Things To Do in Sydney With Kids
Sydney is Australia’s biggest city and is home to some big attractions!
Sydney is jam-packed with family-friendly activities. From theme parks, zoos, museums and beautiful beaches.
Here are the best things to do in Sydney with kids to help them burn off some energy!
Circular Quay
Circular Quay is located at the beginning of the Sydney CBD in the more historic part of Sydney.
From Circular Quay you can view popular landmarks seen on postcards — the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Exploring Sydney’s Circular Quay can be taken both by foot or by boat. You can walk around and visit food stalls and restaurants if you’re hungry while enjoying the sight of ferries coming and going.
Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Business Hours: 9:00 am to 8:30 pm, daily (or later if with shows at night)
Located right by Circular Quay is the world-famous Sydney Opera House. A visit to Sydney wouldn’t be complete without visiting The Sydney Opera House.
The best part of visiting the iconic Opera House? It’s free if you want to take a self-guided tour and learn about the history of the ever-famous Australian landmark.
The Opera House is a great family attraction. The opera house has shows that cater to children such as the Storytime Ballet, children’s musicals, and toddler-friendly shows.
Game up your experience by watching live performances. The Sydney Opera House sells family tickets at $70 ($105AUD) for 2 adults and 2 children, while it’s at $30 ($42AUD) for one adult and $15 ($22AUD) for children. They also offer discounts for students and seniors.
Want to have an enchanting weekend with the family? The Sydney Opera House might just be the right place!
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Mrs. Macquaries Rd., Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Business Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, daily
The Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney is a serene and peaceful place to visit with the family for free.
Pack yourself a lunch or grab some lunch from one of Sydney’s great restaurants and enjoy a picnic while enjoying the relaxing view of the picturesque gardens and city skyline. Also, be sure to check out Mrs Macquaires Chair during sunset, and enjoy the breeze of the ocean while being bewildered by the lights from the Harbour Bridge.
Taronga Zoo
Bradleys Head Rd., Mosman NSW 2088, Australia
Business hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, daily
The Taronga Zoo is located a short ferry ride away from Circular Quay. From Taronga Zoo you can soak up views of the beautiful Sydney Skyline while being surrounded by exotic wildlife. Where else in the world can you see views of a large city while being surrounded by exotic animals such as Giraffes and elephants?
Taronga Zoo offers shows and even animal feeding experiences for a fantastic family outing. The zoo is a place that must not be skipped.
To help your little ones expel some energy Taronga Zoo also has an obstacle course like the Wild Ropes, or enjoy a playground and water-play area with the Backyard to Bush.
To experience a world of animals from skies to seas, general admission tickets are sold at $44.10 for adults ($35.10 for concession card holders) and $26.10 for ages 4-15.
Children under 4 are free!
Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island, NSW, Australia
Business hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, daily
For an educational family outing, try taking a trip to Cockatoo Island and see one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. You can enjoy a blast of the past and let your kids wander around while learning about the prison Island and how the British used it as a harbour. Your kids can also enjoy the Convict Clues Challenge, while they run around the mess hall using their pull-out maps.
You will need to ride a ferry from Circular Quay to get to Cockatoo Island. Ferry tickets are under $6. There is an option to stay overnight for only $285.
Sydney Tower Eye
Level 5 Westfield Sydney, 108 Market St., Sydney 2000, Australia
Business Hours: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, daily
The Sydney Tower is one of the most popular tourist spots for first-timers. The tower is the second tallest observation tower in the southern hemisphere meaning that the views from the tower are phenomenal.
From the top of the Sydney Tower Eye, you can see 360-degree views of Sydney and its surroundings.
Try to see how many attractions you can spot from the top of the tower.
Ticket prices are $31 per adult, $24 per student or seniors, $22 for ages 3-15 years, and free for toddlers. You can even get 20% if you book online through their official website!
Luna Park Sydney
1 Olympic Dr., Milsons Point, NSW 2061, Australia
Business Hours: 11:00am to 6:00pm, Mondays, 11:00am to 11:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00am to 6:00pm, Sundays
Luna Park is an iconic carnival-themed amusement park. The Park has been around for a hundred years and is a Sydney Icon. Brave the Hair Raiser and experience an iconic view of Syndey’s harbour before having free-fall instant drop. However, if you just want something fun and relaxing, Luna Park also offers a variety of classic carnival games for kids.
Entry is free for all! Yet, if you want unlimited rides, prices vary from $20 to $48 per person.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
1-5 Wheat Rd., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Business Hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, daily
Get up close and personal with the turtles. Penguins, sharks, jellyfish and sea life. By taking a stroll through the many exhibits and under the oceanarium tunnels.
A trip to the aquarium can be a fun and educational experience for the whole family.
Tickets to The underwater world experience at the aquarium are $48 for adults, $39 for students and seniors, and $35 for ages 3-15 years. Toddlers can also enter the aquarium for free.
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, 2127, Australia
Business Hours: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, daily
Built for the Olympics back in 2000, Sydney Olympic Park is a 640-hectare entertainment precinct packed with fun and games for families, or for those who want a good picnic and stroll around.
Enjoy splashing in the aquatic park or hire a bike to pedal around the 35km cycle track in Bicentennial Park. For the less active visitors to the park, there are also free BBQ facilities and picnic areas overlooking the lake.
Did you know that circus classes are also run at The Olympic Park on school holidays?
In a 2-hour session kids aged 5-13 can learn juggling, hula hooping, acrobalance, trapeze, plate spinning and more!
Tickets vary depending on the activity but all-day parking can be pre-booked for a flat rate of $20 per day.
Australian Museum
1 William St., Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Business Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, daily
One of the best things about the Australian Museum is that it has a broad range of exhibitions about indigenous culture and history. It is a great place to educate your kids about our first nations people.
General admission to The Australian Museum is free! Sometimes you will need to pay for the extra exhibits but honestly, it’s worth it.
Free exhibitions include Bayala Nura (indigenous community), Birds of Australia, Sea Country, Dinosaurs, Pacific Spirit, Wild Planet and Surviving Australia.
Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris St., Ultimo, Sydney 2007, Australia
Business Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, daily
The Powerhouse Museum is located in Darling Harbour and is accessible via a short walk from Central Station.
The Powerhouse Museum is the place to go if you want to learn about science and technology.
It’s a great place to visit for a day of “experimentation” with heat, light, chemistry, and electricity. Not only will your kids learn something but you might learn something too.
Perhaps you’re a fan of DC superheroes, you can also go through the museum’s Art of the Brick, and see 120 superheroes and supervillains made out of Lego. Take a picture and make sure to say hello to your favourite comic character.
Tickets to The Powerhouse Museum are currently FREE! So there are no excuses not to visit!
Sydney is full of family-friendly activities. Which of these activities have you done or will you do? Let us know in the comments
Also what family-friendly activities would you recommend? Let us know!
