Kayaking, Sydney HarbourCredit: Destination NSW
One of the most unique ways to explore Sydney Harbour with the family is on kayak.
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Sydney is a fantastic city to explore with kids. It’s packed with family-friendly attractions and outdoor experiences that celebrate our glistening harbourside city. Read on for tips to planning the perfect family getaway.
Highlights:
- Experience Sydney Harbour, on, over and above it
- Feast on multicultural flavours at markets, restaurants and cafés
- Sleep in family-friendly hotels with all the extras
Where to eat and drink
Sydney is one of the world’s great foodie cities with cuisine from every corner of the globe. At hawker-style market Spice Alley in Chippendale, on the fringe of the city centre, you can sample delicacies from across Asia, from succulent Singaporean dishes to mouth-watering Malaysian stir fry and flavour-packed Vietnamese street food. Dine outside beneath a string of lantern lights.
Fratelli Fresh is a Sydney institution with eight restaurants across the city serving up its signature menu of Italian classics. The Darling Harbour outpost is styled like a European dining hall, with different venues for pizza, fresh pasta, rotisserie meats and gelato, as well as a Campari bar and craft beer bar. There’s a full kids’ menu and happy hour on weekdays, meaning everyone is well catered for.
A destination in itself, The Grounds of Alexandria is a sprawling eatery in the inner-city suburb of Alexandria, housed within a former 1920s-era industrial precinct. It’s an urban sanctuary with laneways housing multiple cafés, bars, bakeries, market stalls and even a petting zoo. It’s ideal for families as kids are free to roam while you enjoy some of Sydney’s best coffee.
Dine right over the water on the Kirribilli ferry wharf at Celsius Coffee Co. This light-filled café has a short but delicious menu of breakfast and lunch favourites, as well as cold-pressed juice, flavoursome teas and excellent coffee. You can catch the ferry here from Circular Quay.
Walk through Darling Harbour and past the buzzing bars and restaurants of King Street Wharf to Sydney’s newest harbourside precinct, Barangaroo. You can stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants or pick up supplies at The Canteen or Bel and Brio for a picnic at Barangaroo Reserve. The six-hectare park has incredible harbour views, walking trails and more than 75,000 native plants.
The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria Credit: Destination NSW
The Garden at The Grounds of Alexandria, in Sydney’s Alexandria, is a great spot to take the kids.
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The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria Credit: Destination NSW
The Garden at The Grounds of Alexandria, in Sydney’s Alexandria, is a great spot to take the kids.
Lets Go Surfing, Bondi Beach Credit: Lets Go Surfing
Surfing at Bondi Beach with surf school Lets Go Surfing.
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Lets Go Surfing, Bondi Beach Credit: Lets Go Surfing
Surfing at Bondi Beach with surf school Lets Go Surfing.
Where to play
Start your Sydney adventure with a walk across its most famous landmark, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There’s a fenced pedestrian path running beside the road with incredible views over the harbour and Opera House. You can also see the glistening city from above at the Sydney Tower Eye from its wraparound observation deck 250 metres above the ground. Its 4D cinema experience takes you on a thrilling ride through all of Sydney’s most famous landmarks.
From Circular Quay, hop on the ferry for an afternoon at Taronga Zoo. Opened in 1916, the zoo occupies a prime position in leafy Mosman overlooking Sydney Harbour. It’s home to Australian native animals and exotic creatures from around the world, with opportunities to meet a koala or feed a penguin.
In Sydney, there are countless opportunities to get out on the water. Every morning you’ll find plenty of keen surfers catching the waves at Bondi, Sydney’s most famous beach. Sign up for a private family surfing lesson with Lets Go Surfing and in just an hour they’ll have you standing up on your board like a pro. Alternatively, head north to the Spit Bridge in Middle Harbour and pick up a kayak from Sydney Harbour Kayaks. Paddle under the bridge, past mansions and million-dollar yachts, then stop for a swim at any of the beautiful beaches that line either side of the harbour.
Enjoy the requisite fish and chips on the beach at Manly before a short, 15-minute walk along the coastline to Shelly Beach. This quiet cove is one of Sydney’s best snorkelling spots and it’s perfect for beginners, with calm waters and almost no ocean swell. Spot schools of fish, harmless wobbegong sharks and — if you’re lucky — hawksbill turtles. You can rent snorkelling gear from Dive Centre Manly.
Take a step back in time at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks, a living record of Australia’s fascinating convict history. There’s a dedicated children’s trail running through the museum and special workshops and activities during Australian school holidays.
Where to sleep
If you’re looking for some of the city’s most plush accommodation, check into the incredibly stylish two-bedroom harbour view suite at the Pullman Quay Grand right on Circular Quay. The generous suite can be your home away from home in Sydney with a full kitchen, separate lounge and dining areas, and a sunny balcony with unbeatable harbour views.
Head across the harbour to Manly and you will feel like you’re in a relaxed beachside village, yet are just a 20-minute ferry ride to the city centre. The Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific has modern rooms and apartments overlooking the ocean and just a few steps away from the neighbourhood’s many cafés, restaurants, shops and activities. On the hotel’s rooftop, a resort-style swimming pool is guaranteed to keep kids entertained.
Whether you’re travelling with toddlers, young children or teenagers, the dedicated kid’s rooms on offer at the Swissotel Sydney in the city centre can be customised to your family’s needs. The staff will set up an adjoining room decked out with special bed linen, bathroom amenities, art, games, toys, DVDs and more.
Manly Beach Credit: Hamilton Lund; Destination NSW
The Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific is right on Manly Beach — the kids will love it.
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Manly Beach Credit: Hamilton Lund; Destination NSW
The Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific is right on Manly Beach — the kids will love it.
Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Groper swimming in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve.
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Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Groper swimming in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve.
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.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
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.