Vivid Sydney 2023Credit: Destination NSW
Family explores the Swarm light installation at Vivid Sydney 2023. Swarm is inspired by the mathematical precision of flocks of birds flying or schools of fish swimming in unison. Using flickering suspended LED tubes frozen in a spiral formation, this natural phenomenon repeated across our skies and seas is rendered into a thing of abstract beauty.
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How to do Vivid Sydney with kids
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Three family-friendly Vivid Sydney itineraries
Every year Vivid Sydney transforms the Harbour City into a playground of activity for families. From 24 May to 15 June, there’ll be a range of fun and kid-friendly events across Light, Music, Food and Ideas for curious families to choose from.
Make things easy: one night at a time
We understand that a big night out with the kids can be a juggling act, but your Vivid Sydney visit can be a breeze to plan, visit and enjoy.
Aside from arriving early to beat the crowds, one of our biggest recommendations for families with small kids is to focus your evening on one area each night. This way you can avoid the hassle of walking too far and tiring out those little feet too quickly. This also gives you time to enjoy or interact with each artwork or event without feeling rushed.
The Vivid Sydney program is so choc-a-block with amazing events, meals and experiences you can easily spend an evening in one area and walk away having had a wonderful, illuminating time together. Return later to repeat the experience again in a new location.
To make things extra easy, we’ve sketched out three location-based itineraries below so you can make the most of your time out-and-about with your kids this Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family explores Aperture at Vivid Sydney 2023. This inflatable labyrinth of sculpted walls, peepholes and framed openings is filled with surprising and secret scenes. Inspired by the natural fractures or ‘apertures’ caused by erosion that shape some of NSW’s most beautiful landmarks, this playful artwork invites you to look through the cracks formed and see anew.
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family explores Aperture at Vivid Sydney 2023. This inflatable labyrinth of sculpted walls, peepholes and framed openings is filled with surprising and secret scenes. Inspired by the natural fractures or ‘apertures’ caused by erosion that shape some of NSW’s most beautiful landmarks, this playful artwork invites you to look through the cracks formed and see anew.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoys Night Walkers, Vivid Sydney 2023. If you’ve never spent time up-close with a frog, you might not appreciate how beautiful their intricate camouflage can be. In some species, they can even change colour and texture! Night Walkers supersizes these wonderous and endangered amphibians to highlight not just their beauty but also their ecological importance.
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoys Night Walkers, Vivid Sydney 2023. If you’ve never spent time up-close with a frog, you might not appreciate how beautiful their intricate camouflage can be. In some species, they can even change colour and texture! Night Walkers supersizes these wonderous and endangered amphibians to highlight not just their beauty but also their ecological importance.
Night 1: Tumbalong Park
In the heart of Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Park promises a night of free music, awe-inspiring light and easy, delicious dinner for families with kids of any age.
Parking: First Parking Darling Quarter (please note: bookings are essential, so make sure to plan ahead)
Nearest station: Town Hall Station (+10-min walk to Tumbalong Park)
Ages: 0+ (easy pram access)
Vibe: Enjoy new experiences and dance together under the stars.
Get those little feet moving to the beat!
Tumbalong Park welcomes music-loving kiddos at Vivid Kids at Tumbalong Stage every Saturday at 5pm for free family-friendly live shows. Catch stellar performances from Buuja Buuja Dance (25 May), The Beanies (1 June), Formidable Vegetable (8 June) and The Quokkas (15 June).
There’s also a choice of family-friendly performances for older kids from 7:30pm across the Tumbalong Nights program. Club Broadway (1 June) is great for little performers or families who love belting out show tunes in the car; Budjerah (15 June), an inspiring 22-year-old pop singer from the Bundjalung Nation; a colourful night of dance and rhythm at Sounds of Afrobeat (9 June); and Julbu Muna (25 May), which starts with a kids’ music and dance workshop from a First Nations led dance group. Explore the full program at vividsydney.com.
Hot tip: For science-minded eight to 12-year-olds, there’s the one-off Superheroes of Science on 1 June from 3-4:30pm. Poke around the lab, ask scientists and artists questions, make discoveries and gaze into microscopes before wandering down to Tumbalong Park for The Beanies show at 5pm and Club Broadway from 7:30pm. A full day of fun and adventure!
Gaze above, see into the past and imagine the future
Post-boogie at Tumbalong Nights, see nearby light installation Neolithic. Wander through this dazzling post-Stone age inspired structure hand-in-hand. Marvel at the stunning light patterns, dance to the Neolithic soundtrack and imagine what humans many, many moons ago were thinking as they gazed up at the night sky.
A bite to eat to fuel your fun
With food tracks and a bar (serving plenty of kid friendly options) right near the Tumbalong Park Stage, mealtime can be quick and convenient for when the tummy grumbles strike. Or make your way to Vivid Fire Kitchen, a night market serving flame-cooked NSW produce, just a 10-minute walk away.
More to see, touch and experience
A stone’s throw away from Tumbalong Park, you’ll also find captivating light installations Neuron and Hika Rakuyo and light projection BARANI. All three light works will spark the curiosity of young minds through storytelling, technology and wonder-inducing light displays. Each piece is an opportunity to teach your child something new too, from the science of the brain, First Nations wisdom to the connection between nature and humanity.
Vivid Sydney 2024 - HIKA RAKUYO Credit: ETERNAL Art Space
Vivid Sydney 2024 - HIKA RAKUYO
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Vivid Sydney 2024 - HIKA RAKUYO Credit: ETERNAL Art Space
Vivid Sydney 2024 - HIKA RAKUYO
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoys Tumbalong Nights at Darling Harbour, Vivid Sydney 2023.
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoys Tumbalong Nights at Darling Harbour, Vivid Sydney 2023.
Night 2: The Goods Line
The Goods Line precinct offers a wonder-filled night out for families with older kids with plenty to see, experience and taste.
Parking: Wilsons Market City Car Park Quay St (please note: bookings are essential, so make sure to plan ahead)
Nearest station: Central Train Station (+15-min walk to The Goods Line), Chinatown Light Rail Stop (+10-min walk to the Goods Line)
Ages: 6+
Vibe: A night of eye-opening adventure, new ideas and mesmerising fire for curious young minds.
Get up close and curious about our future
A New Normal is an immersive future-focused prototype hub where enquiring minds of all ages can see sustainable, innovative ideas up close and in action. Examine and sit on furniture made entirely from rubbish, feel the heat radiating from a sauna powered by leftover food and see below the bonnet of an old petrol car transformed into a solar-powered 'forever car'.
Global barbecue dishes to warm and delight tummies big and small
Then gather round the heat and enjoy a flame-seared meal at nearby Vivid Fire Kitchen. Here, you can weave between the smoke and firepits to select your dinner from the many sizzling options. With dishes from tandoor to teppanyaki, it’s a great opportunity to introduce your curious kid to something delicious and new or to sample a classic barbecue favourite like a sausage sandwich. After dinner, visit Messina Milk Bar for a scoop of nostalgia and a sweet treat for all.
More to see, just beyond the flame-seared action
Shining above all the fiery action, you’ll spot the giant neon letters of Humanity/Humility light up the rear wall of the Powerhouse. Not only is it striking, but it’ll also prompt further curiosity. Why not start a discussion on what the two words mean to you and your family?
Also at the Fire Kitchen you’ll find Window Dressing. A performance installation lighting up several windows of the Frank Gehry-designed building. Within each window, catch glimpses of performers as they act out intriguing, everyday scenes. With no dialogue, this is a fun opportunity to try and decipher together what each person is doing and imagine what their lives are like.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
A man has fun at the Common Ground light installation, Vivid Sydney 2023. Like us, the natural world has its moods: it can be troubled or serene, furious or loving, chaotic or caring. Common Ground takes us on an entrancing journey through nature's dramatic moments, heading towards a sanctuary of peace.
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
A man has fun at the Common Ground light installation, Vivid Sydney 2023. Like us, the natural world has its moods: it can be troubled or serene, furious or loving, chaotic or caring. Common Ground takes us on an entrancing journey through nature's dramatic moments, heading towards a sanctuary of peace.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple warms up at Vivid Fire Kitchen, Vivid Sydney 2023. Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney's hottest dining concepts with local and internationally-acclaimed pitmasters and a collection of the finest NSW producers, curated drinks and fire-inspired cocktails for three weeks of flame-fuelled festivities
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple warms up at Vivid Fire Kitchen, Vivid Sydney 2023. Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney's hottest dining concepts with local and internationally-acclaimed pitmasters and a collection of the finest NSW producers, curated drinks and fire-inspired cocktails for three weeks of flame-fuelled festivities
Night 3: Circular Quay and The Rocks
The iconic Circular Quay offers a spectacular mix of visual and culinary fun, interactivity, and inspiration during Vivid Sydney, making it the perfect destination for families with little and big kids.
Parking: Sydney Opera House Car Park (please note: bookings are essential, so make sure to plan ahead)
Nearest station: Circular Quay Train Station or Circular Quay Light Rail Stop. On Saturday nights during the festival and on Sunday 9 June and Monday 10 June, trains will not drop off passengers at Circular Quay from 6pm-11pm. Please use Wynyard station and continue your journey to Circular Quay.
Ages: 0+ (easy pram access)
Vibe: Wander as you wonder at the dazzling lights and sample the best global food at a bustling night market just behind Circular Quay.
The quintessential Vivid Sydney experience through their wide eyes
Start by taking in the Lighting of the Sails: Echo by Julia Gutman at the Sydney Opera House, Sea, Sand and Stars on the MCA façade by Guan Wei and Gumscape with Road and Creatures at Customs House by Reg Mombassa. All three of these stunning projections have a story to tell about what it means to be human. Plus, the bold and striking art is sure to captivate your child’s imagination and curiosity. Encourage them to point out their favourite parts of each story and what they like most about each artist’s style!
A bustling night market with something for everyone
Once you’ve wondered around, you can then hop to the nearby night market at VividPlace Food Trail for a bite. Nestled in Sydney Place and Bulletin Place laneways, families can explore an array of international and local cuisines and Vivid Sydney-inspired specials in a lively, pedestrianised setting, no bookings needed. You can grab and go, or sit and eat, whichever suits your group best. There will also be light and fire displays in the mix, making for a lively and fun meal.
Squeeze in a bit more action
Want to see more? We suggest heading to First Fleet Park, right next to Circular Quay station, to enjoy Embrace. This piece invites participation, lighting up when your little one reaches up to hold one of the figure’s hands. A fun and dazzling way to encourage us to think about how we’re connected to the people around us. Just around the corner at Hickson Road Reserve, find the spectacular Connection. Here, you can wander through a rainbow canopy of LED ropes, where different switches trigger patterns and light displays.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Lighting of the Sails Echo (2024) by Julia Gutman
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Lighting of the Sails Echo (2024) by Julia Gutman
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the 'Vivid Kids' installation at Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks during Vivid 2023. Artist: Spinifex Group. Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Vivid Kids! This year a select group of young artists, aged 7-14, made works around the theme of ‘endangered species’, working closely with animators and light mappers from Spinifex to bring them to life. Come marvel in this delightful, unique experience!
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the 'Vivid Kids' installation at Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks during Vivid 2023. Artist: Spinifex Group. Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Vivid Kids! This year a select group of young artists, aged 7-14, made works around the theme of ‘endangered species’, working closely with animators and light mappers from Spinifex to bring them to life. Come marvel in this delightful, unique experience!
More Inspirational Stories
Murray Rose Pool, Double BayCredit: Destination NSW
Harbour views from Murray Rose Pool, Double Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
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Connect with the true essence of Sydney by mingling with the friendly locals and discovering the vibrant energy that defines the city. Beyond its stunning landmarks, Sydney invites you to experience its warmth and charm.
Showstopping At Royal Randwick
Dress to Impress at Royal Randwick Racecourse for a Saturday at the races during the Sydney Everest Carnival. Don’t miss the fresh new destination, the Peacock Lounge in the Winx Stand at Royal Randwick. For five exclusive days only, the Peacock Lounge will be the place to be to elevate your race day
Don't miss the fresh new destination, the Peacock Lounge in the Winx Stand at Royal Randwick. For five exclusive days only, the Peacock Lounge will be the place to be this Carnival to elevate your raceday.
Check out the open air Theatre Of The Horse to watch the racehorses' parade with their jockeys in vibrant racing silks before the competition .Then hit the rose garden for further festivities, this time it’s all about preening and social media.
For post-race shenanigans, join racegoers at one of Paddington’s watering holes including the rooftop at The Light Brigade, The Royal Hotel at Fiveways or The Paddington, which boasts some excellent dining options. Alternatively, saddle up for a pasta blowout at fashionable Paddington institution, 10 William Street.
Salute the Dawn at Bronte Beach
The 440 Run Club is a free Saturday morning running club that is open to everyone at any fitness level. Meet in the park in front of Bronte Beach in the dark, and join a crew of all ages and backgrounds to run, jog or even walk up and down a hill in a continuous loop. Sunrise over this beautiful beach never looked so good.
Afterwards go cafe hopping at the beachside strip and nabone of the outdoor tables for pinch yourself views. The Bogey Hole Cafe is a great place to start.
If you’re still full of beans, do the stunning Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk Follow the scenic pathway back to Bondi or go further afield to another action-packed beach suburb, Coogee. This is also where you’ll find one of Sydney’s Insta-famous restaurants, Mimi’s.
The Championship Races, Royal Randwick Credit: Destination NSW
The Championship Races, Royal Randwick 2014..
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The Championship Races, Royal Randwick Credit: Destination NSW
The Championship Races, Royal Randwick 2014..
Bronte Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Surfer heading out to catch a wave at Bronte Beach, Sydney.
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Bronte Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Surfer heading out to catch a wave at Bronte Beach, Sydney.
Go Boho In Bondi
Sydney’s famous Bondi has plenty of trophy hang outs including Icebergs Dining Room and the Promenade ,but it also has a Boho beating heart. At North Bondi (which is where the locals swim), refill at heritage cafe, Speedos or drop into the laid back Bondi RSL filled with interesting characters and extraordinary views of the beach.
Explore the shopping thoroughfare of Gould Street with signature store, Tuchuzy and keep walking all the way to the Bondi Farmer’s Market
Other boho outposts include Gertrude & Alice bookstore and cafe on Hall Street, Up South on Bondi Road, Bondi Tony’s for Aussie Burgers in Glenayr Avenue, and Shop & Wine Bar in Curlewis Street Bondi.
Heritage, Art and Harbourside Delights
Sydney’s Parliament House, steeped in colonial history, is open to the public every Monday and Friday. The Legislative Assembly chamber (also known as the bear pit) is the place where laws are made with vigorous debate. Afterwards take a stroll across the Domain, spread out in front of you like a green carpet to the Art Gallery Of NSW. Head to the newly opened and architecturally amazing North Wing - Naala Badu - for lunch at MOD. Dining by Clayton Wells.
Then cool down and at the nearby spectacular, enclosed Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, set into the harbour where you can swim while taking in the yachts and ferries on the other side of the glass.
Finish your day with some soothing drinks at the Library of NSW rooftop bar or head across the road to the Intercontinental Hotel’s scenic Aster Bar for cocktails accompanied by stunning views right down the harbour.
Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of Bondi Icebergs and surrounds, Bondi
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Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of Bondi Icebergs and surrounds, Bondi
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
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Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
Pining for Manly
Board the Manly Ferry for the 30-minute voyage to Manly - the beachside suburb, ringed with ancient Norfolk Pine trees where it always seems to be holiday time.
Check into the newly revamped Manly Pacific Hotel with its opulent appointments but fairly modest rates. You could also consider Pepper’s Manly Beach, which also just across the road from this prime surf spot. The Corso runs from the Harbour side to the beachside and offers interesting eateries including Butter Boy for their famous cookies baked on the spot. Next door is Norma’s Deli for excellent sandwiches, cakes, and traditional Greek spreads.
Go for a stroll to Shelly Beach where you may encounter some harmless Eastern Water Dragons sun baking on the rocks along the way and ready for their close up. Dip into the water at the beach or the ocean pool then head to The Boathouse where you order at the bar and find your own table. Dine on everything from pizza and salads to fish and chips to get a real taste of Manly.
Spa It Up In Double Bay
Double Bay is Sydney’s most luxe village. It boasts plenty of hair salons along with decadent day spas, excellent shopping and five-star restaurants and bars.Head to All Saint Clinic founded by one of Australia’s best aesthetic skin doctors for pure indulgence where the treatment menu includes the Fire & Ice facial.
Next visit the famous Joh Bailey Salon for a blow out or head to La Boutique in Transvaal Avenue, where owner Belinda Jeffries is the blonde whisperer.
Celebrate the newly refreshed you with a lunch at Margaret Double Bay, owned by prestigious Icon Awards winner, Neil Perry. Take an outdoor table to make your own contribution to Double Bay’s street life, then duck downstairs to the newly opened cocktail bar, Bobbie’s.
You could also have a drink on the deck at a popular locals’ hang out, the 18 Footers Bar Restaurant & Cafe, which is right next to the Double Bay Ferry Wharf. It’s the perfect spot to watch the sun setting over the harbour and then hop on a ferry back to Circular Quay.
Manly Pacific Credit: Manly Pacific
Coastal Suites at Manly Pacific Bedroom
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Manly Pacific Credit: Manly Pacific
Coastal Suites at Manly Pacific Bedroom
Murray Rose Pool, Double Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk by Murray Rose Pool, Double Bay.
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Murray Rose Pool, Double Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk by Murray Rose Pool, Double Bay.