This is my guide to the best things to do in Sydney with kids!
Sydney is the biggest and most iconic city in Australia and to me, it’s the most beautiful city in the world! The city is known for having epic beaches (hello, it’s where you’ll find Bondi Beach) and it’s also where you’ll find world-famous sights like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
It’s such a vibrant and bustling city that you’d be forgiven for wanting to vacation here kid-free. But, actually, Sydney is one of the best places in Australia to vacation with kids. That’s because it’s home to Taronga Zoo, a huge aquarium, and heaps of family-friendly beaches.
Most families visiting Sydney, tend to allow 3 days in Sydney or a long weekend. As it’s enough time to see the city’s top family attractions like Taronga Zoo and the Sealife Aquarium and go on a day trip to the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Mountains.
I love visiting Sydney with my two daughters because the city is very walkable. You can easily walk everywhere in the city center with kids in tow and if you can’t/ don’t want to walk the public transport system here is excellent. And unlike some other cities in Australia the weather here isn’t crazy hot, average highs in the summer sit at around 25 Celsius (78 Fahrenheit) and it’s never too humid.
So, let’s take a look, shall we? In this blog post, I will share with you all the best things to do in Sydney with kids as well as the best hotels for children and the most family-friendly restaurants here.
Day One: Taronga Zoo, Visit a beach, Jet boat ride
Morning – Taronga Zoo
If you’re visiting Sydney with kids – Taronga Zoo is a must. It’s one of the biggest zoos in the country (there are over 4,000 animals here) and on a visit here you can expect to see elephants, giraffes, tigers koalas, and more. Make sure to catch the different daily keeper talks and shows while you’re here.
We suggest allowing at least 3 hours here – there really is so much to see. Tickets for Taronga Zoo costs from $53 AUD per person.
P.S. Did you know you can spend the night at Taronga Zoo? Yep, you can – the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo is an experience for the bucket list. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it. It’s only bookable for kids over 5 years, though. You will sleep in a luxury tent in the zoo which looks out to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You’ll hear the noise of lions and elephants from your tent and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo before it opens. This amazing experience costs from $619 AUD per night.
Related Read: When we visited Belize, we stayed at Belize Zoo and it was unforgettable!
Afternoon – Head to a beach!
After a busy morning spent at Taronga Zoo, a good choice for the afternoon of day one in Sydney would be to head to one of Sydney’s stunning beaches and chill out. I know, my daughters get crazy if they’re overstimulated so a chilled-out activity always works best for us after a busy morning.
Of course, Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in Sydney (if not all of Australia) but, I actually don’t recommend this beach if your kids want to go for a swim. The waves here are pretty intense and the current can be strong, too (I mean, have you watched the TV series Bondi Rescue?) So, it’s not ideal for younger kids. Plus, it’s crowded I lived in Sydney (in North Bondi) for a couple of years and I know how busy it can get particularly on a weekend in Sydney and during the summer months.
Balmoral Beach:
Instead, one of my favorite beaches in Sydney for kids is Balmoral Beach near Mosman in the Northern Beaches area. Because of its location in a sheltered bay, its calm waters are a favorite with Sydney families. There’s also a U-shaped wooden jetty here that older kids love to jump from. I came to Balmoral regularly when I lived in nearby Kirribilli and I must say it’s one of my favorite beaches in Sydney. It has a very chilled-out vibe and there’s a great fish & chips stand here – called Bottom of the Harbour Seafoods. The Boathouse Balmoral is another great spot for food (and coffee) – it’s a buzzy spot that looks out onto the beach.
Handily, if you’re visiting Sydney with older kids you can walk from Taronga Zoo (your activity this morning) to Balmoral. It will take around 3 hours and follows the foreshore – so the views are fabulous. However, it is rated as moderately challenging which is why I only recommend doing it with older kids. Otherwise, you can catch the 100 bus from Taronga Zoo, it will leave you off at Military Road in nearby Mosman, and from there, it’s a 15-minute walk downhill to Balmoral Beach.
Alternative options: Shelly Beach or Watson’s Bay
Another great kid-friendly beach in Sydney is Shelly Beach, next to Manly which is accessible by ferry from Circular Quay. Or Watson’s Bay Beach in the Eastern Suburbs, which is also accessible by ferry from Circular Quay.
Evening – Jet Boat Ride
If your kids are aged over 5 then you should definitely try the Thunder Jet Boat – a heart-pumping 30-minute-long boat ride that has you speeding through Sydney Harbour and past iconic sights like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. And out to Rose Bay and Watson’s Bay. You’ll have white knuckles from holding on so tight as your driver does 360-degree spins and twists with the jetboat! No need to worry this is a completely safe experience, the drivers are highly trained, and all safety precautions are followed!
You can BOOK the Thunder Jet Boat here for $85 AUD per person. It’s highly recommended and 98% of guests recommend this activity!
Day Two: Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Watson’s Bay
Morning – Opera House & Harbour Bridge
This morning you will stay around the Circular Quay area to visit the Sydney Opera House (and maybe do a tour of it if your kids are interested in architecture) and then walk through the lush Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquaries Chair – where you can ask someone to snap a lovely family photo of you all. The view from here is WOW! Then, in the late morning, we suggest walking over the Harbour Bridge – which takes just 30 minutes each way.
Sydney Opera House:
One of the coolest buildings in the world. It opened its doors in 1973 and is one of the top event venues in the country. Several superstars have performed here over the years, like Bob Dylan and Sting.
If you have kids who are interested in architecture or history, I advise you book a guided tour of the inside of this iconic building.
The tour is only around an hour long and to me it’s well worth doing to see the interior and learn about the history and construction of the opera house. As you can imagine the tour is very popular. You will need to book it in advance, especially if you plan on visiting during the busy summer months. The tour costs $45 AUD per person.
Stroll through the Botanic Gardens:
The oldest Botanic Gardens in the country are located right next to the Opera House. So it makes sense to go for a leisurely stroll here after checking out the Opera House. It’s like an oasis in the middle of the city. And the fact that it’s situated right on Sydney harbor makes it even more appealing. It’s free to enter and we recommend spending around an hour here taking in all the native plants and flowers and admiring the views of the harbor.
One of my favorite places to visit in the Botanic Gardens is Mrs Macquaries Chair which is around a 20-minute walk from where you enter the gardens near the Opera House. This spot is known as having one of the best views in Sydney. From here you have the perfect framing for your family pictures as both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge will be in the background.
Walk across the Harbour Bridge:
This is one of my favorite things to do in Sydney and it will take around 30 minutes to walk across the bridge each way. Be sure to take your time as you stroll across, as you’ll have an awesome view of the Sydney Opera House and the harbor as you go! If you wish, you can climb up the Pylon for uninterrupted views of the city below, this costs around $25 USD per person. And no need to book, just rock up and wait your turn. However, beware it’s a climb of 200 steps to the lookout!
Your older kids or teens may be keen to do the Sydney Bridge Climb, this bucket-list-worthy experience has you climbing on top of the Harbour Bridge. Yep, for this activity one will literally climb on the bridge, attached by a harness! It’s a nerve-wracking but rewarding experience and you and the kids will feel on top of the world after accomplishing it. It takes 3 hours, including safety talk and costs from $289 AUD.
Afternoon – Darling Harbour
This afternoon, to escape the heat – we advise heading to the buzzy Darling Harbour area of the city. Here, you’ll find Madame Tussauds and the SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium. There’s also a shaded playground here, one of the biggest in the country, and an awesome outdoor splash park – that my nephew absolutely loved when he came to visit us.
Madame Tussauds:
I’m sure you’ve heard of Madame Tussauds – home to many celebrity wax figures. In the Sydney one, you’ll find a Justice League section where you can snap photos with your favorite superheroes. There’s also a section called Illuminate (my favorite) which is inspired by the annual Vivid Sydney light show – you can control the lights and projections here. Tickets for Madame Tussauds cost from $38 AUD per adult.
SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium:
This is my top pick for families in Darling Harbour. This huge aquarium has been open since 1988 and features more than 700 different marine species like sharks, penguins, jellyfish and, more. There are 9 themed rooms at the aquarium including Shark Valley, Jurassic Seas, Great Barrier Reef Zone and, Sydney Harbour.
We recommend spending around two hours here. Tickets to SEALIFE cost from $40 AUD per adult.
Evening – Watson’s Bay
This evening, we recommend catching the ferry from Circular Quay over to the gorgeous Watson’s Bay for dinner. The very kid-friendly Doyles on the Beach is located here, which offers an amazing selection of fresh seafood dishes. And the little ones can play in the nearby park or on the beach out front while you wait for your food. Be sure to get here in time for sunset!
Day Three: Day trip to the Blue Mountains
Today, we recommend getting your family out of the city and exploring the incredible Blue Mountains on a guided tour.
The Blue Mountains are made up of a series of giant sandstone ridges that are covered with native bush. And interestingly, these ridges are approximately 10 times older than the Grand Canyon! Yep, the Blue Mountains were believed to have been formed 470 million years ago.
These mountains aren’t actually blue in fact they got their name because of the blue rays of light that appear above the mountains. This phenomenon happens when eucalyptus oil from the nearby forests mixes with dust and water in the air to create a blue haze above the mountains.
Best kid-friendly tour to the Blue Mountains:
The guided tour we recommend doing to the Blue Mountains is this tour which includes a visit to a wildlife park and a river cruise. It’s a small group tour which is ideal with kids as you won’t have to share the experience with many other people. It’s around 10 hours long and stops at the highlights of the area – Echo Point (the best view of the mountains), the pretty mountain village of Leura, Scenic World, Featherdale Wildlife Park, and Wentworth Falls.
Plus, you can ride the cable car at Scenic World (for an extra fee) – which the kids are sure to love. Scenic World is to me, a must-visit in the Blue Mountains, the cable car ride is 270 meters above the valley floor and the views are epic. You’ll also find the longest boardwalk in the Southern Hemisphere here.
You’ll also get to pay a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, where you can get up close to native animals like kangaroos and koalas. The kids will especially have fun on this part of the tour. And the day ends with a river cruise down the Parramatta River and you’ll get dropped off by the cruise boat in Circular Quay.
This tour will pick you up from your accommodation in Sydney city center around 8 am and the price is around $690 AUD per person. Children under 5 are free. I think it’s great value for a private tour.
BOOK the same Blue Mountains tour we did and recommend here! It has over 160 5-star reviews and is recommended by 98% of guests!
If you have more time in Sydney with kids, here’s what I’d do:
Ideally, I’d allow 5 days in Sydney if you’re traveling with kids as that way you can take it slow and not rush to get everything ticked off. As we all know, kids can be unpredictable creatures so by having longer in the city it means that if your kid isn’t in the mood for a particular activity one day you can do it the next day, when they’re feeling more up to it.
Here are some other fun activities I recommend adding to your Sydney itinerary if you have more time:
Go on a whale Watching Cruise:
Whale-watching tours in Sydney run from May to November and on a whale-watching cruise here, you’ll be treated to scenes of humpback whales putting on a show in Sydney harbour. There’s an abundance of whales in the harbour at this time of year because thousands of these majestic creatures make their way to Sydney from the Antarctic every year in May!
This 2.5-hour cruise from Circular Quay is the tour we did and we really enjoyed it. It costs $95 AUD per person.
Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach:
If your kids are good to hike, then the easy coastal trail from Bondi to Coogee is a must-do. It’s one of the most famous walks in Australia and it’s pretty easy as it’s paved. Along the way you’ll pass some of the prettiest beaches in Sydney – beaches like Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly – where your kids can cool off with a swim. There are also several Cafes at these beaches if you need to stop for refreshments.
Catch the ferry to Manly:
If your kids love to surf or just love playing in the sand, you should catch the ferry to Manly from Circular Quay. It’s regarded as one of the most picturesque ferry journeys in the world as it passes the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and several of Sydney’s beaches. The fast ferry ride is only 20 minutes long and the regular ferry is 40 minutes long.
As I said, Manly Beach is a popular surf spot and in fact, the first surfing competition in Australia was held here. The beach is huge – so there is plenty of space for kids to play around. But I would be careful of them playing near the water as the waves are big! There are also lots of great restaurants and Cafes in Manly. You could easily spend a full day here.
Visit the Australian Museum:
The Australian Museum located close to Hyde Park is the country’s oldest. Your kids will surely love the Wild Planet exhibition that features over 400 animal exhibits and dinosaur-lovers will be in awe at their interactive dinosaur exhibition. They also currently have a fascinating climate change exhibition called Surviving Australia.
Best restaurants in Sydney for families
I know from personal experience that eating out with kids can be stressful, which is why I’ve put together this list of kid-friendly Sydney restaurants.
- Fratelli Fresh – A casual Italian chain of restaurants that serve up fresh pasta dishes, their location in Darling Harbour is my personal favorite as it’s spacious.
- Grill’d – Another restaurant chain, Grill’d is a sort-of fancier fast food spot that serves up incredible burgers, fries, and, more. They have locations throughout the city including at Westfield Shopping Centre and World Square (near Chinatown).
- Pancakes on the Rocks – Located on Playfair Street in The Rocks this is a firm-favorite family restaurant in Sydney CBD. It reminds me of an American diner with its layout and large portions. Their pancake dishes are of course a must-try!
- The Grounds of Alexandria – although not in the city center (it’s a 10-minute drive away), I highly recommend visiting ‘the grounds’ as locals call it, as a family. The restaurant here offer homely dishes and it’s set within a former brick factory and it has a huge garden with a chicken run and at certain times of the year – petting zoos. A main here starts from $20 AUD.
Getting around Sydney with kids
Sydney is a very walkable city, which means that you can easily walk between most parts of the city center with kids in tow. For example, to walk from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour will take around 15-20 minutes. And it’s worth noting that if you have a stroller, the pavements here are very stroller-friendly.
Tour suggestion: The Big Bus hop-on-hop-off bus is a firm favorite with families as it stops at the city’s top sights like the Opera House and Darling Harbour. Simply hop off when you wish and hop back on when you’re done. It’s an ideal way for families to see the city if they’re short on time. Prices are around $69 AUD for a 24-hour pass.
For longer distances, like if you wanted to get to Bondi Beach from the CBD, your best bet is to catch a bus (the 333 bus takes around 15 minutes, without traffic). You can also catch the train in Sydney if you need to travel greater distances, there’s a train station at Milson’s Point (the small town on the other side of the Harbour Bridge) if you don’t fancy walking back across the bridge.
For me, though, ferries are my favorite mode of transport in Sydney and you can catch the ferry to many of the places I’ve listed above (Manly, Taronga Zoo, Watson’s Bay). These ferries leave from Circular Quay.
As for getting into Sydney from the airport – we find, the train is the easiest way to get into the city with the Airport Link operating about every 10 minutes into downtown and the suburbs.
Where to stay in Sydney with kids
- Novotel on Darling Harbour – Conveniently located in buzzing Darling Harbour, this huge hotel features an outdoor pool, gym, and tennis court. And the rooms are spacious and comfortable and many offer a view of Darling Harbour. A room here costs around $250 AUD per night.
- Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay – This child-friendly hotel also enjoys a convenient location in Circular Quay, the rooms are spacious and there’s an indoor pool. Some rooms offer views over Sydney Harbour. The onsite restaurant and bar are also spacious. Rooms cost around $250 AUD per night.
- Meriton Suites on Kent Street – If you prefer the ease of an apartment when traveling with kids then the Meriron Suites centrally located on Kent Street are a good choice. As they feature a kitchen and living area. And there’s a laundry room in the building. Plus, there’s an indoor pool and a sauna for the adults. Prices start at around $200 AUD per night.
- Sydney Potts Point Central Hotel – This boutique, art-deco aparthotel is located in leafy Potts Point and you can walk into the city (around 30 minutes) or catch the train from King’s Cross. Rooms are reasonably priced at under $200 AUD per night.
Thanks for Reading!
Tell me – what did you think of our guide to things to do in Sydney with kids? Is there anything we have missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Last Updated on December 4, 2024 by snaphappytravel