Things to do if it Rains in Sydney
Things to do in Sydney if it’s raining
Government House in the Royal Botanic Gardens
You’ll enjoy visiting Government House but you may miss out a bit on the Royal Botanic Gardens if it’s raining. We did suggest that a retractable roof be placed over the Botanical Gardens but this was surprisingly knocked back. 
Government “Free House”
How much? This may surprise you – absolutely nothing! Government House is only open Friday to Sunday – 10am to 3pm but the grounds are open every day – 10am to 4pm.
Government House Website
Hyde Park Barracks
A short taxi ride from Government House (assuming the Governor won’t give you a lift 🙂 ) you’ll find the interesting Hyde Park Barracks where you can learn a little about the first locals and their struggles against nature and themselves. Hyde Park Barracks Museum is open 9.30am – 5pm daily and well worth the visit.
Click for link to Hyde Park Barracks Website
Diving at Shelly Beach (North Side of the Harbour)
If you are going to get wet you might as well do it properly. Diving at Shelly Beach is very popular.
Diving at Gordon’s Bay and Bare Island (South Side of the Harbour)
Gordon’s bay (near Coogee) has a course of things to look at. Bare Island may (near La Perouse) have some Sea Horses left. Sadly their numbers are on the decline. Six females to every exhausted looking male. 🙂
Now inspired 🙂 you may want to learn how to Dive!
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a short taxi ride from the CBD and houses many fine permanent works and regularly exhibits collections of international importance.
Click for current exhibits at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Australian Museum
The Australian museum is an excellent museum in the heart of Sydney town.
Australian Museum’s website
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is perfect for film buffs and rainy days. It’s a bit more than just going to the cinema as you may also get to vote on the movie that is being shown. The movie should be a thought-provoking and/or entertaining with some substance. The Festival Hub is well worth a visit if only for the cheap tickets!
The Sydney Film Festival
Orpheum Cremorne Cinema
You will find the traditional and charming Orpheum Cinema in Cremorne on the Lower North Shore just ten minutes from the Harbour Bridge (Take the Manly Exit once you’ve crossed the Harbour Bridge and turn right at the traffic lights). A delight is the organ player who descends with a way at the end of each performance.
Link to Orpheum Cinema in Cremorne
Museum of Contemporary Art
The MCA – Museum of Contemporary Art site on the opposite side of Circular Quay to the Opera House.
Click for the MCA website
Sydney Observatory
Still worth a visit even if the clouds indicate otherwise. The Observatory is close to the Rocks, the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Theatre Company.
Observatory Website
Sydney Theatre Company (STC)
When it’s wet and cold outside why not cuddle up to a nice heart-warming performance from the world-class Sydney Theatre Company. The STC lives on a converted wharf close to Harbour Bridge and not far from Observatory Hill.
Sydney Theatre Company
The Star Casino – Darling Harbour
Apart from more pokies you could poke a pokie at, cards, roulette and the rest of the Star Casino has some nice comfy chairs for watching sport, numerous bars, night clubs and shows.
The Star Casino near Darling Harbour
Sydney Town Hall Guided Tours
The Town Hall is worth a look if you can get in as a tidy sum of public money was spent on it. So if you helped pay for it you should try to get some visual pleasure out of it.
Sydney Town Hall Guided Tours
Marble Bar – Hilton Hotel
As the name suggests, the Marble Bar is pretty impressive looking place. The Marble Bar is situated in the bowls of the Hilton Hotel in Pitt Street in the city and often has live music.
Marble Bar
There’s more
If you started off with this page there’s more things to do when it rains so keep going for more ideas. Have a look through the list of top things to do. Don’t let the rain spoil your day.