The spring NSW school holidays are here, beginning Monday, September 30 and ending on Friday, October 11. And as always, some of Sydney’s best experiences will be front and centre welcoming families with sunshine, entertainment and an irrepressible sense of fun.
Sydney Travel Guide has trawled through the best school holidays activities in Sydney right now, from engaging museum visits and creative workshops for kids to outdoor adventures to turn this beautiful city into one giant playground. Take note of everything below, taking you from Sydney’s only artificial wave park to our very own high-tech Jurassic Park and, of course, institutions like Taronga Zoo and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
When do the spring school holidays end in NSW?
The spring school holidays in NSW are from Monday, September 30 to Friday, October 11. Most students return to class on Monday, October 14, giving you two full weeks to keep the kids entertained as a reward for the end of semester.
What to do for the NSW spring school holidays
1. Catch a wave at URBSRF
Take the kids down to URBNSRF just outside of Sydney Olympic Park to kick the school holidays off with some adrenaline. Sydney’s only artificial surf park is the perfect place for kids to practice their skills in a safe, controlled environment with two school holidays deals to help make it all a bit more affordable.
Priced from $39 for children, you’ve got the choice between Surf in the Bays or Boog in the Bays. The difference is minimal. Surf in the Bays is for softboards only, while Boog in the Bay is for bodyboards. Both are seperate pools each, so parents are encouraged to book into the same package if they want to surf with their kids. After, you can have some lunch at the newly opened Rafi which serves coastal flavours.
Address: 15 Hill Rd, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (6am – 9pm)
Price: From $39
2. See the sunrise with Sydney by Kayak
Continue the on-water theme by heading on down to Sydney by Kayak and taking the kids out on the harbour. The company has a number of tours, including an Eco Tour where kids can learn about sustainability on the harbour. Or you can just do a sunrise-and-coffee sailing, taking you and the family out on a guided tour leaving from Lavender Bay to catch the sun hitting the horizon beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The kids will be able to explore beautiful Lavender Bay and Blues Point with all equipment included plus the use of a single kayak paddle and life-jacket. The price also includes a barista-made coffee, tea or hot chocolate from a local cafe, served in a splash-proof eco cup.
Address: 1 Railway Avenue Lavender Bay, Sydney NSW 2060
Price: From $175pp
3. Sail Sydney Harbour with Journey Beyond
Yep, we’re still on the water. This time you may want to take the kids out on Sydney Harbour with Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney, which is offering an all-inclusive dinner cruise package that the whole family will love.
You’ll board at 6:10pm and pass by Sydney’s best bits with a 3-hour cruise that includes an entree, dinner and dessert. Plus, you’ll get some welcome bubbles and get to try the Captain’s signature cocktail as you take in 360-degree views of iconic attractions like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Luna Park and our picturesque foreshore.
Address: Wharf 8, King Street Wharf, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $205 for adults, $89 for children aged 4-17
4. Experience ARC at Taronga Zoo
Sydney’s picturesque Taronga Zoo has revealed a brand new experience called ARC, which will get you and the kids up close to over 40 different reptiles and amphibians from around the world. Everything that jumps, slithers or crawls will be on full display during this curated experience, including unexpected hellos from the dinosaur-like tuatara and the beautiful veiled chameleon.
The experience travels across six immersive zones like a frosty sub-alpine to the scorching desert, providing great insight in different survival tactics and the importance of becoming a Climate Hero to protect these habitats.
You can also visit the zoo’s resident pygmy hippos, including little baby Lololi, which the kids should love given all the internet is talking about right now is Moo Deng.
Address: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday (9:30am – 5pm)
Price: $47.70 for adults, $27.90 for children
5. Maximise the Sydney BIG Ticket
Did you know you can grab just one ticket and get access to some of Sydney’s top attractions all at once? The Sydney BIG ticket gets you access to Sydney Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo—all conveniently clustered together in Darling Harbour—as well as Sydney Tower Eye. Go low and venture through the shark tunnel at Sydney’s premier aquarium, and then go high to take the kids on a thrilling ride to the top of the city. Few school holidays activities are as easy to organise as this one.
Plus, if you pick up a free copy of Sydney Travel Guide (check here for all locations), you’ll find a coupon on page 49 that grants you 50 per cent off the Sydney BIG ticket.
Price: $80 for adults, $60 for children (50% off with Sydney Travel Guide)
6. Meet Bluey and Bingo at The Australian Reptile Park
Bluey will be posted up the The Australian Reptile Park all school holidays for a meet and greet with the little ones (and you, I guess). The loveable blue dog will be hanging out with his friends on the Central Coast, welcoming fans and selfies every single day at 10:30am and 1:30pm. The experience is free and is included with a standard entry ticket.
Address: Pacific Hwy, Somersby NSW 2250
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday (9am – 5pm)
Price: $49.99 for adults, $31.99 for children
7. Ghostly Garden for Kids
If the kids can’t wait for Halloween, don’t make them. If your children lean towards spookier night activities then take them along to the Ghostly Garden for Kids tour at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Not only is this a great way to see one of the most well-maintained and picturesque gardens in Australia by night, but the tour will also retell (family-friendly) ghost stories about the garden’s past while also visiting a secret haunted house that many people miss during the day (perhaps it only appears at night!?)
Ghostly Gardens for Kids only runs from October 4.
Address: Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $20
8. Try some art-making classes at Art Gallery of NSW
Head along to the Art Gallery of NSW and participate in a free art making class designed to encourage creativity in the little ones as they tour Naala Nura, the institution’s new state-of-the-art south building. Make sure to head along on a Sunday at 11:30am where the free-entry roving tour will start and take up just 40 minutes of your day.
There are no bookings required. Just show up with the kids and watch as they discover the many treasures the Art Gallery of NSW have procured for Naala Nura. The meeting spot is the ground level Kaldor Hall. And you can also see the new exhibition, Kwatja Kngarritja Tnyirlalhama (Big Rain Falling), which features an immersive art-making activity designed in collaboration with the country’s most innovative art centres.
Address: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (10am – 5pm); Wednesday (10am – 10pm); Thursday – Sunday (10am – 5pm)
9. Decorate some doughnuts at Krispy Kreme
The world’s most iconic doughnut chain, Krispy Kreme, is even jumping on board with the school holidays this season. Head along to the George Street location where for just under $10 kids will receive 2 Original Glazed doughnuts and have access to a range of toppings and coloured icing so they can get creative before biting into the treat. Doughnut decorating sessions are just 20 minutes and participants will also walk away their own Krispy Kreme hat, balloon and even a certificate (which will look fab on their LinkedIn profile when they reach adulthood!)
Address: 787 George Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Tuesday, October 1
Price: $9.50
10. Learn about Australian history on an Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour
Take some time to learn an essential part of Australian culture on an Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour in around the Royal Botanic Gardens. The tour only lasts for an hour but gives kids an engaging way to learn about and contextualise the Gadigal lifestyle, traditions, history and connection to country and community. Learning about the land offers a deeper connection to place, so not only will this be a fascinating way to explore one of Sydney’s most beautiful areas, but it’ll help your kids understand the city in which they live much better.
Address: Meet at the Garden Shop, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Opening Hours: Thursday – Friday (1pm – 2pm)
Price: $30 adults, $20 for children, and free for kids under 7 years old
11. Get Prehistoric at Dinos Alive
Tired of looking at dinosaur skeletons? Head on over to Sydney Olympic Park for the state-of-the-art Dinos Alive exhibition. This immersive trail will take you and the kids through a prehistoric world built with animatronics and the latest technology, used to bring all types of dinosaurs to life so your kids can present their rolling around in John Hammond’s trucks while exploring Jurassic Park.
Address: Fever Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Blvd, Sydney Olympic Park
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (11am – 5pm)
Price: $38.90 for adults, $25.90 for children
12. Have some high tea with teddy bears at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park Sydney
Standard high tea would be fairly boring for kids. But high tea with teddy bears? You’ll hardly be able to hold the little ones back from working their way through tiers of sandwiches and scones when they’ve got some cute Build-A-Bears to play around with. This teddy bear-themed high tea is part of a larger Build-A-Bear takeover that’ll be filling the historic Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park with custom teddy bears. The price includes one Build-A-Bear between two.
Where: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park; 161 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Saturday, September 28; 11am or 1:30pm
Price: $99 for adults and $55 for children
13. Get Poetic at Shakespeare for Kids
Shakespeare for Kids beings a new production at Royal Botanic Gardens this weekend, kickstarting a limited run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream spliced with fantasy and adventure from Tinkerbell for the September school holidays. Will your kids (or you) be able to help Tinkerbell and her fairy friends find her lost wings? Come dressed up (ideas: elf, fairy, jedi and pirate) to add the fun, festive atmosphere. You could even head on over to the Art Gallery of NSW to see their new cinematic installation as well.
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens; Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000
When: September 28-29
Price: $30
14. Get your skate on at Darling Harbour’s Open Air Rink
For the easy price of $20 per person ($16.5 for kids), you and the family can access a pop-up rollerskating rink down at Darling Harbour’s Palm Grove for the next few weeks. Each night will have a different theme while DJs spin mostly 70s classic to give those wheels a bit more fuel while the family glides through the air in one-hour sessions. You can BYO skates and pay a bit extra to hire your own, plus they’ll be a bunch of food trucks from morning to night as the roller rink opens daily from 10am to late. And don’t worry, they’ll also be an on-site bar so adults not heading out on the rink floor have something to do.
Where: Darling Harbour, Sydney 2000
When: Saturday, September 28
Price: $16.5 – $20
15. Climb around at Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden
Buried in the heart of Centennial Park is one of the best free things to do with kids. Open from 10am – 5pm, the Ian Potter Children’s WILD Play Garden is an botanical masterpiece—beautifully designed playground of the future focusing on nature-play and a great sense of scale. The unique playground is set against the dramatic landscape of Centennial Park with dry creek beds, a water play area, a bamboo forest, banksia tunnels, turtle mounds, and the park’s only treehouse.
The playground can get very busy during the school holidays so try and arrive as early as you can. To find the exact spot you can check out this map of the playground.
Address: Centennial Parklands, Sydney, NSW
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (10am-5pm)
Price: Free
16. Spark some Disney magic at Westfield
Head along to your local Westfield to meet up with Disney princesses as the shopping hubs transform into immersive new worlds for the school holidays. All across the two-week holiday period you’ll find Disney Princess-themed activities and experiences to give your little ones some wings. Plus, there’ll be an opportunity to win a trip to Disney World Resort in Florida for you and five guests
There are a few activities happening at Westfield as part of this Disney takeover so head on over to the official Westfield website to plan your visit.
17. Enter Lavender Lane at The Grounds of Alexandria
The world’s most instagrammable cafe just doubled down on aesthetic brilliance. Head along to the perennially head-turning Grounds of Alexandria to dip into the cafe’s latest social-baiting set-up: Lavender Lane. The name tells you all you need to know. This is a beautiful lane draped with an endless stream of purple flowers, immersing big and little kids alike in fantastical visuals that feel like a Disney movie.
Note that Lavender Lane is strictly reserved for people dining at The Grounds of Alexandria. Thankfully, the food is excellent as well so grab some coffee and bright, fluffy pancakes to make a day of it.
Address: 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (7am – 9pm); Friday (7am – 9:30pm); Saturday (7:30am – 9:30pm); Sunday (7:30am – 9pm)
18. Take in a show at Puppeteria
Sydney’s premier puppet theatre can sometimes be overlooked in Sydney’s endless stream of venues and events. But in-the-know kids have been coming here for years. With a children’s playground next door, this theatre is a kids paradise with brilliant puppetry and entertaining, themed shows that are a cut above anything Healthy Harold ever did for you. Each show starts at 10:30am and there are three performances happening for now for children 2-5 years old: Who’s New At The Zoo, The Three Little Pigs, and The Reluctant Dragon + Rapunzel.
Address: 12H Denawen Ave Castle Cove 2069 NSW
Opening Hours: Shows at 10:30am
Price: $16 for adults, $13 for children
19. Get Messy & Splatter Paint at Kaboo Studio
Mix a bit of fun with a lot of creativity these NSW school holidays with a one-hour session at Kaboo Studio in Bondi Junction. Open every day, the studio offers a family-friendly “get messy, splatter paint” session where they provide each guest with a poncho and googles before giving them a canvas on which to express themselves. You’ll get to take each creation home, of course, and the price includes paint, brushes, printing implements, canvas and ponchos.
Address: Level 2/78 Spring St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (9am – 5pm)
20. Get festive at Spot On Children’s Festival
Get ready for a huge festival celebrating all things kid-friendly, packed with theatre and musical performances, comedy sessions, interactive adventures, and a whole host of entertaining shows for the whole family. The festival will make full use of Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres, with free courtyard activities as well as a special Mini Music Makers series between October 1-9 with cushion concerts and karaoke disco parties.
Where: Riverside Theatres; Corner Market &, Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150
When: September 28 – October 20
Price: Free entry (some events ticketed)
21. Bounce around at Monster Jump
This massive jumping castle complex is arriving in Sydney just in time for the NSW school holidays with over 30 obstacles and themed areas for the kids to play around in. They’ve even opened up a sports themed area of the complex, giving kids even more things to do across the colourful and safe obstacle course.
Address: 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park NSW 2021
Opening Hours: Until October 6; 10am – 4pm
Price: From $35
22. Eat around the world at Chatswood Mall Market
Chatswood’s delicious diversity will be on full display at Chatswood Mall Market, which is happening each weekend throughout spring with eats from just a few dollars from some of the city’s best stallholders. You can chow down on everything from Spanish paella to flavourful gozleme, giving you and the family plenty of ways to try something new.
Address: 91 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067
Opening Hours: Thursday – Friday (9am – 9pm)
23. Have a laugh at Comedy Store’s PG standup show
It’s not every day The Comedy Show throws on a standup show for kids, but they’re making an exception for the school holidays. Sydney’s most exciting comedy club is having a special PG edition so the whole family can have an afternoon of good, clean fun at a very affordable price with hilarious comedy songs, stand-up routines and some “clowning chaos.”
Address: 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park, NSW 2021
Date: Saturday, October 5; 1:30pm
Price: $30
24. Follow the turtle at Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House has a packed schedule of family-friendly shows ranging from circus performance to magic shows. But if you can only pick one these school holidays, go or Bangarra’s Waru – Journey of the Small Turtle. The incredibly immersive productions features show-stealing costumes and visuals, telling an important story from Torres Strait Islander culture with traditional songs and dances.
Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: October 9-10; 10am or 12:30pm
Price: $35
25. Board a submarine at Australian National Maritime Museum
Take the kids onto the historic HMAS Onslow to show them an essential part of Sydney’s history in a decommissioned submarine at the Australian National Maritime Museum. The institution, perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour, has plenty of engaging ways to tell the story of Sydney’s rich seafaring heritage and naval technology.
Address: 2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (10am – 4pm)
Price: $70 for a family pass, $15 per child
26. Level up at Ninja Parc
If your kid is as chaotic as a baby pygmy hippo and likes to run around, give them the skills to control and channel all that boundless energy at Ninja Parc. Kids can practice parkour in a safe environment over at this massive indoor obstacle course in South Granville. There are also group classes so kids can really build up that natural-born talent for moving and shaking.
Address: 62 Ferndell St, South Granville NSW 2142
Contact: Monday (10am – 6pm); Tuesday – Friday (10am – 7pm); Saturday – Sunday (9am – 4pm)
27. Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains
If you want to tick the best bits of the Blue Mountains off in just a few hours you’ve got to take the family on the open-top Blue Mountains Explorer Bus. All the major attractions are squeezed into a day with enough time at each, visiting the likes of the Three Sisters and the incredible Scenic World, as well as Cahill’s Lookout and Pool of Siloam. The best part: all school-aged kids ride for free, so it’s a very cost effective way to unlock one of Sydney’s most famous destinations.
Price: $29 for adults, kids ride free
28. Decorate some pots at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
The majestic Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, dramatically set against one of the best angles of Sydney Harbour, will be diving into the NSW school holidays with two offerings for the whole family. Not only will you and the kids get the enjoy one of Sydney’s best settings, but you’ve got both a pizza making masterclass that includes pizza and ice cream, or a terracotta pot decoration class. They are only $14-$15 per child so head along, make a day of it, grab a few coronas and enjoy them in the sun while the kids go hands-on at these workshops.
Address: 10 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay NSW 2030
Opening Hours: Classes are on different days throughout the holidays
Price: $14-$15
29. Warp reality at House Down Under
Imagine what life would be like upside down? No, we aren’t suggesting you force your kids to perfect the very, very difficult art of the headstand. We’re suggesting you take them over the Moore Park where you will find the incredibly oddball House Down Under. This is really just an eccentric photo app, but it’s so detailed and design-forward that you can be sure the kids will be talking about it for long after. There are dozens of fun photo opps, then you could pair it up with a day shopping around Rouse Hill.
Address: Market Ln, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Price: $21 for adults, free for kids under 4 years old
30. Say hello to sea giants with Captain Cook cruises
Ready for the best school holiday activity of all time? The kids will be talking about this one for years: whale watching. You can see the massive sea giants in all their glory as whale watching season comes to a close and these beautiful creatures make their way back down the Humpback Highway in search of more food. There are a number of whale-watching cruises that depart from Circular Quay but we suggest hitting up Captain Cook which offers very affordable, productive whale watching tours at 9:30am and 1:30pm each day.
Price: $75
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