Alternatively, pick up some fresh seafood from the market before you set off and picnic in the park. I love this walk for the different views it provides, the western side of the Harbour rarely gets little praise, and it is lovely. You pass a couple of playgrounds along the way to help keep the kids on track.
World-class playgrounds like Darling Quarter Playground, Blaxland Riverside Park in 3d cinema sydney Olympic Park, and Livvi's Place in Ryde are completely free. Most beaches are free including family-friendly options like Balmoral, Clovelly, and Manly's sheltered Shelly Beach. Council libraries run free storytime sessions, many museums offer free entry for kids under certain ages, and parks like Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Garden are always free to enjoy. The most popular option remains the traditional play centre party. Prices range from $25 to $40 per child, with most venues requiring a minimum of 8 to 10 kids.
Putt Planet brings the city streets of Mombasa to Miranda with 18 holes of themed fun. Though the course is relatively challenging, it’s suitable for all ages. There’s a dedicated function room for parties and café that’ll cater events or serve up snacks once your tournament is won. And it’s all enclosed; wet weather will never ruin the green or your day out. Compare Sydney's best birthday party venues, check availability, and send enquiries to multiple places with one form. If you’ve worked through the main attractions and still want more, here are some brilliant extras to round out your Sydney family adventure.
On the Northern Beaches, Little Beans Cafe in Brookvale is purpose-built for under-5s with a soft play zone, imaginative play kitchen, and a cafe menu that goes well beyond the standard party pies and chicken nuggets. Our birthday party venues guide covers the full range of options across Sydney, and our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and send enquiries to multiple places with one form. While there is no special children’s pool, older kids will enjoy this pool with a view, and it makes a nice diversion after a walk through the botanic gardens.
You can also take a tour of the Opera House to learn the history of this unique building and how it came to be. A wide variety of sporting and entertainment events are held at Sydney Olympic Park every year which can be fun to attend in Sydney with kids. Treat your whole family to a cinematic experience as you enjoy blockbuster movies, and documentaries in an immersive setting with a large screen and cutting-edge audio. Here you will find a 50-metre lap pool but also a splash pad and shaded lounging area for a family day at the pool.
Families come in all shapes and sizes, which is why we’ve organized our recommendations by family type. Finding activities for toddlers in Sydney isn’t easy but we’ve uncovered some genuinely excellent options through our research. That’s its own challenge, so we’ve focused on activities that won’t have them rolling their eyes all day. And of course, we’ve made sure the grown-ups actually enjoy themselves too. A day at the beach is always a great way to enjoy the sunshine and spend time with family.
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.
There are lots of free BBQs at Bronte where you can cook your own meals or a variety of cafes if you prefer to dine in. The search and discover collection allows kids to get their hands on dinosaur bones, taxidermied Aussie animals, live stick insects and lots more. Darling Harbour is home to many of Sydney’s biggest and best free festivals, so make sure you check their What’s On pages to see what is happening this month. Why not take my free self-guided walk of the Rocks and drop in at The Rocks Discovery Museum.
Yes, there are several family-friendly beaches located within easy reach of the city centre. There are so many great things to do in Sydney with kids when you are spending time in the New South Wales capital. Sydney is a family-friendly city with a wide variety of attractions and activities for kids and adults of all ages.
The tunnels of the aquarium are a mesmerising place for kids, where they can meet dugongs, sharks, sea turtles and penguins. On the North Shore, Planet Mino in Chatswood sets the standard for design-led play. Their two-storey space-themed playground features augmented reality walls, a giant ball blaster arena, and a cafe that serves genuinely good coffee. It's pricier than Western Sydney options at around $20 to $25 per child, but the quality of the fit-out is noticeably higher. In the Hills District, Area 51 in Castle Hill sprawls across 4,000 square metres and includes a unique Snow World zone where kids can play in real snow regardless of the weather.
For creative kids, art classes, music lessons, drama workshops, and coding programs have all expanded significantly in recent years. Venues like the Art Gallery of NSW and local community centres run affordable kids art classes, while coding schools like Code Camp and Coder Academy offer after school and weekend programs. Team sports remain a cornerstone of after school life in Sydney, with soccer, basketball, netball, cricket, and AFL all operating through local clubs with seasonal registrations.
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.
The guides explain so much about the area and the flora and fauna you will pass along the way; it’s an excellent introduction to Sydney’s landscape. This hike follows the coastline from the harbour to the sea and takes in several amazing hidden beaches, Aboriginal rock art and a Manly Beach sunset at the end. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an icon every family should experience, and the good news is it’s now truly accessible for everyone.
This zoo provides an amazing opportunity to see wildlife of land and sea with the only combined zoo and aquarium in New South Wales. One of the greatest Sydney family activities is a day at heritage-listed amusement park Luna Park Sydney. If you’re really daring, and visiting with older kids who are a little daring, try the Skywalk experience around the outside of the Sydney Tower Eye.
Things to Do in Sydney: Toddlers to Teens Guide
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5 min read
