12 Things to do in Sydney with Kids this Summer

Happy Australia Day!

While summer holidays are winding down, we still have time to savor summertime in Sydney for a couple more months. My ideal days with CZ rotate between soaking in the sun and water outdoors, and relishing the air conditioning inside. Today, we share an epic list of things to do in Sydney with kids: activities, venues, and locations to visit this summer. Some we have enjoyed and other we are looking forward visiting soon!

Fun in the Sun – Things To Do In Sydney With Kids

1. Tumbalong Park, in Darling Harbour, is basically a perfect park. The compact, city park features numerous play structures that accommodate a range of age groups, from baby to preteen. Plus, the water features: pumps, wheels, rivers, and fountains are made for splashing in the summer. The location can’t be beat – we can easily bike in from Redfern, and Town Hall Station is not too far away. Nearby, you have a plethora of cafe and restaurant options (we love Naked Duck for awesome bacon eggs rolls). Lack of shade over the play areas and weekend crowds are the main downsides.

2. A conversation with another parent led me to explore the pool at Victoria Park, which quickly became a favourite. You can bask in the shaded, shallow kids pool, or make your way to the larger, deep free play area. Either way, Victoria Park is an awesome outdoor pool for toddlers and young kids. Casual entry costs $6.40 for adults, $4.80 for kids over 3.

3. We already shared our top toddler-friendly beaches; however, we still have more exploring of Sydney’s beaches! We have heard promising things about Malabar, Frenchmans, Parsley Bay, and Dee Why for the beach (or beach playground).

4. Another Darling Harbour gem, The Chinese Garden of Friendship truly offers an oasis within the bustling city. Even CZ appreciated exploring the intricate gardens, although the daily koi feeding ranked highest on the enthusiasm level. The garden offers two free daily tours, and lots of additional events for Chinese New Years. For slightly older children, you can rent imperial costumes and take your own photos for an additional $5. Casual entry costs $6 adults $3 for kids under 12.

History and Museums

5. The whole family enjoyed our glamping experience at Cockatoo Island; and returned for one of their exciting, kid-focused history tours. Crooked Characters and Colonial Escapes delivered both entertainment and a fascinating history lesson that we all enjoyed (although the suggested age is 10+). The free tours run every Saturday in Jan, and the first Sat of Feb-April.

6. Meander through the Mummies exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum (until April 25). For younger children, the ever popular permanent Wiggles exhibit (closed until 4 March) and Experimentation room are interactive and inspire creative play. Admission is $15 adults, under 16 are free.

7. Build with kinetic sand and Legos for a clean-up free ‘beach day’ at the Museum of Sydney. The current exhibit, Sand in the City, invites kids to explore sand and structures with light painted sand and an enormous amount of Legos (through July 23rd). Adults cost $12, under 5s are free.

Animal Planet

8. Explore underneath the surface of Sydney Harbour at the Manly Sealife Aquarium. I love this aquarium for it’s manageable size, smaller crowds, and surprisingly fun indoor play structure. The little penguins waddling and diving are always a source of entertainment. Prices vary, but book online for the biggest discount.

9. If you want to spend an entire day outside, watching, and touching animals (Australian or otherwise), head across the harbour to Taronga Zoo. It is one of the premier Sydney attractions for good reason, and we loved our annual pass last year. We wrote an extensive list of tips here, but the biggest is to see the bird show – it’s the coolest animal show I’ve ever seen! Adult tickets are $46, children 4-16 are $26 you can save by booking online.

Artistic Endeavors

10. Get inspired by modern art in the MCA’s kids room Currently, the digital number exhibition by Tatsuo Miyajima (until March 5) provides a basis for all of the activities in the room. We enjoyed punching holes in paper for light drawing, reading on the bean bag chairs, and most of all, hopping through the interactive musical floor projections. The exhibit is not free, but the kids room (and rest of the museum) is.

11. Watch a movie under the stars. We have yet to test CZ’s patience with a full length film, but if we did, a summer outdoor movie would be a great place to start. The outdoors offers a higher tolerance for talking, walking around, and snacking, crucial for toddlers. Sydney offers numerous options ranging in cost, size, and kid-friendliness. See a comprehensive list here.

12. Engage in live, interactive theatre with Shakespeare in the park at the Royal Botanical Gardens. This year’s performances includes one of my beloved children’s books, the classic tale of The Wind in the Willows (through January). The shows are ideal for children 3-6 and tickets are $25.

What are you favourite things to do in Sydney with kids?