A KID’S GUIDE TO SYDNEY
Sydney Aquarium, Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour +61 2 8251 7800
Right in the heart of Darling Harbor, this aquarium features a large shark exhibition where you can arrange to feed them yourself from on board their ‘glass bottomed boat’. Other daily activities include a penguin feed, dugong and Great Barrier Reef talks, and guided tours.
Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman +61 2 9969 2777
A great day out for kids. Taronga Zoo is spacious with plenty for them to see including daily seal and bird shows. Take a guided tour or send them on a ‘Zoo Adventure’ program during the holidays. They also offer ‘Animal encounters’ where the kids can feed an animal and take home a photo with them as a souvenir.
Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool, 1C Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney +61 2 9358 6686
The swim-school at Boy Charlton includes sessions for babies, pre-schoolers and older children. They also do a Kid’s Fitness Squads for the keen swimmers! Or just take them for a casual swim in their large children’s pool.
Nielsen Park, Vaucluse
The perfect weekend or after-school spot for the kids. A gentle harbour beach for easy swimming, surrounded by grassy picnic areas and shady trees. There’s also a café, open 7 days a week.
Luna Park, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point +61 2 9922 6644
Sydney’s famous amusement park, situated right on the harbour. Entry is free and rides and games passes range between $10-$40. Various games, slides, and rides – including a Ferris Wheel that offers one of the best views in Sydney.
National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour +61 2 9298 3777
Children’s activities for every age group. On Tuesdays during school-term is the Mini-Mariner day for children under 5, while older children have the options of Kids on Deck on a Sunday or various youth workshops during the holidays.
Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney +61 2 9320 6311
Events and exhibitions for kids are always on, just check the website for their current schedule. There’s also Kidspace, a ‘mini-museum’ for under 5’s, with various tactile objects to stimulate their senses, and 5 cubby house ‘pods’ to play inside.
Centennial Park, +61 2 9339 6699
Take the kids bike-riding, rollerblading or horse-riding, or to one of the 5 playgrounds located around the park. You can also organise for the Centennial Parklands team to host your child’s birthday party, with a range of activities to suit birthday boys and girls ages 3 -12.
The Beach
With so many kid-friendly beaches in Sydney, it’s really a matter of where the most convenient one is for you. Our picks are Bronte Beach, Bondi Beach, Bilgola Beach, and Dee Why Beach, all with great swimming pools; Avalon Beach and Parsley Bay for their grassed areas and playgrounds, and Balmoral Beach for its calm waters and shady picnic spots. See our Sydney Aqua guide for more locations.
Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush +61 2 9714 7888
There is a multitude of activities here for the little ones. At the aquatic centre you’ll find Splasher’s indoor water playground and the Waterslide. If you’d prefer to stay outdoors take them to Monster Skatepark, the adventure playground at Wentworth common, bike-riding, or on the giant trampoline.
Surfing
For any child brave enough to take it on, surfing is a great way to entertain your kids and wear them out at the same time. Rent or buy a board and take them yourself, or book them into a surf school on the weekends or during school holidays. There are numerous surf schools in Sydney – Bondi Surf School, Manly Surf School, Line Up Surf Australia, and Waves Surf School are just a few.
Imax, 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour +61 2 9281 3300
The world’s biggest Imax screen, situated at Darling Harbour. Visit the website for current showings, but you’ll usually be able to catch an Under the Sea or dinosaur flick in 3D.
