Kids + rainy weather = cabin fever! When it’s too wet for the beach or parks, entertain the junior set with one of these 18 rainy day activities for kids in Sydney.
20 Rainy Day Activities For Kids in Sydney
See a movie
Is there anything more relaxing than cozying up watching the latest flicks on the big screen? Check movie times at a cinema near you by clicking here.
Image credit: Event Cinemas
Watch a live show
Check out what’s on at the Sydney Opera House, the Capitol Theatre, Sydney Lyric Theatre or Parramatta Riverside Theatre. Each venue shows for all ages and demographics.
Check out the Monkey Baa Theatre Company for shows the kids will love.
Image credit: Daniel Boud
Zap and chase at laser tag
Dashing through the dark with neon lights and laser guns sound like fun? Team up and challenge your friends and family to a game of laser tag.
M9 Laser Skirmish at Darling Harbour, laser tag at AMF (various locations), laser tag at Kingpin Bowling (North Strathfield and Darling Harbour), Laser Siege (Turrella), laser tag at Strike Bowling (various locations), Timezone (various locations).
Indoor skydive with iFLY
See what it feels like to fly without jumping out of a plane at iFly in Penrith (second location coming soon to Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Anyone aged 3 and up can iFly!
Let the wind take you higher in an state-of-the-art, fully-controlled, ultra-safe vertical wind tunnel.
How does it work? Just lean into the wind inside our giant glass tunnel and a column of air lifts you up! You’ll float effortlessly into flight, guided by qualified instructors.
Get more info on iFLY here.
Image courtesy of iFLY.
Strike it lucky at ten pin bowling
Retro fun all across Sydney. Challenge the whole family to a game of ten pin bowling.
Check out locations and prices at AMF Bowling (various locations) Ten Pin City (Lidcome), Strike Bowling (various locations), King Pin Bowling (various locations), Timezone (various locations).
Find your inner Pac-man playing arcade games
Go old school with classic and new arcade games. From air hockey to dodgem cars and a bit of Street Fighter, there’s something for everyone to play.
Find arcade games at Playtime (various venues), Timezone (various locations) and Archie Bros Cirque Electric at Alexandria for a circus-themed arcade extravaganza.
Tee Off at Mini Putt Putt
Putt putt has gone upmarket with crazy mini golf courses! Holey Moley turns traditional putt putt into a multi-sensory labyrinth of unique holes that’ll keep you on your toes across the craziest round of golf you’ve ever played. Choose between 9, 18 or 27 holes, or try karaoke at one of Holey Moley’s three Sydney locations: Newtown, Darlinghurst or Castle Towers.
Putt Planet in Miranda is indoor miniature golf course is travel themed and accessible, so a great option for strollers or wheelchairs. The theme of the mini golf course is a trip to Mombasa, with a plane at the entrance symbolising the start of your journey.
The Putt Planet website says, “Discover another time and place when you board your Putt Planet flight from Miranda to Mombasa. Putt through the bustling market places, homes and even the sewers of Old Mombasa whilst exploring this ancient doorway to Eastern Africa. We’ve put a roof over the charming streets and laneways so any time is a good time to visit; the weather is always fine!”
Get more info on Putt Planet.
Image courtesy of Holey Moley.
CHANNEL YOUR INNER NINJA
Try one of several ninja courses or parkour centres popping up all over Sydney. They’re suitable for kids (generally over aged 5) and adults and are designed to test agility and build strength.
Find a ninja gym or parkour centre in Sydney on this handy list of indoor play spaces.
Burn off steam at an indoor play centre
Kids going bananas? Take them to an indoor play centre to run out their crazies. There are plenty all around Sydney to choose from!
Check out this list of indoor play centres in Sydney to find one near you.
Bounce the day away at a trampolining centre
Visit an indoor trampolining centre to literally bounce your cares away. Check each centre to see that facilities they have for kids before taking little ones – some have special toddler times available.
Find a trampolining centre in Sydney on this handy list of indoor play spaces.
Test your agility indoor rock climbing
Kids and adults can all enjoy scampering up walls at indoor rock climbing centres. Start at the easiest level and work your way up to pro. Kids can try the beginner walls or special areas designed just for little ones.
Find an indoor rock climbing gym in Sydney on this handy list of indoor play spaces.
Spend the day at an art gallery or museum
Enjoy the peaceful calm of one of Sydney’s excellent museums and art galleries. All are extremely kid-friendly as well as having top-notch exhibitions year-round. The Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Powerhouse Museum, the Early Start Learning Centre and the Australian Museum head up a long list of excellent galleries for kids in Sydney.
Check out this list of Sydney’s art galleries and museums to find one near you.
Take a dip in an aquatic centre
It may seem counter intuitive but rainy days are perfect for getting even wetter indoors! Swim some laps and take kids to splash in the water features of these excellent centres all across Sydney.
Check out this list of aquatic centres in Sydney to find one near you.
Chase sharks at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Get up close to a more than 700 species of Australian aquatic life in 12 themed zones at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. An impressive 13,000 animals live in the aquarium in six million litres of water, including dugongs, rays, tropical reef fish and sharks. A popular exhibit is Penguin Expedition, allowing guests to sail past a colony of King and Gentoo Penguins on a boat ride. The SEA LIFE aquarium is top kids attraction in Sydney and can get busy on public holidays and school holidays.
Get more info on Penguin Expedition and on SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
Image credit: Sydney Aquarium
Catch a croc at Wild Life Sydney Zoo
Meet iconic Australian animals at Wild Life Sydney Zoo. This small zoo is the perfect size to take young kids, and is easy to navigate with a wide, flat path, perfect for strollers. Get up close to the Cassowary, echidna, sugar gliders, koalas and kangaroos, plus a giant croc!
Get more info on Wild Life Sydney Zoo.
Up your selfie game at Madam Tussauds Sydney
A wax museum where visitors can take a selfie with Barak Obama in the oval office, or shake it off with Taylor Swift. Aussie legends like Steve Irwin and Ned Kelly are also photo-ready.
The Justice League exhibition is especially fun, an immersive and interactive experience to make you feel like you’re in the movies with your favourite stars.
Get more info on visiting Madame Tussauds Sydney here.
Image courtesy of Madame Tussauds.
Get your Tonya Harding out ice skating
Trying to twirl on ice is the perfect way to forget miserable weather outdoors. Spend a few hours getting exercise as well as having fun working on your triple axel.
Check out this list of ice skating rinks in Sydney to find one near you.
Image courtesy of Macquarie Ice Rink.
Read a good book at a library
Head to the stunning State Library of NSW to check out their exhibitions or read a book. Established in 1862 it’s the oldest library in Australia. I personally love the idea of reading when it’s raining, so a library always tops my list of things to do in Sydney on a rainy day!
Get more info on visiting the State Library of NSW here.
You could also visit your local library! Check this site for the City of Sydney libraries and locations. You can also visit here to find the location of every library in NSW.
Find your inner Picasso while plaster painting
Little and big kids will love painting up a masterpiece at one of these plaster painting studios across Sydney. Candyland Playhouse even offers ceramic painting, which is where the art work is baked in a kiln after being painted.
Check out your nearest plaster painting venue: Little Plaster House (Bella Vista), Candyland Playhouse (Hawkesbury) who offer plaster and ceramic painting, Plaster Painting Studios (Moore Park), Plaster Master Fun (North Bondi), The Little Plaster Shop (Concord).
Head to the shops
Most of the major shopping centres have indoor play areas for kids, mostly of the soft play variety. It’s easy to pass several hours with snacks, free fun and a bit of shopping – with free parking to boot – at your local shopping centre. A top pick with us for rainy day activities for kids!
Tried and tested shopping centres with free indoor play areas:
Rhodes Waterside
Harbourside, Darling Harbour
Westfield Liverpool
Supa Centa Moore Park
Westfield Bondi Junction
Broadway Shopping Centre has a small play are for kids aged five and under.
Westfield Warringah Mall
Birkinhead Point
IKEA (Tempe and Rhodes)
IKEA is such a gem. Drop kids aged 3 – 9 years of age off at their Småland Magical Forest that includes a ball pit, slides and watching kids movies. Age: 3 – 9 years old, time limit: 60 minutes.
Find your closest Westfield here.
Do you have any more ideas for rainy day activities for kids?
More things to do in Sydney
Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.
Find things to do in Sydney for free here.
Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.
Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.
Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.
Find the best high teas in Sydney here.
Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.
Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.
Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.
First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.
Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney here.