Spring school holidays in Sydney

Beaches & outdoor fun 

Take the family to some of Sydney’s beautiful beaches. You can learn to surf at the ocean beaches of Bondi, Maroubra and Freshwater or body surf in the waves. Inside the harbour, the calm bays at Watsons Bay and Balmoral are perfect for stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking. There are some great snorkelling spots too, including the marine reserves at Cabbage Tree Bay and Gordons Bay where you can spot an array of marine life.  

Get away from the crowds at one of the city’s secret beaches. Or explore the city on foot with a coastal walk, bushwalk or even a dog-friendly walk that the fur kids can enjoy. If you prefer two wheels, tackle the city’s best cycling routes or mountain bike trails. Then stop for a picnic in one of Sydney’s beautiful green spaces. 

Read more: The best family-friendly beaches in Sydney

Lets Go Surfing, Bondi Beach

Have an adrenalin-fuelled adventure

Luna Park is open every day during the school holidays. Scream your lungs out on the Hair Raiser, enjoy the old-fashioned amusements at Coney Island or ride the ferris wheel high above the harbour. In the eastern suburbs, at Centennial Park, kids can run, jump and climb through a dramatic landscape of creek beds, banksia tunnels, bamboo forests and a water play area at the Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, saddle up for horse riding with Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre or hire a bike from Centennial Park Cycles to explore on two wheels.

Head to Western Sydney for a whole host of exciting activities. You’ll find elevated obstacle courses and rollercoaster zip lines for the whole family at TreeTop Adventure Park. In Penrith, go skydiving without having to get in a plane at iFLY Downunder, fly through the air with a water jet-powered backpack with Jetpack Adventures, hug the corners on a high-speed go-kart track at Luddenham Raceway and much more. At Sydney Olympic Park the kids can try archery, bike around Bicentennial Park, take a segway tour, attend a circus class or check into the dive clinic at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. 

Read more: The ultimate thrill seeker's guide to Western Sydney

Luna Park Sydney, Milsons Point

Awe-inspiring animal encounters

Taronga Zoo is always a school holiday favourite. Meet lions, giraffes, zebras and meerkats in the African Savannah exhibit, take an immersive Tiger Trek through the Indonesian jungle, and watch the seals show off their aquatic skills at the daily presentations. In Darling Harbour, explore the Great Barrier Reef by night at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium or spot the koalas in Gum Tree Valley (and many more critters) at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo. In Western Sydney, Sydney Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals from around the world in sprawling, innovative exhibits. 

If native animals are your thing, Featherdale Wildlife Park has more than 1,700 of them from kangaroos and koalas to little penguins, wombats and even a 4.5-metre-long saltwater crocodile. Just south of Sydney is Symbio Wildlife Park where you can feed kangaroos and wallabies, get up close to cheetahs and watch the monkeys play. 

Read more: Eight animals you can see up-close in Sydney

Koala encounter, Taronga Zoo

Museums & galleries

Looking for something to do on a cloudy or rainy day? Make learning fun during the school holidays at some of Sydney’s excellent museums and galleries. The whole family will love exploring the Australian National Maritime Museum and the immersive experiences at Hyde Park Barracks. The Australian Museum and Powerhouse Museum have exciting children's activities and exhibitions on show over the school holidays. Check out what art exhibitions ar currently showing, and what musuem's have fun science activities now showing.

Read more: Eight budget-friendly activities to do in the school holidays

Australian Museum, Sydney City