With kids · Sydney · Australia
Sydney with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was J Bar at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Sydney works well with children: harbour ferries feel like an outing in themselves, beaches and ocean pools are everywhere, and the zoo, aquarium and free museums cover wet days. Plan around strong sun, and swim only at patrolled beaches. Top picks: Taronga Zoo, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Australian Museum. Families usually base themselves in Darling Harbour and Pyrmont.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Darling Harbour and Pyrmont
- Rainy-day options
- 2
- Busiest months
- December–January
Best things to do with kids
Zoo · Mosman
1.Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo climbs a hillside in Mosman facing the city skyline, a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. Its Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, platypuses and echidnas, are the main draw for overseas visitors, alongside big cats, primates, a seal show and a free-flight bird show with the harbour as a backdrop.
Ride the Sky Safari cable car from the ferry wharf to the top entrance, then walk downhill through the zoo back to the ferry.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
- Iconic
Aquarium · Darling Harbour
2.SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
On the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, the aquarium leads through underwater tunnels past sharks and rays, with a large Great Barrier Reef section, penguins and local harbour species. It is one of the easiest wet-weather options for families in the city centre.
Go at opening time or late in the afternoon; school groups and holiday crowds peak around midday.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Hyde Park
3.Australian Museum
Founded in 1827, Australia's oldest museum faces Hyde Park on College Street. Its natural history galleries cover dinosaurs, Australian animals, minerals and the 200 Treasures gallery, and its First Nations galleries present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. General admission is free, with charges for some temporary exhibitions.
Combine it with a walk across Hyde Park to St Mary's Cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
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Experience · Manly
4.Manly ferry and Manly Beach
The F1 ferry from Circular Quay to Manly crosses the harbour in about 30 minutes, passing the Opera House, Fort Denison and the harbour heads for the price of a normal public-transport fare. At Manly, The Corso leads to the ocean beach, and a short path around the headland reaches Shelly Beach, a sheltered cove in the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve popular with snorkellers.
Sit on the outside deck on the right-hand side as you leave Circular Quay for the closest views of the Opera House.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Theme park · Milsons Point
5.Luna Park Sydney
The giant grinning face at the entrance of this 1935 amusement park at Milsons Point is visible from across the harbour. Inside are heritage attractions such as the Coney Island funhouse and a Ferris wheel, plus newer thrill rides. Entry to the grounds is free, with ride passes sold separately.
Walk across the Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point, finish at Luna Park, then take the ferry back to Circular Quay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- After dark
- Views
Garden · Circular Quay
6.Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Thirty hectares of lawns, palms and themed gardens wrap around Farm Cove between the Opera House and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The harbour path leads to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a sandstone bench carved by convicts in 1810 for the governor's wife, with one of the best views of the Opera House and the Bridge together. Entry is free.
Follow the waterside path from the Opera House to Mrs Macquarie's Chair early or late in the day, when the light is softest on both landmarks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Nature
- Kids
Rainy-day ideas
- Australian Museum — Combine it with a walk across Hyde Park to St Mary's Cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.
- SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium — Go at opening time or late in the afternoon; school groups and holiday crowds peak around midday.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and food lovers
Darling Harbour and Pyrmont
Darling Harbour's pedestrian waterfront holds SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Chinese Garden of Friendship and a large free playground at Darling Quarter, with Chinatown and the Darling Square food lanes a short walk south. Pyrmont, across the historic Pyrmont Bridge, is calmer and residential, and the L1 light rail links both with Central.
- Good
- Plenty for children within a short walk; Waterfront restaurants and bars; Easy walk to Chinatown and Haymarket
- Watch out
- Promenade restaurants are touristy; Busy on weekends and in school holidays
- Nearby
- SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Australian National Maritime Museum, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Sydney Fish Market
Family travel tips
- Children under 4 ride public transport free, and a Child/Youth Opal card roughly halves most fares for 4- to 15-year-olds.
- Ocean pools at Bronte and Clovelly and the sheltered water at Shelly Beach in Manly are calmer than the surf beaches for younger swimmers.
- Use high-SPF sunscreen, hats and shade in the middle of the day; the UV index is high even on cloudy days.
- The free Darling Quarter playground and water-play area is a good break between the aquarium and the Maritime Museum.
- Plan the zoo around the ferry: the Taronga Zoo ferry docks below the entrance, and the cable car saves the uphill walk.
Day trips for families
- Blue Mountains (About 2 hours by train) — Sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus forest and the Three Sisters rock formation make the UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains the classic Sydney day trip.
- Royal National Park (About 1 hour by train or car) — Established in 1879 and often described as the world's second-oldest national park, the Royal protects sea cliffs, heathland and surf beaches on Sydney's southern edge.
- Kiama (About 2 hours by train) — This South Coast town is known for the Kiama Blowhole, which shoots seawater high through a rock fissure when the swell is up, plus coastal walks and surf beaches.
- Jervis Bay (About 3 hours by car) — Jervis Bay's white-sand beaches, including Hyams Beach, and clear water draw snorkellers and kayakers, and dolphins are often seen on boat cruises from Huskisson.
When to go with children
The best months overall are March–April and September–November. December–January are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sydney good for kids?
Sydney works well with children: harbour ferries feel like an outing in themselves, beaches and ocean pools are everywhere, and the zoo, aquarium and free museums cover wet days. Plan around strong sun, and swim only at patrolled beaches.
+What can kids do in Sydney?
Taronga Zoo, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Australian Museum, Manly ferry and Manly Beach and Luna Park Sydney.
+Where should families stay in Sydney?
Darling Harbour and Pyrmont: Waterfront promenades, the aquarium and family attractions west of the CBD.