in what were once army buildings. Visitors are welcomed to browse. Open Days are held throughout the year. One and two day courses are on offer. The colony also puts on several exhibitions. The harbour views from the artists colony are superb.
The Headland Sculpture Park is alongside the artists colony in Lower Georges Heights.
Entry to the artists colony is at Suakin Drive in Georges Heights, off Middle Head Rd.
Or you can reach the colony as part of a stunning 6km harbour walk from Balmoral Beach to Taronga Zoo.
GALLERIES
1. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
is at 140 George St, The Rocks (also known as circular Quay West). It is easily accessed by public transport. Check the "Getting There" notes for the Sydney Opera House below. www.mca.com.au
Click HERE for information on how to get to the MCA.
The MCA is at Circular Quay in the city. All ferries dock at Circular Quay. Plenty of buses stop here too. www.sydneybuses.info. There is a train sation at Circular Quay with frequent services to the city centre.
www.cityrail.info
Click HERE for information on how to get to the MCA.
2. The Art Gallery of New South Wales
is on Art Gallery Rd, The Domain. It is open daily from 10am - 5pm. On Wednesdays doors close at 9pm. Admission is free. www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
For the weekly program of free events, go to www.artafterhours.com.au
The Art Gallery of NSW is walking distance from the city centre and the Opera House. If you come from the Opera House, you will need to go through the Botanic Gardens. It's a very picturesque route.
Click HERE for information on how to get to the Art Gallery.
THEATRES
1. State Theatre
49 Market St, Sydney. This building was opened in 1929 and shines with pizzaz. It combines Gothic, art deco and Italian architecture. Chadeliers, a Gothic Room, Grand Assembly and a 2000 seat auditorium . It has been recognised by the National Trust as a building of significant heritage.
For information on tours, CLICK HERE.
The State Theatre is near St James and Town Hall train stations. www.cityrail.info
2. Belvoir Steet Theatre
25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. Modern, politically committed local theatre with a great reputation. Phone: (02) 9699 3444 www.belvoir.com.au
The closest station is Central Station. It'll be approx a 10 walk from the train station. www.cityrail.info. Click HERE for information on how to get to the Belvoir Street Theatre.
MUSEUMS
1. Museum of Sydney
Cnr Phillip and Bridge streets, city. Find out how one of the world's most beautiful cities came to be. Open Monday to Sunday from 9:30am - 5pm. Phone (02) 9251 5988 www.hht.net.au
2. Australian Museum
6 College St, (opposite Hyde Park). Open every day from 9:30am - 5pm, except December 25. Check out the latest exhibitions, holiday programs, kids programs and Indigenous programs. Entry fees apply but they are very reasonable.
Click HERE for more details.
www.amonline.net.au/
The Australian Museum is easily reached by train. The nearest station are St James and Museum. www.cityrail.info Or you can walk to the from the city centre.
Click HERE for more information.
3. Australian National Maritime Museum
2 Murray St, Darling Harbour. Open every day from 9:30am - 5pm. There are exhibitions, there's a naval destroyer and a replica of Captain Cook'sEndeavour. Entry is free. Phone: (02) 9298 3777 www.anmm.gov.au
Click HERE to find out how to get to the museum.
4. Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris St, Ultimo. Open every day from 10am - 5pm. This is a hands on science, technology, design, arts, pop culture and space exploration museum. And the kids love it. Exhibitions change regularly.
Phone: (02) 9217 0111
www.powerhousemuseum.com.au
The Powerhouse Museum is easily reached from Darling Harbour or from Central Station www.cityrail.info . It is about a 5 minute walk from the corner of Harris St and Broadway.
Click HERE to find out how to get to the museum
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