Best Things To Do in Sydney with Kids
Looking for the best things to do with your family in Sydney, Australia? You're in the right place. We've curated 6 top-rated family attractions spanning Nature & Outdoor Adventures. Each destination is vetted by real parents with safety ratings, age recommendations, and insider tips you won't find on generic travel sites. From splash parks to cultural gems, here's your complete guide to Sydney with kids.
Taronga Zoo Sydney
World-class zoo perched on Sydney Harbour with over 4,000 animals. Stunning harbour views from the main entrance, daily keeper talks, and a sky safari cable car that kids adore.
Book your tickets online at least 48 hours ahead. Walk-up prices are 20% more and you skip the queue.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Massive aquarium in Darling Harbour featuring the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, penguin encounters, and a 360-degree ocean tunnel. Dedicated family zones with touch pools and interactive displays.
Book the Penguin Pass add-on. It is $15 extra but you get to feed penguins and it makes the whole trip unforgettable.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Expansive 30-hectare harbourside garden with dedicated children discovery areas, flying foxes, and the best views of the Sydney Opera House. Free entry with paid workshops and tours.
The free guided Aboriginal Heritage Walk on Tuesdays is fantastic for curious kids aged 6+. Book via the website.
Taronga Zoo
A world-class zoo perched on Sydney Harbour with panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Home to over 4,000 animals across 28 acres, Taronga offers immersive encounters with Australian wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, and wombats alongside exotic species. The zoo features sky safari cable car rides, keeper talks every hour, and a dedicated Australian Walkabout area where kids can hand-feed kangaroos.
The free Wild Ropes high-ropes course (ages 5 and up) is hidden near the top entrance. Most families miss it.
Darling Harbour Playgrounds
A spectacular waterfront playground precinct spanning multiple interconnected play areas along Darling Harbour. The centrepiece is the Darling Quarter Playground with its massive 21-metre net climb, water play zone with sprinklers and pumps, giant slides, and musical play equipment. Adjacent playgrounds at Tumbalong Park add flying foxes, sandpits, and sensory gardens. Free, safe, and stunningly designed with harbour views, barbecue areas, and the CBD skyline as a backdrop.
Pack a picnic lunch. The surrounding Darling Harbour restaurants are overpriced and the queues are 20-plus minutes at lunch.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
The ultimate hands-on Australian wildlife experience. Kids can hand-feed kangaroos, pat koalas, and meet wombats, echidnas, and Tasmanian devils up close. More intimate than Taronga, with over 1,700 native animals in natural bushland settings.
Buy a bag of kangaroo food ($2) at the entrance—it's the cheapest joy your kids will have all trip. The kangaroos are free-roaming and incredibly gentle.
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