Best family activities in Sydney

Best family activities in Sydney

Sydney is a place that we hold near to our hearts. I (Loreena) was born in Sydney, and before having our children we lived in Sydney for a while, at the gorgeous Maroubra Beach. So it was with great excitement that we go to take part in experiencing some of the best family activities in Sydney recently and we get to share those experiences with you.

These family activities offer a range of fun for kids and adults of all ages, and cover a wide range of interests, so here’s four amazing things to do on your next Sydney holiday.

Surf Lessons on Bondi Beach with Let’s Go Surfing.

Not only is surfing as a family something fun to do, getting to experience the waves on the iconic Bondi Beach adds an entire dimension of excitement to this super cool experience. Let’s Go Surfing are the surfing experts in Bondi and they’ll have you standing up on a board in no time, feeling the exhilaration of mother nature.

best family activities in Sydney

bondi surfing lesson

Bike Riding in Manly with Manly Bike Tours

Our kids love bike riding, but it wasn’t something I would have planned on doing as it had been a while since I’d ridden a bike. WOW I would have been missing out! Talk about fun, riding a bike with the kids along Manly esplanade was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon and take in the stunning views that Manly has to offer.  Manly Bike Tours have a range of bikes on offer, from tandem bikes, cruisers, kids bikes and the tag along bike, where, as you can see in the picture below attaches to the back of the adult bike allowing younger children to come along for the ride. Definitely a highly recommended Sydney activity for families

bike hire in manly

manly bike tours

Taronga Zoo Family Day Out

Another one of the iconic things to do in Sydney, a visit to Taronga Zoo is a must. Be sure to allow yourself a full day to explore everything the zoo has to offer. The cable car at the zoo entrance offers a stunning view of the city skyline, including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The range of animals on offer for viewing at the zoo is amazing so close to the city, with everything from native Australian wildlife to exotic animals such as Orangutans, which are one of my favourites. There’s lots to be learned about conservation while you’re there, and children of all ages will be talking about their visit for days to come as our youngest was.

taronga zoo sydney animals

visiting taronga zoo, things to do sydney

Sydney Bridge Climb – Father and Son Time

WOW, is the most common word that was used to explain the exhilaration of experiencing the Sydney Bridge Climb. With only Jackson being old enough to take part in this experience (children must be aged 10+), Matt and Jackson took the opportunity to have some father, son bonding time and it worked a treat. The smiles and excitement before and especially after they got to climb to the peak of the Harbour Bridge were so great I was left feeling a little envious! I’m glad we went in with them to see them off inside the building, as when we stepped in, we uncovered a museum that allowed all of us to discover the history of the bridge and some interactive experiences for the younger kids too.

sydney bridge climb family activities

kids climbing sydney harbour bridge

Put Yourself in the Picture

Destination NSW have come up with a really unique way to put yourself in the picture of some of the best family activities in Sydney. Simply head on over to Sydney 360 and upload a photo to see yourself doing some of the amazingly fun things Sydney has to offer. Take a look at Jackson Kayaking on the harbour below, and then create your own for a bit of fun! Jackson Kayaking on Sydney Harbour with Sydney 360.

Check out the our family fun in Sydney at Taronga Zoo.

Sydney for Families – Holiday & Activity Ideas

Sydney for Families – Holiday & Activity Ideas

Welcome to Sydney For Families

Sydney offers families an entire range of activities, eateries, attractions and accommodation styles that truly do offer something for everyone. The Capital City of NSW has won numerous awards for being one of the world’s most favoured cities, the most recent being voted in the Condé Nast readers choice as one of the world’s best cities, coming in at number 6.

It’s not just international travellers who love Sydney, there’s plenty of reasons for families to love Sydney too, so let’s take a look at what you can get up to with the kids in this gorgeous world class city!

Great Sydney Beaches For Families

It wouldn’t be a Sydney travel guide without mentioning the best beaches for families to visit.

  • Bondi Beach – While Bondi itself can be prone to rips, head to the west side for the Bondi pools. This is a  perfect area for kids to splash around in safely and offer peace of mind to parents that the kids can swim in a safe, supervised area.
  • Whale Beach – This beach also offers a rock pool that is really great for kids. Time your visit, because it generally only fills at high tide. There’s also a playground nearby to burn off some extra energy.
  • Cronulla – While the main beach is generally not a great family swim beach and is better suited to surfers, Shelly Beach offers another great rock pool and a large picnic area with bbq’s
Great Outdoor Family Activities in Sydney
  • Sydney Park – This gorgeous 110 acre area in St Peters offers a gorgeous duck pond, gorgeous parks, sculptures, a heritage area, a 360 degree view over the city, playgrounds,  and best of all, a bike track for the kids complete with traffic signs.
  • Iron Cove Bay Walking Area – If getting out and about in nature is something you’re keen to do then this area provides a flat walk that is easy for young children, prams and bikes. During the walk you’ll take in sights like beaches, mangroves, and the harbour.
  • Ride the Manly Ferry – For 155 years the Manly ferry has been taking people on a journey across the waves. Don’t miss out on this iconic excursion, enjoy the ride and once you get to Manly, treat the kids to a few hours at Oceanworld.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens – This gorgeous garden area is one that just shouldn’t be missed. When planning your visit to the Botanic Gardens, a little bit of research to see what’s on in the gardens is a good idea, there’s always events, tours and activities taking place.

 

Great Family Attractions in Sydney

There are so many great attractions available to visitors in Sydney. We’re taking a quick look at some of the best for kids.

The attractions we’ve mentioned here are, for the most part in the city, which makes it easy for those focused on enjoying the city centre, we’ll be covering more around the greater Sydney region shortly:

  • Luna Park – A true icon, this amusement park was restored and still holds much of it’s 1930’s charm. With something for all ages, from rides to sideshow attractions an experience well worth it.
  • Taronga Zoo – The best way to get to the Zoo is by experiencing the Circular Quay Ferry. You’ll be amazed and greeted by a wide range of animals, and learn about the conservation initiatives undertaken by and suppported by the Zoo.
  • Darling Harbour Attractions – You won’t be disappointed with things to do in Darling Harbour with kids. There’s plenty of free play areas, but for a true experience, head to WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney SEA LIFE Aquarium and Madam Tussaud’s. Check out their websites for all in one passes to save lots of money.

As you can see, we’ve just touched the very tip of the amazing family activities that Sydney has to offer on your next family holiday. For Accommodation Sydneyalso has a great range of options, from caravan parks in the outer suburbs to a range of budget hotels through to family luxury hotels. You can easily take a day trip by train or plane, or within driving distance if you’re lucky enough. If you’re planning to stay, it definitely pays to plan a little in advance and be sure to stay somewhere nice and convenient to the main attractions you’re planning to visit.

Much thanks to Accommodation.com for this great post about the Sydney Region.

 

What are your favourite family friendly Sydney hot spots?

Sydney Easter Kids Activities – Things to do in Sydney for Families.

Sydney Easter Kids Activities – Things to do in Sydney for Families.

Wondering what to do in Sydney with Kids this Easter? It’s a great time of year where there’s still some great weather left for the family to enjoy together and there’s stacks of activities including many free Sydney Activities for kids of all ages.

We’ve got a round up of just a few great things you can do with your kids these Easter school holidays, but they are some of our favourites. For further info on each, just click on the red title.

Sydney Royal Easter Show:

This event is always at the top of the Easter holidays wish list for kids. The Sydney Royal Easter Show has been a long standing tradition for generations and is guaranteed to be a busy day out for the entire family. Where: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olypmic Park. When: The 2012 show is on from April 5th to April 18th and gates open daily at 9:30am.

Pricing: Save up to 15% on Early Bird tickets on sale online now until 20th March 2012. –

– Adult Early Bird ShowLink ticket $33.40
– Child Early Bird ShowLink ticket $21.80
– Concession Early Bird ShowLink ticket $25.50
– Family Early Bird ShowLink ticket $101.00

Sydney Family Show

To be honest, we hadn’t heard of this before but it sounds like a great day out for the family and is absolutel BUDGET FRIENDLY Sydney Kids Entertainment!! There are animals, rides, shows, stalls and more and it’s totally affordable!! Where: Moore Park, Sydney. When: April 5th to April 22nd with gates open 10am – 6pm Sun-Thur & 10am – 8pm Fri/Sat and Public Holidays. FREE ENTRY! Unlimited ride passes available from $30-$40

 

 

Hoopla Festival

Roll up, Roll up!! For a wonderful long weekend of circus, side show and street theatre fun at Darling Harbour’s Hoopla Festival! With everything from acrobatics to fire breathing and lots of different shows and activities for all ages, it’s sure to be a great day out. The best part is that there’s lots of free entertainment to see, and plenty of low cost options for families on a budget. Where: Darling Harbour When: April 6th to 9th there’s a fireworks display at 8:30 Saturday April 7th Pricing: From Free events to paid events there’s a price range for all.

 

 

Kids in the Park

For a range of everything from bird watching to swimming lessons to BMX Racing Sydney Olympic Park provides a kids range of entertainment like nowhere else in Sydney during the School Holidays. With many free programs available, and a range of day events or even 3-4 day workshops there’s something here that will entertain even the most discerning child. Where: Sydney Olypmic Park, Homebush. When: April 6th to 23rd Pricing: Many free activities or things to do under $20 pricing is varied.