Skip to main content
MumExpat

Family outings

Family outings in Sydney

In Sydney, children live outdoors: huge parks, patrolled beaches, ferries and national parks on the city's doorstep. When it rains, the big museums are free and libraries even sing nursery rhymes in French. Here are our addresses, all checked against official sites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, playgrounds and beaches

Every neighbourhood has its park with free barbecues and a shaded playground, and the big central parks are worth the trip at weekends. On the beach, one rule: swim between the red and yellow flags.

Good to know

  • In Centennial Park, the Ian Potter Children's WILD PLAY Garden is a large nature-play garden for 2 to 12-year-olds: creek beds, water play, a bamboo forest and a treehouse. The Parklands also run a bush school and holiday activities. Source
  • Sydney Park, in Alexandria, combines a large playground, a children's cycle track, a skate park, wetlands and barbecues: ideal for learning to ride a bike. Source
  • On the beach, swim between the red and yellow flags, where lifesavers are watching; the Beachsafe app and website show patrolled beaches and the day's conditions. Source
  • The Australian sun is intense all year round: a hat, sunscreen, UV rash vest and shaded parks in the hottest hours are part of children's daily life. Source

Addresses

  • Centennial Park et l'Ian Potter Children's WILD PLAY Garden

    Park

    Centennial Park NSW 2021

    The Eastern Suburbs' big park: cycling on Grand Drive, horses, ponds, picnics and the nature-play garden, close to Paddington and Randwick.

    Website Source

  • Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

    Park

    Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000

    The free botanic garden facing the Opera House, with lawns on the harbour, the Calyx glasshouse and activities for curious kids.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Park

    Park

    Sydney Park Road, Alexandria NSW 2015

    Big playground, children's cycle track and wetlands, south of the centre; the go-to for Inner West families.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Olympic Park et Bicentennial Park

    Park

    Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127

    35 km of safe cycle paths, picnics at Bicentennial Park and many playgrounds, west of the city.

    Website Source

  • Darling Harbour

    Park

    Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000

    Playgrounds and water play on the harbour, free children's activities and fireworks on some evenings; the maritime museum and aquarium are next door.

    Website Source

  • Barangaroo Reserve

    Park

    Barangaroo NSW 2000

    A landscaped sandstone headland with native plants on the water, north of the business district, for a pram walk with harbour views.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums and aquarium

Sydney's two big museums are free for general entry, and the contemporary art museum is free for under-18s. Big news this season: the Powerhouse opens its new museum in Parramatta.

Good to know

  • The Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales are free for permanent collections; only some exhibitions charge. The Art Gallery opens daily, late on Wednesdays. Source
  • At the Museum of Contemporary Art, entry is now ticketed for adults and free for under-18s. Source
  • Powerhouse Parramatta opens on 7 November 2026; the historic Ultimo site is closed for renovation. At the maritime museum, basic entry is free, but boarding the vessels is ticketed and limited to children taller than 90 cm. Source

Addresses

  • Australian Museum

    Museum

    1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010

    Dinosaurs, Australian animals and minerals, facing Hyde Park; general entry is free.

    Website Source

  • Art Gallery of New South Wales

    Museum

    Art Gallery Road, Sydney NSW 2000

    Two buildings in the Domain, a 15-minute walk from the centre, free entry and family workshops.

    Website Source

  • Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Museum

    140 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000

    Contemporary art on Circular Quay, free for under-18s.

    Website Source

  • Australian National Maritime Museum

    Museum

    2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour NSW 2000

    The museum of the sea, with a submarine, a destroyer and an Endeavour replica moored at the wharf; galleries partly free.

    Website Source

  • Powerhouse Parramatta

    Museum

    Parramatta NSW 2150

    The new museum of science, design and technology, on the river in Parramatta, opening 7 November 2026.

    Website Source

  • SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

    Museum

    Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000

    Sharks, rays, a dugong and penguins in underwater tunnels; ticketed, to combine with Darling Harbour.

    Website Source

Libraries and French media library

Council libraries are free for NSW residents and full of activities for little ones. For books in French, head to the Alliance française, and in Maroubra a monthly French storytime.

Good to know

  • The City of Sydney's 9 libraries are free for any NSW resident, with songs and stories for children, wifi and workshops. Source
  • The Lionel Bowen Library in Maroubra, near the Lycée Condorcet, runs 'Babies Love Books in French' every month, with music, rhymes and stories in French for 0 to 5-year-olds. Source
  • The Alliance française de Sydney library holds several thousand items in French: books, picture books for little ones, comics, DVDs and magazines, with a second media library in Chatswood and access to the Culturethèque digital library. Source

Addresses

  • Bibliothèque de l'Alliance française de Sydney

    Library

    257 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000

    The city's largest French collection, comics and DVDs included, in the city centre; branch in Chatswood for the North Shore.

    Website Source

  • Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra

    Library

    669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035

    Randwick City's main library, on Anzac Parade like the lycée: storytimes in several languages including French, holiday workshops.

    Website Source

  • Bibliothèques de la City of Sydney

    Library

    9 bibliothèques, de Glebe à Surry Hills

    Free membership for NSW residents, songs and stories for little ones, makerspaces for older children.

    Website Source

  • State Library of New South Wales, Children's Library

    Library

    Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

    A children's space for up to 16-year-olds in the historic Macquarie Street building, with storytime for 3 to 5-year-olds by booking; check opening hours before you go.

    Website Source

Activities, clubs and classes in French

The great Australian ritual is Nippers, surf life saving for kids on Sunday mornings. To keep up French, the Alliance française and the parents' associations in the north and south of the city offer classes, homework clubs and festivities.

Good to know

  • Nippers welcomes children aged 5 to 13 from October to March, usually on Sunday mornings: surf safety, swimming, board paddling and beach running. You register with the surf club of your choice, age being counted at 30 September. Source
  • The Alliance française de Sydney offers already French-speaking children a 9-week course for 8 to 12-year-olds and a one-week holiday course, 'Les Grands Francophones', for 7 to 12-year-olds, led by native teachers. Source
  • In the north, the FANS parents' association, founded over 25 years ago, runs the Killarney Heights bilingual programme, a homework club, classes for secondary students and the big annual French Market in November. Source
  • In the south, the FASS association supports the French immersion programme at Taren Point public school, from Kindergarten to Year 6, which also holds its own French market. Source

Addresses

  • Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, Nippers

    Activity

    Maroubra Beach, Maroubra NSW 2035

    The surf club on the beach next to the Lycée Condorcet, registrations open for the 2026-2027 season.

    Website Source

  • Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, Nippers

    Activity

    Coogee Beach, Coogee NSW 2034

    Sunday morning Nippers on one of French-speaking families' favourite beaches.

    Website Source

  • Alliance française de Sydney, cours enfants

    Activity

    257 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000

    Classes for bilingual children, holiday courses and DELF preparation, in the city centre.

    Website Source

  • FANS, francophones et francophiles de la rive nord

    Activity

    Killarney Heights et Northern Beaches

    Volunteer parents' association: bilingual primary programme, homework club, teen classes, family evenings and the French Market.

    Website Source

  • FASS, association francophone du sud de Sydney

    Activity

    Taren Point et Sutherland Shire

    Association promoting French language and culture in southern Sydney and supporting the Taren Point bilingual stream.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Accueil, activités famille

    Activity

    Toute l'agglomération

    Holiday outings, family market walks, Halloween and the Christmas BBQ with other French-speaking families.

    Website Source

  • Taronga Zoo Sydney

    Activity

    Bradleys Head Road, Mosman NSW 2088

    The zoo facing the harbour, reached by ferry from Circular Quay: koalas, the Wildlife Express train, high ropes courses and keeper talks.

    Website Source

Through the seasons and festivals

The seasons are reversed: Christmas is celebrated in summer, on the beach, and the long Australian school holidays fall in December and January. Winter, June to September, is mild but damp.

Good to know

  • On 31 December, the harbour lights up twice: a first fireworks display at 9pm, perfect for children, then the midnight one. Source
  • January brings the Sydney Festival, with outdoor shows; in late March, the Royal Easter Show (19 to 30 March 2027) brings farm animals, rides and showbags to Sydney Olympic Park. Source
  • Vivid Sydney lights up the city with projections and light installations from 28 May to 19 June 2027; every year, the Alliance française also holds its French film festival. Source
  • In October and November, jacarandas bloom purple across the city, and Sydney Accueil holds its jacaranda walk to enjoy them together. Source

Addresses

  • Sydney New Year's Eve

    Activity

    Sydney Harbour

    Fireworks at 9pm and midnight, free or ticketed vantage points to book; arrive very early with children.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Festival

    Activity

    Lieux dans toute la ville, en janvier

    The big summer arts festival, with free shows and family events.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Royal Easter Show

    Activity

    Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127

    The big Easter agricultural show, 19 to 30 March 2027: animals, competitions, rides and the famous showbags.

    Website Source

  • Vivid Sydney

    Activity

    Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour et autres quartiers

    Festival of light, music and ideas, 28 May to 19 June 2027: an evening pram walk around the Opera House.

    Website Source

  • Alliance Française French Film Festival

    Activity

    Cinémas de Sydney

    The French film festival organised every year by the Alliance française in Australia's major cities.

    Website Source

  • Marché de Noël français du Lycée Condorcet

    Activity

    758 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035

    The school's French Christmas market, one of the community's end-of-year gatherings.

    Website Source

Escapes under two hours away

Sydney is ringed by national parks: Blue Mountains cliffs to the west, Royal National Park coves to the south, Ku-ring-gai bays to the north. Remember to check fire alerts and track closures before you go.

Good to know

  • The Blue Mountains are about two hours' drive away: lookouts, waterfalls and over 140 km of tracks, including many short walks suitable for children. Source
  • Royal National Park, Australia's oldest national park, is less than an hour from the centre near Cronulla: beaches, rainforest, picnics and whale watching in season. Source
  • Without a car, the ferry is already an outing: from Circular Quay, it goes to Manly, Taronga or the harbour coves; NSW TrainLink regional trains offer child and family fares to go further. Source

Addresses

  • Blue Mountains National Park

    Katoomba, Leura et Wentworth Falls, à l'ouest de Sydney

    The Three Sisters, waterfalls and lookouts; also reachable by train to Katoomba for a day trip.

    Website Source

  • Royal National Park

    Audley, au sud de Sydney

    Rowboat hire at Audley, beaches and rock pools, and Bundeena village by ferry from Cronulla.

    Website Source

  • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

    Bobbin Head, Mount Colah, au nord de Sydney

    Waterside picnics at Bobbin Head, Aboriginal engravings and views over Pittwater, under an hour from the North Shore.

    Website Source

  • Sydney Harbour National Park

    Îles et caps de la baie, de Watsons Bay à Middle Head

    Sheltered harbour beaches, old forts and islands reached by boat, right in the city.

    Website Source

  • Manly en ferry

    Départ de Circular Quay

    A half-hour crossing past the Opera House and the heads, then the beach, the Corso and the walk to Shelly Beach.

    Website Source

  • Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park

    217 Kildare Road, Doonside NSW 2767

    Kangaroos, koalas, wombats and Australian birds up close, open daily, west of the city.

    Website Source

  • Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

    De Bondi Beach à Coogee Beach

    The classic Eastern Suburbs coastal walk, from beach to beach and ocean pool to ocean pool; some stairs for prams.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Sydney will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Centennial Parklands, Ian Potter Children's WILD PLAY Garden
  2. 2 Art Gallery of New South Wales, informations visiteurs
  3. 3 City of Sydney, bibliothèques
  4. 4 Alliance française de Sydney, bibliothèque
  5. 5 FANS, association francophone de la rive nord
  6. 6 NSW National Parks, Blue Mountains National Park
  7. 7 Transport for NSW, ferries

Get updates to the Sydney guide

Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Sydney guide changes, never more than once a week.

Other sections of the Sydney guide

Report a change

A place has closed, a number has changed, something is no longer right? Please tell us: we check and fix the Sydney guide.

What is going on?