Indoor Play Centres & Activities Sydney

From indoor entertainment to day trips beyond the city, these options offer something different depending on your mood and the weather. This one is only suitable for families used to long walks or parents happy to carry their kids, lol; it’s not for the fainthearted at the 8km in total. Your efforts, however, are well rewarded with not one but two lighthouses and a couple of playgrounds along the way. The museum has a fantastic kids’ area, Kidspace and accompanying activity programs. Kidspace offers a story time period between 2 pm and 3 pm each weekday.
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 kids entertainment sydney cbd 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.

There are 1,332 stairs which sound daunting, but the views and the guide make it easier than it looks. The view from the top is breathtaking and along the way are a variety of items to see and information to absorb. Read my full review of the museum and see the amazing photos here. A visit to the Sydney Harbour Pylon Museum (and lookout) involves a little over 200 stairs making it best for kids who are steady on their feet (or parents happy to carry smaller ones).
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.

You can also take a tour of the Opera House to learn the history of this unique building and how it came to be. A wide variety of sporting and entertainment events are held at Sydney Olympic Park every year which can be fun to attend in Sydney with kids. Treat your whole family to a cinematic experience as you enjoy blockbuster movies, and documentaries in an immersive setting with a large screen and cutting-edge audio. Here you will find a 50-metre lap pool but also a splash pad and shaded lounging area for a family day at the pool.
Families come in all shapes and sizes, which is why we’ve organized our recommendations by family type. Finding activities for toddlers in Sydney isn’t easy but we’ve uncovered some genuinely excellent options through our research. That’s its own challenge, so we’ve focused on activities that won’t have them rolling their eyes all day. And of course, we’ve made sure the grown-ups actually enjoy themselves too. A day at the beach is always a great way to enjoy the sunshine and spend time with family.
These tend to run $30 to $45 per child but deliver high-energy entertainment that keeps even the most restless kids engaged. For something more creative, art studios, cooking schools, and science workshops across Sydney run structured party experiences that are perfect for smaller groups of 8 to 12 kids. Sydney's indoor play centre scene is the largest and most diverse in Australia. The industry has matured significantly in recent years, with new venues raising the bar on design, hygiene, food quality, and parent amenities. Kids will be high-as-a-kite with excitement after hearing about this place. Children from as young as three years old can learn how to skydive in an indoor facility in Penrith – and it’s fun for adults too.

I like to walk from North to South, so the Opera House remains in view the entire way. A little over a km long, it should take you about 30 minutes, given how many times you will stop to take photos and watch the traffic. The current exhibition is Alchemy of a Rainforest and features more than 18,000 plants. You can also check out the largest living green wall in the southern hemisphere. While there is a chance you will come across some Aussie wildlife on your travels, it is tough to find a platypus in the wild, so do not miss this chance! Taronga is a world-class zoo with some of the best views in Sydney.
In fact, there’s even a reality TV show based around this popular Sydney beach – Bondi Rescue, following some of the rescues and unusual situations the lifeguards of Bondi encounter. You can do a self-guided audio tour that can be purchased for a few dollars at the visitor centre. Queens Park is 26 hectares, with sports fields, playgrounds, free BBQ facilities and great views of Sydney. Although not as old as its Melbourne counterpart in St Kilda which opened in 1912, the two parks are quite similar, right down to the iconic smiling face entrance. Many of the cruises include lunch or you can do a twilight dinner cruise. Are also cruises that stop at some of the unique harbour city attractions, such as historic Goat Island in Sydney Harbour National Park.

The tunnels of the aquarium are a mesmerising place for kids, where they can meet dugongs, sharks, sea turtles and penguins. On the North Shore, Planet Mino in Chatswood sets the standard for design-led play. Their two-storey space-themed playground features augmented reality walls, a giant ball blaster arena, and a cafe that serves genuinely good coffee. It's pricier than Western Sydney options at around $20 to $25 per child, but the quality of the fit-out is noticeably higher. In the Hills District, Area 51 in Castle Hill sprawls across 4,000 square metres and includes a unique Snow World zone where kids can play in real snow regardless of the weather.
Trampoline parks like BOUNCE and Flip Out run party packages with dedicated hosts. For something different, try art studios, cooking schools, or outdoor venues like Centennial Park which has BBQ and picnic facilities. Our Party Planner tool lets you compare venues, check availability, and request quotes from multiple places at once. Many Sydney play cafes specifically target the baby and toddler  market, offering a relaxed environment where parents can enjoy a decent coffee while their little ones explore safe, stimulating play areas. These venues are particularly popular with parents on maternity and paternity leave who are looking for social connection alongside child-friendly spaces. Our soft play centres guide and toddler activities blog have detailed recommendations.

The cruise is an interactive experience on a historic sailing ship on the harbour. There are many ways to get out and explore the harbour, and the age and interests of your whole family will play a significant factor in your decisions here, so here are just a few options. One of the best things to do in Watson Bay is visit Robertson Park.
Using flying foxes, watch the kangaroos, koalas, and emus go about their day from your bird’s-eye view. Suitable for kids over three years, the younger riders will have two courses allowing them to view koalas and possums. The zoo has a bunch of free shows every day, but the two that are always a hit with younger kids are the farm walk and the pat a pet talk. I suggest you check the schedule the day before and plan your day around the talks you want to join. See the world’s largest collection of marine life at Sea life Sydney Aquarium including  the beautiful giants on Dugong island.
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.