Top 10 Things to See When Visiting Sydney with Kids in 2024

Top Things See Do When Visiting Sydney With Kids

Harbor City, Sydney isn’t a typical metropolis that is packed only with skyscrapers, residential, business districts, traffic and malls. The city is one of the liveliest places with a friendly community. Visiting Sydney, especially with kids has a lot of activities, and places to visit which will provide them with a great time and experience of a lifetime. Children and their parents both will love this amazing place. It is a city where parents can breathe a sigh of relief as the kids won’t be bored even for a day. While there are plenty of parks, and beachside reserves with lots of space, lots of activities require no money. Children can kick balls in the park, climb a tree, swim in the ocean pool, or indulge in whale watching. 

Among the fun things to do in Sydney this weekend one can take their kids for a stroll through walkable pathways. As there are attractions spread throughout the city, there is never a dull weekend or summer holiday for little darlings.  

Here are 10 Things to See When Visiting Sydney with Kids.

1. Relish A Family Picnic At The Royal Botanical Garden

Family Picnic At The Royal Botanical Garden

Sydney prides itself on its cosmopolitan landscape which is infused with scenic gardens which will make anyone admire the greenery. Among the popular kid’s attractions in Sydney that locals love is having a family picnic at the Royal Botanical garden. The place has 30 hectares of lush greenery and is a great place for enjoying a picnic with kids. All that is needed is a mat and a basket full of favourite food and one can be ready for a picnic with the scenic beauty of the harbour. 

The Royal Botanical Garden offers a kid-friendly space for kids to play around and enjoy soothing weather. Among the fun activities at the Garden, one can stroll through the park admiring the flora and fauna or take a ride in Choo Choo Express. Kids can catch a view of wildlife and join kiddle activities during the school holidays.

Timing: 7:00 am to 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. based on the season.

Cost: Cho Cho express ride costs between AUD 10 for AUD 5 for children (3-17) years. Park entry is free.

2. Make Friends With Sea Creatures At Sydney Sea Life Aquarium

Sea Creatures At Sydney Sea Life Aquarium

Marine life has always been a place of interest for kids. Especially when they find it in front of them, they are always overjoyed and it expands their knowledge about life on earth. Visiting Sydney Sealife Aquarium, kids will have a chance to experience a plethora of marine sea life. The trivia and facts shared about sea life animals are informative and will improve the knowledge of the kids. It is an excellent audio-visual experience that kids will enjoy the most. 

Kids can indulge in feeding activities and get more interactive experiences with the sea creatures like dugongs, sharks, and penguins. There is a penguin boat expedition that will make the kids go face-to-face with penguin families. To visit this fun and exciting Sydney Attraction for families, one can take a small walk from Town Hall or Wynyard Station. Kids must not miss the activity of a touch pool where they can touch real starfish, coral and shark eggs.

Timing: The park is open for the entire week from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Cost: AUD 28 to AUD 85

3. Entertain The Kids With Experiments At Powerhouse Museum

Powerhouse Museum

The museum tempts the kids to learn through the demonstration and exhibits at the museum. The venue fulfils both criteria of ‘do’ and ‘see’ in Sydney, especially for the kids. It is among the kid’s attractions in Sydney, which will keep the kids engaged in the quest of learning something new. The building is a 4-storey learning and activity centre located at Darling Harbor where kids can learn through play activities. Visit the Powerhouse Museum with kids to have a fun-filled productive day with experiments and knowledge exploration. Kids will learn things about robots, electricity, magnetism, sound waves, space visit, transport and many more. 

The museum focuses on science and technology providing kids with a world of introduction in the areas. Kids visiting with parents can learn about the modern-day scientific challenges which involve issues like climate change. It is meant to raise awareness among the kids so that they can contribute to sustaining the environment.  There are around 1600 matchbox cars, vintage trains and out-of-commission aeroplanes. For comic geeks, there is a separate room for Star Wars and Harry Potter activities for the kids to take part in and live their fantasies and characters.

Timing: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm open daily

Cost: No charges for visitors aged between 16 and below. The admission ticket above the age costs AUD 11.

4. Hobnob With The Koalas At Taronga Zoo

Hobnob With The Koalas At Taronga Zoo

Visiting Australia, and missing out on Koalas is not a good idea.  The Taronga Zoo for Sydney Fun activities is exciting for both parents and kids. The Zoo is located on the right bank of Sydney Harbour. The Taronga Zoo is home to around 250 species of animals. Once your kids are done having fun with the cute Koalas, they can join in watching animal shows and activities like feeding giraffes from their hands. While taking a walk through the zoo, kids will appreciate various life on earth and learn their names. Parents have to be ready with the trivia to answer the questions which the kids will throw at them. 

If parents are lucky, they can come across a friendly and patient guide from the zoo who will fulfil the queries of the kids. Taronga Zoo has some exotic animal collections like Asiatic elephants and koalas. The Zoo is located precisely at Bradleys Head Road in Mosman and it can be accessed best by taking a ferry from the Circular Quay or Darling Harbor. Families then must take a fun ride through the cable car to reach the Taronga Zoo.

Timing: Taronga Zoo is open daily from 9:30 to 5:00 pm.

Cost: Tickets to the zoo cost AUD 24.3 (4-15 years ago) and AUD 42.3 (16 years and above). Family tickets will provide a discount of 20 percent.

5. Traversing Cockatoo Island

Traversing Cockatoo Island

If you are thinking about what to do in Sydney for kids after visiting all the above places, the answer is to visit Cockatoo Island. It is the largest island in Sydney Harbour which was named after the sulphur-crested cockatoo which is common on the island. Enjoy the ferry ride with the kids, appreciating the view of the city and sea and taking a short ferry ride to Cockatoo Island with the kids. Consider Cockatoo Island as a historical, cultural experience. 

The visitors will be treated with prison buildings, shipping docks, and a reformatory which is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The parents must ensure that the kids can take the 45-minute tour of convict history to get a better understanding of the place. Additionally, there is an interesting Convict Clues Challenge which will channel their little inner detective skills. Camping is another activity that families can take to have a spooky night out on this historical island. The kids will love it and the parents too.

Timing: 10 am to 3 pm on a daily basis 

Cost: AUD 10 to AUD 32

Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives. ~ Thomas Berry

6.  ‘Surf And Turf’ At Bondi Beach With A Surfing Lesson

Bondi Beach With A Surfing

Visit Bondi beach to help the kids experience the adrenaline rush of adventure sports through surfing. It is one of the most popular beaches in Sydney where kids get the chance to learn surfing. It is a local recommendation especially when families have kids who have just reached their teens. The private lessons given at Bondi Beach will help the kids learn how to ride the waves. The professional trainers are well-trained and know how to engage the kids in the surfing activity.

Cost: AUD 43 to AUD 67

Timing: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (9 am to 5 pm), Saturday (9 am – 3 pm)

7. Discover Indigenous Sydney

Aboriginal Heritage

The kids are often curious and have an eagerness to learn. One can take this opportunity to dive deep into discovering the Indigenous culture hidden in the history of Australia. The Royal Botanical Garden can be a go-to venue for taking the Aboriginal Heritage Tour. The tour is conducted on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. A kid-friendly guide will give an insight into the culture, and practice of the native indigenous people, and the use of their plants as food and medicine. 

Kids will learn to appreciate culture and embrace diversity. This interactive tour is a great place, to begin with. If the kids find interest and want to dig deeper, take the indigenous story tour at the Australian Museum and the Museum of Sydney which comes with live exhibits from the native people of Australia.

Timing: Aboriginal Heritage tours are run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am.

Price: AUD 13.05 for kids above 7 years. Free for kids who are below the age of seven years. 

8. Jet Set GO!

Sydney Harbor offers a thrilling jet boat ride

Want to pack in some thrilling experience of Speed for the kids? Sydney Harbor offers a thrilling jet boat ride to kick up the thrill of speed on the water. The ride takes a high-speed lap of Sydney Harbor which mixes the thrill of speed with a sightseeing experience. The ride is perfect for the kids to give them the thrill of high-speed throttle which will make them scream to the top of their voices.  The ride is safe and the riders are given all safety precautions and safety jackets. The riders are trained professionals who can provide the best experience for the riders. The Jet boat ride is located at the Eastern Pontoon of the Circular Quay.

Timing: Daily rides are available from 9 am to 5 pm.

Price: AUD 89 for adults, AUD 49 for children under 16 years. AUD 229 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids.

9. “Housing” Experience At Susannah Place

Susannah Place

If the parents are looking for some exclusive experience for the kids in Sydney, visiting Susannah Place will provide the perfect experience. Susannah Place is located at the Rocks which provides a glimpse of life in history. The venue has a couple of old terraces which have been conserved to provide a glance at bygone era life.  The kids will be taken back into history where they can have fun with their parents, and experience living in small dwellings. A friendly guide will share stories about people of the past, their daily chores, and how they had fun when there were no electronic gadgets or modern amenities. 

There is a corner store that sells authentic goods venues in case the kids want to buy a souvenir as a mark of the visit. It is the best place to visit during bad weather in Sydney as all activities are indoors. Susannah Place Museum and Corner shop are included in the tour which will take about an hour. Susannah Place is located at 58-64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks.

Timing: Tours are conducted on Thursdays and Fridays which starts at 10 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 4 pm.

Price: AUD 12 for adults, AUD 10 for children above the age of 5, and AUD 32 per family with 2 adults and 2 children, there is no fee for children under the age of 5.

10. Unadulterated Fun At Luna Park

Unadulterated Fun At Luna Park

If the children are longing for a full day of amusing activities, Luna Park is the perfect destination.  Despite all the activities of learning, and touring, it is natural for the kids to have a day where they will have pure fun and excitement. Luna Park is a heritage-listed transport exchange that was built in 1935. For kids and adults who like fun and thrill, Luna Park is second to none. A thrilling Wild Mouse roller coaster is a kid’s favourite ride where the legendary Rotor sticks to the wall and the floor vanishes. 

The park is filled with loads of slides, and games where the kids will never feel bored. Kids and families can enjoy a great scenic sunset from the giant Ferris Wheel. Other rides can provide a great overview of the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. The Luna Park is located at 1 Olympic Drive, Milson’s Point, New South Wales.

Timing: Monday 10 am – 3 pm. Friday and Saturday 11 am – 8 pm. Sunday 11 am – 6 pm. The park remains closed on Tuesday and Thursday except for NSW school holidays.

Price: The pricing at Luna Park varies from AUD 44 (adults) and AUD 34 (children) for unlimited rides for a day.

End Words

The Harbor City of Sydney can be hardly matched by any other in terms of offering activities for kids. Sydney offers many other locations and activities for the kids and their interests. Visiting the activities and venues will not make the kids feel left out as they can become friends with local kids who are friendly as their parents. What elevates the experience of visiting Sydney with kids is its friendly community. The sheer variety of kids’ activities and fun places to visit offered by Sydney is diverse, and there is something for kids with various types of interests. The weekends are fun packed and so are the weekdays as some places have special activities which are available on specific days and keep the kids engaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Are The Places Where Kids Can Have Fun In Sydney?

Luna Park Sydney, House Museum, Blackwattle Bay Park, Cockatoo Island, Royal National Park, The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, The Rocks, Sydney Motorsport Park Eastern Creek, and Australian Museum are among the top places which are kid friendly.

Is Sydney Kids Friendly?

Sydney is a perfect city for kids and teenagers too. The city is packed with beaches, bridges and bucket-listable iconic venues. Especially when families visit with kids or teens, Sydney will provide a variety of experiences and fun-filled activities. It will be a memory that will be cherished throughout life.

What Are The Free Events For Kids In Sydney Australia?

There are plenty of free events at the weekends where you can put your kid. Some of the fun-filled free-of-cost activity lists are given below. 

  • 3 days of free Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and self-defence classes for kids and teens.
  •   Chanukah in Lane Cove Plaza
  •   Christmas Workshop at Centre of Fun
  •   Dooleys Lidcombe Kids Bingo
  •   Australian crafting workshop for kids above the age of 5
  •   Crafty Card Making Workshop for kids and playgroups in NSW.

What Are Sunday Activities For Kids In Sydney?

There are Sunday activities in Sydney that the kids will love and so will their parents. Some of the activities will please the parents and kids equally. Here are some of the exciting activities available in Sydney on Sunday.

  • Kids can dive underwater in the Sydney Aquarium. It is a must-see experience for the kids where they can see and touch Sea creatures.
  • Kids’ creative activity at the Museum of Contemporary art will help them enhance their creativity.
  • Get in an educational walk for the kids which will take them through topics like the Indigenous culture of Australia.
  •  Ice cream and street art adventure is an exciting Sunday activity that the kids can enjoy.
  • Engage with the local kids at Sydney Park where they can have a fun time with football or any other sports. The local kids are friendly and they are quite open to inviting other kids to play with them during the weekend. Sydney park offers a play area where they can indulge in outdoor sports. 
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