The best free things to do in and around Sydney

For accessible play, Livvi’s Place playgrounds can be found across the city, from Five Dock to Kellyville to Jordan Springs. The fun-filled, fully-fenced spaces include wheelchair ramps, accessible swings and play equipment with plenty of space for kids of all abilities to play together. Families will love swimming in the many coastal ocean pools, most of which have no entry fee. Try the Bronte Baths and Mahon Pool in the east; the tiny Fairy Bower Pool near Manly; Palm Beach, Narrabeen and Avalon pools on the Northern Beaches; or the two rock pools at Cronulla Beach in the south. There are also a handful of spots to swim along the Parramatta River, like the Bayview Park Baths and Cabarita Park Beach, and you can even take a dip in Lake Parramatta. Penrith Beach is open for swimmers between December and April.
Organisations choose Team Days for our first-class service and unique experiences. Exclusive team cruise with sundeck, onboard sound system, gourmet food and drinks, plus experienced skipper and staff. Drag queen hosted bingo or trivia with laughs, cheeky challenges, electronic answer immersive sydney sheets, team prizes, and a dazzling drag show. Celebrate Pride with a lively gameshow combining LGBTQIA+ awareness, trivia, music and interactive competitive challenges. Masterpiece Painting is a creative team event where groups paint sections to form one collaborative artwork together. Score big in this timed team challenge of escalating tasks, blending creativity, observation and physical action for maximum fun.

Run, stroll, sunbake, picnic – the world is your oyster at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Thought to be one of the oldest public gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, they date back to 1810. Entry is free, and so are the guided tours from 10.30am – though you'll be able to discover plenty of cool stuff on your own (we particularly love the Cactus Garden). Grab a snack (or several), meander between the stalls, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy free live music drifting through the laneways.
Our most popular events are the Amazing Race, Survivor, Bike Brigade, Helping Hands, Lego Serious Play, Game Show Trivia Night and Battle of the Minds. Invest in experiences that align with your values, reflect your purpose, and move your people forward, together. This circuit path around Iron Cove Bay will take you from Rozelle to Drummoyne. It’s a popular running and cycling path for locals, and it can be pretty busy on sunny weekends. If you complete the entire 7km, there are your 10k steps done!
Either choice will see you learning all about this timeless drink and having fun at the same time. Sharing a laugh is one of the best ways to connect with someone new or keep the spark alive with your partner. Most venues serve food and drinks, so you can make a full night of it. For art lovers, going to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is a great rainy day activity. Art has a way to captivate people, and you can talk about the works while learning more about your partner and how they view the art.

However, for the few that are unwilling to live without experiencing such thrills, you may find yourself booking a skydiving trip while in Sydney. While living in Sydney, I rented boards from Let’s Go Surfing numerous times. The staff are amazing, they’re super friendly and offer great advice for both first time surfers and those who are more experienced. Let’s Go Surfing has great rates for both surfboard rentals and lessons, and I highly recommend checking them out while in Sydney. Circular Quay is world-famous and is what most people imagine when they think of Sydney Harbour.
Book the Latin dance harbour cruise — combines dinner, entertainment and harbour views for the ultimate romantic night out. Join our pub crawl that includes karaoke venues — perfect for groups who want someone else to handle the logistics. Sometimes the best nights are the ones where you throw inhibitions out the window and embrace your inner performer.

These are our top picks of things to do in Sydney for kids, focusing on the CBD area. If you wish to travel a bit further afield using Sydney as a base, check out this great post from Y Travel Blog. Meriton Serviced Apartments  – If you are looking for a  home away from home in Sydney consider these apartments. With 13 different properties across Sydney including the Waterloo, Kent Street, and Zetland areas, there are many to choose from. Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney – With a 24-hour reception and room service, you have the amenities of the hotel with the comfort, and spaciousness of an apartment. Two great locations in Sydney are the Sydney Town Hall and Darling Harbour locations.
The Rocks Discovery Centre is free, family-friendly and is housed in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse. The exhibits are really well done making it feel like you are back time. Some of the exhibits do require an entrance fee, and these change every few months. It’s worth checking to see what is on when you get to each art gallery. The Museum of Contemporary Art is a funky building down by the water near Circular Quay. The Art Gallery of NSW is a collection of modern, indigenous and contemporary art displayed in a super cool classical-style building, founded in 1871.
At Team Days, we take your people out of the office and into the thick of Sydney’s excitement, action, and creativity. Whether you’re planning a corporate team-building day, end-of-year celebration, or multi-day conference, Sydney delivers the perfect backdrop to connect and inspire. Are you ready to embark on a remarkable adventure in the heart of Thailand's natural wonders? Look no further than the captivating tour that unveils the beautiful landscapes of Khao Lak, offering an unforgettable experience like no other. Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure to immerse yourself in the extraordinary history of ancient Egypt? Join us on a remarkable full-day tour to Luxor's captivating highlights.

Spread over 74 acres, it’s dotted with pleasing sights of trees, flowers, ponds, and gazebos. Established in 1816, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is one of the most historical botanical gardens of the world. To make your experience even more sensational, let your photograph be taken and put up in the picture book. Hyde Park has hosted some of the most celebrated events, like the Sydney Food and Wine Fair. The 40-acre park on Elizabeth Street is listed as one of the country’s historical sites. It is truly a land of paradox, where yesterday and today walk hand in hand.
Read our guide with hidden gems in Sydney for more of these unique places to visit in Sydney. Read our Bradleys Head Walk article with all the highlights of this walking trail, including pictures. Bradleys Head is a fascinating spot, easily recognisable from the water by the large mast standing at the tip of the headland, overlooking the harbour. The museum is housed in two 19th-century courthouses and a former police station, offering an extensive collection of historical artefacts, photographs, and documents related to law enforcement and justice. Read our article about things to do in Manly for a complete list of exciting activities in this beautiful part of Sydney. Shelly Beach in Manly is part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected aquatic reserve spanning around 20 hectares.

The four-level Chau Chak Wing Museum covers a lot of bases too, like art, science, history and ancient cultures from Australia, Rome, Greece and Egypt, housed within the University of Sydney. Vivid Sydney, a spectacular light, music, and ideas festival, is a free annual event, but knowing where to find the best displays is key. Arrive early to secure a good viewing position, and don’t forget your camera to capture the dazzling displays.
Lining the beach is a walking path, perfect for watching the action on the water. South Head provides spectacular views of the harbour from the city skyline to Manly. Add to the mix a cute red and white lighthouse, Lady Bay, one of Sydney’s official nude beaches, and the beautiful Camp Cove Beach, and there are more than enough reasons to visit. A handful of secluded harbour beaches, views back to the city and the beautiful Strickland House are just some reasons to make time to walk Hermitage Foreshore Track from Rose Bay to Nielson Park. I spent over a decade working with international students and finding free things to do in Sydney was top of my list when planning activities for them. Whether you are a visitor or a local playing tourist at home (we highly recommend this, it’s the perfect way to remind yourself how lucky we are to live here), you should find something you want to do here.