Little ones need big fun, and thankfully, Sydney is up to the task. Whether your kid likes the sunshine or is more the indoor type, scientific or arty, there is plenty to get up to for everyone from tiny babies all the way up to sophisticated teens. Here are our top picks for how best to keep the fam entertained.
FREEBIES
Burra
Australian Museum, daily, free, australian.museum
The Australian Museum is always a guaranteed boredom buster, with its exotic animals and sparkling minerals, but the place many race to first is the permanent kids’ learning space, Burra. Opened in 2022, it brings together Western science and First Nations knowledge in an imagination-sparking area full of puzzles, tactile spaces and creative play.
Dig It!
Museum of Sydney, daily, free, mhnsw.au
The museum’s multisensory experience Dig It! opened in December last year and it’s the perfect opportunity for the whole family to play amateur archaeologist. The retro ’80s-style video arcade games installed are a highlight, where players can mash buttons to unearth both trash and treasure. Those up for a challenge can try to piece together the shards of an artefact, but be warned, it’s trickier than it looks.
Children’s Library
State Library of NSW, daily, free, sl.nsw.gov.au
Within the bookshelves of the State Library is a dedicated area just for kids’ literature, complete with tomes flying overhead and cosy nooks to curl up in. It’s especially worth a visit on the third Sunday of each month for the library’s ongoing Family Sunday event, next scheduled on March 15 with a grandparents’ day. For those whose kids aren’t reading yet, there’s also a family room for under fives with toys and costumes to enjoy.
MUSICAL DELIGHTS
Lenny Pearce’s Toddler Techno Rave
Sydney Zoo, February 22 to March 15, $49.99/$19.99, sydneyzoo.com
For wee ones who like their BPMs high, Lenny Pearce is transforming nursery rhymes such as The Wheels on the Bus and Hop Little Bunnies into dance-floor bangers at a weekend residency at Sydney Zoo until mid-March. It’s all included in entry to the zoo, which is free for children aged three and under, so visitors can check out the critters and also boogie on down.
Small Fry Rock
Factory Theatre, March 7, $39.70/$34.60, smallfryrock.com.au
This cool concert series was born out of a desire to create gigs grown-ups can take their kids to. The upcoming Sydney show features a wonderful Aussie bill with singer-songwriter Lisa Mitchell and musical duo Busby Marou. The daytime shows feature colourful balloons and monitored sound levels so parents and kids can both happily rock out. Children two and under get free entry.
ACO Family Days
ACO On The Pier, The Neilson, March 14-15, June 14 and October 10-11, $29, aco.com.au
The Australian Chamber Orchestra regularly holds family days to introduce mini maestros to classical music. Their next scheduled one in March, Mozart & Friends, is a 30-minute concert, with little ones able to try out the instruments after the recital. The concert is suitable for all ages, but most recommended for two- to eight-year-olds, while children under 24 months sitting on a paying adult’s lap can attend free.
OUTDOOR ACTION
Darling Harbour Playground
Darling Harbour, daily, free, darlingharbour.com
This has to be one of the best playgrounds in Sydney, with kids able to roam for hours while parents can savour a sneaky coffee. It’s particularly nice on a sunny day as it has an impressive water play area with aquatic contraptions and fountains to splash about in. In 2024, a new area was also added to cater for tweens and teens, with super-sized slides and more challenging climbing structures.
Seedlings at Sydney
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, various Thursdays, $21 per child per session, botanicgardens.org.au
Children aged two-and-a-half to five years old, along with their caregivers, can get their hands dirty discovering the majesty of nature in a specially designed program for early learners. With fun activities, stories and games, preschoolers can explore the beauty of the Royal Botanic Garden, while being taught about the surrounding plants and wildlife. Sessions can be booked casually or as part of a term pass.
Spotlight Prowl for Families
Centennial Parklands, March 6, April 8 and 17, May 1 and June 5, $24.50, centennialparklands.com.au
See what happens after dark at the park as attendees are taken on a family-friendly dusk stroll led by experienced rangers. Keep an eye out to see some of the area’s nocturnal inhabitants, which include brushtail possums, microbats, tawny frogmouths and grey-headed flying-foxes. Western Sydney residents should note Spotlight Prowls are also held at Parramatta Park.
INDOOR FUN
Balloon Story
Fever Pavilion, Sydney Showground, daily until March 18, $39.90-$49.90/$29.90-$38.90, balloonstory.com/sydney
Launched last month, this spectacular experience uses more than 400,000 eco-friendly latex balloons to craft enormous sculptures of everything from underwater scenes to an alien landscape to the Eiffel Tower. There’s even a mammoth ball pit surrounded by an inflatable jungle and cute creatures. All ages are welcome, with kids two and under receiving free entry.
DigiPark Sydney
Westfield Sydney, daily, $39.20/$31.20, digipark.com.au
Opened just last school holidays, this 19-room immersive attraction is a visual extravaganza with holographic tunnels, a mirror maze, illuminated planet room, interactive graffiti walls where drawings come alive, and an upside-down bakery. Younger kids will marvel, while older ones will be happy about the many selfie opportunities.
Cinematheque Junior
Art Gallery of New South Wales, March 18-May 27, $18/$10-$16, artgallery.nsw.gov.au
AGNSW has extended its Sydney Cinematheque film program into a kids’ series, perfect for any parent hoping to raise a budding Truffaut. The relaxed fortnightly sessions are shown in a lightly dimmed theatre, with movies scheduled including Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moomin and Midsummer Madness, Babe and Ratatouille. Children under two can attend free.
TINY TOTS
Magic Yellow Bus
Various locations, Mondays to Thursdays, free, innerwest.nsw.gov.au
The inner west’s terrific Magic Yellow Bus program is a mums’ group favourite for a reason. It provides a great chance for children aged zero to six to socialise as it drops by a variety of parks throughout the week. For the very youngest attendees, there’s an area set up with baby toys for tear-free tummy time, and there’s also playdough, dress-ups and stories for toddlers.
Kids Music Playtime
Sydney Opera House, March 13, April 17, May 15 and June 12, $25, sydneyoperahouse.com
Little ones can get a sweet introduction to music at the fanciest venue in Sydney. Infants and toddlers will hear a variety of musical styles including classical, folk and blues in a laid-back environment where they’re encouraged to move and make noise. Sydney Youth Orchestras perform, with singer Angie Who appearing at some dates. The event is suitable for ages zero to two, and babies in arms aged under one year are admitted free.
Phive Children’s Programs
Phive, Parramatta, various dates, various prices, cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/phive
Parramatta cultural hub Phive hosts an excellent assortment of weekly activities for youngsters. There’s Phive Messy Babies for ages zero to two, with colourful sensory play to develop motor skills; Yoga Cubs, where ages six months to five years can stretch mindfully; and Phive Pre-school Pioneers, where ages three to five get educational hands-on lessons across cooking, nature and science.
BIG KIDS
Asi Wind
Sydney Opera House, February 23-March 1, $79-$99/$63.20-$79.20, sydneyoperahouse.com
Internationally acclaimed magician and mentalist Asi Wind, who was chosen as magician of the year in 2022 by Hollywood’s Magic Castle, makes his Australian debut with More Than Magic. While Wind might not have much more than a pack of cards, he uses audience interaction and his dazzling trickery to perform truly mind-boggling feats. Suitable for ages 12 plus.
The Last Train to Madeline
Australian Theatre for Young People, March 11-21, $30-$35, atyp.com.au
Australian Theatre for Young People are putting on their first production in their new performance space, The Popsy. Callum Mackay’s fresh Australian play, set in Wangaratta, follows Maddy and Luke at ages 10, 17 and 23 as they mull over their childhood dreams and their friendship evolves. Suitable for ages 14 plus.
The Prom
Teatro at the Italian Forum, March 24-April 19, $75-$85, teatroitalianforum.com.au
Musical theatre fans can enjoy a little taste of Broadway as Helpmann Award-winning stage star Caroline O’Connor leads the cast in this toe-tapping musical. It follows a group of washed-up actors looking to restore their reputations by getting some good press, who decide to help a lesbian high school student banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom. Suitable for ages 10 and up.
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