Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
16 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
mrdom
6,355 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 2 August 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, France555 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 7 April 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, Australia18,340 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 30 April 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, Australia117 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 25 April 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.
Peter G
Canberra277 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Some of the reviewers seemed disappointed there wasn't more (or possibly something different). It is about the RAN and right next to the major naval base on the East coast. So it's much preferable that "you" have an interest in either the military maritime origins of Australia or the Navy itself.
It provides much thoughtful background on the major ships, boats and sailors of the RAN since 1901 (and some NSW colonial vessels). And how former enemies can be reconciled.
A major Naval event in 1914 was HMAS Sydney fighting the Imperial German raider Emden and destroying it. There are many relics of this engagement. Both the Australian and German navies have had successive vessels with the same name and when the latest Emden was laid off (about 10 years ago), Germany donated its commemorative plaque of the 1914 fight - carried by all later Emdens - to this museum.
There are many other small and large items demonstrating what being an Australian sailor meant (my father was one). You can also see graffiti of the First Fleet of 1788 on rocks close by.
The cafe serves excellent coffee and food too.
It provides much thoughtful background on the major ships, boats and sailors of the RAN since 1901 (and some NSW colonial vessels). And how former enemies can be reconciled.
A major Naval event in 1914 was HMAS Sydney fighting the Imperial German raider Emden and destroying it. There are many relics of this engagement. Both the Australian and German navies have had successive vessels with the same name and when the latest Emden was laid off (about 10 years ago), Germany donated its commemorative plaque of the 1914 fight - carried by all later Emdens - to this museum.
There are many other small and large items demonstrating what being an Australian sailor meant (my father was one). You can also see graffiti of the First Fleet of 1788 on rocks close by.
The cafe serves excellent coffee and food too.
Written 24 February 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.
bigkahoonaOssie
Perth, Australia64 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
I am a bit of a maritime museum tragic, having visited such museums around the world. But there is something not working here. I visited on a Tuesday afternoon and was the only visitor. I saw a man who worked the cafe and one security guard. The museum probably is too specialised and maybe directed at retired Australian Navy personnel.
Written 3 February 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.
sydneysider48
Sydney, Australia1,090 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Located on the naval base at Garden Island and accessible only by ferry, this museum is (disappointingly) really nothing special and not really worth the time of a visit unless one is a naval aficionado.
There is a motley collection of mainly day to day ship and naval items, generally well labelled, but there is really nothing at all special, outstanding or memorable to see. Outside, there is another eclectic collection of weapons and gun barrels, which are poorly labelled, and some memorials to ships past beside the Harbour.
When I visited, staff outnumbered visitors, which is an unfortunate sign of the Museum's popularity, even with free entry.
There is cafe on site, with very limited choices.
There is a motley collection of mainly day to day ship and naval items, generally well labelled, but there is really nothing at all special, outstanding or memorable to see. Outside, there is another eclectic collection of weapons and gun barrels, which are poorly labelled, and some memorials to ships past beside the Harbour.
When I visited, staff outnumbered visitors, which is an unfortunate sign of the Museum's popularity, even with free entry.
There is cafe on site, with very limited choices.
Written 10 January 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.
TNJP_Explorer
Yokohama, Japan102 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 5 December 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, Australia2,472 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 23 December 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, Australia18 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 30 August 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.
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