SHE is the envy of sailors around the world.
Her modern exterior and state-of-the-art technologies have turned heads ever since she entered Sydney Harbour for the International Fleet Review.
Now the public has the chance to enter the belly of the Royal Navy's HMS Daring.
The $1.6 billion defence destroyer is one of the United Kingdom's most advanced warships having been commissioned only in 2009.
About 230 personnel are halfway through a nine-month deployment and are currently anchored at Barangaroo, much to the delight of 50,000 people who have bought tickets to tour the vessel on Sunday and Monday.
The tour has proven to be extremely popular as all the tickets have sold out.
The ship's commanding officer Commander Angus Essenhigh said the Type 45 destroyer's job was to sit close to high value ships and provide blanket security.
"So defending them from planes and missiles and the like," he said.
"It's a $1.6 billion ship so its quite expensive and not something you want to crash.
"I think the other navies look to it and say well that's the next step."
Twenty-seven-year-old fighter controller Lieutenant Duncan Stradling has the heavy task of driving the 8000-tonne ship.
He and five other controllers and captains rotate on four hour shifts, 24 hours a day.
Laughing off a suggestion the task is akin to driving a bus through honey, Lt Stradling said HMS Daring was actually quite nimble.
"Warships are designed to be less stable than commercial ships which is why essentially you might get a bit more sea sick but that means they do manoeuver very quickly," he said.
Inside the ship's maze of manholes and control rooms lies a vital organ - the kitchen.
Loaded up with 960 shopping trolley's worth of food, the kitchen can satisfy the contingent of hungry sailors for 45 days.
And it's not all canned soup and baked beans.
"Last night we had steak and sweet corn and potatoes so its just as you would expect," Cmdr Essenhigh said.
"We also have pet favourites the ship company like to eat so on Friday it's fish and chips, Wednesday we have curry night, so its a pretty diverse menu.
"Although as you get further away from land things like fresh milk run out a little bit.
"But it's nice to get back on the harbour and get some fresh and crunchy vegetables."
Working away in the ship's control room on Sunday was 22-year-old communication information and systems specialist Kirsty Truesdale.
Ms Truesdale rallied off a seemingly endless list of countries she had seen through her five year stint with the Navy.
But one place stood out for her.
"I would say Sydney (was the highlight). I have to say that haven't I?"
HMS Daring will head to Adelaide and Perth after Sydney.
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