Just because you’re heading to Sydney with the kids doesn’t mean you’ll have to fork out a fortune. Sydney is known for its high cost of living, but insiders—and great nannies—know it also offers cheap activities for kids who love adventure. With everything from playgrounds and parks to museums and festivals, there’s something free for every kid in the harbour city.
So check out our list of fun places to go in Sydney in winter, and we guarantee you’ll be leaving the “I’m bored!” complaints at home. You can even print this handy guide and hit the town with the whole family for the most free fun the kids will ever have. Don’t forget your camera!
1. Darling Harbour children’s playground
One of the best places to visit in Sydney to let off some steam is the Darling Harbour kid’s playground, which also happens to be one of the best in the country. A wonderland right in the heart of Darling Quarter, this colourful attraction has a wide variety of equipment that kids love to explore. The playground features balance ropes, giant slides, climbing frames, giant swings, sandpits and tunnels just waiting to be explored!
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Where: 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney NSW 2000
2. Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden
If Darling Harbour wasn’t enough to give your little adventurer their fill of playground fun, another one of the most fun things to do in Sydney in winter is to visit the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden at Centennial Park. Plenty of nature play awaits in this adventure paradise, where children are encouraged to run, jump, learn and explore the great outdoors. The garden features dry creek beds, a water play area, a bamboo forest, turtle mounds and a treehouse that will send their imaginations running wild.
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
Where: Off Grand Dr, Centennial Park NSW 2021
3. Visit a Sydney museum
If a wet day is on the cards and you need to keep the kids busy with indoor activities, look no further than one of the city’s fantastic museums. Our top recommendations include the Powerhouse Museum—check out The Lab, a hands-on, immersive multimedia space for exploring digital technologies, or the Locomotive No. 1 steam train—and the Museum of Contemporary Art, home to a number of creative events and programs for kids and families. For more museum inspiration, check out our article on Sydney’s top museums for kids.
Opening hours: varies, see individual location
Where: various locations throughout the city
4. Bondi Festival
Following a two-year hiatus, the Bondi Festival is back! This beachside event unites surf and snow to transform Bondi into a winter wonderland, with plenty of fun entertainment on offer. Check out Sparky the Library Van for free fun for all ages—fantastic books galore and free activities await! Or rug up with a blanket at Fireside, which runs every Saturday of the festival.
Please note: entry to the festival is free, with some ticketed events and attractions.
When: 1–17 July 2022
Where: Bondi Beach
5. City Art free walking tour
You can’t go past the City Art tour if you’re looking for things to do in Sydney for families. This free tour, run by an expert guide, invites kids and families to explore the wonderful public art that Sydney has to offer. You’ll discover sculptures, installations and interactive works in all kinds of places, including tiny laneways, various nooks and crannies, on footpaths and high above. And at only 45 minutes long, it’s the perfect amount of time to get the little ones on their feet.
Please note that bookings are required.
When: tour times vary
Where: 36 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000
6. Sydney Park
For family outings in Sydney, look no further than multi-award-winning Sydney Park. Rolling hills, a huge adventure playground, a kids’ cycle track, a skatepark and a sports oval are just some of the facilities on offer. So if the kids are starting to get cabin fever this winter, this is the perfect place to let them run around and get rid of some of that energy. The park also has public barbecues and shaded areas, so it’s great for a picnic too.
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Where: Sydney Park Road, Alexandria NSW 2015
7. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Anyone who’s been to the Royal Botanic Garden knows it’s the perfect place for a family day out. The heritage-listed sprawling grounds cover 30 hectares, so there are plenty of spots for a tasty family picnic and for the kids to run around. The Garden also frequently hosts community festivals, exhibitions and special events, so there’s always something to see and do. Please note that although entry to the Garden is free, some events incur a cost. Our insider tip: check out Inside the Tide, an immersive exhibition about life under the sea. Entry is by donation, so all you need is a spare coin!
If you’re looking for at-home activities, the Garden also has a wide range of inspirational ideas to keep the kids entertained, like building a cubby house or charcoal leaf drawing.
Opening hours: June and July, 7am to 5pm. August, 7am to 5:30pm
Where: Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
8. Darling Harbour fireworks
Heat up your winter at the Darling Harbour fireworks display. It’s held every Saturday night at one of the city’s most stunning waterfront locations, and the kids will love watching the glittering pyrotechnics as they light up the Sydney skyline. The fireworks kick off at 8:30pm, so there’s plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before you head out to catch this sparkling spectacle.
When: every Saturday night, 8:30pm
Where: Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000
9. Art Gallery of NSW
Another great option for cold and wet days, the Art Gallery of NSW is a fun way for the whole family to explore art and exhibitions together. The gallery holds a number of events and programs suitable for families. It also offers children’s trails that encourage little ones to draw and use their imaginations, children’s labels on the displays, and fun activity sheets including a fold-your-own origami ‘chatterbox’.
Entry to the gallery, most displays and exhibitions is free. Children under 12 are also admitted free to any paid exhibitions.
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm. Wednesdays until 10pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day
Where: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
10. Be a tourist at home: visit the top Sydney attractions
The best Sydney attractions for families are the ones that everyone knows and loves. So if you’re out of ideas for things to do in Sydney in winter, we highly recommend going back to the basics and visiting the city’s major tourist attractions. Take the kids to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge and follow up with a stroll around Darling Harbour to see what’s on. Or if you want to head out of the CBD, why not pack a picnic and head to Manly or Coogee for a beachside lunch? The possibilities are endless. And the best bit? A DIY sightseeing trip won’t cost you a cent.