Consider the inner west where you can combine murals with independent shops, or Cronulla where you can discover over 20 murals between the train station and the beach. Jamberoo is about 90 minutes south of Sydney and there are water play areas, water slides, fun rides and plenty more. There are good facilities with a fenced playground, gas BBQs and beautiful harbour views. You can follow a walk from the ferry wharf that will take you to a significant rock art site. The small general store near the waterfront often has free pamphlet guides you can follow.
Martial arts — karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and boxing — are widely available and increasingly popular for building confidence and discipline. We’ve put together expert guidance on the key decisions you need to make before arriving in Sydney. You can have a no stress camping holiday at Cockatoo Island in the middle of the harbour. This entertainment hub is perfect for families who can’t sit still. Jump into action-packed laser tag battles, challenge each other to bowling matches, or bump around in dodgem cars – there’s never a dull fun activities for adults sydney moment. If you are not so confident, there are some well-run snorkelling tours where guides will help you and all your gear (and even wetsuits) are provided.
If you are a family with older kids, you can swim in the north or head wherever you see the red and yellow flags. Flags are placed at the part of the beach that lifesavers have deemed the safest for the day. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to swim at the southern end of the beach.
You can photograph yourself upside down on the ceiling with Spider-Man, activate the Bat signal and help Superman lift a helicopter above his head. There’s more than enough to occupy an hour or two here, and you can even memorialise the visit with a wax cast of your own hand. Tickets are cheaper if you book them online and you can bundle them with tickets to the Sydney Tower Eye, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and the Big Bus for further discounts. Paula Morgan, a born-and-bred Sydney resident, has been sharing this city and its secret spots for over 15 years. We have done some pretty extensive research on the best hotels and apartments for families in Sydney to make selecting the right property easier for you.
It also houses a wide range of vessels and marine artefacts to explore, so even younger kids will enjoy their visit. If you thought Taronga Zoo was conveniently close to the city, this is even closer and a quicker experience if you’re short on time and don’t have a full day to dedicate to a zoo trip. Here you will find educational fun displays related to natural history and anthropology. The museum also hosts exhibits featuring indigenous artwork and cultural events that showcase various cultures worldwide. It does get crazy busy but the food alone is worth the visit and the fun photo opportunities make it an exciting dining experience for the whole family. Best of all, they often have great deals for kids to climb at a discount during school holidays.
The Australian National Maritime Museum located in the harbour city of Sydney is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. It’s recommended to allow at least 2 hours to fully explore the museum, especially if you are planning to visit any of the special touring ticketed exhibits. There are combo tickets available to visit some of the other popular attractions in Sydney too, including Wildlife Sydney, Madame Tussauds and the Sydney Tower Eye. They also have a range of ticket upgrades, with behind-the-scenes tours, VIP experiences and an aquarium dining experience if you want to do something a little extra special. At Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, you can explore the ocean without getting wet.
It is a bustling waterfront area surrounded by family-friendly activities and dining. It is an amazing place with a ferry leaving every few minutes to different parts of the Harbour, including Taronga Zoo, Manly Beach and Watsons Bay. The halls of the gallery are kid and pram-friendly, and you can take a break at the adjoining café and restaurant without venturing into the rain. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Gymnastics is another hugely popular choice, with clubs like Sydney Gymnastics and Acrobatics Centre, Northern Beaches Gymnastics, and Hills Gymnastics offering recreational and competitive programs. Dance classes span everything from classical ballet to hip hop to contemporary, with studios across every region of Sydney.
I like to walk from North to South, so the Opera House remains in view the entire way. A little over a km long, it should take you about 30 minutes, given how many times you will stop to take photos and watch the traffic. The current exhibition is Alchemy of a Rainforest and features more than 18,000 plants. You can also check out the largest living green wall in the southern hemisphere. While there is a chance you will come across some Aussie wildlife on your travels, it is tough to find a platypus in the wild, so do not miss this chance! Taronga is a world-class zoo with some of the best views in Sydney.
It first opened in Western Sydney and there are now centres across the country offering indoor and outdoor fun that’s flippin’ awesome. The Penrith centre has wall running, an after-dark program and dodgeball – plus you can book kids’ birthday parties and children can sign up for Little Ninja classes to learn how to twist and bounce like a pro. Play cafes typically charge $12 to $18 per child and serve proper coffee, healthy snacks, and lunch options. They tend to be calmer and more design-focused than traditional play centres, making them popular with parents of babies and toddlers.
For more family history experiences, check out the offerings of the Sydney Living Museums. The Justice and Police Museum is housed in the old Water Police building at Circular Quay. There are a range of interactive challenges, including cops and robbers, where kids become detectives tracking a criminal or see if they can escape from the cells. Taronga has put together a bunch of missions on their free app to help kids get involved in their zoo visit. They choose one of six missions and learn more about wildlife on your visit. Along with being a pretty unique way to see the harbour, a tallship cruise is fun for the entire family.
Trampoline parks like BOUNCE and Flip Out run party packages with dedicated hosts. For something different, try art studios, cooking schools, or outdoor venues like Centennial Park which has BBQ and picnic facilities. Our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and request quotes from multiple places at once. Many Sydney play cafes specifically target the baby and toddler market, offering a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy a decent coffee while their little ones explore safe, stimulating play areas. These venues are particularly popular with parents on maternity and paternity leave who are looking for social connection alongside child-friendly spaces. Our soft play centres guide and toddler activities blog have detailed recommendations.
The walk is not too challenging but best suited to older kids, as it is quite long. You can do this tour alone by following this walking guide; however, it is well worth going on a guide-led walk if the times and prices suit you. The tour I recommend is led by volunteer guides, and the cost of the tour is donated to kids in need.
Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains and grab an Blue Mountains Hop on Hop off pass – kids ride free – and you can travel to the mountains using Sydney Trains to save on costly guided tours. Camp Cove Beach makes a perfect rest spot near the end of the walk, and the ferry ride back to the city is a fantastic way to end the day. Along the way, check out French cafe Bellevue Cottage for a delicious splurge brunch or lunch.
Art is for everyone, but the kids will be particularly fond of the ceramic-painting workshops at Jenny’s Painted Pots. You can decorate ceramic mugs, plates, animals or signs and lettering starting from $15, and they supply all the arty equipment. It’s also home to a traditional lolly shop, so you can scoff old-timey sweets while you paint. It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained when it’s grizzly outside and it could be a prime opportunity to procure some sentimental stocking-fillers for the family.
Things to Do in Sydney: Toddlers to Teens Guide
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6 min read
