Sydney and surrounds family-friendly travel guide

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About Sydney

Sydney seems made for kids. With a world-famous harbour, a coastline spattered with beaches and a zoo with the world’s best views, there are delights of all types around every corner.

Accommodation around Sydney ranges from high-rise city hotels with waterfront views and resorts with kids’ clubs to country guesthouses with kangaroos roaming the back garden. Beachfront caravan parks often have cabins to rent or you could spend a night on the harbour at Cockatoo Island’s glamping facility.

Sydney and surrounds facts

Capital

Sydney

State

NSW

Time zone

GMT+10

Landmass

809,444 km²

Currency

Australian dollar (AUD)

Emergency number

000

Helpful information

Where to go

Sydney

The only way is up for thrill seekers who take on the BridgeClimb Sydney or the city’s highest point at Sydney Tower Eye and Skywalk. Or discover the harbour from the Botanic Gardens – perfect for a family picnic – and take the ferry over to Manly or Taronga Zoo.

Take in the night sky or become an archaeologist at the Sydney Observatory. After you’ve learnt about the solar system in the Planetarium, head down to The Rocks below to wander the cobblestone streets and weekend markets.

Bondi Beach

Home of the hit TV show ‘Bondi Rescue’, visit Bondi Beach for snaps of surfers and Australia’s most famous lifeguards. Bondi is also home to a range of hip cafes, markets and shopping.

The Blue Mountains

For a day trip away from the hustle and bustle, you can’t go past the Blue Mountains, with quaint towns and villages such as Katoomba and Leura, and the iconic Three Sisters.

While the kids may want to get adventurous with abseiling or canyoning, they’ll get just as big a thrill from the Scenic Railway at Scenic World, or head south to Thirlmere and Trainworks. There, kids can watch the live action of their working turntable and take a ride on an old-fashioned steam train.

Come in June to catch the annual Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba. There’s a variety of market stalls, live entertainment and, of course, the dazzling parade featuring all kinds of local talent such as local karate schools, marching bands and hula-hoopers.

Wollongong

Sydney’s southern little sister is often overlooked in the rush further down the coast, but there are plenty of reasons to go no further than Wollongong and the Illawarra.

A range of bush walking and trails offer beautiful views of the mountain surrounds and coastline, and Symbio Wildlife Park is sure to entertain kids for hours.

Best time to go to Sydney and surrounds

Sydney and its surrounds are blessed with beautiful weather most of the year, but to make the most of the stunning beaches and water attractions, visiting during summer is the way to go.

A winter visit means you can catch the Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba or the incredible light festival of Vivid Sydney.

Summer

During summer, average temperatures range from 18.6 to 25.8 degrees Celsius. This is a great time to enjoy Sydney’s abundant beaches when water temperatures rise to around 22 degrees Celsius.

Winter

During winter, Sydney reaches an average maximum of 17 degrees Celsius.

Getting in and around for families

Sydney Airport

Just outside the city centre, Sydney International Airport has a train station where trains head to Central Station regularly (just follow the signs and escalators down).

Taxis

Taxis are widely available around Sydney.

Buses

Sydney’s public transport includes a range of buses, ferries and trains, depending on where you need to go. Plan your trip here.

Food and drinks that kids will love

A range of fine and casual dining, all the way to accessible chain restaurants, are available in Sydney and its surrounds.

In the city, head to its quirky inner-west to find a range of chic cafes such as local favourite West Juliette or hit the Bondi Markets for some fresh local produce.

Shopping

A number of local artists’ markets can be found in New South Wales. The Rozelle Collectors Markets always deliver a rare find or the Winmalee Artisan Markets in the Blue Mountains showcase a range of local handmade crafts.

A range of upscale shopping centres can be found around Sydney, with Bondi Junction a local favourite.

Customs

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

What to wear

In warmer months, New South Wales can be very warm. Pack thongs, singlets, and swimmers! If visiting in winter, be sure to pack a few warmer layers.

Courtesy

Australia is renowned for its laid-back, egalitarian culture. By and large, friendliness is equated with good manners.

Electricity

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

Safety and health precautions

Health precautions

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australian cities.

Safety

By and large, Sydney is considered a safe destination, although still exercise regular safety precautions as you would at home.

Most photographed places

Sydney Opera House

Sydney’s most famous and recognisable landmark is also it’s most photographed: the Sydney Opera House. The unique architecture of this Aussie icon makes it perfect for Instagram – break up all those beach shots! The best view is perhaps from Mrs Macquarie Chair, where you can see not only the sails of the Opera House, but the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the harbour itself and the rest of the city skyline.

Angel Place

If you find yourself wandering around the CBD, make sure to take a pit stop at Angel Place. Listen and look up, this quaint laneway connecting Pitt Street and George Street is alive with birdsong, sitting beneath a canopy of 50 birdcages. The art installation has a cool message behind it: the sounds you hear are recordings of birds who once populated the inner Sydney area but were forced out by urbanisation.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Located on the boardwalk at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art is host to some incredible work from Australian and international artists. While the art is the star of the show, the building itself is striking. The cafe upstairs also offers great views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, making the perfect backdrop for a coffee or cocktail snap.

Grounds of Alexandria

Here, it starts with a coffee and ends with a enviable brunch shot. The Grounds of Alexandria was created from the remains of a heritage-listed warehouse in Sydney’s Inner West. It is now home to a range of farm animals and visiting the pretty brunch spot has become a rite of passage for Sydneysiders.

Bondi Beach

Famous the world over for its crescent-shaped golden shoreline, Bondi Beach is the perfect day out for families. Only eight kilometres from Sydney’s city centre, Bondi offers great waves, kid-friendly saltwater sea baths and an array of hip cafes, markets and shopping.

If visiting in October and November you can join the crowds perusing Sculpture by the Sea, an outdoor exhibition of artworks stretching two kilometres along the coastline between Bondi and Coogee.