Having returned to Sydney after 15 years of living overseas, we’re learning about this great city all over again….this time, with kids! Sydney has plenty to do for all types of families – so whether you like hiking, beaches, museums or amusement parks – its got you covered. Sydney’s magic is all around the water so many of the highlights come with harbour views or a boat ride.
These have been some of the favourite things we’ve done since returning to the city. And would definitely recommend when visiting Sydney, especially with kids in tow.
- Go whale watching
I honestly don’t know why I’ve never done this before – but whale watching has possibly been my very favorite activity since we have been in Sydney. We took a three hour cruise from Circular Quay with Whale Watching Sydney and saw plenty of whales, some tail slapping and 6 or 7 breaches. Both the kids (6yrs and 4yrs) absolutely loved it and the eldest changed his career ambitions to marine biologist before we’d even returned to land!
2. Visit Luna Park
Luna Park is an amusement park set right on Sydney harbor with views of the Harbour bridge and opera house. Our 4yr old and 6yr old found plenty to entertain them and there are enough rides/games to entertain most age groups for the day. Plus there’s fairy floss and ice cream and spectacular views of Sydney harbour from the Ferris wheel! Its easy to get to on the north side of the Harbour Bridge and is a hit with kids, and special for adults too thanks to the great location.
3. Go for a hike
Sydney is surrounded by beautiful coastline and national parks. There are stunning walks for all ages and capabilities to be had all around Sydney, and because you’re in a city if you’ve overestimated your abilities it isn’t hard to get a bus home or have a lovely lunch on the way! Some of our favourite walks have been the Spit Bridge to Manly, the Bondi to Coogee, walking around the Coal Loader and even just walking one of the tracks in the National Park near our house. There are so many walking options that I’m not sure we’ll ever manage to do them all! Its great to have so many walks and National Parks available in a large city and many of them take in the scenery and beaches too.
4. Take a boat trip
Whether you take a sightseeing cruise or one of the many ferries around Sydney harbour, being on the water in Sydney is a must. Our kids love any form of public transport – trains, trams, buses, ferries, so we’ve been on a lot of ferry trips across the harbour just for fun! Some of the most beautiful ferry rides are from Manly to Circular Quay, from Watsons Bay to Circular Quay or any ferry to/from Milson’s Point.
5. Go to a zoo or wildlife park
The most famous zoo in Sydney is definitely Taronga Zoo. And it doesn’t disappoint with magnificent views over the harbour and a comprehensive collection of animals from all over the world, plus you can get a ferry from Circular Quay and take the cable cars from the port to add to the experience. But Sydney has a plethora of zoos for all your little animal lovers. Our kids love Featherdale for its compactness and its intimate feel. You can have your photo taken with a koala and they have the most comprehensive collection of Australian animals anywhere in the world (so they claim!) They were also taken by the Australian Reptile Park. After an initial scare from the closeness of spiders and snakes (some deadly) and watching them milk the venom from a King Brown Snake during the Reptile Show we enjoyed having a closer look at all the snakes and creepy crawlies. You can also feed the kangaroos and see some more cuddly animals as well.
6. Go to the beach
While the most famous beaches of Bondi, Coogee and Manly are well worth a visit. There are literally hundred of beaches in Sydney, and you can’t really go wrong. Most of the city beaches will have amenities such as toilets and a carpark, as well as the all important fish and chip shop! Even if its winter and too cold for a swim kids love playing in the sand and having a fish and chip picnic by the water. With so many to choose from you can’t really go wrong!
7. Visit a museum or art gallery
There are some great options of museums for kids in Sydney. The Australian Museum often has very kid-friendly exhibitions and the Maritime Museum will be a big hit with most kids. Ours loved climbing around on the replica Endeavour and walking through a submarine. The Powerhouse Museum often has great workshops for kids and the art galleries are worth a visit for adults and kids a like.
8. Find out what’s on
Sydney has a lot of great events on all year round. One of our favourites and possibly the biggest is Vivid, which is a huge light festival in May and June. There is music, food, light displays and you can visit in different ways – we have taken a Vivid Cruise, saw the wonderful Wild Lights at Taronga and walked through Circular Quay. All are special and fun ways to see what Vivid has to offer. We will also be checking out Sydney Christmas markets and The Grounds of Alexandria.
I keep an eye on Secret Sydney, TimeOut Sydney and the official Sydney tourism website so I can see what’s coming up in Sydney. There is plenty to do, and we definitely haven’t exhausted our list yet. I hope you’ve been inspired to get out and do some great things in this wonderful city.