10 Things to do in Sydney with Kids

Sydney has a wide range of activities that you can enjoy with the little ones during your stay. Get to know the essential ones and take part in them. Sydney has a wide range of activities that you can enjoy with the little ones during your stay. Get to know the must-do's and take part in them.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

10 Things to do in Sydney with Kids

Shelly Beach, Sydney (Australia) |©Andrea Guagni 4,8 Million

Sydney is a busy Australian city that you can visit with children of any age without fear of them not having fun. During your stay you will discover a wide variety of activities: leisure, culture, outdoor experiences and much more for the whole family to enjoy.

You can visit Luna Park, with its rides and a big Ferris wheel; the city's aquarium, which houses some 650 different marine species; the virtual reality escape rooms, where you can play at saving the world, among other of the best things to do in Sydney that I'll tell you about in a moment.

1. Visit the Sydney Cricket Ground stadium and discover part of Australia's sporting history

Sydney Cricket Ground|©Marc Dalmulder
Sydney Cricket Ground|©Marc Dalmulder

If your children are enthusiastic about sports such as cricket, soccer or rugby, then you should go to the Sydney Cricket Ground stadium. Here you can learn about the sporting history of the country: clubs that have played there, victories won, etc.

It is an experience considered among the best tours of Sydney, which must be done in the company of an expert, as free access to this sporting temple is not allowed. During your guided tour of the Sydney Cricket Ground and museum, you will have the opportunity to visit the dressing rooms and walk through the players' tunnel to the field of play.

In the Cricket Museum area , you will find an important collection of bats, balls, uniforms used by the clubs over the years, photographs and awards. And, to enhance the experience, you'll enjoy the interactive exhibits, where you and the kids can show off your cricket skills.

Information of interest

  • Price: the experience has an approximate cost of 21€ per adult, and about 15€ for children from 5 to 15 years old.
  • Duration: about 90 minutes.

Book a guided tour of Sydney Cricket Ground Stadium

2. Explore Sydney's nautical collections at the National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum|©Dick McLeish
Australian National Maritime Museum|©Dick McLeish

The Australian National Maritime Museum houses an important nautical collection of over 140,000 objects, which you can explore on your own. In addition, this is an ideal place for children of all ages, where they will be kept entertained for hours.

Throughout this tour, you will be immersed in Australia's maritime history through a series of amazing exhibits and fun activities. Some of these include:

  • The permanent galleries, which display interesting maritime artifacts, photographs, maps and more.
  • Historic vessels, submarines, sailboats and navy ships, which you can climb aboard to learn about in detail.
  • A cinematic experience, which will give you a glimpse into the history and evolution of the Australian Navy.

In addition, you will find the Mini Sailors play area, with educational activities for children under 5 years old. And for the little ones from 4 to 12 years old, you will find the children's area on deck, where they will be able to experiment and test their creativity. Afterwards, you can continue your itinerary and perhaps join a tall ship cruise around Sydney Harbour.

Interesting information

  • Price: the entrance fee is approximately €23 per adult, and an average of €15 for children aged 4 to 15.
  • Hours: The museum is usually open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Book a tall ship cruise

3. Meet Australia's native species at Taronga Zoo in Sydney

taronga zoo|©Frederik Nyssens
taronga zoo|©Frederik Nyssens

Taronga Zoo in Sydney is another place you can visit with children. There, you will meet around 350 species of animal life, mostly native to Australia. In addition, you will have the opportunity to take a cable car ride and observe the animals from a different perspective.

The zoo is located in a large forest on the shores of the city's bay. In it, you will find thematic areas that recreate the habitats of the more than 5,000 animals that live there: lions, zebras, giraffes, meerkats, kangaroos, platypuses, koalas, among others.

In addition, when purchasing tickets for the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, children will have the opportunity to feed some of the animals and, as a family, watch live shows. Such is the case of the bird flight and the demonstration of tricks with the seals.

You can also take a ride on the cable car, installed inside the zoo. Thus, you will contemplate the animals from the heights and the skyline of the city in which the harbor bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the skyscrapers of the financial area, among others, stand out.

Information of interest

  • Price: the average entrance fee is 32€ per adult, and approximately 19€ for children from 4 to 15 years old.
  • Hours: daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Book tickets for Taronga Zoo

4. Have a fun time at Luna Park Sydney's attractions

Luna Park|©Rachel Lovinger
Luna Park|©Rachel Lovinger

A must-see if you are in Sydney with children is Luna Park. This amusement park opened in 1935 and is considered the oldest in the city. There, you will spend a different and fun time with the little ones of the house. You will be able to go on different rides, eat and enjoy the view of the sea.

When you arrive at the park, you will feel like you have been transported to a fairy tale, being enveloped in a picturesque and lively atmosphere. There are about 14 attractions that allow you to experience everything from traditional rides to more daring experiences.

You can climb the imposing Ferris wheel with 24 cabins and a 50-meter-high tower. You will also enjoy up to four age-themed roller coasters, flying chairs, the traditional carousel, a mirror maze, bumper cars and much more. And, if you're in Sydney at night, you'll have the opportunity to take in a breathtaking panorama of the sea, harbor area and city.

Information of interest

  • Price: the entrance to the park is free, but if you want to go on the rides you will have to pay a cost starting at 44€ per adult, and around 34€ for children under 13 years old.
  • Hours: generally the park opens at 10:00 am, however, schedules vary daily. Therefore, it is best to check the access times prior to your visit.

5. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city on the beaches of Sydney and enjoy a paradisiacal natural scene

Murray Rose Pool|©Erin Perullo
Murray Rose Pool|©Erin Perullo

Playing in the sand, immersing yourself in the water and practicing some water sports are activities that both children and adults enjoy. Therefore, a good plan is to visit the best beaches in Sydney. You will escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a paradisiacal natural scene.

Any time of the year is the right time to visit the city's beaches. This is due to the good water temperatures. For example, if you visit Sydney in winter the water reaches 18ºC and if you spend the summer in Sydney you will enjoy an average of 23ºC.

There are many beaches in the city , some of the most popular being the following:

Shelly Beach

This beach is located approximately 37 minutes from the center of Sydney and because it is surrounded by a reef, it is ideal for your trip with children. The water at Shelly Beach is calm and very safe for swimming and even snorkeling.

Clovelly Beach

Clovelly Beach is about 23 minutes from town and is a great destination for swimming and snorkeling. You'll discover rich marine life: octopus, fish, sea stars and more. In addition, you'll find a shallow natural pool for the little ones, sandy, paved and grassy areas to play volleyball, soccer or just lay back and relax.

Bondi Beach

This is another beach that will surprise you with the contrast of golden sand and turquoise blue water with perfect waves to slide on them. In addition, it is located about 19 minutes drive from the city center. You can enjoy many activities at Bondi Beach in Sydney, for example, join the kids for a surfing lesson.

6. Visit the Sydney Observatory and discover secrets of the cosmos

Sydney Observatory|©John Cooke
Sydney Observatory|©John Cooke

The Sydney Observatory is another must-see stop to incorporate into your itinerary if you're with kids in the city. In this old fort, both you and the little ones will have fun while discovering the secrets and mysteries of the cosmos.

During the tour, you will learn about the history of the old Fort Phillip, built in 1858 and representative of Italianate architecture. Also, you will go up to the observation dome to see some astronomical objects through a series of modern telescopes.

In addition, through this experience, you will have the opportunity to see some collectibles such as:

  • An antique transit telescope, crafted by Edward Troughton.
  • A pair of 5 kilogramwooden blocks, belonging to the south flagpole of the fort's signal station.
  • The negatives of the lightning in Sydney, captured by HC Russell during the period from 1889 to 1892.

Information of interest

  • Price: adults pay about 36€ and the cost for children from 6 years old is about 24€.
  • Duration: about 90 minutes.

7. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and live an extreme adventure

Bridge Climb|©S2 B
Bridge Climb|©S2 B

If you want to see the city from a different perspective, you will have to climb the Bay Bridge. This is a completely safe activity that you can enjoy with the kids, in case you have traveled with them. You will live an adventure full of adrenaline from one of the most iconic destinations in the city.

For this experience you will climb the arches of the bridge, reaching a height of about 89 meters. From this area, you will get a privileged view of Sydney: the harbor, the vast Tasman Sea, the iconic Opera House, the cars that travel the bridge lanes, among other things.

This activity, as expected, cannot be done on your own, as you will need to use specific safety equipment and, therefore, have the advice of an expert. In addition, children participating in this activity must be approximately 1.2 meters tall.

8. Take a picture with your favorite personalities at Madame Tussauds in Sydney

Madame Tussauds Darling Harbour|©Travolution360
Madame Tussauds Darling Harbour|©Travolution360

Your visit to Sydney will not be complete without a visit to Madame Tussauds. In this museum, children will have a great time with their favorite characters (heroes of the Marvel and DC universe, actors, singers, etc.). You can take amazing pictures and enjoy interactive experiences.

As you walk through the museum's exhibit halls, you'll see Spider-Man, help Superman hold a helicopter, pose with the Dark Knight (Batman), and pretend to ride E.T.' s iconic bicycle. You will also find a wax figure of Indiana Jones, singer Ricky Martin and many others.

You can also approach the interactive area and walk the red carpet under the spotlight like a star. At the end, the famous model and actress Megan Gale will be waiting for you to take a couple of pictures.

Useful information

  • Price: the entrance fee starts at about 23€ per person.
  • Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

9. Discover the curiosities of marine life at the Sydney Aquarium

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium|©Anton Furuholm
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium|©Anton Furuholm

The Sydney Aquarium is a place with a picturesque atmosphere where you can discover all the curiosities hidden in marine life. Children will be amazed to walk under water and observe the more than 700 species housed in this enclosure.

Once you start the tour of the aquarium, you will be fascinated by the variety of marine life. There are approximately 13,000 animals, including colorful tropical fish, manta rays, slender sharks, Japanese spider crabs, dugongs, friendly penguins, platypuses, turtles and much more.

You will also have the opportunity to see up close how the aquarium keepers feed some of the animals. The little ones can look for Nemo in the Great Barrier Reef exhibit. As an additional fact, you should know that tickets to the aquarium are included in some of the tourist passes for the city of Sydney.

Information of interest

  • Price: the entrance fee starts at 38€ per person.
  • Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

10. Live an immersive experience in Sydney's virtual escape room

girl wearing virtual glasses|©Giu Vicente
girl wearing virtual glasses|©Giu Vicente

The virtual escape room is the perfect option to have fun with the kids during your visit to Sydney, especially if you and your little ones are video game enthusiasts. You will live an awesome immersive experience while facing a series of challenges.

In the game room you will have the freedom to move as you please: crouch, run, walk, jump, etc. All of this, with the purpose of defending yourself, attacking your enemies and collaborating with your companions within the selected metaverse.

Among some of the adventures that you will be able to experience, the following stand out:

  • Time Travel, you will have to exterminate a plague looking for energy sources hidden among a pirate ship, an Aztec temple and other scenarios.
  • Press Start, you will be part of the characters of a series of arcade games and you will have to stay alive until the final battle.
  • Are we dead, turned into a zombie, you will have to fight against the scientists so that they do not annihilate your race.

Information of interest

  • Price: the price of the experience is approximately 49€ per person.
  • Hours: every day from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

11. Go to Sydney's Wild Life Zoo and learn about the region's native wildlife

Animal in the tree|©Michael Payne
Animal in the tree|©Michael Payne

Wild Life Zoo is another must-see destination in Sydney with children, where you will have a unique and fun time. You will get to know closely a series of animals native to Australia and other parts of the world, and learn some curiosities about them. In total, there are about 6,000 animals.

Throughout your tour of this wildlife park you will be able to interact with koalas. You will see some of them sleeping in the branches of the trees and others eating eucalyptus leaves. You will also see some bilbies, platypuses, Goodfellow tree kangaroos, badgers, crocodiles, among others.

With tickets to the Wild Life Zoo in Sydney you will enjoy a series of talks focused on the conservation of wildlife and native animals. All of them, offered daily by the park's keepers. In addition, there are interactive displays to help young children understand the animal world.

Information of interest

  • Price: the approximate value of the entrance fee is 24€ per person.
  • Hours: every day from 10:00 to 16:00 hours.

Book tickets for Wild Life Zoo