Sydney Itinerary with Kids: Up to 7 Days
Are you looking for the perfect Sydney Itinerary for your holiday with kids?
Sydney is often the first stop on international flights to Australia and is a fun place to visit for Australians as well. There are so many fun things to do in Sydney with kids.
I have been to Sydney a few times, and I was so excited to take my kids.
Some of the things on this list aren’t open daily, so be sure to check the dates and times as well as book any tours that you want to go on before finalizing your itinerary.
Of course, you can mix and match each day, though I tried to group activities in certain areas so that you don’t have to walk all over the city. We managed to walk 12,000 to 26,000 steps a day during our visit to Sydney.
If you have a whole week in Sydney with kids, this is the perfect week-long itinerary, and the days can be changed as needed.
If you don’t have a whole week, choose the days that are best for you.
Keep reading to find my version of a week-long Sydney with kids itinerary.
We used Cover-More insurance for our holiday in Sydney.
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Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 1
Morning
For those arriving internationally, chances are your flight arrives in Sydney in the morning. Go through customs, grab your bags, and head to your hotel. Even if you can’t check in, you can drop your bags off and go explore the city.
Afternoon
Take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. Depending on where your hotel is located, you may want to explore the Rocks, walk around Darling Harbour, or eat your way through Haymarket.
Evening
This itinerary is full of fun things to do during the day, as well as fun things to do with kids in Sydney at night. On your first night in Sydney, you will probably want to eat an early dinner and relax at the hotel.
If that isn’t the case, here are plenty of ideas for things to do with kids in Sydney at night.
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 2
Morning
Head to Circular Quay, where you can take a ferry to Taronga Zoo.
There are plenty of breakfast options near Circular Quay. We enjoyed Calibre Coffee Traders, Lode Pies and Pastries, and Bread and Fill, which is located in the Gateway.
If you have time before your ferry, stop at Customs House to see the model of Sydney. The kids will love walking over the model city.
Enjoy a view of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge on the 12-minute ferry ride to Taronga Zoo.
✔️ Prebook your ferry ride and tickets to the Taronga Zoo.
Afternoon
Spend the day at the zoo. You can bring lunch with you or purchase it at the zoo.
Head back on the ferry. If you have time, walk around the Rocks and go to the Rocks Discovery Museum.
Lanie’s Top Tip: There is a set of water stairs at the corner of Mill Lane and Playfair Street that the kids loved. They like to put leaves at the top and watch them race down.
Evening
Eat dinner at the Rocks. There are plenty of options, including Pancakes on the Rocks, the Glenmore Hotel, and The Rocks Cafe.
Take a family tour at Sydney Observatory. The tours last around an hour and are geared toward kids 6+. We took a tour, and everyone in our group, from almost 6 to teenagers (and all of the parents) enjoyed it.
We learned about how the area was once a fort, how to decode flags (and the kids got to take home a flag decoder), and we got to look through 2 telescopes, including the oldest telescope in Australia.
For families with kids 12+, there is a regular tour as well.
Lanie’s Top Tip– Leave yourself plenty of time to find the Sydney Observatory as it is not located at The Rocks. Though it is very close, it is across a highway and not easily seen.
Find the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney and where kids eat for free in Sydney.
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 3
Morning
Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House.
We took the Junior Adventure Tour, which is a 1-hour tour. We learned about the history and architecture of the Opera House and got to see both a dance rehearsal and a symphony rehearsal.
Sometimes, kid-friendly shows are playing, and you can purchase a tour and show together. We had already seen the show that was being performed that day, so we just took a tour.
Other Opera House tours take place throughout the year, while the Junior Adventure Tour is usually available during school holidays.
Afternoon
Watch a kid-friendly matinee at the Opera House or stroll through the Botanical Gardens.
Walk to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and see a stunning view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge on the way.
Lanie’s Top Tip: Don’t sit on Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair unless you don’t mind your pants getting dirty.
Another way to see the gardens is by taking a kid-friendly scavenger hunt.
Evening
If your kids are 8+, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tours take place all day, and I have taken the twilight tour, which heads up when it is light outside and comes back down after dark. It is a great way to watch the sunset.
While I haven’t done the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb with kids, we have climbed Story Bridge in Brisbane as a family, and the experiences are similar.
Is it going to rain while you are in Sydney? Find the best Indoor Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Sydney with Kids.
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 4
Morning
Walk around Darling Harbour.
You can go to the Sealife Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, or just wander. A playground, Tumbalong, is by Darling Harbour, as is the Chinese Friendship Garden.
✔️ Purchase your tickets to Sea Life Aquarium
Afternoon
Explore the Powerhouse Museum. Don’t miss out on the Experimentations area on the 1st floor. It is filled with hands-on science experiments for kids.
We started on level 3 and enjoyed all of the exhibits. During the school holidays, crafts and story times take place throughout the day.
My son has loved gears for years. They are one toy that traveled with us to Australia and he continues to play with almost daily.
Evening
Go to Chinatown for dinner.
There are plenty of options, and they aren’t all Chinese restaurants. We ate at Boon Cafe and Restaurant for breakfast one day, and I am sure they have a delicious dinner as well. (Now, I know that they do! We visited on a return trip to Sydney. Boon Cafe is a Thai restaurant and grocery store.
We also ate at IIKO Mazesoba, a Japanese restaurant.
It is worth checking out the cream puff stand outside of Emperor’s Garden. They usually have a line, but it moves quickly. Next to the cream puff stand is a bakery with more Chinese treats.
There is a self-guided culture and food tour, Chinatown Bites and Cultural Trail. We didn’t get to take it this trip, but it is still on my list for next time! The tour takes about 1.5 hours and can be done anytime between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. The tour is set up like a game, and if you have a big group, you can compete against each other while exploring Sydney’s Chinatown.
Another option for a food tour in Chinatown is the Chinatown Street Food and Culture Guided Walking Tour. This tour is 2.5 hours long and is recommended for kids 8+.
Sydney Hotels with Family Rooms
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 5
Morning
Take a bus to Bondi Beach.
Walk around, play in the sand, and enjoy a meal at one of the many cafes nearby.
You can even take a 2-hour surf lesson at Bondi Beach.
We had a delicious lunch at Lox Stock and Barrel. Other options include Speedo’s Cafe, North Bondi Fish, and Shuk.
For those who would rather join a tour than find their way to Bondi, there is a Morning Sightseeing to Bondi and Lunch Cruise half-day trip from Sydney.
The kids and I took the bus, and found it quick and easy to manage, but we are used to using public transportation.
Afternoon
Explore the Australian Museum.
Another amazing free museum in Sydney, the Australian Museum is the oldest in Australia and is great for kids of all ages.
The Australian Museum is open late on Wednesdays.
Evening
Enjoy an early dinner and relax at your hotel. If the kids still have energy and you would like to keep moving, go to Luna Park, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel and other rides.
Be sure to check the hours for Luna Park as they vary throughout the year. Luna Park is open late on weekends and during school holidays.
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 6
Take a full-day tour to the Blue Mountains.
There are plenty of options for Blue Mountains tours, and here are a few highly rated tours that are kid-friendly.
All tours on this list include seeing Australian wildlife and the 3 sisters’ rock formation.
These tours do not include meals, though they all stop so guests can purchase lunch.
Unfortunately, they are not wheelchair accessible.
Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.6/5 🏷️ Price Range: $129-159 🛒 Buy Now
✔ Entry to Featherdale Wildlife Park
✔ Entry to Blue Mountains National Park
✔ Guided Bushwalk
Blue Mountains Full Day Trip with Cruise
⭐ Rating: 4.6/5 🏷️ Price Range: $160-190 🛒 Buy Now
✔ Entry to Featherdale Wildlife Park
✔ Scenic World Rides, including the Cableway, Skyway, and Railway
✔ Ferry cruise along the Parramatta River to Circular Quay
Blue Mountains, Scenic World, Zoo, and Ferry Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 🏷️ Price Range: $200-250 🛒 Buy Now
✔ Entry to Sydney Zoo
✔ Scenic World Rides
✔ Ferry cruise along the Parramatta River to Circular Quay
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Day 7
It is time to leave Sydney. If your flight leaves later in the day, do anything on this list that you did not have time to see before.
Additional options include:
- An early morning tour of the Sydney Fish Market (if your kids are 10+)
- Checking out the view from Sydney Tower Eye
- Taking a cruise on a Tall Ship.
Getting Around Sydney with Kids
While we spent the majority of our time in Sydney walking to each location, there is public transportation (and we used that too).
All buses, trains, trams, and ferries in Sydney take the Opal Card, which can be purchased at the airport, any train station, or a variety of stores. We purchased our cards at the Newsagent’s at Circular Quay.
Adult Opal Cards cost a minimum of $20, and kids’ cards cost a minimum of $10. Money can be added to the cards as needed.
You can download the Opal App to register your cards and add money to them.
Now, you can also tap your credit card instead of purchasing an Opal Card.
Don’t forget to tap both on and off public transportation.
Where to Stay in Sydney with Kids
Budget Option
⭐ Rating: 8.6/10 🗺️ Location: The Rocks ✅ Book Now
Family rooms with private bathrooms are available at Sydney Harbour YHA.
Sydney Harbour YHA is located at the Rocks and you can see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge from the rooftop.
Bed linens are provided, the rooms are air-conditioned, and there is a kitchen and laundry available.
Mid-Range Option
⭐ Rating: 8/10 🗺️ Location: Haymarket ✅ Book Now
Novotel has a few locations in Sydney, including Novotel Sydney Central. This location has a swimming pool and a restaurant and is near many of Sydney’s attractions.
Luxury Option
⭐ Rating: 9.1/10 🗺️ Location: The Rocks ✅ Book Now
Stay at the Four Seasons at the Rocks. Four Seasons is a 5-star luxury resort with views of Sydney Harbour.
Families of up to 5 can book a stay in the 2-bedroom Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons.
Sydney Itinerary with Kids Wrap-Up
Sydney is a great place to holiday with kids, and there is so much to do in Australia’s largest city.
Many museums in Sydney offer free entry daily, and Sydney has lots of fun things to do with kids.
Plan to see the Sydney Opera House from all angles and sign up to take a family tour or get tickets to a show to see the inside.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday with kids or want to get the most out of the city, you can find what you want in Sydney.
Sydney with Kids Itinerary FAQ
Yes, Sydney is a great city for kids. In addition to lots of kid-friendly activities, there are kid-friendly restaurants, kid-friendly hotels, lots of playgrounds, and free museums.
Yes, Sydney is a great place for a family holiday. Many of the kid-friendly attractions are interesting for all ages. Sydney is a walkable city that also has public transportation that is easy to use.
While the highlights can be seen in a day, it is best to spend at least 3 days in Sydney, more if you have the time.
If you want to go on day trips from Sydney and see the city as well, plan to spend at least 5 days in Sydney.
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- Sydney Observatory Family Tour Review
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- Free Things to Do in Sydney with Kids
- Things to Do at Night in Sydney with Kids
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