Stockton Sand Dunes, Port StephensCredit: Destination NSW
Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens.
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There is plenty of adventure for the young (and young at heart) on these coastal getaways north of Sydney.
Get out on the water in Avalon
Nestled on Sydney’s idyllic northern beaches, Avalon has become a favoured destination for short family getaways. Just 37km from Sydney, it’s fringed by lush bushland, with the calm bay of Pittwater on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Surfers flock to the waves at Avalon Beach, while an ocean pool at the southern end of the beach is perfect for young families. It’s a great place for water sports; try paddle boarding with Avalon SUP or kayaking with EcoTreasures. Hike up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach, an easy 800-metre trail to the top, where you’ll take in panoramic views over Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Broken Bay and the Central Coast. After your walk, drop in to one of Palm Beach’s bustling brunch spots, such as The Boathouse Palm Beach or Dunes Palm Beach. Stay at Avalon Treehouse, which offers beautiful district views with water glimpses and is just a few minutes’ drive to the Avalon shopping village.
Check out Newcastle
A two-hour drive north of Sydney, Newcastle is the second largest city in New South Wales. Come here for beautiful surf beaches, scenic coastal walks and a cool café scene. Go for a walk along the Anzac Memorial Walk at Bar Beach, a 450m cliff top walkway with views stretching from the city to the coast. Or stroll along Bathers Way, a scenic 6km city walk that links Newcastle’s pretty beaches, stopping at Merewether ocean baths for a dip. Merewether Surfhouse is a relaxed spot for lunch overlooking the sea. If you’re visiting on the weekend, be sure to check out the Newcastle City Farmers Market, held most Sundays (7am-1pm) at the Newcastle Showground. Meander down Darby Street with its style-centric design stores and popular cafés such as The Autumn Rooms and Three Monkeys. Kids will love the lap pool at Rydges Newcastle, located directly on the historic harbourfront.
Avalon Beach, Avalon Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming off Avalon Beach, Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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Avalon Beach, Avalon Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming off Avalon Beach, Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Newcastle Memorial Walk, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
People enjoying the scenic walk along the Newcastle Memorial Walk, dedicated to WWI soldiers.
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Newcastle Memorial Walk, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
People enjoying the scenic walk along the Newcastle Memorial Walk, dedicated to WWI soldiers.
Beach hop through Port Stephens
A 2.5-hour drive north from Sydney, or 30 minutes from Newcastle, Port Stephens is an aquatic playground encompassing 26 distinct beaches. Family holidays here revolve around the sea, from sandboarding at Stockton Beach to swimming with dolphins or riding a camel at sunset. Get up close to Australian native wildlife, farm animals and exotic creatures at Oakvale WIldlife Reserve, or go on a whale watching or dolphin cruise. If you’re wanting an educational and fun activity for the kids, explore Worimi Conservation Lands on a Sand Dune Adventure Tour and learn about Aboriginal culture and history and local bush foods. Nelson Bay offers a great range of dining options in town and at the marina. Start the day at Little Nel Café, enjoy a leisurely lunch at Little Beach Boathouse and sit down to dinner at Shoal Bay Country Club, sampling the region’s delicious local produce. Stay in a cabin at Middle Rock Holiday Resort with One Mile and Samurai Beaches at your doorstep, or book well in advance for boutique beach house, Salt at Shoal Bay.
Soak up the sun in Port Macquarie
[Text Wrapping Break]There is so much to do in Port Macquarie, a four-hour drive north from Sydney. Swim or surf at Town Beach, join a whale watching cruise (May to November) or walk through the rainforest canopy in Sea Acres National Park. For some guaranteed family fun, visit Hydro Golf and Putt Putt, then enjoy an ice cream from Blue Cow Gelato. Kids will delight in strawberry picking at Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries, or visiting the Koala Hospital, where volunteers care for up to 250 koalas each year. In the evening, nab an outdoor table at waterfront restaurant The Beach House or enjoy fish and chips from one of the town's many casual eateries. Stay at family-friendly Flynns Beach Resort, which offers excellent child-friendly facilities, including two heated swimming pools, a playground, tennis court and gym.
Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash Credit: Destination NSW
Father and daughter feeding a wallaby at Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash in Port Stephens.
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Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash Credit: Destination NSW
Father and daughter feeding a wallaby at Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash in Port Stephens.
Town Beach, Port Macquarie Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Town Beach, Port Macquarie.
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Town Beach, Port Macquarie Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Town Beach, Port Macquarie.
More Inspirational Stories
Roar and Snore, Taronga Zoo Sydney Credit: Taronga Zoo
Roar and Snore tents at Taronga Zoo Sydney overlooking Sydney Harbour.
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Gain a new perspective on Sydney as you observe through the eyes of children the best this magnificent city has to offer – be sure to stay on the Sydney Harbour foreshore to be close to world-class attractions for all ages.
Make Sydney your playground
Bond as a family with the exhilarating experience of climbing to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge at twilight with BridgeClimb Sydney. Kids aged eight years and up (and at least 1.2m tall) can join in the fun and take in the 360-degree views of this iconic Sydney landmark.
Take in the sights from two wheels as you pedal past the city’s parks, harbour and iconic sites with Bonza Bike Tours, which caters to all ages by providing kids’ bikes, ‘trail-alongs’ and baby seats, and Sydney Harbour Bike Tours, which offers guided e-bike tours.
Your kids will be delighted when they realise half the fun of getting to Taronga Zoo Sydney is taking the ferry from Circular Quay or jumping in a water taxi. They’ll also love seeing the Sumatran tigers, the incredible Free Flight Birds show and the popular Seals for the Wild presentation, and riding the cable car across the zoo.
Thrill to the colourful rides at Luna Park, a restored 1930s-era amusement park at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and keep the excitement flowing by visiting Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour, where the kids can meet king penguins, sharks, turtles and a cheeky dugong named Pig.
Let the kids burn off any untapped reserves of energy at one of Sydney’s family-friendly beaches on the harbour, or head to the vast Centennial Parklands, a short drive from the city centre in the inner east, to let them loose in the Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden.
Expand the family’s horizons
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Seedlings Nature School, where little ones (2.5 to 5 years old) are encouraged to enjoy nature play. Help your kids connect with the oldest living culture in the world on The Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour, with your Aboriginal tour guide taking you through the Cadi Jam Ora garden so you can learn about native plants and try some bush foods.
Explore an amazing collection of Aboriginal and other Australian, European, Asian and contemporary art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, next to the Royal Botanic Garden. Inspire the family on a self-guided tour or head to the ticketing desk to find out about the latest family-friendly offerings.
Be intrigued by the ever-changing array of artworks and installations at the Museum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks before taking in amazing harbour views as your crew recharges with a snack from the healthy menu at the top-floor MCA Café.
Immerse in the worlds of science, technology, design and more at the fascinating Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, where the interactive displays offer the whole family insights into Australia’s unique culture. In nearby Darling Harbour, kids can climb aboard tall ships, a cold war submarine and many other vessels at the entertaining Australian National Maritime Museum.
BridgeClimb, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the Burrawa Indigenous Experience at BridgeClimb, Sydney.
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BridgeClimb, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the Burrawa Indigenous Experience at BridgeClimb, Sydney.
Bonza Bike Tours, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a ride through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney on their hired bicycles from Bonza Bike Tours.
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Bonza Bike Tours, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a ride through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney on their hired bicycles from Bonza Bike Tours.
Refuel and recharge for round two
You’ll find most Sydney eateries cater for children. Keep hungry kids happy with a snack from the bakery menu or something more substantial from the hawker-style pan-Asian fusion selection at House Canteen at the Sydney Opera House. Or take in spectacular views of Sydney’s most iconic building from across the waters of Circular Quay at The Glenmore on Cumberland Street in The Rocks – it’s a great dinner spot that offers a fun atmosphere, with the kid’s menu including favourites such as popcorn chicken and fish and chips.
Perk up flagging kids with a slice of the ‘world’s most Instagrammed cake’ — the exquisite strawberry watermelon cake — at Black Star Pastry, in The Galeries on George Street. And top off a visit to Darling Harbour with some moreish Italian fare at Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour, which offers a special kids’ menu featuring the perennial favourites of pizza and spaghetti (children under 12 can eat free on Sundays). Reward yourself with a grown-up Tokyo-style burger while the little ones feast on Japanese fried chicken or eat from the kids’ menu at Ume Burger, in nearby Darling Square. Then enjoy an after-dinner treat at Gelato Messina, which has an outlet at Darling Square as well as at Gateway at Circular Quay and at Martin Place in the city centre.
Play where you stay
Indulge in the Family Fun package at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and you’ll be perfectly placed to experience the best of the stunning harbour and city centre as well as delight in treating your children. The package includes gifts for the kids, an in-room kids’ movie experience, daily breakfast at Mode Kitchen & Bar for two adults and two children aged under 12, a family pass to Taronga Zoo, themed linen and a magical tent experience.
Make the family pet part of your holiday with a Family Playcation package at the Langham Sydney in Millers Point – bring the pooch and put the kids in an interconnecting room, where they can be entertained with an in-house movie and popcorn after a busy day exploring the city.
Inject some adventure into your Sydney sojourn by swapping out the five-star suite for sleeping under the stars. The whole family will thrill to an exclusive night safari guided by zookeepers and guides before falling asleep to the sounds of wild animals calling out as you camp in safari tents on a Roar and Snore experience at Taronga Zoo.
Or leave Sydney with indelible memories when you glamp in the waterfront campground or stay in heritage house or apartment on Cockatoo Island, a short ferry ride from Circular Quay in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Here you can explore the fascinating industrial relics of this former naval shipyard and convict prison before cooking a barbecue dinner with one of the best views in town, while your children make new friends with fellow camping kids.
Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Family relaxing and roasting marshmallows at their Cockatoo Island waterfront campsite.
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Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Family relaxing and roasting marshmallows at their Cockatoo Island waterfront campsite.
The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, Centennial Park Credit: Destination NSW
Children enjoying The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park.
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The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, Centennial Park Credit: Destination NSW
Children enjoying The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park.