National Maritime Museum

We let our feet do the walking again this morning, wandering back towards Darling Harbour. On the way we took a walk through the impressive QVB (Queen Victoria Building). Nice on the outside, but quite spectacular on the inside would be the way I’d describe it.

Once at Darling Harbour we made our way to the National Maritime Museum. A smorgasbord of options greeted us at the ticket counter and we went for one with the lot – opting to check out all aspects of the museum and board all ships.

We went and clambered all over the retired Navy ship, the HMAS Vampire first. This is touted as the last of Australia’s ‘big gun’ ships as after Vampire they have carried and used missiles. Vampire is a destroyer and in her day was ‘home’ to over 250 sailors. Her day was more like quite a few years, between 1959 and 1986.

Next to Vampire is the submarine HMAS Onslow which circumnavigated the world some 16 times across 30 years of service.  Climbing down into the sub and walking the single corridor from end to end made the Vampire seem like a spacious cruise ship! You would not want to be claustrophobic or not get along with your crewmates who were always at close hand! Can’t go up on deck for fresh air and a break too often!

The Patrol boat, HMAS Advance was not open, but is usually the third navy vessel open to the public.

Before it got too hot we next went and had a good look over the replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour! Even though it was a replica, it was great to see what his voyages and living conditions must have been like. There were volunteers onboard who explained a lot of the detail about what different areas were used for and what life on his voyages would have been like. We were shown a piece of iron that is supposed to be ballast from the original ship that was salvaged from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Cook kept very detailed records, so they knew where to look the guide told us.

Much of the area below deck required us to stoop and even wander around on hands and knees – even the kids, that’s how cramped it was!

There was one more tall ship, the James Craig which was first launched in 1874. It became a rotting hulk in Tasmania and was restored to its original glory by a group of very dedicated team of people over a thirty year period. It is one of only four 19^th century ships of its type that can sail! If she has all sails up, there is 21 of them!

As we were walking from the James Craig back to the main museum we spotted the new Sydney ferry dubbed 'Ferry  McFerryface'... much to the kids excitement. It's a temporary name but has been quite controversial! To celebrate we went to the cafe for a snack...

These ships were the highlight of our visit. We also went to the 3D cinema, browsed the museum and checked out a travelling polar bear display. The only real polar bear was stuffed though! Kate Cottee’s yacht tells a great story of the first woman to circumnavigate the world solo.

Once we'd finished looking at everything, including the obligatory giftshop, we walked back to Hyde Park and the apartment.

After a relaxing late afternoon at the apartment, we enjoyed an evening swim in the rooftop pool, watching the sky change to darkness and the emergence of the city lights.