The Harbor City, Sydney isn’t your typical city distinguishable by skyscrapers, traffic, shopping malls, business districts, and residential areas. This beautiful harbor city is one of the world’s most livable areas and one with the friendliest communities – enough to convince thousands of immigrants from around the world to choose Sydney as their new home. Living in Sydney has its perks, especially if you have kids. The city has stroller-friendly and walkable pathways as well as an efficient transportation system. The restaurants in Sydney are welcoming to all types of visitors. Moreover, attractions for the children are all over the city, so there’ll never be a dull weekend or summer holidays for your little darlings. With all these choices, you might feel confused or overwhelmed, so we came up with the below list of things to do in Sydney with kids. Always remember, however, that tickets for most attractions are cheaper when bought directly from their online websites.
The Harbor City boasts of a cosmopolitan landscape infused with fascinating gardens to make you stop for a while and admire the flowers. One such place you can find in Sydney is the Royal Botanic Garden, which has 30 hectares of green space for your family to enjoy a picnic. Just bring a mat and a basket of sandwiches, and you’re all set for a lovely picnic with the view of the harbor. The Royal Botanic Garden is also a place for the kids to play and run around as they enjoy a nice weather and a breath of fresh air. After having your picnic, you can all take a stroll around the park, smell the Australian flora, or ride in the Choo Choo Express. The kids can also spot some wildlife and join in kiddie activities in the garden (usually during school holidays). The Royal Botanic Garden is open daily, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. depending on the season.
Cost: $28 to $85
Underwater life has always been an interesting topic for the kids. As such, aquariums are one of their favorite places to visit. At the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, kids will stare in awe at the superb collection of different species of freshwater and marine creatures. They will attentively listen to trivia and facts about the sharks and the dugongs, too. Plus, they can participate in feeding activities if you chance upon the aquarium timings. Kids can see a shark swimming above their heads. Through the penguin boat expedition, they can find and come face-to-face with penguins, too. Another fun experience your kids shouldn’t miss while inside the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium is the touch pool, where they are allowed to touch a real starfish, coral, and even shark eggs. You can take your kids to the aquarium at any day of the week, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free to $11
A place primarily designed to provide learning to the visitors through displays and exhibits, a museum is something which isn’t too enticing for the kids. However, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney might altogether change their perception about museums. Located in Darling Harbor, the Powerhouse Museum is a 4-story edutainment center where learning is achieved through play-based activities. Take your kids to this museum and make their day productive as they try the experiments and learn new things about the world. Some of the things they’ll learn about inside the Powerhouse Museum are robots, electricity, magnetism, sound waves, space travels, transportation, and many more. The museum primarily focuses on science and technology. As such, children visiting the museum can learn about the most relevant and biggest issues in science today, including climate change. They can do this in the Ecologic exhibit, where there’s no point denying this phenomenon. Moreover, the kids can explore the Little Wheels room which has 1,600 Matchbox cars, old trains, and suspended planes. They can also check out a Star Wars and a Harry Potter exhibit inside the museum. The Powerhouse Museum is located at Harris Street, and is open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors aged 16 and below can enter the museum for free, otherwise, the admission ticket costs $11.
Cost: $24.3 to $42.3
A popular kiddie attraction in Sydney is the Taronga Zoo, which is admired for its location just right on the banks of the Sydney Harbor. Home to more than 250 species of animals, the Taronga Zoo lets the kids in to amusing experiences, such as watching animal shows and feeding the giraffes. While strolling around the area, your kids will have the most fun waving at various animals and learning their names. Prepare for dozens of questions they’ll throw at you once inside the zoo. You’re lucky if you happen to meet a guide who can satisfy the curiosity of your children’s minds. Some of the best attractions in the Taronga Zoo are the Asiatic elephants, and of course, the koala. It’s a hundred percent guaranteed that kids will not be disappointed after visiting the Taronga Zoo. You can visit the zoo daily, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located at Bradleys Head Road in Mosman, and we recommend taking the ferry from Circular Quay or Darling Harbor and then riding the cable car to reach the Taronga Zoo. Tickets to the zoo cost $24.3 (ages 4 to 15) and $42.3 (16 and above). There are also family tickets which will let you save around 20% of the total cost.
Cost: $10 to $32
Cockatoo Island, the largest island in Sydney Harbour, got its name from the sulphur-crested cockatoos which used to frequent the island. You can reach this island via a short ferry ride from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Taking the kids here will be like a historical and cultural adventure, since you’ll be treated to a sight of prison buildings, shipyards, and a reformatory that are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites. To better understand about the island, you can take a Convict History Tour for 45 minutes. Your kids will also enjoy the self-guided Convict Clues Challenge as you stroll around the area. Also, should you wish to spend a night here, you’re allowed to camp on the island, too.
Cost: $43 to $67
One of the most popular beaches in Sydney gives kids an opportunity to learn surfing. Locals recommend this activity, especially when you have adventurous teenagers. At Bondi Beach, they can have a private lesson on how to gracefully ride the waves. The instructors are professional and well-trained so they know what activities to give you as you get a grasp of surfing.
Cost: $11 to $18
Your Sydney adventure with the kids won’t be complete if you haven’t climbed to the top of the Sydney Tower. Standing at 1,014 feet above Sydney’s central business district, the Sydney Tower is one of the most popular landmarks in the city. What’s best about the tower is the view you can have from the top. The Sydney Tower also features a Skywalk that is 268 meters above the city and has a glass floor. You can also dine together on the Sydney Tower Buffet as you admire the views of the skyline.
Cost: Free
Another unique experience for your kids while discovering Sydney is the Australian National Maritime Museum. Located at Sydney’s waterfront north of Darling Harbour, this maritime museum is sure to be a memorable and educational adventure for your whole family. Inside the museum your kids can see the underwater warfare in the submarine, visit the James Craig Tall Ship, check out the fastest boat in the world, and be awed at the last big gun destroyers. The maritime museum also hosts a series of kiddie activities during the weekend and holidays. The maritime museum is free for all, except some of the exhibits.
Cost: $3 to $6
Whether or not you believe in astrology, you will love a walk in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship in Sydney. Inside the gardens, you and your kids will be treated to the tranquility of the gardens, its exotic plants, lakes, waterfalls, hidden pathways, and pavilions. It is just like exploring a secret garden, and kids can discover zodiac statues, too. Before you leave, take the kids to the teahouse for some Chinese tea and pastries.
Cost: $10.6
Last on our list is a visit to the Australian Museum. This will prove to be an educational but entertaining spot for the kids, where they can see a stunning collection of zoological and anthropological collections, like animals, minerals, and even dinosaur bones. The museum also has interactive activities which kids will surely love. For example, they are sure to love the Search and Discover exhibit where they ought to look for stick insect eggs. There are also workshops hosted by the museum every now and then. The Australian Museum is open daily, except on Christmas Day, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission tickets cost $10.6 per adult. Children aged 15 and below can enter free. There are also special packages for families.
There are still lots of activities you can do in Sydney with the kids. Subscribe now to be the first to read our next articles!
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