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Things to Do in Sydney: Toddlers to Teens Guide
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.
After a safety briefing and training from experienced instructors, children can experience being lifted into the air by a powerful wind generator. For the seriously keen, there are ten-week courses for ages 6-16 years and birthday party packages available for flyers. The park offers a range of activities for kids, including best indoor activities sydney bike riding tracks, learning and discovery days, such as the mini park rangers, tours and art galleries. For toddlers under 3, look for venues with dedicated soft play zones separated from older children. Many play cafes across the Inner West and North Shore also cater specifically to the under-3 crowd with age-appropriate toys and safe spaces. If there's one thing Sydney parents stress about more than school catchments, it's birthday parties.

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.
We have considered things like the number of beds per room, special family facilities and the best locations for families. There are lots of family activities to be found in western Sydney from Sydney Olympic Park to Parramatta to the Parramatta River. Check out our guide to the best things to do in Parramatta for ideas. The Australian Museum has an interesting program for kids from 9 months to 3 years, Tiny Tots playgroup, where they will be exposed to First Nation’s history and culture through music, craft and games.

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.
There are interactive displays and activities for children throughout the gallery which makes it more enjoyable for them too. The zoo includes interactive displays, animal encounters, and views of the stunning Sydney Harbour. From unique attractions like the Taronga Zoo to classic experiences such as taking a harbour cruise around the city, there are plenty of options for parents and kids alike. From the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House to iconic beaches and cultural experiences, there’s definitely plenty of family fun to be had. Entertainment Park is home to a truly white-knuckle line-up of fun-filled activities, including arcade games, six full-size bowling alleys, party shops, food trucks, VR and digital simulators and even a barbershop.
They tend to work best for kids under 5, as older children often find the play areas too small or simple. For our full recommendations, head to our best play cafes in Sydney guide. Most programs run for full days (typically 9am to 3pm) and cost $60 to $100 per day, with multi-day discounts available.

This is one of our favourite half-day trips from Sydney when you don’t have a lot of spare time but still want to get out on the water and visit somewhere nearby. Jump on the ferry at Circular Quay, since it can only be reached by boat! It’s a great place for families to explore, with lots of interactive activities and interesting attractions. An Art Gallery is a perfect indoor activity in Sydney for those rainy days, especially if you have older kids who appreciate fine art.
Along the way, there are several family-friendly beaches, like Tamarama with its popular kid’s playground and Clovelly with its sheltered bay. My grandkids love this park with its water fountains and play area, swings and slides, and climbing equipment suitable for kids of all ages. In Sydney’s east it’s hard to beat Shark Beach at Nielson Park, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. On scorching hot days, its enormous fig trees providing the perfectly shaded picnic spot.

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.
The park has a playground that is perfect to burn your little ones’ energy. They also have free hands-on school holiday programs during the NSW school break. This is a good option for older kids who have an interest in the local history as it tells the story of The Rocks from their pre-European days to the present time. There are also playgrounds for the kids in each of them, including Centennial Homestead Playground, Paddington Gates Playground and nearby Moore Park Rotunda Playground to name just a few of the play spaces.

And you can ride each of them as many times as you like during your visit. If you’ve got a few days to spend in Sydney and want to get beyond the city for a day or two, there are some downright epic day trips from Sydney or weekend getaways in the Greater Sydney region. There is also an ocean pool for swimming, which is great for kids who are a little cautious about swimming in the waves.
It’s one of the most iconic things to do with kids in Sydney as it gives them an amazing view of the city and a whole new way of experiencing it. The observatory deck has interactive displays, a telescope and informative guides that explain what you’re seeing. The Observatory also has an immersive family tour to take kids on a journey into space with all sorts of astronomical knowledge. The museum offers an insight into Australia’s maritime history and its impact on the nation’s culture and economy.
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.
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