Things to Do in Sydney: Toddlers to Teens Guide

From indoor entertainment to day trips beyond the city, these options offer something different depending on your mood and the weather. This one is only suitable for families used to long walks or parents happy to carry their kids, lol; it’s not for the fainthearted at the 8km in total. Your efforts, however, are well rewarded with not one but two lighthouses and a couple of playgrounds along the way. The museum has a fantastic kids’ area, Kidspace and accompanying activity programs. Kidspace offers a story time period between 2 pm and 3 pm each weekday.
Their facilities are consistently well-maintained, with wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines, foam pits, slam dunk zones, and a dedicated “Mini BOUNCE” area for children under 6. Flip Out operates larger-format venues in Penrith, Prestons, and Castle Hill, offering kids entertainment sydney cbd ninja warrior courses alongside their trampoline floors. Sky Zone brings dodgeball courts, freestyle zones, and a SkyLadder climbing challenge to their Alexandria and Macquarie Park locations.

One of the most iconic things to do in Sydney is climbing up one of the world’s most iconic bridges – the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. In addition to being a mode of transportation, it is also a fun experience that won’t break the bank. Along with steep overhangs, a neverending lead wall, the chimney, a vertical treadmill and a giant log ladder, there’s a tamer wall for the kids (and the climb-wary). If bouldering’s more your thing, there’s over 90 problems to solve in the exclusive bouldering area. Macquarie Ice Rink has recently completed a multi-million-dollar transformation making ice-skating even more fun.
Entertainment Park is pretty ahead of the curve when it comes to simulations – we're talking an actual virtual reality arena, where you can battle fantasy creatures or challenge your friends to virtual dance battles. There’s also a dedicated e-karting space, which allows you to kart around a 3.5km square track without emitting a single fume. This circus-themed funhouse will dazzle the kids with a dizzying selection of games, rides and prizes. Younger kids (aged 8-10) can enjoy dodgem cars, carousels or the overhead ropes course, while older players shoot hoops, go bowling or ride the interactive 3D theatre fit out.

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.
The museum hosts regular sleepover nights for kids and at least one parent. It’s a chance to explore the museum once it is closed and sleep in the dinosaur room. The Chinese Garden of Friendship has a few family-friendly activities like fish feeding, dumpling brunches and my favourite, the chance to dress up in a traditional Chinese outfit. The collection is minimal, but the staff are helpful, and there are some kids activity sheets to help guide you through the walk. Generally, a few days in Sydney is enough to explore the attractions, but you could easily spend longer if you wanted to do a few day trips. Traffic can be chaotic but this makes it easier to get beyond the city if you are doing a New South Wales road trip or day trips.

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.
Yes, there are several family-friendly beaches located within easy reach of the city centre. There are so many great things to do in Sydney with kids when you are spending time in the New South Wales capital. Sydney is a family-friendly city with a wide variety of attractions and activities for kids and adults of all ages.

Once you arrive, there is plenty to do in Manly and this should be a fun day for everyone. We have put together our Sydney with kids bucket list with the help of the members of our community who have shared what worked best for them on their visits, combined with our detailed local knowledge. Sydney is an easy city to get around, with heaps of different transport options for families. There are day trips by coach from Sydney as well or consider staying for a night or two so you can explore a little deeper. Here you can ride the world’s steepest passenger rail, the steepest cableway in the Southern Hemisphere and ride the cable car between the mountains.
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.

The cruise is an interactive experience on a historic sailing ship on the harbour. There are many ways to get out and explore the harbour, and the age and interests of your whole family will play a significant factor in your decisions here, so here are just a few options. One of the best things to do in Watson Bay is visit Robertson Park.
Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains and grab an Blue Mountains Hop on Hop off pass – kids ride free – and you can travel to the mountains using Sydney Trains to save on costly guided tours. Camp Cove Beach makes a perfect rest spot near the end of the walk, and the ferry ride back to the city is a fantastic way to end the day. Along the way, check out French cafe Bellevue Cottage for a delicious splurge brunch or lunch.
Our favourite was the Gruffalo Trail which is an interactive trail for kids. There is also a playground, a skate park and street art to admire. We were lucky enough to see one of the local artists working on her piece during our last visit. This is a popular spot all year round, with walking trails, a great adventure playground for the kids and heaps of covered picnic tables.