If you are planning a trip to Australia, Sydney is likely on your list because of how much there is to do and see there. However, it can be hard to decide what to do because of how much there is to do! And of course, Sydney Australia is one of our favorite places to visit because it’s very family friendly and has a lot of fun activities for children. Australia is unique because it’s a winter escape for countries that experience colder months from Oct through March like most of Europe and North America. Since the coordinates of Sydney and cities like California and New York are reversed, the weather in both cities are opposite. In August while it is blazing hot in California or New York, Sydney is experiencing their mild winter, something to keep in mind when planning your vacation to Sydney! With that being said, here are the top 20 things to do in Sydney, Australia while you are visiting the continent.
1. Explore Bondi Beach
One of the best free things to do in Sydney is to go down to Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach is world-renowned for being gorgeous, plus you get the bonus of the Bondi beach weather. It is known for its amazingly beautiful stretch of sand, huge waves, and more. It is a great place to visit at any time of the year, something both you and your family would enjoy.
You can do a variety of things such as walking, golfing, whale watching, and more while on Bondi Beach. What is even better is that this beach is just 30 minutes away from the Town Hall Station by both train and bus so it’s easy to reach. Bondi Beach is a great place to get to know the laid-back Australian beach attitude and culture while also having a great time with your family. With cafes nearby and tours, you’ll learn a few things about Australian culture and history.
2. Play at night at Darling Harbor Playground
If you are looking for something that is tailored more towards exercise and using energy, the Darling Harbor Playground is a great option for you. With everything from water games, climbing ropes, and swings to flying foxes and slides, your children will be entertained for hours on end.
While you are there with your kids, there are still things for you to do and lots of places to eat. So if you’re in Syndey and want to give the kids a workout, head for Darling Harbor.
3. Visit Sydney Sea Life Aquarium
Another fun, but not free, adventure to take in Sydney is heading down to the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium. With beautiful sea life to see, facts to learn, food to eat, and more, the aquarium is the perfect way to spend your day with your family.
Ticket prices range from $36 to $239 depending on the package you choose as well as the ages of your kids. It’s a bit pricey but we think it’s well worth the cost since your kids will never run out of things to look explore.
4. Picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens
If you want something more relaxed and personal, then we highly recommend packing up some food, grabbing a couple of blankets, and heading to the Royal Botanical Garden for a nice lunch with your family.
In this garden, you will learn a lot about Sydney culture and what makes it unique. You’ll also get to enjoy some peace and quiet with your family in a thoroughly beautiful place, so, get packing and go have some good food and fun.
5. Walk across Sydney Harbor Bridge
Just as California has the famous San Francisco Bridge, Sydney also has a famous bridge as well known as the Sydney Harbour Bridge. While this bridge is a way for hundreds of car to get around Sydney every day, it’s also a fun bridge to cross on foot.
Be warned, however, that this may be a harder task with young kids because it is quite a long walk. However, if you feel that your children can handle the long walk, then is worth it – the views will blow you away.
6. Visit Australian Museum
While the Sydney Australia museum is currently closed to the public until the middle of 2020 due to renovations, it is still an amazing place to take your kids when it reopens.
Your kids will learn so much about Australia’s history, science, culture, and more, all of which are valuable to them. When the museum opens, it will have new and exciting exhibits to show the family.
7. Take a walk in Chinatown,Sydney
Yes, Sydney has a Chinatown just as many big cities do, and it is so worth visiting. It is packed full of culture, stores, food, and more.
You and your family would have a blast taking a little stroll through Chinatown and embracing the Chinese-Australian-Mixed culture that is represented in this part of Australia.
8. Eat amazing Gelato at N2 Extreme Gelato
If you are not scared of your kids getting a little of sugar, one of the most popular ice cream or gelato places in all of Australia is the N2 Extreme Gelato. Their name says it all because their gelato creations are extreme, to say the least.
They make their gelatos using only real and natural ingredients. N2 stands for Nitrogen, so when they make the gelato, the store becomes filled with smoke as the ice cream is processed. The delicious gelato alone is worth visiting Sydney for.
9. Ride the Ferris Wheel at Darling Harbor
As long as neither you nor your children are scared of heights, your family would love to ride the Ferris Wheel located on Darling Harbor. Surrounded by bright lights and fun adventures, the Ferris wheel is something fun to do in Syndey, Australia at night.
Once you get to the top, you will be in awe of the breathtaking views of Sydney below, something that’s hard to see from any other part of Sydney. Tickets cost about $8 per person.
10. Visit Kangaroos and Koalas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo
In every big city, one of the best things to do with your family is to heading down to the zoo. Why? The zoo has so many things to see and do!
The Wildlife Sydney Zoo is no short of excitement either. With a wide variety of animals and wildlife, some of them being native to Australia, your children will be entertained for hours while learning about and interacting with all the animals surrounding them.
11. Visit Hyde Park
If your kids are feeling a little antsy and want to run around a park for a little while, you can take them down to the famous Hyde Park in central Sydney. This park has been around since 1927 and for good reason. It is a beautiful sight and an amazing place to take the family down to.
Within the park are beautiful and well-kept gardens along with beautiful trees, avenues, and more. You and your family can take a stroll through the paths and take in all the peace of Hyde Park as a family.
12. Spend time in Circular Quay
If you have never heard of the Circular Quay, it is about time that you did because it is amazing. It is a high-energy area with a lot of activity that you don’t want to miss. In fact, it is considered the number one buzzing place in Sydney.
Circular Quay is home to the main ferry terminus. Being located along the famous Sydney Cove, Circular Quay is a great place to learn about Australian history and culture. It also acts as the gateway to many of the major attractions that Sydney has to offer.
13. Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains
One of the best views that you will see in all of Sydney is the Blue Mountains. To see this, you have a few options. You can either take a free trip down to the base of the mountain and see it from the bottom or invest in a tour to see the amazing views from the top. The tours can go up to $250 per person so do your homework to find the best priced tickets.
At the top, you will board the world steepest railway to view all that there is to see. The limestone of the mountains is believed to have been formed about 340 million years ago so this is a really ancient mountain!
14. Visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship
While in Darling Harbor, you can also visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship. This garden is a peaceful little area that is both beautiful and tranquil and provide you with a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
You will find willows swaying in the wind, beautiful little waterfalls, and more. You and your family can take in the tranquility as you meander through this beautiful little cultured garden.
15. Eat a humongous burger at Criniti, Darling Harbor (Ask for outside seating. The view is amazing!)
If you and your kids are feeling hungry, take a trip down to Criniti which is also located on Darling Harbor. This place is known for giving huge hamburgers, so your kids won’t complain that they are hungry for the rest of the day (hopefully!).
Credits: CrinitiThis is one of the wonderful and delicious cheap things to do in Sydney to spend time with your family. And it’s also one of the coolest places to eat while in town!
16. Visit Taronga Zoo
If you are looking for yet another zoo to visit with your family to experience different animals and wildlife, another amazing zoo is the Taronga Zoo. It is open until 5 pm every day and the tickets run at around $24-$42 with the option of saving money by buying family packs.
Here, you will learn all there is to know about the world’s most amazing animals while your kids interact with the different animals at the zoo.
17. Take a day trip to The Royal National Park
If you want something more relaxing and still family-oriented, you can head down to the Royal National Park to have a barbeque, go fishing, do some birdwatching, and more. It is one of the oldest national parks in the world and is an amazing place to visit.
While at the Royal National Park, walk around and explore the park, the find the perfect spot for you and your family to relax.
18. Ride, swim, and get wet at Wet-n-Wild
This is definitely a thing to do in Australia in December, when summer begins!. With raging water slides, large pools, lazy rivers, and more, your family can get some relief from the hot weather with a cool dip in the water.
And if your kids like any of ours, they will have so much fun running from ride to ride and experiencing the water park at its best.
19. Get a good view of the city with a tour of Skywalk at the Sydney Tower Eye
If you skipped out on the Blue Mountain excursion but still want to see wonderful views of Sydney, a great place to go is the Sydney Tower Eye. This is a tall building located in central Sydney that will provide you with amazing views of the city and beyond.
You will even be able to see the beautiful Sydney Australia skyline from up there. The view you see here though, will be slightly different from what you see from the Blue Mountain.
20. Camp or glamp at Cockatoo Island
If you are in the mood for the outdoors and want to live off of the land for a little, you and your family can take a little camping trip down at Cockatoo Island.
While there you can spend the night in a tent or, if you prefer more modern amenities, choose to ‘Glamp’ or glamorously camp.
Overall, there are a lot of fun things to do in Sydney, many of which you do not want to miss out on. This list is not comprehensive but just a start of the best things you can do in Sydney. There are some things to do in Sydney for free, and others that aren’t free but are worth it. Either way, you will find some cool things to do in this city when you visit.
This article is part of our popular series, Place To Go With Kids!
