I imagine the Powerhouse Museum must be a lot of fun for children, but as an adult, I didn't find it as exciting as I thought I would have. I've been to other interactive science museums in other countries, and this was not one of the best. There are exhibits for engineering, computer technology, ecology, the life of the early European settlers in Australia, and Australian design. Some of the exhibits have interactive features, but a lot are just in display cases with cards simply explaining the item being exhibited. Being a Mac user, I did get a kick out of seeing the original Apple 1 computer (on loan to the museum from Steve Jobs), but apart from that, there wasn't a lot else that thrilled me, considering the entrance fee.

Entrance fee: $10; 10% discount if you have a Sydney Explorer Pass; 20% discount using the voucher in the free Sydney guidebook available at the airport. Allot 1.5 to 2 hours if you're an adult, half a day to a day if you're bringing children.

Open daily from 10:30-5pm. The admission fee was AU$10. Free tours of the collection are offered. The museum can be reached via the monorail or it's a short walk from the Darling Harbour area. The paths to get there from Darling Harbour are well marked. It is a fascinating museum focused on design, science, sociology, and technology which is housed in a former power station. If you've visited the Tate Modern in London you can appreciate how a museum in a power station can be an awe-inspiring experience. The Powerhouse Museum is quite large and I barely could take it all in a few hours. But even a short visit focused on specific exhibits will be rewarding. I was there during the Sydney Design competition week. Award winning design projects by students were on display, as well as professional design projects -everything from fashion to umbrellas. If you go, you must do the Krispin K design tour. Hosted by a fashion diva, he gets the group thinking about form and function and how design affects our everyday lives and how design has changed through history. Lively, silly, and fun -but watch how you dress. Be prepared to be put on display if you are dressed in a fashion-forward way! There also seemed to be a lot of great exhibits for kids.