Having a kid these days doesn’t mean your foodie adventures have to come to an end. Spectacular Sydney is serving up plenty of delightful choices for families to take their mini-gourmets to enjoy fancy babyccinos along with a perfectly smashed avo.
Check out my top kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney – where the wee ones can eat and play while adults dine on fine cuisine.
Kid-friendly Restaurants in Sydney
acre Artarmon
Enjoy farm-inspired food grown on-site at acre Artarmon. This open-air urban oasis features indoor and outdoor seating, picnic style areas, kids’ play area and chicken coop.
acre Artarmon is a cafe, restaurant, bar and bakery set within sprawling indoor and outdoor gardens that produce the food that goes straight into kitchen to produce the meals.
Acre Artarmon 1 Frederick Street, Artarmon Hours: Cafe Bakery: Mon – Sat 7am – 5pm | Sun 7am – 3pm Restaurant: Thursday 4.30pm – 10.30pm | Fri 12pm – 11pm | Sat 12pm – 11pm | Sun 12pm – 4pm acre-artarmon.com.au
Glenorie Bakery in Glenorie
Technically this is a bakery but it’s still one of our top go-tos in Sydney for a delicious brekkie. Glenorie Bakery serves a top brekkie and lunch as well as award-winning pies and sensational eclairs. Kids will love the play area out the back.
Glenorie Bakery 4/930 Old Northern Rd, Glenorie NSW (02) 9652 2624 Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-6pm, Sat & Sun 6am-5pm glenoriebakery.com.au
Lab Kitchen Five Dock
Lab Kitchen Five Dock serves up delicious, seasonal, modern Western-Eastern dishes at a reasonable price – and has a massive backyard filled with play equipment and toys for kids. What more could you ask for?
Get more info on visiting Lab Kitchen.
Lab Kitchen Five Dock
Hours: Daily, 7am-4pm 108 Great N Rd, Five Dock
Website: labkitchen.com.au
The Picnic Burwood
The Picnic at Burwood is a whimsical elevation of the humble outdoor dining experience. The outdoor cafe is located inside a pavilion in a park in Burwood, a few metres from a large, fenced in playground. The menu is delightful and delicious. Adults can order the very insta-worthy pavlova hotcakes while kids’ eyes light up to see the adorable “bear” dish of bear-shaped toastwith banana and blueberries.The Picnic is our constant go-to and is always on the list of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.
The Picnic Burwood Burwood Rd & Park Ave, Burwood Hours: Tue-Sun 8am-4pm. Closed Mondays. Website: facebook.com/Thepicnicburwood
Black Star Rosebery and Entertainment Quarter
The home of delicious pastry such as the famous watermelon cake as well as quiche that tastes like heaven, Black Star’s Rosebery and Moore Park cafes are perfect places to take the kids to appreciate the finer tastes in life. Both have large seating areas with plenty of tables and space for strollers, and the Rosebery one has a nice little set of toys for kids to play with while they’re munching their way through some of the best cake in Sydney.
Black Star Pastry C1, 85-113 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
210 Bent St, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-5pm, Fri & Sat, 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-4pm Website: blackstarpastry.com.au
Burnt Orange – Mosman
The Burnt Orange cafe is housed in an historic sandstone manor overlooking Sydney Harbour. Adults are spoiled for choice with an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, while kids can enjoy fine dining of their own with options such as the crumbed whiting fillets with chips, pasta spirals with fresh tomato sauce or mini organic cheeseburger with chips served with a smartie cookie and a choice of fresh orange juice, strawberry or chocolate milk for $15. Next to the dining area upstairs is a gorgeous boutique store filled with kids toys and clothes.
A cheerful little cafe on Annandale, a part of Sydney with loads of young families. A kids play area with sturdy toys keeps little ones entertained while their parents enjoy their baked eggs and fresh juice. While the breakfast menu is light on kids meals the lunch menu has a choices such as the every-popular toastie.
A cafe in the trendy part of Redfern, Three Williams is a delightful surprise for families looking to dine in the area. A peek inside the entrance into the cavernous underground cafe reveals plenty of space. Kids love to race up and down the ramp intended for disabled access, that leads them straight to a giant chalkboard and small play area. The food is fantastic and the staff extremely kind towards their youngest guests.
Three Williams 613a Elizabeth St, Redfern Hours: Daily, 7am-4pm Website: threewilliamscafe.com
The Grounds of Alexandria
This cafe is constantly rated one of Sydney’s best for a very good reason. The Grounds of Alexandra is a cornucopia of whimsical delights. From the farm animals (meeting the famous pig, “Kevin Bacon” is a must) to the play area, fountain and rambling paths leading through gardens and lanes bursting with flowers, statues and tiny creative details, the external grounds at The Grounds is, in itself, worth a visit alone.
The food is excellent: the popular “signature avocado” set a new standard in smashed avo brekkies when introduced a few years back. The Grounds is such a special place to visit that it is always right up the top of lists mentioning the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.
The Grounds of Alexandria 7A, 2 Huntley St, Alexandria Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-9pm, Friday 7am-10pm, Saturday 7:30am-10pm, Sunday 7:30am-9pm Website: thegrounds.com.au
Bitton Gourmet – Alexandria and Oatley
Ask for a table out the back next to the small toddler play area when dining at Bitton Gourmet with littles. Adults enjoy the delicious French-Australian cuisine while the kids love that they have somewhere to play while waiting for their scrambled eggs. We love their all-day breakfast menu and the can-do staff who are always happy to help in anyway they can.
Bitton Gourmet can now be found at Oatley, too, where they have the same menu in a bigger venue with a backyard and play area for kids (photo above).
A popular cafe for families on Sydney’s North Shore, the cafe is inside old incinerator that has been given a new lease of life. Outdoor tables and grassy areas give kids plenty of room to roam while their parents enjoy “Have it your way” free range eggs and Ti Tam milkshakes. A nearby playground provides a convenient place to let kids run around if there’s a wait for tables.
The Incinerator Willoughby 2 Small St, Willoughby Hours: Sun-Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri & Sat 7am-4pm, 5pm-10pm Website: theincinerator.com.au
Coogee Pavilion
Head to the back of the Coogee Pavilion to find a paradise for kids and their parents. Giant games of Connect Four and Scrabble, building blocks, board games and a colouring table entertain the kids, leaving adults free to enjoy a well-deserved drink. The wood-fire pizzas are our fave dishes to order.
Order a meal from acre, the sustainably-focused eatery at Camperdown Commons, while the kids play nearby. Diners can choose between a large, sit down restaurant and bar, container with takeaway coffee and snacks and a casual outdoor area on the terrace or lawn area outside. Many of the ingredients in the dishes come directly from the pocket gardens onsite, making the dining experience very literally farm-to-table. Families will particularly love the outdoor area with its interactive kids’ play space and chicken coop where rescue hens from battery farms now live a life of luxury.
Located at Harold Park, The Tramsheds is a must-visit for kids who are obsessed with wheels. The old Rozelle Tramway Depot, originally built in 1904, has been beautifully refurbished and given a new life as a hub for restaurants and facilities for local residents.
The full-sized resorted tram inside the Tramsheds is now part of the dining area for the Butcher & The Farmer cafe, so you can ask for a table inside and let your little one pretend to drive it while waiting for their babyccino to arrive.
Get more info on our visit to the Tramsheds here and all the kid-friendly dining options it offers.
While the Vogue Cafe sits inside busy Macquarie Shopping Centre, from the inside it feels like Wonderland. It’s an adorable, whimsical place, with a straightforward menu and fantastical shakes. Called “Magical Milkshakes”, they are topped with things like whipped cream, rice bubbles, pop corn and jelly snakes, with a chocolate and sprinkles rim.
The food is always delicious and the staff friendly. A small, enclosed play space has been a welcome addition to the cafe by families of younger kids.
The Vogue Cafe 109 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm Website: facebook.com/TheVogueCafe
Bills at Bondi
When you want hotcakes, you go to Bills, even if you have kids in tow. What I really enjoy about Bills is happy and easy-going vibe. The friendly staff bring little ones coloured pencils and paper to entertain them while you wait for your brunch.
Scrambled eggs or boiled eggs and toast soldiers will keep the little ones happy from the breakfast menu, or order a linguini, junior burger or schnitzel for lunch. Their French fries are also excellent.
Bills Bondi 79 Hall St, Bondi Beach Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am-10pm Website: bills.com.au
Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour
This big, bright and bold restaurant is an excellent edition to Darling Harbour, situated near the ICC building. The seating is casual – grab a table and order at the bar. There’s plenty for kids to look at, including the pizza kitchen and fresh pasta station, plus a games area (best suited for older kids) and house-made dessert and gelato counter. The kids’ menu is massive and has something to suit everyone, rather like the menu for adults. Keep an eye out for special kids eat free deals.
A few steps outside Fratelli Fresh is the excellent Darling Quarter playground.
Hop aboard a beautifully resorted 1930s tram at this bright and cheery cafe on Narrabeen Lake. Not only is the tram excellent fun itself, the cafe serves up delicious Modern Australian cuisine and offers its youngest diners and excellent kids’ menu. A large playground is situated outside the cafe, and the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail starts directly behind the cafe, making it the perfect outing for families.
Read more about our visit to the Tramshed Cafe here.
The Cove Dining Co cafe is located inside the community hall of what was once the Abbotsford Nestlé factory site, a heritage-listed building. The dining room is spacious, with long tables, or choose alfresco seating on the outdoor verandah with a lovely view of the lush gardens surrounding the building and let the kids play while they wait for their meals.
This is one incredible family-friendly cafe, as evidenced by how accessible it is for strollers and wheelchairs, and provide use of highchairs, baby change tables, toys and colouring in equipment.
The Cove Dining Co 378 Great N Rd, Abbotsford, NSW Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 8am-3pm Phone: (02) 9713 7896 Online thecovediningco.com.au
The Innocent Kitchen – Sydenham
The Innocent Kitchen is a sweet and simple cafe run by two sisters in Sydney’s inner west. The menu is basic and located on a blackboard. Choose from items like a bacon and egg roll and toasted sandwiches. Kids can order fairy bread, raisin toast, vegemite or peanut butter sandwiches and toasties. The babyccinos are free!
This tiny little cafe in Sydney’s inner west is a hot spot for pretty and tasty dishes. Expect creative and delicious breakfasts including their famous brioche toast which is completely clouded in bright-pink fairy floss, berries and cinnamon ricotta. The Tiny Giant makes the list because their kids dishes are just as cute and creative as the grown-up versions.
Frankie’s Food Factory at Flower Power Milperra 479 Henry Lawson Drive, Milperra
Hours: Daily, 8.30am-5pm Phone: (02) 9899 2299 frankiesfoodfactory.com
The Marsden Brewhouse – Marsden Park
The Marsden Brewhouse is a hotel and brewery located in Marsden Park, north-west Sydney. The large and airy interior is perfect for casual dining with little ones, and with their huge outdoor playground attached they are prepared for the smallest diners to come, eat and play.
The kids’ menu features plenty of choice at a good price point ($10 for most meals, including a drink). On weekends there is often a small animal farm set up in the playground for kids to enjoy, free of charge.
This casual, modern eatery is perched right above the extremely calm Frenchmans Beach, making it the perfect destination for both a swim and a delicious meal.
The outdoor deck is large, sheltered and has a stunning view, so it’s guaranteed to make everyone in the party happy.
The Boatshed La Perouse 1609 Anzac Parade, La Perouse Phone: (02) 9661 1817 Hours: Tues-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat & Sun 7am-4pm theboatshedlaperouse.com.au
Bodhi – Sydney CBD
Our long-time go-to restaurant for vegan yum cha, Bodhi is a family-owned restaurant located under St Mary’s Cathedral in the heart of the CBD. Bodhi is great for kids, with long tables underneath ancient Moreton bay fig trees, overlooking Cook and Philip Park . As well as offering a completely vegan menu, Bodhi also has great gluten-free and nut-free options. Kids will love trying to spear brightly-coloured dumplings with chopsticks and sampling the custard-filled pig buns for dessert.
Bodhi Restaurant Bar 2/4 College St, Sydney Hours: Yum cha Wed-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm. Dinner (a la carte) Tue-Sun 5pm-10pm. https://www.bodhirestaurant.com.au/
Armory Wharf Cafe – Newington
The Armory Wharf Café in Sydney Olympic Park is a family-friendly, waterfront cafe with a casual vibe and al fresco seating.
Located on the edge of the Parramatta River in the Newington Nature Reserve, the Armory Wharf Café is a licensed venue that has stunning 270-degree water views of mangroves and the industrial Armory wharf.
Right next door to the cafe is the excellent Blaxland Riverside Park playground – you’ll have to pry the kids off the equipment to leave at the end of the day!
The darling of the Sydney pastry world has to be Black Star Pastry owner Christopher Thé. His iconic strawberry-watermelon cake really put Black Star on the map, resulting in a long line out of his original Newtown store that would stretch down the block.
While the Newtown store is filled with character (you can read about it here), it’s also very small with minimal seating. The Rosebery store is like a warehouse: light and bright with plenty of tables.
There are also some toys for kids to play with while their parents are swooning over their cakes and croissants.
We always order the strawberry-watermelon cake because it would be a crime not to. The cake is comprised of two layers of almond dacquoise, fresh whipped cream, watermelon, strawberries and red grapes. It’s light and refreshing and incredibly more-ish.
I also love the orange cake with Persian fig. It’s topped with cream-cheese icing, figs, pistachio and rose petals and is delicious.
We usually have lunch when we dine in and enjoy Black Star’s pies and quiches. The coffee, from specialty roaster Little Marionette, gets a big thumbs up from the hubby.
Welcome to Sydney! I’m thrilled you’re visiting my hometown. Sydney is a beautiful, safe city and there’s so much to do. This Sydney guide will help you navigate the city and enjoy your visit.
How to get around
Sydney has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, ferries and light rail. If you’re in Sydney for a few says, buy an Opal card to use public transport – the one card gives you daily travel caps and enables you to use all four transport systems, plus lets you use the $2.50 per person Sunday cap. Taxis and Uber in Sydney are expensive so walking plus public transport are your best options.
Driving in Sydney
To see a lot of Sydney and its surrounds, it’s advisable to hire a car. International visitors may use a foreign driver’s licence in NSW. Note that all speed limits are strictly enforced with cameras and it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 per cent or higher, or to drive under the influence of illegal drugs.
When to visit
Sydney is the perfect year-round travel destination due to its temperate climate. It does, however, get extreme heat in summer (December to February). While the average maximum temperatures are around 26°C (78.8°F), it can reach over 40°C (104°f) during this time of year. Summer is also the most humid time of year to visit, with average humidity of 65%.
Winter (June – August) average maximum temperatures are around 16°C (60.8°F). Sydney’s highest rainfall is between March and June.
National Emergency Services
The national phone number for all emergency services in Australia, including ambulance, fire and police, is 000. You can dial Triple Zero within Australia from any fixed line, mobile phone, pay phone and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. If you have a GSM digital mobile phone, you can also dial the international standard emergency number 112.
Where to stay
For a short stay, hotels in the CBD particularly around Circular Quay and The Rocks will make it easy to get around as they’re close to public transport as well as main attractions. Darling Harbour is also a good choice particularly for families.
Looking to entertain the kids when it’s raining and cold? Try an indoor play centre or indoor playground in Sydney.
Below you’ll find a list of the best indoor play centres in Sydney.
The Best Indoor Play Centres In Sydney
Nubo (CLOSED)
Location: Alexandria
Nubo is our favourite indoor play centre in Sydney. The purpose of Nubo is to let kids explore, create, rest and wonder. Each section of the centre focuses on a different purpose and activity that matches it, resulting in a space looks more like a children’s museum than a traditional play gym. For kids ages 7/8 and younger, Nubo is my number one pick for indoor play centres in Sydney.
Kids and parents will adore Twinkle Kids Cafe, a light and bright cafe with an indoor playground located in Burwood Plaza, Sydney.
Designed for kids up to age 10, the cafe I think is best suited to slightly younger kids, although my eight-year-old was desperate to get in there and have a play.
Twinkle Kids Cafe features a large ball pit and soft play climbing area, plus dress up and role play activities such as a play kitchen.
Location: Five Dock
Jungle Buddies at Five Dock is a huge, clean and bright play centre. The climbing structure is massive, with plenty of nocks and crannies and levels to keep kids entertained for hours. An onsite cafe serves a good selection of healthy food. The equipment is all extremely clean and new, which is an added bonus for me and my hatred of dirty sticky things.
Location: Alexandria
This outdoor-themed centre for kids features a a multi-level playscape, a cafe for snacks and an inflated jumping area. Little Dynamoes is a constant favourite among locals as it’s basically a huge kids’ indoor playground. There is a dedicated area for under 3s and free parking outside. The cafe serves a wide variety of well-priced food. Website: littledynamos.com
Monkey Mania
Locations: Ryde, Bankstown, Entertainment Quarter, Casula, Gosford, Campbelltown, Penrith
Kids can run off steam climbing large play structures and hurtling down slides. We’ve been to Monkey Manias in various locations. They’re a good bet when you need to let kids run off steam! Website: monkeymania.com.au
Shine Shed – All Abilities Play Centre
Location: Campbelltown
Sydney’s only all abilities play centre, Shine Shed is an amazing place for kids with and without disabilities to enjoy playing in a safe environment.
Feature inside this amazing play centre include a purpose built wheelchair accessible swing, large foam pit, flying fox with adaptable seating options, a long trampoline, a room with lowered lights set aside away from the hustle and bustle for children who may need a low sensory visit and much, much more.
Planet Mino is a new two-story play center for kids, featuring multiple playgrounds, giant slides, a sand pit, play toys, crafts, legos, jumping castles, trampolines, AR play walls and an in-house cafe. All kids must wear ANTI SLIP socks. Adults must remove shoes and wear socks as well. If you don’t have socks, they can be purchased at reception.
Locations: Bankstown, Macquarie Centre, Prospect, Villawood
The Chipmunks play spaces feature large climbing structures made from soft equipment. It’s a great spot for when it’s cold and raining, as there is plenty of room for kids to run wild. Website: chipmunks.com.au
Ultimate Family Fun Centre Sydney
Location: Northmead
Enjoy 2500sqm of fun including over 750sqm of trampolines, a massive foam pit with a climbing wall at the back, the largest indoor play centre/jungle gym/soft play setup in Australia (split into 0-5 years and 5-12 years), dodgem cars and a party room. Website: ultimate.sydney
Wannabees Family Playtown
Locations: Frenchs Forest, Hornsby
In the Wannabees child-sized city, kids can discover what they want to be when they grow up. Wannabees is a great place for imaginary play and roleplaying, as kids can pretend to be firefighters, police officers, doctors, beauticians and more the Wannabees City buildings. Website: wannabees.com.au
Little Rascals
Location: Brookvale
This indoor play space features enclosed climbing areas for both older and younger kids. Little Rascals is fully air-conditioned and features a giant three-lane slide, toddler zone for kids aged 4 and under, 300m2 climbing frame, fun ball zone, web climb, trampolines, spiral slide and a cafe. Website:littlerascalsplayland.com.au
Lollipops Playland
Location: Penrith
There’s plenty of climbing and sliding to be had at this indoor playground designed for kids aged 1 – 11 year. Lollipops Playland features a Multi level Play Frame, Free Merry-Go-Round, Bouncie Castle, Dedicated Toddler Area, Ride On Cars, Dress Up & Play Believe Areas. There’s also a cafe’ and seating area for adults to enjoy. Website: penrith.lollipopsplayland.com.au
Image courtesy of Lollipops.
Monkey Bar Playground
Location: Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre
A free play area that is enclosed on three sides featuring a mini obstacle course for toddlers and two spiralling towers with a tunnel that runs over the top of an escalator. Website: rhodeswaterside.com.au
Supa Play Zone
Location: Supa Centre Moore Park
The Supa Centre has two free play areas on level 1: the Supa Crawler, for kids aged 1-5 years, and the Supa Climber, for kids aged 3-8 years.
Both play areas are completely enclosed. The larger Supa Climber is a massive structure including a slide. The Supa Centre has excellent family bathrooms, cafes and free parking.
Locations: Alexandria, Miranda
Australia’s premiere trampolining features more than 117 interconnected trampolines. Kids can also tackle 30 different climbing challenges at Sky Climb. Little kids can try the “Little Leapers” session where they can bounce safely without bigger kids around.
Locations: Blacktown, Brookvale, Caringbah, Castle Hill, Penrith, Prestons, Punchbowl
There’s plenty of jumping to be had at these trampolining parks. The Flip Out chain is an excellent choice for an indoor play centre in Sydney West. Website: flipout.net
Image courtesy of Flip Out.
The Best Parkour Centres in Sydney
Australia Academy of Parkour
Locations: Tempe, Pyrmont, Chullora Kids will be bouncing off the walls literally as they learn the art of parkour.
Location: Mt Kuring-gai
Moving Bodies is an indoor leisure centre that includes two indoor parkour centres. Kids parkour lessons are available for ages 5+.
Parkour methods involve crawling, running, jumping, climbing, hanging, rolling and balancing. The parkour obstacle course is open to the public Monday – Friday from 10.30am – 3:30pm. Outside of these hours, please contact Moving Bodies for available times.
Locations: Blacktown, Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Liverpool, Miranda, Narellan, Mt Kuring-gai, St Marys, Peakhurst.
The biggest indoor inflatable playgrounds in Australia. Kids won’t want to leave this giant indoor fun park, with seperate areas for little and big kids and a wide range of inflated activities to try. There is an onsite cafe and plenty of supervision from the staff throughout the centre. Website: inflatableworldoz.com.au
Cool Cats Inflatable World
Location: Randwick
Kids are kept active, entertained and challenged on their interactive inflatable games. A really popular spot with my daughter and school groups! Website: coolcatsfun.com.au
The Best Indoor Climbing Gyms in Sydney
While kids aged 5-6 and over can generally have a go at any climbing gym on the easiest courses, these three facilities cater specifically to kids.
Sky Zone
Locations: Alexandria, Miranda
As well as trampolines, Sky Zone has an excellent space called Sky Climb, where kids can tackle 30 different climbing challenges. All the climbs at Sky Zone have an “auto belayer” which means the rope system is automatic and doesn’t require an adult to be clipped into the harness and lower them down to the ground again, which is the case at the majority of climbing gyms. For that reason alone, Sky Zone is our fave place to climb in Sydney. Website:skyzone.com.au
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym
Locations: St Peters, Villawood
While both locations have a designated kids’ climbing area, the Villawood gym has a much larger area than St Peters. Both locations have at least one party room. Villawood has several tunnels for kids to climb and crawl through. We’ve been climbing for years at both locations. Highly recommend. Website: indoorclimbing.com.au
ClimbFit
Location: St Leonards
Kids as young as 4 years old can experience indoor rock climbing at Climb-fit, using their designated kids area, crawling through the Groove Tube or holding a birthday party in the party room. Another gym I’ve been climbing at since pre-kids, it’s an excellent facility. Website: climbfit.com.au
Location: Castle Hill
A bright, new climbing centre, Peak Pursuits features 10 high ropes course activities, 13 vertical activities, two “Leaps of Faith”, “Kung Fu Poles” and a big drop giant slide. Peak Pursuits also runs weekend climbing classes for kids aged 5-12 years old, who have no prior climbing experience. Website: peakpursuits.com.au
Turbo Climb
Location: Bankstown
A brand new climbing gym inside Bankstown Sports Club, Turbo Climb, features 26 indoor climbing walls up to 10 metres tall, suitable for ages 5 and up. Race to the top of a magical beanstalk or climb a roaring volcano. Turbo Climb infuses a traditional indoor climbing experience with new technology and exciting innovations.
Location: Prospect Ninja 101 has three seperate areas. The main ninja section has 28 ninja obstacles for kids and adults to test their strength, agility and fitness, plus a three-level warped wall and basketball hoop. There is also an inflatable ninja course that is easier and best suited for young kids, and a futsall court. Coming this year: an under 5s Ninja Playhouse.
Note: if attending during the school holidays the centre takes in large groups from school vacation care and the place can be absolutely packed to the rafters.
There is a cafe onsite with basic snacks and drinks.
Location: Artarmon
Warehouse 11 Studio is an indoor action sports centre where kids can skate, scoot, BMX and ninja. The ninja gym section caters to wannabe ninja warriors, big and small, while the rest of the studio features ramps for skating/bikes/scooters.
All sessions are closely supervised. There is a cafe onsite.
The Moving Bodies leisure centre has a ninja course including various sized warped walls, cargo nets, floating doors, rope climb, floating steps, spider wall, peg wall and more. The ninja course is open to kids aged 5+.
This 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!”
Ice skating is so much fun for kids and adults alike, plus has a lot of health benefits! Kids can enjoy a public skating session at any of these rinks, as well as joining a learn-to-skate program from an early age (most programs start at age 4).
In this post you will find the locations of each ice skating rink in Sydney.
Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink
Sydney’s best value rink hosts a wide variety of public sessions plus learn-to-skate classes and disco events. At this Olympic-sized rink, parking is plentiful, unlimited and free. We love their learn-to-skate lessons because they are drop-in for a bargain price of $17 for a 30 minute group lesson plus 1 hour practice session directly after the lesson (other rinks may offer a 30 minute practice session, a free practice session at another time or none). Facilities also include a heated canteen, coin-operated lockers and disabled access toilets. The ice rink also offers birthday parties, school holiday clinics and learn-to-skate programs plus disco nights and special holiday events. Canterbury is a great, cost-effective ice rink in Sydney.
Macquarie Ice Rink
Located in Macquarie Shopping Centre at North Ryde, this ice rink has the added bonus of being a place to skate and shop at the same time. Macquarie Ice Rink has general public sessions as well as offering term-time and school holiday learn-to-skate programs, an all-day mega skate session with unlimited skating from $20, live DJ sessions, and soccer bubbles on ice. Macquarie Ice Rink has recently had a multi-million dollar renovation and is looking very nice as a result! They offer group bookings and birthday parties, and will validate your parking ticket so you can get an extra hour of free parking. After skating, head to Vogue, our fave cafe in the shopping centre, for lunch. More info on Vogue Cafe here. Macquarie is an excellent all-day entertainment venue with an ice rink in Sydney.
The Ice Zoo Alexandria While the Ice Zoo has the traditional public skating and learn-to-skate sessions, it’s also the place to try some added fun on ice such as ice fitness classes and live DJ nights with light shows. The Ice Zoo has a wide range of facilities and programs on offer, including adult and kids learn-to-skate classes, disco on ice, birthday parties, hockey development classes for kids aged 5 and up and the popular “Snow Play” $15 sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for kids aged 6 and under to experience snow all year ’round. The Ice Zoo also has penguin skate aids for hire and free parking.
Penrith Ice Palace Western Sydney’s Olympic-size ice skating centre has state-of-the-art facilities and programs including general public skating sessions, figure skating clubs and lessons, children’s birthday parties, synchronised figure skating and learn-to-skate programs. Penrith Ice Palace also offers Penguin Skate Aids for hire, 2.5hr weekend skate sessions, the ice sport Broomball, kids’ birthday parties, Friday night disco sessions and ice hockey. Car parking is available in the car park or on the street. Check session times and prices on their website.
Liverpool Catholic Club (LCC)
The LCC Ice Rink offers public skating sessions, learn-to-skate programs, penguin skate aids for hire, ice disco sessions and playgroup sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays for kids aged 2-6. The $13 session includes lessons, games and snow play, small chips and a poppa, plus parents can hop on the ice for an extra $4. There’s plenty of free parking available in the LCC car park. Members pay a discounted rate.
This brand new playground in Waterloo is a joint venture between the City of Sydney and property developer Meriton, as part of their residential development plan for the area. As you can see from these images, Wulaba Park is situated right in the middle of high rise housing developments. Having lived in this area ourselves previously, it’s wonderful to see more play spaces for kids opening up for the community.
Wulaba Park features an exciting playground designed by a landscape architect in conjunction with Sydney artist Nuha Saad. The result is an elegant design that is quite beautiful to look at with soaring lines and bold colours.
The name of the park, “Wulaba” is an Aboriginal word of the Gadical people meaning rock wallaby. Until the development of the early 20th century, Waterloo was the largest swamp in the area and home to many rock wallabies. Nowadays, the park is a place for human wallabies to hop around and burn off some energy.
Waluba Park features a giant mega slide, a tall climbing tower, tunnels for kids to run through, nets and ladders to climb and a swing set on a soft-surface floor. The 4,000sqm of outdoor space also features a landscaped picnic and bbq area, bike tracks and handball and table tennis courts.
Our verdict
While we loved the design and Cheese found it incredible inviting, there wasn’t overly much for her to do there and she wanted to leave sooner than we had expected. The park isn’t fenced so parents have to keep an extra close eye on littlies, and there is very little shade. No shade clothes have been built into the park, and the trees are new and small.
Bathrooms: One toilet with baby change facilties Cafes: None – you’ll have to walk to the nearby shopping complex in Zetland Parking: Limited but do-able. We parked at the Zetland shopping complex and walked over. Public Transport: Bus stop nearby. Nearest train station is Green Square.
Wulaba Park, Green Square, Waterloo 54–60 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo
Sip my Ocean is a brand new exhibition by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, exclusively on display in Sydney. Pipilotti Rist is known for her experimental video art and multimedia installations where she uses video and sculpture to immerse viewers in colourful projections.
As viewers weave their way through the exhibition, they pass through a series of rooms, each set up to project light and video onto the walls, floor and objects. Pillows and beds on the floor invite the viewer to sit or lay down and watch the kaleidoscopic presentations.
The exhibition is an excellent choice to introduce children to contemporary art. They can sit, watch and engage with the exhibition and take from it their own interpretation, be it a symphony of light and colour, or a delightful array of images, many of them from nature.
In one room, the work called 4th Floor to Mildness invites viewers to lie down on one of 18 beds and look up at two large panels on the roof where underwater images of plants, limbs and sea glass are projected. It’s an experience that feels very much like being underwater.
The highlight for us was the piece of light art called Pixelwald (Pixel Forest), which imagines a TV screen exploding in a room. The pixels are represented by lights hanging from the ceiling that twinkle and surge in response to music.
In the adjacent National Centre for Creative Learning, kids can experiment with mirrored light and projections in the free drop-in art space “Sundays with Pipilotti”. Note: You do not need a ticket to the exhibition to visit the drop-in space.
Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean at the MCA Sydney 5 November 2017 – 18 February 2018
Adults: $22 Concession: $17 Youth: $12 (Children and young people aged between 12 and 18 years) Family: $56 (Valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children. This ticket is for families with children ages 12–18) Children 12 and under are FREE. Buy tickets here
Sundays with Pipilotti Free entry Open every Sunday during the exhibition*, 10.30am – 4pm Location: National Centre for Creative Learning, Level 3 *Exceptionally on 10 December the space will close at midday
Nestled in the heart of Sydney’s Centennial Park, the newly opened Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden is designed to connect children with nature and engage all five of their senses.
Inside the Garden, children can indeed run wild and explore the environment which includes around 12,000 plants, a water play area featuring 11 water jets and mist machines, a 7-metre tall treehouse with a bridge leading to it and slide leading down, a 10-metre tunnel, a bamboo forest, a sand pit, and, our favourite, a wide open space with logs and rocks for climbing and branches for building teepees or cubby houses.
The Garden was created for children aged 2 – 12, of all abilities. Within each of the “spaces” of the garden there are plenty of ways for kids to engage with their surroundings regardless of their age or background. Every section of the Garden has been created in a way that it is a blank canvas that is open to interpretation by the child to project their own imagination onto, and create their own world and games inside.
We visited the Garden on its opening weekend and it was absolutely packed, which is understandable. It’s a delightful place with a lot of attention to small details such as trails for kids to run down and a forest of bamboo that they can disappear into.
While the garden is a decent size it’s not massive and it wasn’t big enough to cope with the amount of people who visited when we were there. Plants were getting trampled and even ripped out by kids (where were their parents???? I have no idea!!), and the line to get up into the treehouse and slide back down again was so crowded it looked unsafe for littles to get involved.
Hopefully when its newness has worn off the Garden will have less less people there on a regular basis so it’s able to be a safe and enjoyable environment for the little kids it was designed for.
We spent the majority of our time in the garden building a cubby house made out of the big sticks that are provided and decorating it with rocks, bark and ferns we found lying around. Unfortunately the greenery had been ripped off plants by other kids before we arrived – we used it to decorate since it was already on the ground, but did tell Cheese that we don’t rip branches off trees.
Entry to the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden is free. There is a van serving coffee, drinks and snacks inside the garden plus excellent bathroom facilities.
Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden Centennial Park Hours: The Garden is open daily, 10am-5pm. Where to find the Garden: Located in Centennial Park, off Grand Drive and adjacent to the Education Precinct.
It’s time for the 21st annual Sculpture by the Sea, the largest free to the public sculpture exhibition in the world. This year in Sydney, Sculpture by the Sea runs from 19 October – 5 November 2017, along the cliff top walk from Tamarama Beach to Bondi Beach.
While the majority of the sculptures are not able to be touched, each year there are several that are designed to be interacted with by visitors, be it walking through them, on them or climbing over them – the placards in front of the sculptures let people know which ones are able to be touched and which ones are too fragile.
This year we found that there weren’t any interactive sculptures like in previous years sadly, but still some that could be crawled through and touched.
Please enjoy the photos of this spectacular exhibition, and scroll down to the bottom for tips on attending.
Tips for attending Sculpture By The Sea
Go early, like 6am early. Last year we arrived at 7am and it was perfect. This year we arrived at 9:45am and it was absolutely packed.
Parking is a nightmare. Go early and look for a spot around Tamarama or Bronte.
Bring lots of water, sunscreen and a hat. The sun is brutal on the walk and there is no shade.
Bathrooms are located at Tamarama Beach, Mark’s Place and Bondi Beach.
Food is also located at Tamarama, Bondi and Mark’s Place. In 2017 there is a new fast food service at St Mark’s Place serving basic breakfast food from 7am-10am like granola, fruit salad, croissants and quiche, and, from 10am, pies, sausage rolls and quiche plus burgers, gnocchi and fries. There are also sweet treats and drinks including freshly squeeze juice. Kids meals: nuggets and chips, tuna wrap, ham and cheese toastie.
The walk is not stroller friendly at all. If you cannot bring your child in a baby carrier, walk/drive to Mark’s Place – it’s the only stroller accessible point of the walk.
Try for dawn or sunset for pictures with truly stunning light and less people around.
There are two kids’ playgrounds on the walk – one at Tamarama Beach and one at Mark’s Place.
Week days are much less busy than weekends.
Keep an eye on small children. Not only is the walk crowded, it runs along the cliff tops where there are no guard rails or barriers to stop children from falling over the edge.
Not all sculptures are designed to be touched. Please respect the signs and only touch those that are designated for interaction.
Photography tip: It might look like we were pretty much by ourselves on the walk but this was thanks to careful shooting and editing. For pics like these, be extremely patient and wait until other people leave the frame, or step around them and find an angle with no-one in it. If you can’t do either, then crop in close.
Sydney kids are so spoiled! There are literally so many things to do in Sydney with kids that it will take you an entire childhood here to discover them all. If you’re visiting for a day, a week, a month or are a local, here you’ll find a multitude of things to do in Sydney with kids.
The Best Things To Do In Sydney With Kids
In The City Centre
The Rocks
Visit the place of the first European settlement in Australia, as well as the traditional home of the Gadigal Aboriginal people in the Rocks. Wander the cobblestone streets, enjoy panoramic views of Sydney Harbour including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and take a look at a few of the heritage sites and buildings in the area.
There are over 100 historic sites and buildings, the oldest house being Cadman’s Cottage, built in 1816. Drop by the Rocks Discovery Museum, a free museum located inside a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse with an interactive kids corner upstairs, or grab one of the best scones in Sydney at The Tea Cosy (their kids’ Devonshire tea is adorable and delicious). A visit to the Rocks is one of our favourite things to do in Sydney with kids.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The world’s tallest steel arch bridge connects the northern suburbs of Sydney with the CBD. Take a stroll over the Sydney Harbour Bridge – the two access points to the pedestrian walkway are up Cumberland Street in The Rocks in the CBD and near Milsons Point train station in the north. If you and the kids are feeling energetic, climb 200 stairs to the Pylon Lookout for stunning views (admission fees apply).
Observatory Hill Park and the Sydney Observatory
Located in The Rocks, the hill is is a gorgeous spot for a picnic with a view, as well as being home to the Sydney Observatory, a heritage-listed museum and public observatory. Sydney Observatory runs and family tours and activities throughout the year which are perfect for mini star gazers.
Image credit: Destination NSW
State Library of NSW
It’s free to wander into Australia’s oldest library (it was established in1826) and check out their exhibitions, brand new Children’s Library and family spaces. The library also runs free activities for kids during school term for under 5s and school holidays for older children. Check out their calendar to see what’s on when you visit.
Located in the old Ultimo Power Station building adjacent to Darling Harbour, the Powerhouse Museum is the flagship branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences ((MAAS) in Sydney.
The museum’s collection encompasses science, technology, design and decorative arts, engineering, architecture, health and medicine, fashion and contemporary culture.
Locomotive No. 1, the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger train in New South Wales, is a popular drawcard just inside the museum’s entrance, as is the ever-popular interactive Wiggles Exhibition.
Throughout the year the Powerhouse Museum hosts temporary exhibitions plus a wide range of kid-focussed activities and workshops with a strong focus on science and coding, particularly during the school holidays. The focus on science and technology in a very family-friendly environment makes the Powerhouse Museum a top choice for things to do with kids in Sydney. Check out their calendar for upcoming events.
Located on the site of the first Government House of NSW, the Museum of Sydney tells the story of Sydney’s history and its people.
The Museum of Sydney offers family-friendly exhibitions and programs year-round (check what’s on here) and kids eat free with each adult meal purchased at the downstairs restaurant, The Governors Kitchen.
Housed inside the sandstone buildings that contained the original Water Police Court (1856), Water Police Station (1858) and the Police Court (1885), the Justice and Police Museum features 1890s holding cells, offices, charge room and courts, forensic evidence, historic weapons and forensic photography.
The Justice and Police Museum runs family-friendly programs throughout the year for kids to learn about the law, hear true life tales and take park in mock trials. Get info on events here.
Image credit: Police Station Charge Room, Justice & Police Museum
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks is a cutting-edge museum that brings Sydney’s past to life through a series of innovative and immersive experiences.
Built in 1819 by convict labour under the commission of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the Hyde Park Barracks were originally designed as a place to house up to 600 male convicts.
The Barracks, over time, have also been an immigration depot, asylum, law courts, government offices hospital and mint. It is now a museum and cafe and one of 11 Australian convict sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Hyde Park Barracks runs family-friendly programs year-round to engage children in its history. Get info on upcoming events here.
When it opened in 1897, The Australian Museum became the first museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. The museum’s dinosaur exhibition, containing 10 complete dinosaur skeletons and eight life-sized models is very popular with kids.
The dedicated Kidspace area is a hit with littles aged five and under (as well as the slightly bigger kids who still like to sneak in!) while older kids will love the Search & Discover research centre.
The Australian Museum also runs family-focussed programs year round for kids aged 9 months and up. School aged kids always have a large range of science-based activities to choose from during the school holidays.
The gardens and Domain are gorgeous all year round. Wrapped around Farm Cove just south of the Sydney Opera House, the gardens, which were established in 1816, occupy one of Sydney’s most spectacular waterfront positions. A relaxing day exploring the gardens is one of the best things to do in Sydney with kids.
The Royal Botanic Gardens runs plenty of family and kids’ programs all year ’round (check their calendar for upcoming events) but we have the most fun practicing cartwheels on the shady lawns, watching eels in the pond and climbing rocks and trees.
The Art Gallery of NSW
Stroll through five levels of masterpieces including an extensive collection of Aboriginal art, European masters, Asian art and visiting exhibitions. The general galleries at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) are all free to enter.
Children can use online booklets to explore artworks or download free audio tours that have been created just for kids. The AGNSW frequently runs free activities for kids on Sundays and school holidays. As you’ve probably noticed, this is a great place to visit if you’re on a budget! The AGNSW is full of free things to do in Sydney with kids, making it one of our most-visited spots year-round.
Wander through galleries of exciting modern art from leading Australian and international artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA). Grab a coffee at the rooftop cafe and sculpture terrace and enjoy the stunning harbour view. How lucky are Sydney kids to enjoy this view every day?
The MCA runs lots of free and small donation activities for kids throughout the year too, from their monthly Sunday Family Fun Days to a drop in activity room and school holiday crafts.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a performance venue on Bennelong Point, well-known for its distinctive series of “shells” covering the roof. The Sydney Opera House opened in 1973 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Sydney Opera House offers a great program of shows for Sydney kids of all ages (check their calendar beforehand) and it’s usually possible to get last-minute tickets.
The Junior Adventure Tour also takes kids behind the scenes on a family-friendly tour of the Sydney Opera House. If there aren’t any shows on, it’s still fun to walk around the outside, including up the famous steps, and inside the box office area to take a peek. A visit to the Opera House is a must when visiting Sydney with kids!
Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island and step back in time at one Australia’s World Heritage-listed convict sites. Bring a picnic lunch and scooters for the kids, who will also enjoy the free Convict Clues Challenge.
Australia’s oldest park is located in the centre of Sydney’s CBD. Divided by the major traffic artery Park Street, in the northern section you’ll find the Archibald Fountain and various themed gardens, while the southern section is home to the ANZAC Memorial building and visitor centre and the pool of reflection. Hyde Park is the perfect spot for a picnic or just a rest under one of the many large fig trees that give the park shade.
Barangaroo
Sydney’s newest harbour precinct is the result of a transformation from a disused container terminal into a stunning 22-hectare waterfront destination. Pack a picnic lunch and sit on the hill facing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or unleash the child within and roll all the way down to the bottom. Kids will adore climbing the large rocks around the waters edge or scooting up and down the wide path. Check the Barangaroo calendar for upcoming events.
Sydney Tower Eye
Sydney’s tallest structure and the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere is also a great spot to take kids. The Sydney Tower Eye – which you might hear locals call Centrepoint Tower, AMP Tower, Westfield Centrepoint Tower or Sydney Skytower rises 309m in the sky, giving visitors a birds-eye view over Sydney. Little ones will enjoy peering out of of the telescopes on the enclosed Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck while older visitors can step outside as part of the SKYWALK experience (an additional cost). Get more info here.
Darling Harbour and Pyrmont
A recreational precinct in Sydney where you’ll find waterfront restaurants, wildlife, tall ships, one of the best playgrounds in Sydney and plenty more to entertain the kids in this one neighbourhood. During school holidays there are usually plenty of free activities for kids, too. Check their calendar for upcoming events.
Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) is Australia’s national centre for maritime collections, exhibitions, research and archaeology. Grab a free ticket from the front desk for admission into the permanent indoor galleries and under 5s play area “Mini Mariners”.
For entry into our fave spot, the “Kids on Deck” craft area, visiting exhibitions and the ships, a paid ticket is required. The ANMM runs lots of programs for kids all year round including live shows, “Mini Mariners” for kids aged 2-5 and the cabinet of curiosity that contains all kinds of wonders for kids to touch, like the tooth of a blue whale. Check their calendar for upcoming events and look out for when Bailey, the museum dog, is scheduled to make an appearance.
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.
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!
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.
A calming place to let kids wander past waterfalls and exotic plants, through pavilions and up hidden pathways. Count the koi carp swimming in the lakes, try Chinese tea in the teahouse and dress up in traditional Chinese costumes* at the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
* For an additional fee
The most centrally-located Sydney playground features a 21-metre flying fox, water play area with pumps and buckets and plenty of slides, climbing structures and swings. It’s a must for kids visiting the city.
This brand new library is houses inside The Exchange “birds nest” building. It has a great kids’ section with little nooks for kids to curl up and read with a book and family activities throughout the week and school holidays.
Yum Cha at Fisherman’s Seafood Restaurant, Pyrmont
Take your pick from carts brimming with dim dum, dumplings, noodles and spring rolls. Yum cha is one of the most kid-friendly dining experiences you can have, and the Fisherman’s Seafood Restaurant is the place to try it.
This beautiful playground in Pyrmont has shiny, well-designed equipment, a water play area, sand pit with shade cloth, new, well-maintained bathrooms (including baby change facilities) and a cafe with shaded seating. Street parking is available. Pirrama Park features grasslands, wide avenues for scooting and entry into the harbour for swimming.
A 9 hectare green space connecting to Sydney University, Victoria Park features a beautiful lake, playground for kids of all ages and plenty of shady trees, right in the middle of the city.
Take little builders to Sydney’s 2nd LEGO Certified store inside the Broadway Sydney shopping centre. Kids will love playing with bricks, building their own minifigure and more.
The Coal Loader is an historic venue in North Sydney, including a large green space, community garden, elevated platform with harbour views, bush walks and the Coal Loader Cafe.
Enjoy some of the most beautiful harbour views in Sydney from Berry Island Reserve, a bushland island in North Sydney.
Berry Island Reserve is a small, circular island, connected to the mainland by a grassed causeway. It features bushwalks, picnic facilities and a small but excellent adventure playground.
The 123-hectare garden is dedicated to growing Australian native plants. It’s a great spot for bushwalking, picnicking and learning about the environment. Kids can ride bikes along the trails or play in the playground.
The Canopy is a vibrant new precinct in Lane Cove, featuring a village green and children’s playground, restaurants, living green wall and solar arbour.
A serene spot in Lavender Bay, the garden was created in 1992 by Wendy Whiteley, wife and muse to artist Brett Whiteley, following her by then ex-husband’s death.
We love Wendy’s Secret garden. It’s a really special space for kids to follow the weaving pathways through lush foliage and discover little secrets hidden in nooks and crannies.
Taronga is a not-for-profit organisation that supports wildlife conservation. Opened in 1816 overlooking Sydney Harbour, the zoo is home to over 4,000 animals; Australian native wildlife plus rare and endangered exotic animals. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo for a scenic 12 minute voyage, then catch the Sky Safari, Sydney’s only cable car, to the top of the zoo.
Zoo highlights include the QBE Free-Flight Bird Show that features spectacular birds flying against the stunning Sydney Sydney Harbour, the new Tiger Trek exhibit and Lemur Forest Adventure where visitors can walk into the lemur enclosure.
There are two excellent playgrounds at Taronga Zoo, one at the Lemur Forest Adventure and the other at the farm animals section.
Take adventurous kids and adults to Wild Ropes at Taronga Zoo for a challenging walk among the trees, with the best view in Sydney to boot. Wild Ropes is located right in the heart of Taronga Zoo Sydney, winding through the treetops above the Australian Walkabout. It’s seperate entry to the zoo, however, so if you want to visit the zoo as well, you will need to buy a combined ticket that includes entry to both.
Nutcote is the house of renowned children’s author and illustrator, May Gibbs, creator of the Gumnut Babies. The house is now a museum dedicated to Gibbs’ life and work. While parents and older kids will enjoy reading about the history of the property and author while walking through the museum, littlies will love darting around the gardens and spotting Gibb’s characters and dressing up as a gumnut baby.
Located at Milsons Point right on the waterfront, Luna Park is a superbly restored 1930s amusement park. Particularly popular is Coney Island, an old-school funhouse that has been entertaining families for almost 80 years.
This pool, located next to Luna Park on the waterfront, has the best views in Sydney! Swim with the iconic Sydney Harbour as your backdrop. The North Sydney Olympic Pool features an outdoor 50 metre pool, toddler pool and baby splash pool, plus an indoor 24 metre pool, wading pool and spa.
North Sydney Skate Plaza
A great spot for kids to bring their scooters, skateboards and bikes to try the various angled ramps, grinding edges and bars. There are bubblers and public toilets available. park on Earnest Street.
Little Succers, Neutral Bay
Get your hands dirty at Little Succers Build Your Own Terrarium Bar in Neutral Bay. Create your own succulent masterpiece to take home. Little Succers runs special holiday workshops and can be hired to host children’s parties.
Walkers, runners and cyclists all enjoy the Bay Run, is a 7-kilometre-long path that encircles much of Iron Cove. The scenic path runs right on the water front and is an enclosed loop which makes for an easy start and finish location. Popular places to begin are King George Park, Leichhardt Park or Callan Park. If your kid is into cycling or scooting, this is a gorgeous place to take them. There is a playground right off the path where it passes Leichhardt.
Ballast Point Park
Located at the very tip of the Balmain peninsula, Ballast Point Park was once home to local Aboriginal tribes before European settlers arrived in the early 19th century. The park’s indigenous history is recognised in a dual name – Walama – which means ‘to return’. The 2.6-hectare park opened in 2009 with several design features that highlight its history. Ballast Point Park has stunning harbour views and is a popular picnic and barbecue spot for families.
Newtown street art and cafes
Catch the train to Newtown Station and wander the streets of one of Sydney’s most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods. Walk down alley ways to discover works of art painted on buildings around almost every corner, grab a bite to eat on King Street and let kids run off steam at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park. There is an excellent gated playground in the park.
We love this large, shady park with its gated playground, right in the heart of Newtown. Kids love the climbing equipment and sand pit.
There are benches for sitting and a water bubbler. There are no bathrooms in the park. Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is located at Federation Road, Lennox and Church Streets, Newtown.
Enmore Park, Marrickville
Kids can play astronauts at this excellent park which features two space rockets, a large grassy area with plenty of trees, swings, slides, a climbing net and see-saw. The park has partial shade so bring a hat and sunscreen.
The Annette Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre is located in the park so bring swimmers if it’s hot. There are plenty of kid-friendly cafes nearby, including Petty Cash, which is just across the road from the playground.
Livvi’s Place in Five Dock, Sydney, is a playground designed for children of all abilities. The equipment and unique design of the playground ensures that all kids, including those with special needs, are able to enjoy playing side-by-side.
This brand new library opened in September 2019 with a collection of 85,000 books. The Marrickville Library and Pavilion also features a landscaped outdoor garden and children’s playground and a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating.
The 100-year-old Leichhardt Tramshed is home to a vast collection of historic buses, open to the public every first and third Sunday of the month. Jump aboard a vintage double-decker bus over the ANZAC Bridge to the Queen Victoria Building in the CBD and back again.
Get more info on visiting the Sydney Bus Museum here.
Tramsheds and Harold Park
One of our fave places to eat and play in Sydney! The Tramsheds is home to a full-size restored tram that kids can climb inside, plus a wide range of family-friendly restaurants.
Outside the Tramsheds lies Harold Park, an expansive park featuring a custom-built playground.
This beautiful park is an oasis of calm on busy Norton Street. There is a large playground with sand play area, a memorial to the service people of Leichhardt who lost their lives in WW1, a rotunda and lovely rose garden as well as plenty of shady space under trees to enjoy.
In Sydney’s South West and West
Fairfield Adventure Park Playground
Especially designed to provide a play space for kids of a variety of ages, the Fairfield Adventure Playground brings the “wow” factor in spades. The park opened in 2015 after a $1.4 million council investment. With the star attractions designed specifically for teens, this is a unique playground that provides a much-needed recreational space for older kids.
Bigge Park in Liverpool, a south-west suburb of Sydney, received a $5 million upgrade a few years back. The upgrade included a fantastic free water play area. Bigge Park also includes an accessible playground, a regular playground and climbing equipment.
Parramatta’s first all-inclusive playground opened in early 2019. It features climbing structures, water play with a splash play area and water pumps, an elevated sandpit, an accessible carousel, swings, BBQ facilities and excellent bathrooms.
The Canterbury-Bankstown area’s first all-abilities playground opened in late 2018, a joint project between Variety, the Children’s Charity, and the Touched by Olivia foundation. The fully-fenced playground features picnic and bbq facilities, bathrooms, Variety Livvi’s Place includes a sensory zone, flying fox with accessible seats, a climbing net, trampoline, swings with accessible seats, water play area, a climbing tower with ground level play features, two nest swings, roller table, accessible carousel, slides, a nature trail, sand play and a lizard log carved from wood.
The delightfully zen Auburn Botanic Gardens are located in Auburn, in South-West Sydney. Established in 1977, the gardens are surprisingly tucked away in a suburban pocket between rows of houses. Spread over 9.7 hectares, the gardens are a serene place to enjoy nature. They include a waterfall, inclusive playground, Japanese garden and plenty of native animals like kangaroos and wildlife.
Located in South West Sydney, the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is a place to experience the arts including performances and exhibitions.
As well as featuring six galleries with rotating exhibitions, the Powerhouse also has a pair of three-story decommissioned tanks that are open to the public as legal graffiti spaces.
The Casula Powerhouse runs family-friendly art programs throughout the year. Check out their upcoming events and workshops here.
The brand new Casula Parklands has something for everyone, from toddlers to adults. Located near the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, the park features play equipment and fitness training for all ages.
The $15 million park includes a ninja warrior training course for teens and adults, toddler climbing equipment, older kid / tween climbing equipment, flying foxes, swings, on and off-leash dog parks and a fitness area.
The Central Gardens Nature Reserve, also called the Central Gardens, is a nature reserve in the southwest Sydney suburb of Merrylands. The 12 hectare park features two playgrounds, animal enclosures, BBQ areas, a flat path perfect for scooters and bikes, plus a small waterfall feature.
A gorgeous spot for families with one of the biggest playgrounds in Sydney set among three hectares of rolling hills and big open spaces. The playground caters for kids of all ages and abilities with a fantastic water play area (the largest outdoor water play facility in NSW), moving play elements, high and steep landforms and hidden and confined spaces. There’s a double flying fox, mega-swing, tunnel slides, scramble wall, spinning play disk, Viking swing and a multi-level tree house to be discovered and enjoyed.
Inside the Museums Discovery Centre you’ll find millions of treasures and the opportunity to learn about museum collecting, conservation and research practices.
Bring your locomotive-loving kids to get up close to trains at the NSW Rail Museum in the historic town of Thirlmere. Since 1975 this little town has been home to a large collection of NSW’s railway heritage, including over 100 vehicles that move on a railway including locomotives, railroad cars and more.
Explore Australia’s unique plant life at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, a 416-hectare botanical garden located in Mount Annan, between Campbelltown and Camden. The wide, flat paths are a delight to follow as they weave in and around the garden areas, as are the grassy hills to roll down!
The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan has free entry, picnic shelters, barbecues and a playground with an excellent flying fox, making it the perfect outing for families.
A privately-owned zoo in Doonside, near Blacktown, Featherdale Wildlife Park specialises in Australian native wildlife and birds, as well as reptiles and marsupials.
The place to introduce city kids to a farm! Calmsley Hill City Farm has plenty of farm animals to get up close to, plus tractor rides and interactive shows such as sheep shearing, a small playground, picnic area and cafe.
Watch a movie under the stars at Sydney’s last remaining drive-in movie theatre. Introduce kids to the movie experience of a bygone era complete with a Happy Days-style diner, spiders and choc-tops. The gates open at 5:30pm, with parking allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tune your car’s FM radio or bring along a portable radio to hear the movie. Before you leave home, check session times for what’s on.
Sydney Olympic Park
The site of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games is now a monument to sporting legends and a peaceful parkland. Visit Cathy Freeman Park to see the Olympic Cauldron that was used throughout the games and has been transformed into a water feature that kids love to play under in summer, located next to a shady playground and vast grassy field.
To get there: Take a 30 minute train trip from Central Station to Olympic Park Station or a ferry from Circular Quay to Sydney Olympic Park Wharf.
While adults will enjoy swimming in the same pool that Ian Thorpe won his Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, kids will go wild over the water slide, Splasher’s Water Playground that caters for kids aged toddler and up, and Rapid River Ride that caters to all ages. Comfortably heated to 26 degrees, the Aquatic Centre is year-round fun.
To get there: Take a 30 minute train trip from Central Station to Olympic Park Station or a ferry from Circular Quay to Sydney Olympic Park Wharf.
Bicentennial Park
A fave for families with its wide expanses of undulating hills, plenty of shade and picnic spots. Bicentennial Park is a beautiful location that combines mangrove wetlands with 40 hectares of gentle hills, meadows, lakes, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Driving to this park is the best option but parking can also be a challenge so arrive early.
Built in 1973 for John and Elizabeth Macarthur, Elizabeth Farm is one of the oldest homes in Australia. Inside the house you’ll find reproductions of furnishings and objects that belonged to the home’s original owners. Wander the recreated 1930s garden or enjoy a Devonshire tea at the tea room. The scones are some of the best we have ever tasted.
Elizabeth Farm runs year-round family tours and programs to engage kids in the history of the property and introduce them to what life was like during the early 19th century. Kids will get a kick out of trying to do the laundry in a tub, throwing quoits or doing some craft. Get info on upcoming events and programs here.
Carnes Hill Community & Recreation Precinct & Skate Plaza
This lively community precinct includes an excellent library with large kids’ area, excellent playground, community centre, outdoor fitness stations, gym, cafe, sports courts and picnic areas. The Carnes Hill Skate Plaza is also located in the precinct, a fab spot for kids to bring their scooters and bikes and enjoy a sprawling park that is suitable for all ages and levels of experience.
Images courtesy of Liverpool City Council
Parramatta
The second oldest city in Australia, Parramatta was founded in 1788 – the same year as Sydney. Walk up Church street to discover its vibrant, multicultural food scene, or walk along the river to discover the city’s rich history.
This World Heritage Listed park is a must see. Gazetted as a People’s Park in 1858, Parramatta Park been a place for locals to enjoy for over 150 years. It’s also home to Old Government House, a historic site and museum and Australia’s oldest surviving building. Parramatta Park also features wide open spaces with shady trees for picnics, a large formal rose garden, a creek and two playgrounds. Get info on upcoming events in Parramatta Park.
Domain Creek Playground Parramatta Park
The largest and most modern playground in Parramatta Park, the Domain Creek Playground is nature-based and features mazes made from branches and wires, water pumps and sand diggers, a flying fox and sunken trampolines.
Paperback Playground is the newest playground in the park and has some inclusive features. Located in the historic Gardens Precinct near the George Street Gatehouse, the playground is best suited to children and toddlers. Features include an accessible sandpit, swings and a carousel which kids with varied mobility, including wheelchair users, can use, as well as the ‘explorer dome’ centrepiece – a maze made of nets, ropes, ladders and tubes best suited to older children. The playground floor is covered with ‘Softfall’ pavements and there’s plenty of seats for parents and carers.
An urban park and nature reserve located in Sydney’s western suburbs, the Western Sydney Parklands contains various parks and attractions that are perfect for families to enjoy.
Plough and Harrow
This popular picnic spot is surrounded by bush and features a playground, cafe, high ropes course and wide open spaces for kids to run free. The playground’s hamster wheel is particularly popular!
Adventurous kids will adore getting up high in the gum trees with the Treetop self-guided rope courses. With rope ladders, wobbly bridges and zip lines to navigate, it’s the perfect place for kids to test their problem-solving ability as well as push physical boundaries. Kids must be aged three and older to participate, with the children’s rope course designed for ages 3-9. Treetops Adventure park is located at the Plough and Harrow park.
Located next to the sprawling Western Sydney Parklands, Sydney Zoo is home to over 2000 animal species, housed in 30 custom, state-of-the-art exhibits.
Cool down at Raging Waters Sydney (formerly Wen ‘n’ Wild), a water theme park filled with over 40 slides, a zone dedicated to kids under 5 and a sandy beach. Popular with younger kids is the Nickelodeon Beach water splash park area that features characters like Dora, Spongebob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Opened in 2017, Bungarribee is a 200-hectare recreational space that features walking and cycling tracks, 20 barbecues, 13 picnic shelters and a playground with a climbing tower, flying fox, plenty of slides, swings and a water play area.
Livvi’s Place is a full-enclosed playground located in Yamble Reserve, Ryde. The reserve features formal gardens, deciduous trees, picnic shelters, large green grassed areas, barbecues and the excellent all-abilities playground, Livvi’s Place. Livvi’s Place playground includes a water pump play area, dual flying fox, nest swing, musical instruments, climbing frame and tunnels.
Designed especially for children to get close to farm animals, at Golden Ridge kids can hold baby chicks, ducklings and rabbits, milk a cow and bottle feed baby lambs.
Putt your way through two 18-hole themed mini golf courses at Dural Putt Putt. The perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy.
Dural Putt Putt has two themed 18-hole mini golf courses to complete, Camelot & Space Trek. Each course winds its way through picturesque landscaped gardens and are equally challenging.
A great spot to take kids in summer, Putney Park features climbing equipment for kids of all ages plus two shallow pools connected by a pebble creek and a large climbing web.
Vaucluse House was built in 1803 and was once owned by William Charles Wentworth, father of the Australian Constitution. It’s oOne of Sydney’s few remaining 19th-century mansions that is still surrounded by its ten hectares of original gardens and grounds.
Take a tour through the house for a glimpse of what life was life for the families who once lived there, stroll around the beautiful gardens and enjoy a high tea at the tea rooms.
Vaucluse House runs year-round family-friendly programs to immerse kids in colonial life. Get info on events here.
A play centre like no other in Sydney, Nubo is an innovative and educational play space that is designed to spark children’s creativity and imagination. Connect with your children as they explore the library, art studio, dramatic play room and ball pit. There’s even a rope climbing structure with slides and a cafe serving healthy food.
La Perouse is located on the north headland of Kamay Botany Bay National Park. The headland is an historic part of Sydney as well as a place to enjoy stunning beaches, explore rock pools and spot wildlife. Bare Island is home to a fort, rock pools and an indigenous market.
Located at the southern head of the entrance to Sydney Harbour, Watson’s Bay is a very popular place for families to spend weekends. It features stunning Sydney Harbour view, gentle waves on the shore that are perfect for kids to paddle in, a massive park with a shaded and gated playground, plus the iconic Doyle’s fish and chips. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay for the ultimate family day trip.
Get more info on Watson’s Bay and other Sydney beaches.
Bondi to Bronte Walk
This 6km return walk will take you past some of Sydney’s most breathtaking scenery. Starting at the iconic Iceburgs Dining Room and Bar at the south end of Bondi Beach, the walk winds south along the rocky cliff face past Tamarama to Bronte Beach.
Start at either end and either walk or take a bus back to the starting point. There are plenty of cafes and facilities at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beach, or you can bring a picnic lunch. At the halfway point there is a playground for kids to enjoy. Note: the path is too rocky for a stroller and runs along a sheer cliff face so take older kids or babies in carriers.
Green Square Library
The underground Green Square Library opened in late 2018. It features a water play area in the outside plaza, public artworks, dedicated kids zone with books and DVDs, vintage game stations for rent, a piano for hire, a sunken garden, kid-friendly cafe and take-home makerspace kits for kids aged 5+. The library also runs school holiday workshops and story time sessions.
Sydney’s first certified LEGO® store is located in Westfield Bondi Junction. The Store features inspiring creations built out of LEGO® bricks, hands-on LEGO® experiences and plenty of LEGO® kits to buy.
A 40 hectare green space near St Peter’s, Sydney Park was built in the space once occupied by Bedford Brickworks – the chimneys of which have been left and are a feature of the park that can be seen from some distance away. Features of the park include a large playground on its western side, the Sydney Park Cycling Centre on its northern side, winding pathways over hills for walking and cycling, wetlands, a kiosk and bathrooms.
Consists of 360 hectares including Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queen’s Park. The Parklands are listed on the NSW Heritage Register.
Centennial Park
The largest of the three parks that make up Centennial Parklands, Centennial Park is one of Australia’s most famous parks, and a haven for inner city families to ride bikes, horses (there are several horse riding stables located in the park as well as pony ride on weekends), picnic, play and explore. The park features ponds with ducks, formal gardens, statues, playgrounds and picnic areas.
Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden
The brand new Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden opened in Centennial Park in October 2017. The 6500sq m nature-based play area features a 7m-high climbing tower, wooden bridge, water play area and an open play area where kids are encouraged to use sticks and natural materials to make their own shelters, artworks and games.
This park consists of 115 hectares of open spaces and playing fields, including the ES Marks Athletics Field, an 18-hole public golf course and golf driving range, tennis courts and netball courts.
The Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park has plenty for kids to do, from plaster painting, a Hoyts movie cinema, Monkey Mania play centre, Strike Bowling as well as two partially shaded playgrounds with excellent bathroom facilities.
Queen’s Park
A 26-hectare urban park with panoramic views and natural sandstone cliffs. Queen’s Park has an excellent gated and partially shaded playground for kids next to a kid-friendly cafe, Queen’s Park Shed (read more here).
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Bounce it out with more than 117 interconnected trampolines at Sky Zone, Alexandria. Kids can also tackle 30 different climbing challenges at Sky Climb.
Opening in March 2020, Newmarket Dining is a place to eat at cosy cafes and restaurants, picnic in the park and play at a state-of-the-art playground. The playground features inclusive elements and an amazing spiral slide.
Home to hundreds of animals including a koala breeding sanctuary, reptile house and a Sumatran tiger, Symbio Wildlife Park is a great family outing particularly for little kids thanks to its relatively small size. The kangaroo paddock with roaming roos happy to be pat and pose for photos is a particular favourite.
Oatley Park is a 45-hectare bushland reserve on the northern side of the Georges River. It is bounded by the Georges River, Lime Kiln Bay, and Jew Fish Bay. Oatley Park features an inclusive adventure playground, a netted swimming bath, short, easy bush walking tracks, picnic areas and other free amenities for the local community to enjoy.
The Oatley Park Inclusive Adventure Playground is an adventure playground designed to blend into its bush setting, incorporating nature-based play elements and built with predominantly natural materials.
The park features seperate play zones with a toddler play area, a flying fox with river views, an active play zone, giant tube slides and a teen zone.
Jubilee Park Adventure Playground, Mortdale, Sydney
The Jubilee Park Adventure Playground in Mortdale, Sydney, features a large climbing frame with nets and slides, a children’s bike track, junior swings, flying foxes and multi-purpose sports courts.
The excellent new multi-million dollar Jubilee Park Adventure Playground is a great addition to the community. Built behind the existing Mortdale Community Centre, the playground has revitalised the park and given the community a great spot to picnic, play and get fit.
This 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!”
Australia’s only dedicated children’s museum is located on the campus of the University of Wollongong in Sydney’s south. The Early Start Discovery Space is designed for kids aged 12 and under and features 14 interactive spaces designed to spark the imagination as they build, create and explore through play. A particular hit is the Tummy Tour, where kids can imagine themselves as a piece of food and crawl through an inflatable digestive system.
Science Space in Wollongong has over 100 interactive science-based exhibits, a planetarium, live shows, plus a gift shop and cafe.
The major hands-on science venue of southern New South Wales, Science Space is suitable for all ages, with two floors of interactive exhibits, plus live shows in the science theatre and Australia’s most digitally advanced Planetarium. Science Space is the major hands-on science venue of southern New South Wales.
The Royal National Park is one of the oldest in the world. Established in 1879 the park spans 160 square kilometres and makes for the perfect family day trip with plenty of spots for picnics, bbqs, bushwalking, swimming, fishing and whale watching. There’s wildlife to discover and Aboriginal heritage to explore. Enter the park by car, ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena or a tram from the Sydney Tramway Museum in Loftus.
A popular spot for families in the Royal National Park, Wattamolla is the name of a cove, lagoon, and beach. It’s an absolutely stunning spot with a flat lagoon for kids to swim in, a waterfall and a beach with rocks to climb on.
Visit local libraries across Sydney to spend a few hours perusing books in quiet children’s areas. There are 11 public libraries in inner Sydney alone, with many offering activities for kids. Find an inner Sydney library and what’s on.
Sydney has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, ferries and light rail. If you’re in Sydney for a few says, buy an Opal card to use public transport – the one card gives you daily travel caps and enables you to use all four transport systems, plus lets you use the $2.50 per person Sunday cap. Taxis and Uber in Sydney are expensive so walking plus public transport are your best options.
Driving in Sydney
To see a lot of Sydney and its surrounds, it’s advisable to hire a car. International visitors may use a foreign driver’s licence in NSW. Note that all speed limits are strictly enforced with cameras and it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 per cent or higher, or to drive under the influence of illegal drugs.
When to visit
Sydney is the perfect year-round travel destination due to its temperate climate. It does, however, get extreme heat in summer (December to February). While the average maximum temperatures are around 26°C (78.8°F), it can reach over 40°C (104°f) during this time of year. Summer is also the most humid time of year to visit, with average humidity of 65%.
Winter (June – August) average maximum temperatures are around 16°C (60.8°F). Sydney’s highest rainfall is between March and June.
National Emergency Services
The national phone number for all emergency services in Australia, including ambulance, fire and police, is 000. You can dial Triple Zero within Australia from any fixed line, mobile phone, pay phone and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. If you have a GSM digital mobile phone, you can also dial the international standard emergency number 112.
Where to stay
For a short stay, hotels in the CBD particularly around Circular Quay and The Rocks will make it easy to get around as they’re close to public transport as well as main attractions. Darling Harbour is also a good choice particularly for families.
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Locations: Ryde, Bankstown, Entertainment Quarter, Casula, Gosford, Campbelltown, Penrith
Locations: Blacktown, Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Liverpool, Miranda, Narellan, Mt Kuring-gai, St Marys, Peakhurst.
Inside the Garden, children can indeed run wild and explore the environment which includes around 12,000 plants, a water play area featuring 11 water jets and mist machines, a 7-metre tall treehouse with a bridge leading to it and slide leading down, a 10-metre tunnel, a bamboo forest, a sand pit, and, our favourite, a wide open space with logs and rocks for climbing and branches for building teepees or cubby houses.
Taronga is a not-for-profit organisation that supports wildlife conservation. Opened in 1816 overlooking Sydney Harbour, the zoo is home to over 4,000 animals; Australian native wildlife plus rare and endangered exotic animals. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo for a scenic 12 minute voyage, then catch the Sky Safari, Sydney’s only cable car, to the top of the zoo.
While adults will enjoy swimming in the same pool that Ian Thorpe won his Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, kids will go wild over the water slide, Splasher’s Water Playground that caters for kids aged toddler and up, and Rapid River Ride that caters to all ages. Comfortably heated to 26 degrees, the Aquatic Centre is year-round fun.
