20 Exciting Things to Do in Sydney with Kids [2026 Update]

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Caz and I both grew up an hour north of Sydney and visited the city countless times as kids, and now with our own children, we’ve discovered there are even more things to do in Sydney with kids. It’s a city that keeps on giving, and you’ll never run out of things to do, even though we keep going back to our favorite spots.

Sydney is one of the world’s top tourist destinations for a reason, and whether you have toddlers or pre-teens, you’ll find there’s something for everyone in this city. If this is your first time visiting Sydney and you’re not sure what to do with your kids, below are my top suggested activities for families that we love to do with our family!

1. Explore Circular Quay

If this is your first visit to Sydney as a family, the best place to start is in Circular Quay. The Quay is the main transport hub of Sydney Harbour, and it’s here that two of Australia’s most famous landmarks reside: the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Even though we’ve been there many times, we still like to wander around and take our “I was here” photo in front of these famous structures and feel the pulse of the city. There’s probably no other place that will jolt you awake from your jet lag and have you saying to yourself, “Hey, I’m in Sydney!” On any given day, especially a sunny day, Circular Quay is a great place to walk about or just sit and watch the ferries come and go.

If you want to step inside and experience the interior of the Sydney Opera House, consider taking a 1-hour tour. Being a busy transport hub, you’ll also find many outdoor cafes and restaurants lining the harbour, so if you skipped breakfast, you can grab a quick bite here!

2. Do the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk

We never get tired of doing the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, it’s one of our favorite free things to do in Sydney with kids. I’m frequently asked by travelers what to do in Sydney – my first answer is always the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. This stunning 1 km coastal walk starts from the Bondi Promenade and ends at Bronte Beach. It’s the perfect way to spend a gorgeous morning in Sydney.

If you can get your kids to rise early, either grab breakfast at your hotel or head straight to Bondi and enjoy breakfast at the family-friendly Bill’s Cafe.

This walk usually takes us two hours with the kids, as we like to take photos and admire the stunning views of cliffs, bays, and rock pools. There’s a kiosk (cafe) at Tamarama Beach if you need to rest or grab a coffee and a bite to eat. 

At Bronte Beach, our kids like to play on the playground towards the back of the picnic ground. Don’t forget your swimmers if it’s warm – the Bronte Baths are a good spot for the kids.

To get to Bondi, catch the train from Central Station to Bondi Junction, then a bus to Bondi Beach. Or buses 333, 380, 381 (to Bondi) and 378 (to Bronte) stop near the walk.

3. Go wild at Taronga Zoo

It would be hard to find a better setting for a zoo in the world than Taronga Zoo, situated right on Sydney Harbour in a natural bushland setting. Taronga is the first zoo we ever visited as kids growing up, and we enjoy taking our own kids now, who love to see the wide variety of animals from around the world, shows, keeper talks, and animal encounters, making it a great whole family outing. Taronga is just 12 minutes from Circular Quay by ferry, which offers amazing views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

4. Catch the ferry to Manly

You can’t visit one of the best harbour cities in the world and not get out on the water! We love jumping on the ferry at Circular Quay and visiting Manly on the Northern Beaches. The short ferry ride is a great and cheap way to experience Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the city skyline, Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Botanic Gardens. 

In Manly, walk down the palm tree-lined Corso, hit the promenade on the beach for an ice-cream, or walk around to picturesque Shelly Beach. Time your return ferry trip back to the Quay to coincide with sunset behind the harbour bridge.

5. Take the kids to Darling Harbour – Playground fun for kids

You can spend an hour or half a day at Darling Harbour, a lively harbourside precinct that’s just a 10-minute walk from the CBD or a quick ferry ride. It offers activities for the family. We like to just wander around the Darling Quarter and enjoy the free and paid entertainment.

Our kids love the large playground featuring slides, swings, a flying fox, and climbing ropes. And the historic carousel is always a hit. Darling Harbour is also home to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, the Wildlife Park, and IMAX theatre.

For eating and drinking, there are ample waterside restaurants and cafes overlooking Cockle Bay and the playground. For a cheaper bite to eat, there’s also a food court in the Harbourside shopping centre.

6. Get your thrills at Luna Park

The enormous smiling face at the entrance to Luna Park is an iconic symbol of the city. We have fond memories of visiting this amusement park from our own childhood, so it was fun to take our own kids for the first time.

‘Just For Fun’ is their tagline, and we certainly had fun as a family taking on the big slides in Coney Island, riding the wild mouse, and smashing into each other on the dodgem cars. Jump on the giant Ferris Wheel for spectacular elevated views of Sydney Harbour!

Luna Park is on the northern side of the harbour at Milsons Point. Jump on a train or ferry from Circular Quay, or do as we did and walk across the Harbour Bridge!

7. Have a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens

In my opinion, the Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the most impressive gardens in the world, certainly from a location standpoint. You cannot beat the serenity of the city and harbour views from these gardens, and spending an hour or so here is a relaxing and free way to enjoy one of Sydney’s top spots.

We like to pack a picnic lunch, or grab some takeaway from one of the shops at Circular Quay, and enjoy a casual lunch with plenty of room for the kids to run free.

If you have time, walk around the gardens to admire the many different types of plants and city views. You can also take a free self-guided walking tour. Be sure to check out Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, which has one of the best vantage points in Sydney, looking back over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

8. Take a day trip to Cockatoo Island

A short ferry ride from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour brings you to Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour’s largest island. What was once an island covered with red gums and frequented by the sulphur-crested cockatoos, which gave the island its name. It has served as a prison, a reformatory, and a shipyard, with its prison buildings now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

We enjoyed the 45-minute Convict History Tour to learn about the fascinating history of its days as a convict prison between 1839 and 1869. And our kids loved the self-guided Convict Clues Challenge with activity booklet and pull-out map, running in and out of the ruins and dancing in the old mess hall.

Cockatoo Island is a unique place to visit to learn about local history and also offers a different perspective of Sydney Harbour. The cool thing about this island is that you can even camp or sleep in a heritage house on the island!

9. Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge

You can pay $200+ each to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, recommended once in your life, or for a MUCH cheaper option, do what we like to do and simply walk across for free and take in the same panoramic views on a lower level. Start from The Rocks District at the southern end and take the gentle 1.4km stroll across the bridge to Milsons Point at the northern end. Either walk back or catch a train from Milsons Point Station to Circular Quay Station, or a ferry.

Whilst walking across the bridge, you can also visit the Pylon Lookout, where you get fantastic views plus 3 levels of exhibits to learn about the history of the Bridge.

10. Hang out on the Beach

Sydney’s beaches are famous and a must for free things to do in Sydney as a family (besides the cost of getting there). From the Northern Beaches to the Eastern Suburbs, you have many great beaches to explore. Our favourites include Bronte and Coogee in the eastern suburbs – and you must visit famous Bondi Beach at least once. Manly, Freshwater, and Palm Beach are our favorites of the northern beaches.

11. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach

You can’t get any more Australian than learning to surf at Bondi Beach, Sydney’s iconic beach. If you’ve got pre-teens looking to surf for the first time, Bondi is perfect for any beginner, as the beach faces south and the waves are quite shallow, so you are protected and the surf is not so wild. Let’s Go Surfing is the only learn to surf company in Bondi and is the best people to show you how to glide across the ocean.

12. Relax in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship

We’ve walked past the Chinese Gardens many times but never ventured inside until recently, so glad we did. We were impressed by the tranquility of this oasis in the middle of Darling Harbour and the city with waterfalls, lakes, exotic plants, pavilions, and hidden pathways – it’s not just another garden city, but like a secret garden. Collect a self-guided map from the front desk. Our kids loved discovering all the zodiac statues scattered throughout the gardens. And be sure to finish up with tea and a bite to eat at the Teahouse.

13. Check out Powerhouse Museum

We’re not typical museum people, and it takes an interactive museum to keep our engagement. The Powerhouse Ultimo Museum is one of the best for kids and adults alike, with a hands-on approach to learning! It seems like there’s always a new exhibit on show here. On our last visit, we enjoyed the Art of the Brick, which involved the use of over a million LEGO bricks to create more than 120 large-scale sculptures of DC Comics superheroes and supervillains (now over).

There are permanent exhibitions, like Experimentations (experiment with heat, light, chemistry, electricity, and movement), Locomotive No. 1 (brings to life the age of steam travel), and Wiggles World.

14. Go for Afternoon Tea!

You’ve got to treat yourself every once in a while, and as a family, we loved indulging in a high tea when we visited Sydney. We had high tea at the Langham Hotel, which was famed as the birthplace of the traditional Afternoon Tea, direct from London, but it no longer offers afternoon tea in Sydney.

That’s not a problem, though, as there are many places that offer afternoon tea! The Tea Room in QVB is a popular option for families as they have a specific child-friendly menu. They also have vegan and gluten-free options, so we’ll definitely be back there next time we’re in Sydney.

If you’ve never had a high tea experience, they tend to feature home-made cakes and pastries, savoury sandwiches and tarts, and freshly baked scones as well as a selection of teas.  Our kids loved it as it was like pretending to be at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland! Though we didn’t shout “CHANGE PLACES” as it was a little too luxurious for that kind of chivalry!

15. Go to the Top of Sydney Tower

No trip to Sydney would be complete without going to the top of Sydney Tower, the city’s tallest free-standing structure, standing at 309 m (1,014 ft) above the CBD. It has an observation deck with awesome views of the skyline. If you have older kids, then for an extra cost, you might consider an unforgettable Sydney Experience – The Sydney Tower Eye Sky Walk! This walk sits 268 metres above the city streets, looking through a glass floor. This adventure is not for the faint-hearted!

16. See WILD Life Sydney Zoo

While we love Taronga Zoo, it’s primarily home to exotic animals from around the world, such as giraffes and elephants. If you’re visiting Australia from abroad, you might be interested in seeing some of our native wildlife instead. At WILD Life Sydney Zoo, you can see cuddly koalas and bouncing kangaroos, as well as wallabies, platypus, and saltwater crocodiles – this is the Aussie Big Five! You can even meet the koalas and have your photo taken with them. If you’re not wildlifed out, head across the road to Aquarium Wharf to see sharks and dugongs, as well as other native marine animals in Australia.

17. Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains

One of our favorite national parks is only an hour’s drive from Sydney and is easily visited on a day trip. The Blue Mountains are a vast and rugged landscape made of steep sandstone cliffs, gorges, and miles of eucalyptus forests. It’s also well known for its bush trails, which pass through ancient trails used by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Don’t miss out on a chance to visit Echo Point for views of the famous Three Sisters rock formation.

18. See the Submarines at The Australian National Maritime Museum

Museums can be a hit or miss with kids, and we weren’t sure that a maritime museum would be that exciting for kids, but not the Australian National Maritime Museum! This maritime museum is interactive and immersive. You can board former navy warships, such as Destroyer: HMAS Vampire (with a name like that, what kid would say no?), and the historic 1874 Tall Ship: James Craig. You can even board a real-life submarine, the HMAS Onslow!

19. Take a Tall Ship Cruise of Sydney Harbour

The Sydney Tall Ships are a unique experience to have in Sydney and are not only thrilling and exciting, but also a step back in time! It was a real history lesson for our kids, who were able to board a life-sized 1850s-style wooden heroic ships, which would have been used to transport British and Dutch trade many years ago.

Think billowing sails, ropes, and rigging. Our kids loved pretending they were in Pirates of the Caribbean! Not only did we get to see Sydney Harbour and all its landmarks, but the added thrill of climbing the mast helped me conquer my fear of heights!

20. Take a workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

If your kids are creative and enjoy creating works of art like our girls, then you’ll want to check out the educational programs on offer at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. From Art Play sessions to workshops, they hold many events throughout the year designed for kids and families to unleash their creative outlets. Check out the what’s on calendar to see what classes they have on during your visit.

Oh, and even if you don’t attend a class here, be sure to come by at nighttime to see the building lit up in a multi-colored light show! If you like light displays, don’t miss the annual VIVID festival held in Sydney each May.

How to get to Sydney CBD from the airport

To get into the city of Sydney when you first arrive at the airport:

1. Hop on the Sydney Airport Link Train, which takes 15 minutes. Get yourself an Opal Card, which is a smart card you top up so that you can pay your fares on trains, buses, ferries, and light rail.
2. Catch an Uber. The airport link is expensive, so sometimes an Uber works out to be about the same price and is more convenient. You can do a price estimate through the Uber app before you request it to double-check.
3. Take a shuttle: It’s cheaper than the train and much more convenient. See more here. 
4. Private Transfer: If there is a group of you, a private transfer may be a good option.

Once you’re in the city, I suggest you book your accommodation in the Sydney CBD so you’re centrally located to make the most of your visit, and several of Sydney’s highlights can be taken in for free or cheap simply by walking around.

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Original Article on yTravel Blog