Free Things to Do in Sydney with Kids
Sydney is a big city with plenty of fun things to do with kids, and many of those fun things are completely free!
That’s right, there are lots of free things to do in Sydney with kids.
Save your money for a one-of-a-kind experience like the Sydney Opera House Kid’s Tour or the Family Tour at the Sydney Observatory, and fill the rest of your days in Sydney with some of the amazing kid-friendly things to do from this list.
Keep reading to find the best things to do for free in Sydney with kids.
Planning Your Trip? Use Our Favorite Resources!
Accommodation- Booking.com
Travel Insurance- Cover-More
Tours and Excursions- Get Your Guide, Viator and Klook
Rental Car- Discover Cars
Free Things to Do in Sydney with Kids
Explore a Museum
Sydney has plenty of museums, and many of them have free entry all the time. A few of the museums in Sydney have free entry on select days.
Australian Museum
1 William Street, Darlinghurst
The oldest museum in Australia, the Australian Museum, is open daily, with the exception of Christmas Day, and always offers free entry.
On Wednesdays, the Australian Museum is open late. Daily hours are 10 am to 5 pm except Wednesdays when the museum is open until 9 pm.
The Australian Museum is great for all ages. Some of their exhibits are geared towards kids, and there is always something on during the school holidays.
Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Part of a group of museums that include the Sydney Observatory, the Powerhouse Museum has floors of exhibits that are always free to see.
While many exhibits in the Powerhouse Museum are kid-friendly, including teen-friendly, the most kid-friendly exhibit is Experimentations, which includes hands-on science experiments.
Powerhouse Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
Rocks Discovery Museum
2-8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks
A small museum located at the Rocks, the Rocks Discovery Museum is free to enter and has both hands-on exhibits and a kids’ corner.
The museum showcases the history of the area. The kids’ corner includes toys and books.
Rocks Discovery Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Justice and Police Museum
4-8 Phillip Street, Sydney CBD
Open from 10 am to 5 pm on the weekends, plus daily during the NSW school holidays, the Justice and Police Museum sits in what was once a police station.
Always free to enter, the Justice and Police Museum shows what life was like in the 1800s. Lots of interactive exhibits make this a great museum for kids.
While the museum is generally kid-friendly, some areas aren’t appropriate for younger kids, so be sure to ask at the front desk so you know where to avoid.
Customs House
31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay
It is worth entering Customs House if you are near Circular Quay, if only to see the model of Sydney below the floor.
Customs House is free to enter, and there are a variety of things inside, including a tourist information desk.
Customs House is open until midnight daily, opening at 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends.
Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery Road, Sydney
Except for Christmas Day and Easter Friday, the Art Gallery of NSW is open daily and is always free.
Hours are from 10 am to 5 pm except on Wednesdays when the museum is open until 10 pm. Some areas of the museum have different hours, so if there is something specific you want to see, visit their website for more details.
Free guided tours are available, though these are generally for adults and teens.
There are kid-friendly exhibits and workshops at the Art Gallery of NSW, especially during school holidays.
Museum of Contemporary Art
140 George Street, The Rocks
Located at The Rocks, the Museum of Contemporary Art is open every day except Tuesdays and admission is always free.
On the days it is open, this museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm with a late night, til 9 pm, on Fridays.
Kids 0-5, along with their grown-ups, can participate in ArtPlay at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
While visitors need to pay to tour the Sydney Observatory at night, there is free entry during the day, though it doesn’t include entry into the domes and looking through the telescopes.
Chau Chak Wing Museum
University Place, University of Sydney
The Chau Chak Wing Museum is always free to the public. It is located at the University of Sydney and focuses on art, history, science, and ancient cultures.
On weekdays, the Chau Chak Museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm (and until 9 pm on Thursdays). The museum is open from 12-4 on the weekends. It is closed every public holiday.
Free lockers are available to store your belongings.
During the school holidays, there are special events at Chau Chak Wing Museum such as workshops for kids ages 5-12.
Sydney Jewish Museum
🗺️ 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
While the Sydney Jewish Museum usually charges to enter, it is open for free from 10 am to 4:30 pm each Sunday.
A Jewish Museum featuring Jews in Australia and Jewish history, including the Holocaust, the Sydney Jewish Museum is generally best for older kids and teens, though they do have kid-friendly programming during the school holidays.
During the school holidays, there is story time and art workshops for kids ages 3-12, for families of all faiths and backgrounds. Some of these events have a fee.
Australian National Maritime Museum
2 Murray Street, Sydney
The 3 permanent galleries at the Australian National Maritime Museum are free to enter, though the rotating galleries have a charge.
The museum offers even more kid-friendly programming during the school holidays, though most of the events have a fee.
Australian National Maritime Museum focuses on Australian sea life, history, and travel. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm daily.
Find out where kids can eat for free in Sydney every day of the week.
Go to the Beach
While the most popular beaches in Sydney are Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, there are more than 100 beaches nearby.
For those with small kids, Coogee Beach and Malabar Beach have calmer water, as do Camp Cove, Parsley Bay, Balmoral Beach, and Chinaman’s Beach.
There are plenty of restaurants near each of the beaches, and most have picnic facilities.
As always, look for the flags when going to the beach, and be sure to swim between the flags and near the lifeguard if one is on duty. Do not swim if signs are warning against it.
Wander Through the Park
The Royal Botanic Garden is free to enter. The gardens are large with plenty of space for kids to run and wander.
Centennial Park has Ian Potter Wild Playground, gardens, ponds, trails, and green space.
These are just 2 of the many parks located in and around Sydney.
Play at the Playground
Sydney has many playgrounds to choose from, including one right by Darling Harbour. While it does get crowded, it is perfect for travelers with kids who are looking for a break in the day to play.
Free Things to Do in Sydney Wrap-Up
Traveling to Sydney with kids doesn’t have to be expensive. Once you are there, you can find plenty of fun things to do for free with kids.
In addition to libraries, parks, and playgrounds, many of the museums in Sydney have free entry. The museums on this list are kid-friendly.
As opening times and locations change, be sure to check before you go.
You May Also Like
- Sydney with Kids Itinerary
- Sydney Hotels with Family Rooms
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants with Playgrounds in Sydney
- Kids Eat Free Sydney
- Sydney Observatory Family Tour Review
- Sydney Opera House Tour with Kids Review
- Things to Do at Night in Sydney with Kids
- Indoor Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Sydney with Kids
Pin For Later!
