Eight Fun Things to Do in Sydney with Kids

Sydney is a great city by any measure. It’s modern, accessible, beachy, hip and the food is awesome! There are some many fun things to do in Sydney with kids! We spent a week there in June and could easily go back for another week. The Winter weather is glorious – all these pictures were taken in mid-June and just look at the sunny skies! If you’re looking for fun things to do with kids in Sydney and activities for kids in Sydney, let me help you by showing you the eight things we did that were the most fun on our week-long visit.

Hot tip: If you’re visiting Sydney with kids, get the Sydney Pass to save money on attractions including the zoo, Sydney Opera House Tour, hop on hop off bus tour, aquiarium and the Blue Mountains explorer bus. The pass is free for kids under four and there are child prices for kids aged four to 15. You can read more about the attractions included on the Sydney Pass here.

 

Eight Fun Things to Do in Sydney with Kids:

Here’s what we covered in our week long visit!

 

 

Visit Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo is a great place to start your visit to Sydney with kids. It’s probably one of the most well-know kids activities Sydney. Not only is it full of wonderful, entertaining animals but it’s also in an incredibly scenic spot on the harbour opposite the central city. You can get up close with a koala (but NSW law says you can’t hold them), watch the seal show, spy on the gorillas and stalk the big cats. There’s a kids playground with farm animals for little ones.

Head out to the Blue Mountains

Not all the best things to do for kids in Sydney are in the city centre! A departure from the big city could be just what your family needs after a few days in the concrete jungle. Don’t miss an excursion to the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney. There are some great walking tracks, beautiful vistas and interesting history in the area. Start with a visit to Scenicworld and ride the cable car and the world’s steepest railway. It’ll take you about 1.5 hours to reach Katoomba from central Sydney by car.

 

Eat Gelato

Wondering what to do in Sydney with kids in the evening? Whether it’s summer or winter, you won’t want to miss Australia’s best gelato at Gelato Messina. With flavours like salted caramel & white chocolate, pandan & coconut and apple pie parents will be in heaven and there are plenty of plainer options for the kids like chocolate, vanilla and yogurt. It’s the perfect after dinner treat. There are locations in Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Pyrmont.

 

Check out The Powerhouse Museum

Looking for kids activities in sydney for little ones? If you’re going to check out one museum in Sydney, make it the Powerhouse Museum. There are informative exhibits for older kids – learn how a Boutlon Watt engine works, play vintage video games or explore the world of fashion design. For little kids there’s a virtual touchpool and an amazing Wiggles exhibit which is definitely one of the top fun things to do in Sydney for kids.

 

Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Sydney has got to have some of the best beaches in the world out of any major international city. The swanky beach suburbs of Eastern Sydney are easily reached by bus from the city. One of the best ways to see this stunning stretch of coastline is to walk from Bondi beach to Coogee beach. The walk takes about an hour and half and winds across the cliffs from beach to beach along. There are plenty of parks and playgrounds to stop at along the way. It’s not stroller-friendly or fenced the whole way so little kids will need to be carried in a pack or by parents. Watch out for migrating whales in Winter! You’ll definitely want to add this to your list of things for kids to do in Sydney.

 

Have Lunch in Chinatown

Chinatown’s main thoroughfare on Dixon Street is the place to go for Asian food. Most fun for kids would have to be a Yum Cha lunch and another great idea for things to do with kids Sydney. Carts filled with delicious steamed and fried dumplings make the rounds so you can pick and choose your meal as you go. Wontons filled with pork are always a winner for our little one!

 

Ride a Ferry in the Harbour

Sydney harbour is the jewel in downtown’s crown. Not only is it extremely picturesque, it makes for a great way of getting about the city. Jumping on one of the Sydney’s ferries is the best way to get up close with Sydney attractions for kids. You’ll get great views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House from the water. It’s also the best way of getting out to Taronga Zoo or to the beach at Manly.

 

Take in The Sealife Aquarium

Wondering what to do in Sydney for kids on a rainy day? Take in the world underwater at Sydney’s Sealife Aquarium. The entire loop of the world beneath the waves will take 45 minutes to an hour so it’s not too labour intensive for little ones but interesting enough for old kids to enjoy. The highlight of this aquarium are the resident Manatees but there is plenty of other sealife on offer including manta rays, sharks giant crabs and lots of colourful fish. Be sure to check out the shark eggs in the touch pool!

Where to Stay in Sydney with Kids

Now you know what to do with kids in Sydney, you need to find a place to stay!

Sydney Harbour YHA – Hostels are an affordable option for families travelling in Australia and the YHA chain are great. The Sydney Harbour YHA has dorms and private rooms which are suitable for families. You can read the full review here. The rooftop terrace has one of the best views of Sydney Harbour that you’ll find anywhere! Check prices and availability here.

Cambridge Hotel – If you need a hotel with affordable suites, check out the Cambridge Hotel in Surrey Hills. You’ll get clean, modern rooms in a lovely neighbourhood close to the city centre. Check prices and availability here.

Four Seasons Sydney – If you’re looking for luxury for your family holiday to Sydney, look no further than the Four Seasons. You can read my review in full if you need convincing! The location in downtown Sydney is excellent, the service wonderful and the room is pure decadence. Check prices and availability here.

 

What’s on your list of fun things to do in Sydney for kids?

What your favourite Sydney kids activities? I’d love to hear what you think the most fun things to do in Sydney for kids are. There are so many places to visit in Sydney for kids that you’re bound to know of something I don’t so please share in the comments below.

 

Fill in the blank:

My favourite Sydney things to do with kids are _______________________.