8 budget-friendly kids’ holiday experiences Sydney 

For curious minds 

Open a portal to the past and give kids the chance to get hands-on with history and science. The Australian National Maritime Museum sits right on the edge of Darling Harbour and has always been a family favourite. And while discovery awaits within the museum’s walls, the kids can channel their inner sailor in the vessels floating out the front: go below deck on a submarine, marvel at the machinery on a navy warship or check the rigging on a replica of the first European ship to reach Australia in 1606.  

At the Australian Museum, explore the huge collection of dinosaur bones, taxidermy, glittering gems and much more. Smaller children will love the Burra interactive space exploring Aboriginal knowledge. 

Cost: Both museums offer free entry to their permanent galleries. Tickets to the Maritime Museum’s special exhibitions and vessels are $35 for adults, $25 for children or $89 for a family (two adults and three children). 

The best part: School holidays open up a schedule of interactive workshops and events at both museums. You’ll find sensory-friendly days, activity trails, a mini mariners program and an underwater drone challenge at the Australian National Maritime Museum, for example.

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

For garden gurus 

Nature lovers and green thumbs will find their happy place at one of Sydney’s tranquil gardens. The Chinese Garden of Friendship is an oasis of calm in the middle of bustling Darling Harbour where bridges over reflective pools lead to ornate pavilions and hidden sculptures.  

A little further out of the city, the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden comprises 123 hectares of untouched bushland. It’s beautiful all year round but bursts into a riot of colour in spring. There are walking trails and waterfalls to explore, resident swamp wallabies, and programs including nature play for little ones under the age of six and a junior ranger option for primary-school-aged kids. Here, they’ll learn how to navigate the park, use specialised equipment, and understand the balance between humans and nature. 

Cost: Entry to the Chinese Garden of Friendship is $12 for adults, $8 for children (though kids under the age of five enter for free) and $30 for a family (two adults and three children). Entry to the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is free. Junior Ranger sessions are $20 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult, who receives free entry. 

The best part: There’s an on-site nursery at the Wildflower Garden, so budding gardeners can pick up some of their favourite plants and start growing at home. 

Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour

For wannabe time travellers

From dress ups to line ups, history comes alive at Sydney’s immersive heritage sites. Kids can learn what life was like for convicts in the earliest days of the new colony at Hyde Park Barracks. Following the kids trail audio tour, they’ll get to hear stories in the words of the convicts themselves, look for the property’s ‘first curators’ (rats) and practice drawing a tattoo.  

At the Justice & Police Museum, the whole family can dress up in costumes, earn their own police badge and hold a mock trial in the courtroom. 

Cost: Entry is free. 

The best part: Both sites are close to The Rocks, the oldest part of Sydney. Take what you’ve learned and wander the historic streets to spot more relics of Sydney’s past. 

Hyde Park Barracks, Hyde Park

For nature-lovers 

Sydney’s national parks are bursting with fun, free entertainment from bushwalks and picnic sites to camping and waterfall swims. Nurture your little one’s passion for nature with the Bushland secrets self-guided tour along the Bradleys Head Walk, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. Snake your way around, taking in the military forts, naval tributes and angophoras that seem to scrape the sky. The Booraghee Amphitheatre delivers wow-factor harbour views and a prime picnic location.   

Cost: It’s $8 per vehicle to park at Bradleys Head. 

The best part: The National Parks and Wildlife Service delivers a range of great programs for kids and families. You can also get a sense of Bare Island Fort’s rich history (including being featured in Mission: Impossible 2) in Kamay Botany Bay National Park and craft with natural materials in the Royal National Park.

Bradleys Head Walk, Sydney Harbour National Park

For the ultra-energetic 

Reward their passion for play and let them burn off some steam at one of Sydney’s multi-zone playgrounds. The Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park is a wilderness wonderland. Kids can get lost (and dirty) in a dramatic natural landscape of dry creek beds, bamboo forest, banksia tunnels and treehouses.  

The Playground at Darling Quarter is a state-of-the-art space for adventure – think climbing towers, rope nets, towering slides and a 21-metre flying fox. Don’t forget to pack your swimmers and towels to cool off in the water-play area. It’s also worth noting Livvi’s Place playgrounds with locations in Warragamba, Ryde, Five Dock and Kellyville (and more), which offer 100% accessible parks with numerous play zones.  

Cost: Entry is free. 

The best part: The Playground at Darling Quarter is just next door to the Chinese Garden of Friendship, so you can plan a whole day of budget-friendly family fun. 

The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, Centennial Park

For island explorers 

There are eight islands in Sydney Harbour and they each offer a different perspective on the city. Jump on a ferry to Cockatoo Island, which has been a meeting place for local Aboriginal people, a convict prison, shipyard and reform school over its layered lifetime. There’s so much here to entertain kids of all ages – take one of five all-ages self-guided tours, hit up the novelty-sized chessboard, shoot some hoops on the basketball court, or fly a kite on the lawn. You can also visit Shark Island – named for its shape – which sits just off Rose Bay and delivers 360-degree views of the harbour. Picnic by the shore, explore the hand-built grottos now home to tidal creatures and dip your toes in the calm water. 

Cost: The ferry to Cockatoo Island is $7 each way for adults and $4 each way for children. There is no entry fee for the island itself. Captain Cook Cruises runs a ferry service to Shark Island. A return ticket costs $20 for adults and $17 for children and includes the NPWS $7 island entry fee. 

The best part: Feeling fit? Shark Island is about 3km from the mainland, so it’s possible to reach by kayak. You can hire single or double kayaks from Rose Bay Aquatic Hire from $30 per person. 

Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour

For water babies 

The waters around Sydney are teeming with all the wonderful, wild creatures of the ocean. Snorkelling is a great way to introduce older kids to the underwater world. Shelly Beach, at the southern end of Manly, is a prime spot. Part of the Cabbage Tree Bay protected marine reserve, the water is calm, clear and relatively shallow. You can regularly see wobbegong and Dusky whaler sharks, sea dragons and cuttlefish – you might even spot a turtle, if you’re lucky. In the Eastern Suburbs, Clovelly makes an ideal learning location as you can all wade out together from the sandy beach and build confidence in the shallows under the watchful eye of a blue groper.  

Cost: It’s free to snorkel anywhere in Sydney. You can hire a mask and snorkel from local dive or surf shops for around $10. 

The best part: Found a new love for snorkelling? There are so many locations around Sydney to explore. Our handy guide will show you the best spots. 

Shelly Beach, Manly

For mini mountaineers  

One of Australia’s most majestic wilderness areas is just on Sydney’s doorstep. Escape the city for a day and head west to the Blue Mountains. The easiest way to get around is with the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus – this hop-on, hop-off service takes you to all the most famous sites, from the Three Sisters to Scenic World, Leura Cascades and beyond. You can follow walking trails, splash in waterfalls, take in the awe-inspiring views, relax in leafy picnic spots setting your own pace for the day. 

 Cost: A full-day pass on the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus is $58 for adults, $16 for children and $131.82 for a family (two adults and two children). 

 The best part: No car? No problem. It’s easy to get to the Blue Mountains by public transport. The train trip from Central to Katoomba takes just two hours. 

Scenic World, Katoomba