Best Indoor Activities in Sydney on Rainy Days
Consider the inner west where you can combine murals with independent shops, or Cronulla where you can discover over 20 murals between the train station and the beach. Jamberoo is about 90 minutes south of Sydney and there are water play areas, water slides, fun rides and plenty more. There are good facilities with a fenced playground, gas BBQs and beautiful harbour views. You can follow a walk from the ferry wharf that will take you to a significant rock art site. The small general store near the waterfront often has free pamphlet guides you can follow.
The Art Gallery of NSW houses an impressive array of colonial, modern and contemporary Australian art, as well as international works and touring exhibitions. Here you can explore interactive educational exhibits about astronomy, look through telescopes, witness star vr sydney shows and more. If you’re only in Sydney for a short time and want to see some native animals, this is a good option. You may find various types of native Australian animals here in the 10 interactive zones, including koalas, Tasmanian devils, platypus, wombats and kangaroos.
Putt Planet brings the city streets of Mombasa to Miranda with 18 holes of themed fun. Though the course is relatively challenging, it’s suitable for all ages. There’s a dedicated function room for parties and café that’ll cater events or serve up snacks once your tournament is won. And it’s all enclosed; wet weather will never ruin the green or your day out. Compare Sydney's best birthday party venues, check availability, and send enquiries to multiple places with one form. If you’ve worked through the main attractions and still want more, here are some brilliant extras to round out your Sydney family adventure.
We have considered things like the number of beds per room, special family facilities and the best locations for families. There are lots of family activities to be found in western Sydney from Sydney Olympic Park to Parramatta to the Parramatta River. Check out our guide to the best things to do in Parramatta for ideas. The Australian Museum has an interesting program for kids from 9 months to 3 years, Tiny Tots playgroup, where they will be exposed to First Nation’s history and culture through music, craft and games.
It is perfect for children of all ages since it is both exciting and educational. You can take a guided tour or just wander around the gardens at your leisure. The kids will love exploring the many paths and discovering all kinds of flora and fauna. Unlike your typical museum, interaction with the exhibits is encouraged at Madame T’s. Superheroes are a big part of the fun, with displays of both Marvel and DC’s costumed crusaders.
The Inner West has carved out a niche for creative, design-conscious play spaces. Nubo Alexandria is the poster child of this movement, with its Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, natural materials, and focus on open-ended sensory play. It's not cheap at around $22 per child, but the experience is genuinely different from a traditional play centre.
They tend to work best for kids under 5, as older children often find the play areas too small or simple. For our full recommendations, head to our best play cafes in Sydney guide. Most programs run for full days (typically 9am to 3pm) and cost $60 to $100 per day, with multi-day discounts available.
You also get some great views of the Sydney skyline from Watsons Bay on a clear day. Or if camping and glamping aren’t your scene, there are also holiday apartments too. Whale watching is a perfect Sydney family activity to witness these magnificent creatures up close on a comfortable vessel. The Sydney whale watching season is typically between May and November each year, although the winter months of June and July are usually the best time for whale sightings. You may see a variety of artifacts from many centuries ago and also learn about the local and traditional custodians of the area.
Yes, there are several family-friendly beaches located within easy reach of the city centre. There are so many great things to do in Sydney with kids when you are spending time in the New South Wales capital. Sydney is a family-friendly city with a wide variety of attractions and activities for kids and adults of all ages.
Your complete guide to Sydney's best indoor play centres, birthday party venues, trampoline parks, and family-friendly activities across every suburb. Standard play sessions at Sydney indoor play centres typically cost $14 to $22 per child for 1.5 to 2 hours of play. Toddler-specific sessions (under 3s) are often discounted to $10 to $15. Most venues offer multi-visit passes or memberships that bring the cost down to $10 to $14 per visit. Play cafes tend to charge $12 to $18 per child, often including a coffee for the adult.
New elevators mean parents with prams and wheelchairs can easily reach the main footpath, and there are amazing options for all fitness levels. The garden’s volunteers offer free 1.5 hour guided tours every day at 10.30am. While I love to walk around the gardens when exploring with toddlers or younger kids, the Choo Choo Express, a hop on hop off train, will help you cover the entire garden. Be sure to get off at stop 4 to see the iconic Mrs Macquarie’s Point view.
Birthday party packages run from $25 to $45 per child including food, a party room, and a host. Sydney is, without question, the best city in Australia for families with young kids. With over 200 indoor play centres, dozens of trampoline parks, and an ever-growing scene of boutique play cafes and creative workshops, there's genuinely something for every age, interest, and budget. Whether you're a parent of a crawling 9-month-old looking for a safe sensory space, or you've got a high-energy 8-year-old who needs to burn off steam on a rainy Saturday, Sydney delivers. The best choice depends on your child's age, your suburb, and what kind of experience you're after. Indoor play centres like Monkey Mania, Lollipops, and Croc's Playcentre offer all-inclusive party packages from $25 to $40 per child.
Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains and grab an Blue Mountains Hop on Hop off pass – kids ride free – and you can travel to the mountains using Sydney Trains to save on costly guided tours. Camp Cove Beach makes a perfect rest spot near the end of the walk, and the ferry ride back to the city is a fantastic way to end the day. Along the way, check out French cafe Bellevue Cottage for a delicious splurge brunch or lunch.
Our favourite was the Gruffalo Trail which is an interactive trail for kids. There is also a playground, a skate park and street art to admire. We were lucky enough to see one of the local artists working on her piece during our last visit. This is a popular spot all year round, with walking trails, a great adventure playground for the kids and heaps of covered picnic tables.