Post written by Leah
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For the last 11 years I have made Sydney my home. During that time, firstly as a teacher and later as a parent, I have spent many a weekend exploring what my city has to offer. Museums, parks, farms, ocean views, and adventure can be found throughout the city if you only look. Many are free, while others may require some budgeting preparation. Those that I list today are all well worth the visit, but only a small taste of what is available. Trips further afield will take you to the mountains, lakes and coastal regions.
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Darling Harbour is one of the more accessible places to visit in Sydney with your choice of car, light rail, train, monorail or foot. We will often train it in (an adventure all in itself really) and catch the light rail from Central to the PHM. This lends itself to a short shopping trip through Paddy’s Market or a spot of Yum Cha at our favourite (and child friendly) Zilver. With the monorail nearby, you can also take a trip around the inner city to catch some of the best attractions such as…
The Chinese Garden of Friendship which opened in 1988 is one of the only Chinese gardens outside Asia. Situated in Darling Harbour you will be surprised at how easy it is to leave the busy bustle of the city as you step through the gates into serenity. There is a lot of water in the gardens, so make sure to keep your kids close. We love the gardens for the unique role play opportunities. You won’t find it on their website, but you can actually dress up as an empress/emperor or swordsman. This is so much fun….swords and all. Don’t miss the tea house for morning tea.
*Images 1,2,4,5 courtesy of the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Image 3 copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
The Australian National Maritime Museum is a must see attraction for those of you with a little one that loves boats. What’s more, the core exhibits are FREE. You will need to pay for some of the shop exhibits, but children under five remain FREE too. (See here for all ticketing prices). One of the most exciting exhibits at the ANMM is the Historic Vessels. This is a great way to teach the kids a little about the beginnings of the European discovery of Australia.
*Images courtesy of the ANMM.
The Powerhouse Museum is one place in Sydney that I find myself taking the kids to again and again. There is always something different happening at the PHM – what’s more it is relatively cheap with a special 50% off discount until July 29 2011, with adults only $5.00 each and children under 4 FREE. (See here for opening times and charges).
Our favourite permanent exhibit is a toss up between ‘Experiments‘ which is very hands on and explores the principles of temperature, pressure, electricity, magnetism, light, gravity, motion and chemistry. My kids are always mesmerized by the plasma ball despite seeing it numerous times.The ‘Space‘ exhibit where they can look inside a real Space Lab is also a hit.
Watch out for November the 19th, when the highly anticipated Harry Potter exhibition opens it’s doors! In the meantime, check out All Things Kids for the latest offerings for your munchkins.
*Image 1 copyright Leah, Kidstylefile. Images 2, 3, 4 courtesy of Powerhouse Museum.
The Sydney Aquarium where you will come face to face with some of the ocean’s most beautiful, playful and dangerous creatures. A one direction only pathway will lead you through some of the most diverse seascapes (and rivers) in Australia. The sharks seem to always be at the top of my kid’s list. They love the walk through the aquarium and try to spot the ‘largest’ one in the tank. I’m excited to see that they have now added a Glass Bottom Boat experience at 11 am each day where you can safely see the sharks being fed. This is an extra $15.00 and it only takes 8 people – so book early! If you visit now you will also see the LEGO on the LOOSE exhibit which features more than 25 giant LEGO models across Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World (which is right next door), using over 1.5 million LEGO bricks!
Whenever we visit I make sure to take time out to soak in the atmosphere whilst my two enjoy the large playground (which is currently closed – but reopens LARGER and better than ever this spring!). Darling Harbour can take days to explore. There is always a festival of some sort on, and lots of restaurants to try. See here for the latest news.
*Images 1, 2, 3 courtesy of the Sydney Aquarium.
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If you have a car handy, don’t want to venture too far out of the city but want to see a working farm in action, then Calmsley Hill City Farm (Formerly Fairfield City Farm) is my top recommendation. We venture across the city a handful of times each year to feed the goats and lambs, go on a tractor ride, ride a horse (can be a hit or miss as they’re not always there), feed the chickens and generally see what happens on a farm. Calmsley Hill City Farm has daily milking and shearing which audience members are invited to participate in during the session – a great way to teach children that milk doesn’t just come out of a carton. Interested in going? Click here to find out how you can get FREE entry for the kids.
*Images copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
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When I’ve failed to organise anything for the weekend but I’m quite determined to do something fun, I bundle the kids up into the car and head over to the Entertainment Quarter – Fox Studios. It is guaranteed to delight regardless of my kids’ mood. A favourite of ours is the Plaster Painting Studios where the kids can choose their own plaster cast (from a few dollars up to the more expensive ones) which they then paint. Everything is provided including the art smocks. In my experience, even if they get paint on their clothes it comes out in the wash. Of course there is also Strike Bowling, Hoyts, Skater HQ (which offers lessons in rollerblading, skateboarding, rollerskating and even unicycles and ripsticks!), and a whole bunch of other goodies. Psst… if you don’t feel like spending any $$, you’ll find two pretty fab playgrounds on-site for toddlers to tweens which will keep the kids occupied whilst you enjoy your delights from the Village market (Formaggio Ocello’s selection of imported cheeses, Adelong farm seasonal fruit, Fare Gourmet’s handmade brownies and a plethora of cuisines from afar). Or you could just wander the aisles of the market and sample the treats with kids in tow (we do – and they love trying everything). My only warning is beware there is a TOY store on the grounds! Kids Central is situated on the main boulevard and my kidlets always make a beeline for it. If you’re quick, there is usually a train set up the back which can be amusement enough (my husband then has to watch out as I peruse and snap up a few bits and pieces). If the market doesn’t tickle your fancy for lunch, there are a bevy of restaurants, cafes and takeaway stores on site. I’m sure you’ll find one to suit!
*Images copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
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The Rocks is one of my favourite places in Sydney. Nestled within the little nooks and crannies you will find some rather exciting places to visit with your family. Don’t miss Susannah Place Museum which is a lot of fun and not well known, even by local residents. Built in 1844, by Irish immigrants and continuously occupied until 1990 this typically English terrace was home to over 100 different families. Admission is by guided tour only, so book early! I recommend this for children 5 years and up as it does have some very steep steps and quirky domestic archeology that needs some maturity to grasp. There are over a dozen galleries and museums in The Rocks that you can explore (see here for full details). The Rocks market is the place to find some unique souvenirs and interesting pieces. My kidlets are always super interested by the spray can painter at the Harbour Bridge end of the market. The kids will be begging for a shoulder ride through the market as it can be a little crowded. Just around the corner you will find The Puppet Shop which will have you thinking about Pinocchio. Of course a trip to The Rocks isn’t complete without a play under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can walk straight from the rocks, past the spray paint art to a lovely green patch of grass and spectacular views of the Opera House. You can even see some of the bridge climbers starting their ascent just above you!
Check out the Historic Houses Trust for their current $15.00 deal which will let you explore 11 HHT museums around Sydney – awesome or what? It includes the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Museum of Sydney, Justice & Police Museum, Government House, Elizabeth Bay House, Vaucluse House, Elizabeth Farm, Rose Seidler House, Rouse Hill House & Farm and Meroogal.
*Images courtesy of The Rock.
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Kids in the Park – Sydney Olympic Park runs every school holidays and will provide your school aged children with heaps of activities to participate in throughout the weeks that they are away from school. During the school term there are also numerous activities and places that you can visit including the adventure-themed playground at Wentworth Common, the Aquatic Centre with it’s own whirlpool (no cotton clothing in the water – all needs to be lycra), Monster Skatepark and Mini Golf. Or you could Hire a bike, picnic or BBQ at Bicentennial Park or Blaxland Riverside Park and of course check out the Bird Hide or the new Birds Australia education centre.
*Images courtesy of the Aquatic Centre.
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Feel like heading to a park for some fun in the great outdoors? One of my top picks (and there are plenty to choose from across Sydney) is the Sydney Park & Kiosk. Put the helmets and bikes in the boot as the kids will have a hoot at this prime venue. Sydney Park has it’s own kid sized road system COMPLETE with working traffic lights and roundabouts. As our kids do not have well developed peripheral vision you might need to keep an eye on them to ensure that they abide by the road rules to prevent unwittingly causing any pile ups. My kids would stay here all day, but if you’re feeling like something different, hike up the huge hill and walk across to the kids’ park. It has a fantastic slide system, an assortment of climbing frames, lots of swings and a fun bridge. If I ask Master R what he would like to do on the weekend, he never fails to request this park.
*Images copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
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A trip to Sydney just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to iconic Taronga Zoo. As a Melbourne girl I dreamed of visiting after reading Victor Kelleher’s Taronga, and I finally made the trip within the first month of relocating to the city. With the BEST views of the city, Taronga Zoo is situated right on the harbour and can be accessed by either car or ferry. My pick is the ferry…it just adds to the excitement of the day. Be warned: not once have I been able to see everything at the zoo in a single excursion. There is just too much on offer. My tip is to visit plan your visit so you can see your top picks when you go. Or you could always do the overnight Roar and Snore sleepover and soak it all in (on my bucket list for when the kids are a bit older).
On our last visit, I downloaded the Monkey Mayhem iphone app which was a lot of fun. Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGvF9Dn6KMU&feature=player_embedded
*Images copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
The Australian Museum will make your little ones think that they have walked into Ben Stiller’s “Night at the Museum”. It has a wide range of collections including galleries of skeletons (from human to mice, dinosaurs to your common cat), and a most impressive kids discovery area which will immerse your kids in a hands on exploration of many of the concepts further explained in the museum. Have fun!
*Images copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
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Luna Park Sydney is basically Australia’s own version of Coney Island. A short trip over the Harbour Bridge will land you here and provide hours of fun!. Luna Park makes me nostalgic for my childhood. The lights, sounds, and smells are all reminiscent of youthful playfulness. You can’t help but have fun here. Entry is free, but you will need to pay for each ride and amusement. Please note that height restrictions apply to many of the rides in the park. Take note of the ticketing details before you arrive, and check out which rides will be suitable for the age group you are taking.
For those of you with tweens and teens, check out the My Experience link for a fun new way to experience the park with your smart phone.
*Images 1, 2, 3 courtesy of Luna Park. Image 4 copyright Leah, Kidstylefile.
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Featherdale Wildlife Park is the a mecca for celebrities wanting to come close up to Australian animals and has become a favourite for families wanting a day to connect with Australian fauna (of course you can also visit Sydney Wildlife World which is in the heart of Darling Harbour). Koalas, kangaroos, Tassie devils, crocodiles, emus and a whole heap of other wildlife are all available for viewing. You can even hand feed many of them (watch out for those emus who like to dominate the crowd). The kangaroo and koala encounters are FREE and will give you the perfect up-close photograph opportunity.
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This is just a small snapshot of what Sydney has to offer with so many more places to visit and explore such as Sydney Tower and Sky Walk, Sydney Observatory, Oceanworld Manly, local parks, beaches and rivers. Check out Timeout Sydney for more ideas across the city and KIDsize Living for ideas in the Inner West . What’s your favourite place to visit when you’re in Sydney?
