Fun Things To Do In Sydney With Kids In 2026

The Royal Botanic Gardens offers a daily Aboriginal Heritage Tour that shows visitors how the local Aboriginal peoples use the land and plants, taste bush foods (in season) and learn more about indigenous culture. You all have a chance to get involved on this cruise, and it is lots of fun no matter how old you are. Sydney is the largest city in Australia and it has plenty of family activities, including both indoor and outdoor activities to suit kids and families.
Their facilities are consistently well-maintained, with wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines, foam pits, slam dunk zones, and a dedicated “Mini BOUNCE” area for children under 6. Flip Out operates larger-format venues in Penrith, Prestons, and Castle Hill, offering activities to do in sydney ninja warrior courses alongside their trampoline floors. Sky Zone brings dodgeball courts, freestyle zones, and a SkyLadder climbing challenge to their Alexandria and Macquarie Park locations.

If you are a family with older kids, you can swim in the north or head wherever you see the red and yellow flags. Flags are placed at the part of the beach that lifesavers have deemed the safest for the day. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to swim at the southern end of the beach.
Entertainment Park is pretty ahead of the curve when it comes to simulations – we're talking an actual virtual reality arena, where you can battle fantasy creatures or challenge your friends to virtual dance battles. There’s also a dedicated e-karting space, which allows you to kart around a 3.5km square track without emitting a single fume. This circus-themed funhouse will dazzle the kids with a dizzying selection of games, rides and prizes. Younger kids (aged 8-10) can enjoy dodgem cars, carousels or the overhead ropes course, while older players shoot hoops, go bowling or ride the interactive 3D theatre fit out.

You can also take a tour of the Opera House to learn the history of this unique building and how it came to be. A wide variety of sporting and entertainment events are held at Sydney Olympic Park every year which can be fun to attend in Sydney with kids. Treat your whole family to a cinematic experience as you enjoy blockbuster movies, and documentaries in an immersive setting with a large screen and cutting-edge audio. Here you will find a 50-metre lap pool but also a splash pad and shaded lounging area for a family day at the pool.
The Inner West has carved out a niche for creative, design-conscious play spaces. Nubo Alexandria is the poster child of this movement, with its Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, natural materials, and focus on open-ended sensory play. It's not cheap at around $22 per child, but the experience is genuinely different from a traditional play centre.
There are also combination tickets for sale that can save you money if you plan to visit the attractions included. Almost every guidebook suggests a ferry ride on the harbour, and the Manly ferry is the longest and most popular on offer. The public ferry leaves every half on from Circular Quay and will set you back a little over $8. Sure, you can just drive over the bridge on your way to Wollongong for a day at the beach, but it’s well worth parking your car and doing the Sea Cliff Bridge walk.

While events are run year-round, there are significantly more events during the NSW school holidays. If these match your dates be sure to book any programs in advance. The Australian National Maritime Museum has a fun kids’ play area for under 5-year-olds and many regular activities. The biggest attraction there, however, are the various vessels that can be visited, including the Endeavour, a replica of Captain Cook’s ship that first sailed to Australia. There is also a submarine, a destroyer, a navy patrol boat and several smaller boats. Explore the zoo from above – Wild Ropes is a 90-minute tour where you get the chance to watch the native wildlife from above.
This is one of the most popular attractions in the region and it’s well worth the admission entry. It’s a great place to spend a day at the beach since it has plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. The beachfront is also lined with cafes and restaurants, which makes it easy for you and your kids to find something to eat.

Your complete guide to Sydney's best indoor play centres, birthday party venues, trampoline parks, and family-friendly activities across every suburb. Standard play sessions at Sydney indoor play centres typically cost $14 to $22 per child for 1.5 to 2 hours of play. Toddler-specific sessions (under 3s) are often discounted to $10 to $15. Most venues offer multi-visit passes or memberships that bring the cost down to $10 to $14 per visit. Play cafes tend to charge $12 to $18 per child, often including a coffee for the adult.
For creative kids, art classes, music lessons, drama workshops, and coding programs have all expanded significantly in recent years. Venues like the Art Gallery of NSW and local community centres run affordable kids art classes, while  coding schools like Code Camp and Coder Academy offer after school and weekend programs. Team sports remain a cornerstone of after school life in Sydney, with soccer, basketball, netball, cricket, and AFL all operating through local clubs with seasonal registrations.

Visitors can opt to play five, ten or all 15 games, with the full course taking about two and half hours to complete. Each of the individual courses of five games contains a puzzle, a ball pit and a trick shot game, so if you’ve only got time to visit a few of the rooms you won’t be short-changed on the fun. Once you’ve tested your mettle against the challenge rooms, you’re bound to be in need of some refreshment. The Hijinx bar offers a range of fun signature drinks, both for thirsty kidlets and parents in need of an adult drink or two (don’t miss the Bubblegum Martini complete with bubblegum scented smoke bubbles). Prices range from $15 to $30 per session depending on the activity and location. Play cafes typically charge $12 to $18 per child for unlimited play, with many including a coffee for the accompanying adult.
If they’ve gotten their hands on one of the extravagant milkshakes from the diner, get them to burn off all that sugar-strength running around the laser tag field or games arcade. This glittery wonderland is open seven days but the kids get kicked out after 8pm. Before you even get into the nitty gritty of the exhibitions, the welcome hub offers a 'kids trail' map, activity sheets and a fold-your-own chatterbox with cues to spark discussion about the artworks. If your little ones like getting messy, send them off to one of the hands-on art-making workshops and clubs that you can browse on the gallery website. BOUNCE is the premium player in the Sydney market, with locations in Alexandria and other suburbs.
Check out Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park or try the cliff-top walking trails from Bondi to Cogree and Federation Cliff Walk from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay. Sydney is blessed with an amazing migration of humpback whales each year, as they make their way from Antarctica to the warmer Pacific Ocean waters. Here you will find gardens, wetlands, sports fields and cycling tracks to enjoy the great outdoors. Centennial Park is one of the biggest parks in Sydney with more than 189 hectares of open spaces, located just 4km from the Sydney CBD. Discover the newest trends in the art world while perusing cutting-edge pieces of art and participating in creative workshops. There are different events running all year round, so check the website to see what’s coming up during your stay.