10 Family Activities Around Sydney: "We're All Going on a (Free) Summer Holiday..."

The summer holidays are what dreams (and lots of songs!) are made of.

Key points:

Here’s a list of our favourite, free things to do with friends and family, during those long, blissful days of the summer holidays.
Options are located all across Sydney.
The Hope Community Noticeboard offers more community-based events to explore, year-round.

January is all about those long, sunny days spent with friends and family.

But usually, budgets are tight after the Christmas rush. So, here’s our top pick of fun things to do together these summer holidays, without even touching your wallet!

Top Tip: for an even more budget-friendly day out, pack a picnic and include a few homemade treats to sweeten the deal.

1. Royal Botanic Gardens

Pack a picnic, grab your rug and head to the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. While you’re there, you can take a walk past the Opera House, over the Harbour Bridge or visit The Rocks.

Visit botanicgardens.org.au

2. State Library of NSW

Keen for a day out in the city? Drop in to the State Library of NSW. There’s always something happening at the State Library – even a stroll through the art gallery makes it worth the trip!

Visit sl.nsw.gov.au

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The Hope Noticeboard offers more community-based events to explore, year-round.

3. Darling Quarter Playground

Renowned as one of the best in the country, our playground is a bustling, colourful and exciting place to be that combines artful form with function. Make happy memories to last a lifetime as you explore with your kids – feel your heart race as you try to keep up with them, or opt to relax on the sidelines.

There are boundless opportunities for kids of all ages to slide down, climb up, run around, scramble over, swing on, find and discover in this vibrant setting. Let kids play with waterworks, explore motion, balance, and simple machines, and learn the workings behind it all. There are enough activities to tire out even the most energetic of children!

Visit darlingquarter.com

4. Art Gallery of NSW

Open from 10am to 5pm each day, and to 10pm on Wednesdays, entry is free to the permanent displays. Visit for as long or as little as you like.

And if you’re entertaining under 5s, make sure to be there on Fridays at 11am for story time. No booking required.

Visit: artgallery.nsw.gov.au

5. Hiking Trails Around Sydney

What better way to enjoy the great outdoors, than hiking some of our beautiful coastlines and mountain ranges?

Download the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service app for maps and recommendations, as well as difficulty and time estimations.

Visit nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

6. Australian Museum

For curious children, a visit to the Australian Museum could answer some of their questions or leave them with even more!

Entry is free to access all the permanent exhibitions, the Museum Shop, and the Burra learning and play space. Spend time exploring dinosaurs, 200 treasures of the Museum, our Indigenous history, and learning about Pasifika culture.

During the holidays, make the most of the free family-friendly drop-in activities or consider a ticketed event for a special day out.

Open 10am to 5pm every day.

Visit australianmuseum.com

7. The World’s Largest Lego Store

Yes, you can visit the world’s largest Lego store right here in Sydney! Located in Pitt Street Mall, entry is free.

Check out the incredible displays, express your creativity at the Lego play tables, and enjoy the wonder of what is possible when you use your imagination and Lego.

Visit lego.bricksmegastore.com

Enjoy the wonder of what is possible when you use your imagination and Lego.

8. Darling Harbour – Tumbalong Park Waterplay and Playground Free

Enjoy a day playing outside in the heart of the city!

Remember to pack a towel and a change of clothes for your child – it’s hard to keep clear of the waterplay, especially on a hot day.

Keep an eye out for the wandering bird life, or you might find them taking off with your lunch!

Visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

9. Centennial Parklands

Looking for a place to enjoy the great outdoors? Head to Centennial Parklands and make the most of the wide, green spaces, play areas, BBQs and bike tracks.

Children will love exploring The Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden. Open from 10am to 5pm daily, this is nature-play at its best for children of all ages.

Explore the dry creek beds, water play area, bamboo forest, banksia tunnels, turtle mounds and treehouse.

Wild Play is best accessed from the York Road gates.

Visit centennialparklands.com.au

Options are located all across Sydney.

10. Sydney Olympic Park

Blaxland Riverside Park

Time to get out of the city?

Head to Sydney Olympic Park these holidays and make the most of all that’s on offer there – and it’s all free!

Blaxland Riverside Park is a child’s dream playground.

With plenty of space, things to climb over, under, through and around, swings, slides and even waterplay, there’s something to keep kids of all ages busy.

With open space to set up your picnic or for older kids to play some soccer, this is the perfect place to spend a day with your family.

Visit sydneyolympicpark.com.au

Brickpit Ring Walk

Enjoy a stroll 18m above the ground as you take in the wetlands below.

Featuring an inbuilt multimedia experience, as you stroll the 550m walkway you’ll learn about the history of the Brickpit that once supplied 60 per cent of the bricks used to build homes in Sydney.

Use the self-guided tour app to explore the parklands on foot or bring your bikes for a day of leisurely riding or high adventure on the bike tracks.

With 50 artworks to enjoy throughout the park, plus wildlife to spot you’ll always have something new to marvel at.

Visit sydneyolympicpark.com.au

Keep an eye on our Community Noticeboard for more community and church events, all throughout the year.

Article supplied with thanks to Edwina Baily.

Feature image: CanvaPro