I moved to Sydney because I love going to the beach. Whether it’s swimming in an ocean pool or even just going for a coastal walk, it’s definitely my happy place.
But some days, I just don’t want to deal with the sun, sand, and sunscreen, especially with kids in tow.
As a family with two kids under 6, we’ve discovered many other low-cost, family-friendly things to do in Sydney despite it being the most expensive city in Australia to live in.
As a local for 15 years, I know these places are not to be missed for families planning a Sydney vacation.
Visiting the Australian Museum, Sydney CBD
To my kids, the Australian Museum is simply known as ‘the dinosaur museum’. It’s home to real dinosaur skeletons and life-size models, including a Tyrannosaurus rex model dissected into various body parts.
Courtesy of Dani Smith.
While the dinosaurs are a big drawcard for kids, there’s a lot more to see at the museum. We always visit the kids’ interactive learning and play space called Burra. It can be hard to tear the kids away from the projected water activity, where they can dress up as animals and pretend to swim with other creatures.
General entry to the Australian Museum is free, but major exhibitions require a paid ticket.
Having a picnic at Centennial Park, Paddington
My favorite place to have a picnic in Sydney is Centennial Park. With its formal gardens, ponds, and tree-lined walking paths, it feels like an oasis amid the bustling city. And it’s just 10 minutes by car or bus from Sydney’s CBD.
The park is home to a lot of wildlife, with black swans and ducks in the ponds, and grey-headed flying foxes in one of the swamps.
Courtesy of Dani Smith.
My kids also love visiting the park’s nature-based playground, Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden, but I recommend checking ahead to ensure it’s open as it closes for one month during winter.
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It’s free to visit Centennial Park all year round.
Visiting the Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain
Growing up with an artist mom, I spent a lot of my childhood at art galleries, and now I take my own kids to them. The Art Gallery of NSW is my favorite because it offers world-class art and views of Sydney Harbour.
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Beyond the art, there’s a children’s art library with cubby houses for reading. I’ve also found that the gallery offers hands-on activities for kids on the days we’ve visited. One of these activities even allowed my kids to put their own artwork up on the wall.
For lunch, I recommend setting up a waterside picnic next door at the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney. It’s free to enter the gardens, but there are fees associated with tours, special events, and exhibits inside The Calyx.
General admission to the gallery is free, and kids under 12 get free access to the ticketed exhibitions.
Taking a ferry to Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
My family loves taking a ferry to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour. The former convict gaol and shipyard on the island provides space for kids to run, explore ,and learn about Australia’s history.
Courtesy of Dani Smith.
By taking the ferry from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island, you’ll also get the best views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.
Cockatoo Island is free to visit, so visitors just need to pay for the return ferry trip.
