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Museum of Contemporary Art

Tucked down along the waterfront of the Rocks district, this hip modern museum has a strong Aussie bent. Although the permanent collection includes pieces from contemporary A-listers (Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, and Joseph Beuys among them), the Aboriginal exhibits give the better-known works a run for their money. The Maningrida collection, from the Northern Territory Aboriginal community of the same name, is particularly powerful and includes some superb examples of traditional bark painting, wood carvings, sculpture, and woven-fiber art.

Tip: Stop in for a post-gallery bite at Sailors Thai, where you dine at a communal table in a former Sailors' Home (106 George St.; 61-2-9251-2466).

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From Travel + Leisure , NOV 2005

The Museum of Contemporary Art is a natural place to start, with its excellent collection of modern Australian (including Aboriginal) pieces. Catch the Erwin Wurm exhibition opening at the end of this month: visitors follow instructions, strike poses, and become living sculptures....MORE>>

– Ask T+L: The best U.S. hotels for Thanksgiving; contemporary art in Sydney; and more

Last updated November 2005