Fun Things To Do In Sydney With Kids In 2026

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.
Martial arts — karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and boxing — are widely available and increasingly popular for building confidence  and discipline. We’ve put together expert guidance on the key decisions you need to make before arriving in Sydney. You can have a no stress camping holiday at Cockatoo Island in the middle of the harbour. This entertainment hub is perfect for families who can’t sit still. Jump into action-packed laser tag battles, challenge each other to bowling matches, or bump around in dodgem cars – there’s never a dull interactive entertainment sydney moment. If you are not so confident, there are some well-run snorkelling tours where guides will help you and all your gear (and even wetsuits) are provided.

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.
You can photograph yourself upside down on the ceiling with Spider-Man, activate the Bat signal and help Superman lift a helicopter above his head. There’s more than enough to occupy an hour or two here, and you can even memorialise the visit with a wax cast of your own hand. Tickets are cheaper if you book them online and you can bundle  them with tickets to the Sydney Tower Eye, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and the Big Bus for further discounts. Paula Morgan, a born-and-bred Sydney resident, has been sharing this city and its secret spots for over 15 years. We have done some pretty extensive research on the best hotels and apartments for families in Sydney to make selecting the right property easier for you.

Ultimate Sydney in Northmead is one of Australia's largest indoor entertainment centres, combining a massive play structure with 60+ trampolines, a ninja warrior course, and a dedicated toddler zone. Entry is around $18 to $22 per child, which is exceptional value for the amount of activity on offer. Nearby, Go Bananas in Penrith packs in multi-level climbing frames, tube slides, and a separate soft play area for under-5s, all at prices that keep Western Sydney families coming back weekend after weekend. Bondi is the beach everyone recognizes from TV, and yes, it’s touristy, but it’s also genuinely fun for families and absolutely worth experiencing. This iconic 1km stretch offers everything from swimming and surfing lessons to the famous Icebergs complex, plus some fantastic kid-friendly spots we’ll show you.
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.
If you're keen to burn the kids energy out, challenge them to a game of laser tag and rest assured that they'll sleep all night. The cheapest time to skate is Mon-Fri 4pm-5pm, when tickets are $20 for adults and $19 for kids (including skate hire). Whether it's a lingering drizzle or a downpour for the ages, you don't want to get caught out in the city when it rains, nevermind with little ones in tow. It pays to have a few wet-weather tricks up your sleeve for when the cartoons and colouring-in book at home just aren't cutting it anymore. The “Boy” Charlton pool is a saltwater pool located adjacent to the Botanic Gardens and overlooking Woolloomooloo. This pool is named after one of the country’s most successful swimmers who won five Olympic medals during the 1920s.

There are lots of free BBQs at Bronte where you can cook your own meals or a variety of cafes if you prefer to dine in. The search and discover collection allows kids to get their hands on dinosaur bones, taxidermied Aussie animals, live stick insects and lots more. Darling Harbour is home to many of Sydney’s biggest and best free festivals, so make sure you check their What’s On pages to see what is happening this month. Why not take my free self-guided walk of the Rocks and drop in at The Rocks Discovery Museum.
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.

The tunnels of the aquarium are a mesmerising place for kids, where they can meet dugongs, sharks, sea turtles and penguins. On the North Shore, Planet Mino in Chatswood sets the standard for design-led play. Their two-storey space-themed playground features augmented reality walls, a giant ball blaster arena, and a cafe that serves genuinely good coffee. It's pricier than Western Sydney options at around $20 to $25 per child, but the quality of the fit-out is noticeably higher. In the Hills District, Area 51 in Castle Hill sprawls across 4,000 square metres and includes a unique Snow World zone where kids can play in real snow regardless of the weather.
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.

And you can ride each of them as many times as you like during your visit. If you’ve got a few days to spend in Sydney and want to get beyond the city for a day or two, there are some downright epic day trips from Sydney or weekend getaways in the Greater Sydney region. There is also an ocean pool for swimming, which is great for kids who are a little cautious about swimming in the waves.
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.
This zoo provides an amazing opportunity to see wildlife of land and sea with the only combined zoo and aquarium in New South Wales. One of the greatest Sydney family activities is a day at heritage-listed amusement park Luna Park Sydney. If you’re really daring, and visiting with older kids who are a little daring, try the Skywalk experience around the outside of the Sydney Tower  Eye.