Vaucluse House

Families' Pick 2026 · Sydney: picked by the Funtivities team as a standout for families in Sydney.

Last updated October 2026

Historic house museum and gardens in Vaucluse with free entry (pre-book online), open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm.

Vaucluse House is a 19th-century harbourside estate run by Museums of History NSW; it became Australia's first official house museum in 1915. Families can explore the house and estate buildings at their own pace and walk the gardens and grounds, which include a waterfall and a beach paddock. Free audio guides for the house, a free gardens audio tour app and an iPad virtual tour are available. Paid one-hour guided tours run Wednesday to Friday at 10am and 2pm. Museum entry is free, but tickets should be pre-booked online. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day); the gardens are open daily in daylight hours. Children under 15 must be with an adult. Strollers are not allowed in the main house but can be left at reception. Free on-site parking is available Wednesday to Sunday, entered from Wentworth Avenue.

Facts checked against the venue's own website on 12 October 2026.