Hyde Park Barracks

The Hyde Park Barracks is located at the southern (Hyde Park) end of Macquarie Street, next to The Mint.

For up-to-date timetables or to find the quickest public transport routes visit the Transport Infoline or call 131500.

Train

The Hyde Park Barracks is a 5-minute walk from St James Station and a 7-minute walk from Martin Place Station.

Bus

The nearest bus stops are on Elizabeth Street at Hyde Park, which is a 5-minute walk away.

Buses can stop on Prince Albert Road to drop off and pick up passengers. There are bus parking zones on Macquarie Street where drivers are required to remain with their vehicles.

Parking

There is no public parking at the Hyde Park Barracks. Limited metered parking is available in the streets around the Royal Botanic Garden and Hyde Park.

Paid parking is available at the nearby Wilson - The Domain car park. The online promo code MHNSW is valid between Monday – Friday 6am–5pm. Pre-booking is required online via Book a Bay.

• Professional camera equipment, including tripods, lighting etc, is not allowed inside unless you have organised permission beforehand. For more information, please view our Photography conditions of use.
• Toilets are located in the rear building. There is a male and a female ambulant toilet and a family room with a change table. There is also an accessible toilet.
• Hand sanitiser is available for the safety and wellbeing of our visitors, members, staff and volunteers.
• Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Members get more: access exclusive experiences and events, 20% off public programs plus 10% off at our shops and cafes.

Groups larger than 20 must pre-book their visit through our bookings team on +61 2 8239 2211 or bookings@mhnsw.au.

Visitors will be given a sanitised iPod and headphones on arrival. If possible, you are encouraged to bring and use your own headset (standard 3.5mm jack or a lightning connector for Apple earpods required).

The Hyde Park Barracks experience uses immersive audio technology which is designed to make visitors feel as if they themselves have stepped back in time. As you move around the museum, the technology can tell where you are and make sure that what they hear through the headset matches their location.

The self-guided audio experience is suitable for ages 8+.

Sessions start every half hour and you can enter at any time within your 30 minute session entry time. The experience takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the experience contains names and images of people who have passed away.

Some rooms include bright, flickering lights and large-scale projections of the ocean.

Hear the fascinating story of the Barracks as told by some of the convicts and immigrants who lived there. Listen for clues and complete fun activities – spot the rats, draw your own convict tattoo and more!

The following access aids are available for free hire:

• wheelchairs
• video magnifiers

If you require an access aid, we recommend booking it prior to your visit by calling 02 8239 2211 during business hours. Alternatively, you can inquire when you arrive at the Ticketing desk. Please note that access aid equipment is limited, and subject to availability.

A mobility version of the self-guided experience is available for wheelchair users.

Wheelchair access

Due to the heritage nature of the site, wheelchair users follow a continuous and consistent path through the Hyde Park Barracks.

Wheelchairs are available for free hire. We recommend booking a wheelchair prior to your visit.

Lifts and ramps

There are a number of entrances to the Hyde Park Barracks from Macquarie Street and Prince Albert Road. We recommend entering the Hyde Park Barracks via the main entrance on Macquarie Street.

There is lift access in the main Barracks building. Ramp access is provided across the site where needed to ensure a continuous and consistent path.

A descriptive version of the self-guided experience is available for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Video magnifiers are available for free hire. We recommend booking a video magnifier prior to your visit.

We welcome assistance animals, and a water bowl is available at the rear building.

As part of the experience, there is a tactile model of the Hyde Park Barracks.

iPads with descriptive text are available for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

We recommend booking an iPad with descriptive text prior to your visit, as numbers of these devices are limited and they are subject to availability.

Tips for a low-sensory visit

Minimise the time you or your family spends in a queue by buying tickets online before your visit.

Some rooms include bright, flickering lights and large scale projections of the ocean which may cause sensory overload, spatial disorientation or motion sickness.

For more information in advance of your visit call 02 8239 2211 during business hours. Alternatively, you can inquire when you arrive at the Ticketing desk.

The Hyde Park Barracks experience is available in English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Ask at Ticketing for your free device and headset.