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Sydney Family-friendly activities

Our most recommended Sydney Family-friendly activities

Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

1. Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

Overlooking magnificent Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay and offers amazing wildlife experiences with stunning harbor views. Nestled on the shores of the world's most beautiful harbor, Taronga Zoo is surrounded by lush bushland of Bradley's Head National Park, popular for early morning walks. Ferries depart from Circular Quay every 30 minutes. The Zoo has many popular trails to explore including the Australian Walkabout, Kids' Trail, Reptile World, African Savannah, Rainforest Trail, Seal Walk, Seals for the Wild, and the iconic must-see Free Flight Birds presentations. Zoo entry includes keeper talks and presentations. The many exhibits in Taronga Zoo can be reached by footpaths, ramps, lifts and escalators. 90% of Taronga Zoo is fully accessible. Strollers can be hired from the Visitor Information Desk in the main entrance at a small fee and manual wheelchairs can be rented for free and should be booked in advance.

Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

2. Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

Experience the most fun way to travel to Taronga Zoo and save money with a return ticket on the rocket ferry Circular Quay. Once inside the zoo, take in as many of the exhibits as you like at your own pace. Explore 10 themed areas, including Wild Australia, Wild Asia and the Great Southern Oceans. Hear talks by the zookeepers and go to interactive shows, such as the free bird show and free seal show. See native Australian animals, including koala and platypus, along with creatures from around the world such as Asian elephants, lions and giraffe. Grab some lunch at one of the many cafés, or take your own picnic and find a nice spot in the shade. Once you've had your animal fix for the day, head back to the dock and get some amazing views of Sydney on the cruise back to Circular Quay.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

3. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Enjoy a visit to the Sydney Aquarium to see huge sharks, stingrays, turtles, jellyfish, platypuses, penguins, sea dragons, and much, much more! Marvel at the sawfish swimming amongst tropical fish and sleek sharks in the enormous Great Barrier Reef display. Be delighted by little penguins in the Southern Oceans, or look out for the secretive platypus in the Southern Rivers. See the enormous Japanese Spider Crabs in the CLAWS creature feature, watch as the dugongs feed, then find Nemo in his coral home!

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

4. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

Go on an animal adventure in the heart of Sydney and walk through diverse terrains to meet unique Australian wildlife. Journey around the vast nation without leaving the city at WILD LIFE Sydney. Enjoy interactive displays, inspiring and entertaining keeper talks, and enhanced walk-through habitats with kangaroos. Located in the heart of Sydney at Aquarium Wharf in Darling Harbour, it is a fantastic world inside. A world where beautiful butterflies and snakes lurk in the foliage, and turtles and crocodiles glide through the water. You will see the jagged rocks of Wallaby Cliffs to spot yellow-footed rock-wallaby, the toughest and most adapted animal in Australia, and seek out hairy-nosed wombats that munch the grass and shelter down deep burrows. Travel through a recreation of the Daintree Rainforest and Kakadu Gorge. Marvel at the endless variety of the Northern Territory’s Top End landscape. And look down deep gorges, see grassland, experience floodplains, and visit the estuary flats.

Sydney: The Gentleman Magician's Magical Soirée with Tickets

5. Sydney: The Gentleman Magician's Magical Soirée with Tickets

The Gentleman Magician’s Magical Soirée is hosted at Sir Stamford at Circular Quay - a magnificent, historic 5-star hotel. Reminiscent of the elegant, captivating events of the famous ‘salons’ in 19th century Europe, it is an absolute must-see for any Sydney visitor. You will be greeted with champagne and gourmet canapés on arrival - before moving into a beautiful private room lined with artworks and original antiques. Bruce Glen, The Gentleman Magician then presents an entrancing performance of magic and engaging Australian stories. Bruce Glen is one of the select few granted membership of The Magic Circle - the most exclusive magic club on earth. In October 2015, Bruce was admitted as an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle (just 350 worldwide). The Gentleman Magician has performed to sold-out houses at the Edinburgh Fringe; the Adelaide Fringe; the famous Edinburgh Magic Festival; Fringe World Perth; and Sydney’s SMH Spectrum Now Festival. Bruce has also presented his sophisticated ‘storytelling magic for adults’(but not necessarily grown-ups) at historic venues throughout Australia.

Sydney's Ultimate Live Escape Room

6. Sydney's Ultimate Live Escape Room

Get ready for an adventure that brings the classic point-and-click adventure game out of your PC and into real life. Locked in a room with your group of friends, you must find clues, crack codes, and solve the mystery to escape before your time runs out. This experience takes you more than 100 years back in time as you play the role of famous detectives from London on the hunt for a suspect's identity. You have an hour to crack the case, after which you can relax in a luxurious lounge, grab a drink, chat about your experience, and try out some period costumes for a few photos. With challenges for sleuths of all ages and backgrounds, the activity is designed to suit anyone with a penchant for puzzles and a sense of fun. If you get stuck, you can call on a game master for help, and if you have a bigger group, you can reserve 2 identical rooms to see who can solve the mystery first.

Sydney: Electric Boat Rental from Cabarita Point

7. Sydney: Electric Boat Rental from Cabarita Point

Set sail from the heart of the city in Sydney and cruise along the Parramatta River on an environmentally-friendly electric boat. Skipper your own boat for your friends and family and explore the area. Cruise along Sydney's iconic Parramatta River from Cabarita Point, the heart of the city. Follow the waterway, choosing your own route and schedule for maximum flexibility. See sights such as the Gladesville Bridge, Convict Precinct, or the Shipwreck Lookout, an abandoned ship overgrown with trees. Bring along a drinks cooler with cold drinks, or your own picnic basket for a fun day out. Admire the sights of Sydney in an environmentally friendly way and cruise on a fiberglass boat made from recycled PET bottles. Enjoy driving a Danish-designed picnic boat with a state-of-the-art electric motor.

Sydney: Botanic Garden Self-Guided Adventure Hunt for Kids

8. Sydney: Botanic Garden Self-Guided Adventure Hunt for Kids

Are you ready for your next Adventure? Recommended for families with kids (ages 4-10) After booking, you will receive your play links via email or SMS. There is no need to meet a guide - You decide when you would like to play the adventure and head to the start location (Morshead Fountain Gates). Once at the start location - You and your team click on the play links on your mobile to begin your adventure and you'll start to solve the cryptic clues. Each clue once solved leads you to a secret location. This is a great trail for a family day out in a beautiful interactive environment. Kids will learn interesting facts and parents will enjoy a scenic adventure through the Botanical Gardens. The Mad Botanist trail is perfect if you are looking for an activity that will spark imagination and challenge young minds. The Mad Botanist has just escaped from his secret laboratory nearby. He is in the final stages of mixing his dangerous potion and needs one final ingredient to create a deadly plant species never seen before on Earth. Very special and rare plants are at risk from his deadly experimentations and time is running out! Professor Whiz needs your help to find the last ingredient and stop the Mad Botanist from succeeding with his evil plans. It won’t be easy; the gardens are tricky to navigate and clues need to be solved. Quick!! What are you waiting for? Your first clue is waiting… Start Location - Morshead Fountain Gates - Cahill Expressway, Sydney NSW 2000 Finish Location – You finish in the centre of The Botanic Gardens. There is a great garden café nearby. If you want some tips on where to eat afterward then get in touch or check the ultimate guide you will see at the end of the trail. Duration - 1-2 hours (may vary depending on how much time you spend at rest breaks) Go solo or play as a team - We recommend up to 4 players per team. If you want to play against another team then stagger your start times by 5 minutes, which is a great idea for large parties and team building. Play links are valid for 6 months after purchase making it a super flexible option.

Sydney: Ghost Hunt City Exploration Smartphone Game

9. Sydney: Ghost Hunt City Exploration Smartphone Game

Turn your time in Sydney into a ghost quest with an interactive smartphone game. Stroll through the city as you solve spooky tasks at locations like Angel Place, the Russell Boutique Hotel, the Doss House Coroner’s Court and the Merchant’s House. Download your game app and start your walking adventure at Hyde Park Barracks. Discover the Central Business District at your own pace by pausing and resuming the game at any time. Solve challenges and obtain exact directions on your phone to guide you to the next location. Go beyond visiting the major tourist sights and interact with locations like the Robert Brough Memorial Fountain, Curtin Place, the Parbury Ruins, and the Hero of Waterloo. Unlock facts about Sydney's dark past as you go. Finish your game at the Bridge Stairs.

Sydney Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Audio Tour

10. Sydney Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Audio Tour

Get to know Sydney at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. Encounter 10 of the most important attractions in the city as you walk. Unlock clues at each attraction to find your next destination. Enjoy using logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to finish the game. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. Feel the satisfaction of finishing each riddle. Pause and resume the tour whenever you want. See the city at your own pace. Uncover interesting information and facts about Sydney. Complete a puzzle at the exterior of each attraction and take plenty of pictures as you go. Start your tour of the much-photographed Darling Harbour! Visit the magnificent St Andrew's Cathedral, while the Sydney Town Hall will give you a taste of life in the city centre. Take a photo of the Queen Victoria Building and step inside to be enchanted. Let yourself be lost in the beauty of St Mary's Cathedral with its unique landscape. Visit Queens Square with its great history. You will also pass by the Museum of Sydney with its unforgettable exhibits. Admire the iconic Customs House. The Sydney Opera House, with its unique acoustics and location, will enchant you and your camera! The icing on the cake of this unique experience will be the Sydney Harbor Bridge with its breathtaking view!

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What people are saying about Sydney

Really enjoyed this experience the animals were amazing was good to see many different native Australian animals could have sat and watched the rock wallaby’s for a very long time they were super cute and extremely agile jumping around the rocks the kangaroos were cool also but the highlight was paying extra to get photos with the koala we were so close to him I could have touched him but he was happily snoozing while we had photos taken with one eye half open just watching us it was amazing to see him up close

Such a unique experience. Lovely hostess and a singular evening with a classy gentleman. Venue was perfect. Highly recommend.

Great way to spend the day. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The boat ride gives a great view of the opera house.

Good introduction to animals in Australia. The ‘experiences’ and animal talks were excellent.

A world class zoo! Beautiful views and amazing animals!