Things to Do in Sydney: Toddlers to Teens Guide
Consider the inner west where you can combine murals with independent shops, or Cronulla where you can discover over 20 murals between the train station and the beach. Jamberoo is about 90 minutes south of Sydney and there are water play areas, water slides, fun rides and plenty more. There are good facilities with a fenced playground, gas BBQs and beautiful harbour views. You can follow a walk from the ferry wharf that will take you to a significant rock art site. The small general store near the waterfront often has free pamphlet guides you can follow.
World-class playgrounds like Darling Quarter Playground, Blaxland Riverside Park in best indoor activities sydney Olympic Park, and Livvi's Place in Ryde are completely free. Most beaches are free including family-friendly options like Balmoral, Clovelly, and Manly's sheltered Shelly Beach. Council libraries run free storytime sessions, many museums offer free entry for kids under certain ages, and parks like Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Garden are always free to enjoy. The most popular option remains the traditional play centre party. Prices range from $25 to $40 per child, with most venues requiring a minimum of 8 to 10 kids.
Council libraries run free storytime sessions for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers throughout the week. Many museums offer free entry for kids under certain ages, and the Royal Botanic Garden is always free. BOUNCE, Flip Out, and Sky Zone all offer party packages that combine bouncing time with a private party area.
On the Northern Beaches, Little Beans Cafe in Brookvale is purpose-built for under-5s with a soft play zone, imaginative play kitchen, and a cafe menu that goes well beyond the standard party pies and chicken nuggets. Our birthday party venues guide covers the full range of options across Sydney, and our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and send enquiries to multiple places with one form. While there is no special children’s pool, older kids will enjoy this pool with a view, and it makes a nice diversion after a walk through the botanic gardens.
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.
Right next door is Wild Life Sydney Zoo, both this and Sea Life is air-conditioned and undercover so great indoor activities. Take a self guide tour or book one of the special animal encounters like breakfast with the Koalas. Most kids light up when they see native Australian animals, and Sydney gives you world-class options from the stunning Taronga Zoo to intimate encounters at smaller attractions. Plus, if you visit June to October, whale watching cruises offer an unforgettable experience. One of my favourite harbour beaches is Balmoral Beach looking out over Middle Harbour.
These tend to run $30 to $45 per child but deliver high-energy entertainment that keeps even the most restless kids engaged. For something more creative, art studios, cooking schools, and science workshops across Sydney run structured party experiences that are perfect for smaller groups of 8 to 12 kids. Sydney's indoor play centre scene is the largest and most diverse in Australia. The industry has matured significantly in recent years, with new venues raising the bar on design, hygiene, food quality, and parent amenities. Kids will be high-as-a-kite with excitement after hearing about this place. Children from as young as three years old can learn how to skydive in an indoor facility in Penrith – and it’s fun for adults too.
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.
Along the way, there are several family-friendly beaches, like Tamarama with its popular kid’s playground and Clovelly with its sheltered bay. My grandkids love this park with its water fountains and play area, swings and slides, and climbing equipment suitable for kids of all ages. In Sydney’s east it’s hard to beat Shark Beach at Nielson Park, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. On scorching hot days, its enormous fig trees providing the perfectly shaded picnic spot.
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.
Trampoline parks like BOUNCE and Flip Out run party packages with dedicated hosts. For something different, try art studios, cooking schools, or outdoor venues like Centennial Park which has BBQ and picnic facilities. Our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and request quotes from multiple places at once. Many Sydney play cafes specifically target the baby and toddler market, offering a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy a decent coffee while their little ones explore safe, stimulating play areas. These venues are particularly popular with parents on maternity and paternity leave who are looking for social connection alongside child-friendly spaces. Our soft play centres guide and toddler activities blog have detailed recommendations.
The walk is not too challenging but best suited to older kids, as it is quite long. You can do this tour alone by following this walking guide; however, it is well worth going on a guide-led walk if the times and prices suit you. The tour I recommend is led by volunteer guides, and the cost of the tour is donated to kids in need.
Using flying foxes, watch the kangaroos, koalas, and emus go about their day from your bird’s-eye view. Suitable for kids over three years, the younger riders will have two courses allowing them to view koalas and possums. The zoo has a bunch of free shows every day, but the two that are always a hit with younger kids are the farm walk and the pat a pet talk. I suggest you check the schedule the day before and plan your day around the talks you want to join. See the world’s largest collection of marine life at Sea life Sydney Aquarium including the beautiful giants on Dugong island.
Art is for everyone, but the kids will be particularly fond of the ceramic-painting workshops at Jenny’s Painted Pots. You can decorate ceramic mugs, plates, animals or signs and lettering starting from $15, and they supply all the arty equipment. It’s also home to a traditional lolly shop, so you can scoff old-timey sweets while you paint. It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained when it’s grizzly outside and it could be a prime opportunity to procure some sentimental stocking-fillers for the family.
World-class playgrounds like Darling Quarter Playground, Blaxland Riverside Park in best indoor activities sydney Olympic Park, and Livvi's Place in Ryde are completely free. Most beaches are free including family-friendly options like Balmoral, Clovelly, and Manly's sheltered Shelly Beach. Council libraries run free storytime sessions, many museums offer free entry for kids under certain ages, and parks like Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Garden are always free to enjoy. The most popular option remains the traditional play centre party. Prices range from $25 to $40 per child, with most venues requiring a minimum of 8 to 10 kids.
Council libraries run free storytime sessions for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers throughout the week. Many museums offer free entry for kids under certain ages, and the Royal Botanic Garden is always free. BOUNCE, Flip Out, and Sky Zone all offer party packages that combine bouncing time with a private party area.
On the Northern Beaches, Little Beans Cafe in Brookvale is purpose-built for under-5s with a soft play zone, imaginative play kitchen, and a cafe menu that goes well beyond the standard party pies and chicken nuggets. Our birthday party venues guide covers the full range of options across Sydney, and our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and send enquiries to multiple places with one form. While there is no special children’s pool, older kids will enjoy this pool with a view, and it makes a nice diversion after a walk through the botanic gardens.
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.
Right next door is Wild Life Sydney Zoo, both this and Sea Life is air-conditioned and undercover so great indoor activities. Take a self guide tour or book one of the special animal encounters like breakfast with the Koalas. Most kids light up when they see native Australian animals, and Sydney gives you world-class options from the stunning Taronga Zoo to intimate encounters at smaller attractions. Plus, if you visit June to October, whale watching cruises offer an unforgettable experience. One of my favourite harbour beaches is Balmoral Beach looking out over Middle Harbour.
These tend to run $30 to $45 per child but deliver high-energy entertainment that keeps even the most restless kids engaged. For something more creative, art studios, cooking schools, and science workshops across Sydney run structured party experiences that are perfect for smaller groups of 8 to 12 kids. Sydney's indoor play centre scene is the largest and most diverse in Australia. The industry has matured significantly in recent years, with new venues raising the bar on design, hygiene, food quality, and parent amenities. Kids will be high-as-a-kite with excitement after hearing about this place. Children from as young as three years old can learn how to skydive in an indoor facility in Penrith – and it’s fun for adults too.
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.
Along the way, there are several family-friendly beaches, like Tamarama with its popular kid’s playground and Clovelly with its sheltered bay. My grandkids love this park with its water fountains and play area, swings and slides, and climbing equipment suitable for kids of all ages. In Sydney’s east it’s hard to beat Shark Beach at Nielson Park, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. On scorching hot days, its enormous fig trees providing the perfectly shaded picnic spot.
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.
Trampoline parks like BOUNCE and Flip Out run party packages with dedicated hosts. For something different, try art studios, cooking schools, or outdoor venues like Centennial Park which has BBQ and picnic facilities. Our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and request quotes from multiple places at once. Many Sydney play cafes specifically target the baby and toddler market, offering a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy a decent coffee while their little ones explore safe, stimulating play areas. These venues are particularly popular with parents on maternity and paternity leave who are looking for social connection alongside child-friendly spaces. Our soft play centres guide and toddler activities blog have detailed recommendations.
The walk is not too challenging but best suited to older kids, as it is quite long. You can do this tour alone by following this walking guide; however, it is well worth going on a guide-led walk if the times and prices suit you. The tour I recommend is led by volunteer guides, and the cost of the tour is donated to kids in need.
Using flying foxes, watch the kangaroos, koalas, and emus go about their day from your bird’s-eye view. Suitable for kids over three years, the younger riders will have two courses allowing them to view koalas and possums. The zoo has a bunch of free shows every day, but the two that are always a hit with younger kids are the farm walk and the pat a pet talk. I suggest you check the schedule the day before and plan your day around the talks you want to join. See the world’s largest collection of marine life at Sea life Sydney Aquarium including the beautiful giants on Dugong island.
Art is for everyone, but the kids will be particularly fond of the ceramic-painting workshops at Jenny’s Painted Pots. You can decorate ceramic mugs, plates, animals or signs and lettering starting from $15, and they supply all the arty equipment. It’s also home to a traditional lolly shop, so you can scoff old-timey sweets while you paint. It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained when it’s grizzly outside and it could be a prime opportunity to procure some sentimental stocking-fillers for the family.
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