If you’re planning a trip to Sydney with the fam bam this year, you’ll be pleased to know there are all sorts of exciting family friendly activities and venues to explore.
All the staples are here of course (here’s looking at you Taronga Zoo) but since Covid-19, the city has been refreshed, dusted down, and repackaged to welcome you back! Nothing beats getting outside on Sydney’s famous waterways. After all, it’s what makes the city tick and attracts millions of international tourists every year. But if you’re looking to update your itinerary, then be sure to check out these ingenious family-friendly ideas.
Fun kids activities in Sydney
1. Escape from Hijinx Hotel
New to Sydney’s cool inner west is the immersive interactive game experience Hijinx Hotel. This is a hotel with a twist and many turns. Housed within the theme, wonder, and theatre of a quirky art deco hotel, you’ll find 15 challenge rooms where you play, not stay. No doubt the family dynamic will be stretched (in a fun way) as each room is designed for between two and six players to work together to complete challenges and score points on the leaderboard. Whether you’re trying to score points by stopping leaks on the Titanic, or scrambling to make up words from giant lettered cubes, Hijinx Hotel will require the fam bam to work together as a team in a short amount of time. Think Rubik’s Cubes, hoops, a giant piano musical game – it’s all here and more!
Hijinx Hotel, 75 O’Riordan St, Alexandria, NSW, 2011.
2. Play a hole or two at Holey Moley
If the fam missed the fun at Holey Moley Clarke Quay, you’ll get to relive it at Sydders! For the uninitiated, Holey Moley turns traditional boring old putt putt into a multi-sensory labyrinth of unique holes inspired by everything from your everyday to the fun of your childhood faves. The kids will take a trip down your own childhood memory lane by playing holes that may possibly be reminiscent of ‘80s and ‘90s popular culture, with a splash of 2020 thrown in for good measure. It’s the craziest round of mini golf you’ve ever played. There’s even a full service bar serving up delicious old-school sandwiches and snacks using ingredients that are sustainably sourced from local Australian producers; plus no shortage of bevies, a cranking cocktail menu, and tunes.
Holey Moley, various locations across Sydney.
3. Go on an Opera House Tour
Take your kids on the Junior Adventure Tour of one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks – those famous sails, the history, and story behind the legend that is Sydney’s most famous house. This is an activity for curious minds, where adventure begins when guides take you on a journey under the sails of the Sydney Opera House to learn what makes it so incredibly special. The tour is filled with loads of interactive activities and games to inspire your little performer to become a Sydney Opera House expert. Get ready to learn all the fun facts and tales behind costumes and props and everything in between!
Opera House Tour, tour meeting point at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse. Book this tour online.
4. Spend a night at Taronga Zoo
No trip to Sydney would be complete without a trip to Taronga Zoo – but now you can enjoy an overnight stay with the whole family for a truly unique and immersive experience! Be sure to check out The Family Escape option for your chance to perch front and center in an elegant Australian eco-retreat! This retreat is nestled within the zoo, overlooking magnificent Sydney Harbour. Tours, night walks, buffet breakfast, plus complimentary access to the zoo itself are all included. Families with kids of all ages will enjoy this classic Sydney staple, always hailed as one of the best things to see and do in Sydney.
Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, NSW 2088. Take a ferry from Circular Quay, or use the large pay car park if driving.
5. Try all the rides in Luna Park
If your kids have a hankering for adrenaline-fueled fun with a slice of carni, then take them to Luna Park! Located just north of the Harbour Bridge, kids will be gobsmacked by that huge beaming face as they walk through this well-known Sydney landmark. All the favourites are here: ferris wheels, dodgem cars, and all the modern fairground attractions you could wish for. And you know what’s best? Luna Park is has plenty to do not just for young kids, but for school-aged kids and teens as well! There’s something for everyone here, all ages are welcome; plus a range of food outlets to keep your taste buds happy. Let the fun be had at this iconic Sydney landmark on your next trip Down Under.
Luna Park, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point NSW, 2061.
6. Scale new heights with BridgeClimb
Nothing says we conquered Sydney more than a certificate from Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb. Take your kids (age eight and above, minimum of 1.2 m in height) on this amazing experience – you’ll be glad you did because the views are to die for, and allows you the most wonderful perspective of the harbour, Opera House, and city! Rain or shine, the walks up to various summits on the bridge involve a number of steps (1,300 to be precise), but you’ll be glad you did. Choose from four different climbs offering their own unique perspective on Sydney. Make sure to check out the Burrawa Climb on the last Saturday of every month to experience unrivalled views of the Indigenous landmarks around Sydney harbour, including Bennelong and Barangaroo, while hearing the stories of Australia’s First Nations people. Pack your zoolander smile and leave with a selection of snaps worthy of mantel, taken atop one of the world’s most famous bridges. This experience is what memories are made of!
BridgeClimb, Eora Country, 3 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
7. Get out on the water
When you visit Sydney, you must take the family out on the water for a spin around the harbour. It’s what Sydney is renowned for after all. One of the best ways to do this is simply by catching the Manly ferry from Circular Quay over to the northern beaches. It’s a great way to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House up close and personal, and there’s even a fast ferry if time is limited. Either way, you’ll end up in Manly, which is an awesome family-friendly beach destination boasting cool cafes, restaurants, and shops to while away the day. Or perhaps the adrenaline junkies in the family can take a wild, white knuckle, hair raising, water thrashing, 45-minute Jet Boat ride at Circular Quay and hear all the fun facts about Sydney’s waterways.
8. Enjoy some indoor fun at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
This little pocket of Alexandria is the perfect place to let the fun begin on a rainy Sydney day, or when a family sun-free day is in order. You’ve got indoor warehouses full of retro games, bowling, and laser tag inside Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Not forgetting the dodgem cars, VR, and loads of cool prizes to be won! Tastebuds are taken care of with a menu offering delicious old school sambos made from ingredients delivered straight from New South Wales’ producers, lovingly served up on sustainable packaging. Roll up, roll up, this is the ideal place to relax, chill, and get your fun on.
Archie Brother Cirque Electriq, 75 O’Riordan St, Alexandria, NSW
9. Go beach hopping
Sydney is blessed with some of the most spectacular beaches in the world, which makes for a super cool day spent breathing in fresh sea air and taking in a spot of exercise in the great Aussie outdoors. Grab the beach towels, hats, and sunscreen to explore the best of Sydney’s beaches. Our advice for families with littlies would include Parsley Bay Vaucluse Reserve, Balmoral Beach Mosman, Clontarf Beach, Little Manly Cove, Bronte, and Collaroy for safety and ease. These golden stretches are what fun out-in-the-sun family days are made of. Why not also consider taking in a surf lesson if you and the kids are feeling up for it, but make sure you go with a professionally qualified surf instructor. We hear Manly Surf School is pretty cool.
10. Check out Darling Harbour
Sydney Darling! To experience some of the city’s best harbour attractions, make sure you put a day aside for exploring Darling Harbour. It never fails to entertain the kids (and adults) whether it’s a stroll through the tranquil Chinese Garden of Friendship, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Powerhouse Museum, or get up close and personal with sharks, rays, dugongs and more at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium – there’s something for everyone. Some of Sydney’s most exciting events – from art exhibitions and concerts to boat shows and film festivals – happen right on Darling Harbour with no shortage of amazing food destinations to boot. So ,make sure you check out what’s on offer when you’re next in the Sydney, darling!
Darling Harbour, Sydney 2000
There you have it folks! The best of Sydney is waiting for you and the family to enjoy with open arms. If there’s one thing for sure, Sydney never disappoints and is constantly evolving. You can fly directly from Singapore on Singapore Airlines or Scoot. Grab those beach towels folks and dive right in!
Heading to other destinations Down Under? Check out our guide to Perth and Gold Coast!
