Harbour Life

The Australian National Maritime Museum and Vivid Sydney 2023 present Harbour Life, a 7-minute animation and sound design extravaganza projection mapped onto the museum rooftop and for the first time, the HMAS Vampire, Australia's largest museum object.

Harbour Life is a unique collaboration between the Museum, award-winning Sydney-based creative projects company Artists in Motion and Vivid Sydney.

Harbour Life takes the audience on a journey through Australia’s marine environment through the eyes of a turtle in line with Vivid Sydney’s 2023 theme, Vivid Sydney, Naturally. It explores Indigenous maritime management, the arrival of the colonists and our shared future, focusing on conservation and management of this fragile and essential ocean ecosystem.

Harbour Life is a celebration of nature, Indigenous knowledge, creativity, culture, ocean science and the latest technology - all working with a shared passion of helping our oceans thrive into the future.

Museum Director and CEO Daryl Karp says, ‘Harbour Life is breathtaking, the creativity and expertise of Artists in Motion is extraordinary. They have worked with our curators to really create an important and beautiful piece of storytelling. We are proud to bring this part of the harbour to life in such a magnificent way for Vivid Sydney 2023 The HMAS Vampire and museum rooftop will resonate with marine life.’

Richard Lindsay Director and Head of Creative at Artists in Motion said, ‘unique opportunity, creative expression of narrative across both ship and rooftop.

Harbour Life will be shown daily from May 26-June 17 from 6pm until 11pm. (best vantage points – Pyrmont Bridge or King Street Wharf).

Make Pyrmont Bridge your entry point to the Vivid Sydney Light Walk

Catch the F4 ferry or the Light Rail to Pyrmont Bay

The museum is also an excellent entry point to the 8.5km Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Catch the Ferry or the Light Rail to Pyrmont Bay, walk along the Pyrmont Bridge and get great vantage points for both Harbour Life and Darling Harbour on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk..

You then have the choice of travelling left towards Circular Quay or right to the Goods Line and to Central Station to see the rest of the Light Walk.

The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is a free 8.5km walking trail that weaves around the Sydney Harbour foreshore and passes through The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, and more and includes projections on iconic structures such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Customs House, the Australian National Maritime Museum and more.

On nightly between 6-9pm from 26 May to 17 June until 11pm (best vantage points – Pyrmont Bridge or King Street Wharf).