Madame Tussauds Sydney brings the world's famous faces within arm's reach, displaying lifelike wax figures of actors, musicians, athletes, world leaders and historical icons that visitors are encouraged to pose beside and touch. Opened in 2012 on Aquarium Wharf at Darling Harbour, it was the thirteenth Madame Tussauds to open worldwide and remains the only one in Australia, part of the global Merlin Entertainments group that traces its craft back to the eighteenth-century modeller Marie Tussaud. Rather than a static gallery, the attraction is arranged as a series of themed sets, from a sports zone and a music stage to film, television and Australian history rooms, each built to let visitors step into the scene and take photographs. Local figures, including Australian sporting heroes, entertainers and political leaders, sit alongside international stars, and the line-up is refreshed as new celebrities rise and older figures are retired. Each figure is the product of a lengthy modelling process, with measurements, hair and skin tones built up to create a convincing likeness, and the appeal of the place lies largely in the novelty of the photographs visitors can stage. Interactive elements, props and effects add to the experience, making it popular with families, tour groups and overseas visitors looking for a fun, weatherproof activity. Its location on the wharf places it beside Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Wild Life Sydney Zoo, with which it is often bundled on combined tickets, and within an easy walk of the rest of the Darling Harbour attractions and the city centre. Pre-booking is advised to guarantee entry and avoid queues, particularly in holiday periods. As an indoor attraction built around photo opportunities rather than learning, it offers a light-hearted hour or two among the waxen famous. Because the figures are constantly updated to reflect changing fame, the line-up offers a snapshot of popular culture at any given moment, and the attraction leans into interactivity with sets that invite visitors to sing, pose and play alongside the wax stars. As an all-weather, photo-driven experience next to two other attractions on the wharf, it is most often visited as part of a combined day exploring the Darling Harbour foreshore.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Aquarium Wharf, 1-5 Wheat Road, Sydney, Australia

Telephone: (02) 9333 9200

Website: https://www.madametussauds.com/sydney

Opening Date: 16/04/2012