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9 things to do during school holidays

The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, Centennial ParkCredit: Destination NSW

Children can run, jump and be free at The Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park.

#ilovesydney

9 things to do during school holidays

The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, Centennial Park Credit: Destination NSW

Children can run, jump and be free at The Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park.

#ilovesydney

Hashtags #ilovesydney

There are plenty of activities and attractions to keep children busy during the winter school holidays in Sydney. From ice skating and whale watching to interactive exhibitions and surprising behind-the-scenes tours, here are some great ways to make the winter school holidays memorable. 

Explore our incredible outdoors  

  • Kids can run wild at The Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden at Centennial Park. This gorgeous green oasis encourages kids to just be kids, getting lost in nature with banksia tunnels, dry creek beds, a water play area, bamboo forest and treehouse. Centennial Park’s Bush School also runs school holidays programs, where kids can enjoy a day of wildlife, bushcraft and outdoor challenges. Check what’s on here
  • From May to November, thousands of whales migrate north from the cold Southern Ocean, swimming up the New South Wales coast to warmer waters. You don’t need to leave the city to go whale watching. These giants of the deep cruise close to the coast and have even been known to pop up inside Sydney Harbour. There are lots of excellent vantage points, including the clifftop walk between Bondi and Coogee, the Federation Cliff Walk from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay or at Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park.  
  • At Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh, a 70-minute drive south of Sydney, kids can get up close to native Australian wildlife and amazing exotic animals. Feed goats, sheep and alpaca at the Symbio Farmyard, cuddle a koala, or join a behind-the-scenes experience such as becoming a zookeeper for the day. There’s also an adventure playground with two flying foxes, swings, jumping pads and climbing walls where children can let off steam while you relax in the shade. 

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh Credit: Destination NSW

Friendly koala at Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh in the Illawarra region.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh Credit: Destination NSW

Friendly koala at Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh in the Illawarra region.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Get cultured  

  • Little explorers will love visiting the Australian National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour in the city centre, with a number of family programs and exhibitions on offer. Kids can make their own art and play dress ups at Kids on Deck; climb and play on-board a sailing ship and a warship; glance below the surface of the harbour at Sea Science Pontoon; or take a guided tour and participate in themed play with Mini Mariners. 
  • Peek behind the curtain at the Sydney Opera House. Budding performers and junior theatre buffs will have the chance to go beneath the sails and learn what makes this iconic landmark so unique. Junior Adventure Tours operate during the school holidays taking families on a jam-packed journey of interactive game and activities, led by an expert Opera House guide. 
  • At the Powerhouse Museum, in inner-city Ultimo, kids can get involved in hands-on activities and dedicated programs throughout the school holidays. The museum’s world-class exhibitions showcase science, space, technology, transport, fashion and design, with immersive experiences that are guaranteed to entertain kids.  

Whale Watching Sydney Credit: Destination NSW

Family enjoying a day of whale watching off-shore Sydney.

#ilovesydney

Whale Watching Sydney Credit: Destination NSW

Family enjoying a day of whale watching off-shore Sydney.

#ilovesydney

Release some energy 

  • Burn off some of that winter cabin fever at the SkyZone trampoline park in Alexandria, a 15-minute drive from central Sydney. Children can spend two hours bouncing off the walls, jumping into foam pits, playing trampoline basketball and joining in group games like dodgeball. 
  • For those with little kids, Planet Mino is an incredible indoor play centre located in Chatswood, a 20-minute drive north of the city centre. It offers an array of sensory experiences across its two-storey playground, with giant slides, ball pits, ropes canopy, bounce castle, Lego table, AR wall and more. There’s even a “baby zone” designed for those little ones under 2 years old. 

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour Credit: Destination NSW

Family exploring the HMB Endeavour, an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.

#ilovesydney

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour Credit: Destination NSW

Family exploring the HMB Endeavour, an Australian-built replica of James Cook's ship on exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.

#ilovesydney

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