The Alternative School Holiday Guide to Sydney

Regardless of whether you’re a Sydney-sider or a visitor staying for a few days or weeks during the school holidays, you'll find plenty of fun (and in some cases, free) school holiday activities in Sydney to keep the kids busy.

Some of the best school holiday activities are free! These school holidays, save your wallet and make the most of free school holiday activities Sydney has to offer. 

Things like a picnic or walking through one of Sydney’s many great parks or visiting an art gallery or museum are all great ways to get out of the house and enjoy the day together. 

Discover Sydney’s best art galleries — most of which are free to visit, with some special exhibitions being ticketed. Check the museum or gallery website ahead to confirm if they're running any free kids' activities as many run school holiday workshops to keep the kids entertained. 

A rainy day isn’t the end of the story. In fact, there are plenty of fun things to do in Sydney indoors.

Try a visit to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, go shopping together, or try a new indoor sport like indoor rock climbing or bowling. There are plenty of indoor activities in Sydney for families to enjoy; you just have to choose what works best for you.

You can even enjoy a day indoors at home or in your hotel room. Try yoga together or inspire your little chef and maybe bake a cake together. Why not rally the troops with your very own cooking competition? Work together or in teams as you cook up a storm, which can later be enjoyed by all. Plus, the kids might even learn a few things along the way. 

While the school holidays provide children with a well-earned break from indoor classes, learning out of the classroom can be both informative and fun! 

When it comes to balancing education and entertainment, the Australian Museum does it best.  

Your weekend is sorted with a visit to the Birdlife Discovery Centre situated within the Newington Armory at Sydney Olympic Park. Learn a thing or two about birds in their natural habitat and join one of the free Guided Bird Walks which run on the last Sunday of each month. 

Got some extra time to spare or looking to escape the hustle and bustle?

Explore somewhere just out of the city. Some of our favourite Sydney day trips include:

• Blue Mountains
• Central Coast
• Royal National Park
• Bundeena
• Palm Beach
• South Coast

Get away from the city for a few days or even just a few hours. Enjoy the awe-inspiring views and rewarding walks in the Blue Mountains.

Go for a dip on one of the amazing beaches up and down the coast.

Visit Jamberoo Action Park, a few hours south of Sydney, where you’ll find kids’ rides, waterslides, chairlifts, bobsled, and an aqua playground—what more could you want from an adventurous day out of the city?

While grabbing a bite to eat might not seem like a fun school holiday activity in Sydney, enjoying a good meal together shouldn’t be overlooked. Fuel those hungry little bellies at family-friendly locations in and around the city. 

You’ll please even the fussiest of eaters with a meal at SkyFeast at Sydney Tower, while looking down at the city from above. With 360° views of Sydney, this is a great spot for tourists and locals alike. The menu includes a variety of cuisines and offers both vegetarian and gluten-free options. Kids under 12 eat free when dining with a paying adult. 

For a truly unique and cuddly dining experience, pay Sydney’s very own Catmosphere Cat Café a visit. This venue features both a regular café and two separate rooms where you can schedule in time to play with some adorable kittens as you sip on a hot drink and snack on a cat-shaped cookie.

Bookings are essential, and funds go towards caring for rescue cats and kittens. For a more permanent arrangement, you can have coffee with the ‘kitten cadets’ as part of the cat adoption program or sponsor one of the resident felines. 

For a special dining experience that both the kids and the grown-ups can enjoy, visit Q Dining, overlooking Sydney Harbour in Circular Quay. The kids can choose from dedicated menu options like spaghetti bolognese and mini chicken schnitzel for their main and maybe even a banana split for dessert.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy dry-aged Hawkesbury duck breast or herb and ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers and dessert options, including dark chocolate mascarpone mousse and caramelised macadamia honey tart. There’s something for every taste.

While there’s plenty of fun to be had indoors—board games, puzzles, cooking together—we all know kids need to burn off some of their excess energy. 

Take in the fresh air and make the most of the great outdoors with one of these top picks. 

Volunteer at your local community garden. Make a difference in your local area and develop good habits by spending some of your free time contributing to local community garden projects. Make sure you go back to visit later so the kids can see the growth and change over time, all while learning valuable skills by working together on a bigger project that benefits friends, family, and neighbours. 

A picnic.  Enjoy a leisurely morning or afternoon in the great outdoors with some pre-prepared nibbles and games for little to no cost at all – just don’t forget the teacups! Clifton Gardens is a fantastic location for those of you looking for a bit of everything - picnic grounds, a beach for swimming and harbour views. Alternatively, Manly Dam, The Basin and Bronte Beach are some family-friendly picnic spots—which will please children of all ages—all year round. 

Sydney Park Bike Track, St. Peters – Get little legs pedalling, scooting, and skating at Sydney’s bike track, complete with miniature roads, traffic lights, bridges and tunnels to teach children essential riding skills in a safe environment. The track itself is free; you’ll just need BYO wheels and a helmet to participate.

The track is situated within Sydney Park in St. Peters, near the suburb’s train station, so you can take the whole family and their bikes, plus there is also parking on-site if you choose to drive. You can spend a day at the park, even if you don’t have bikes. With plenty of walking paths and open, grassy spaces for playing, the parklands are perfect for a day of outdoor family fun.

Another fun outdoor school holiday activitiy is visiting the beach and trying surfing. Sydney is lined with crystal-clear beaches that are great for beginner surfers. Join a group class, book a private session, or hire a board and hit the waves. From Bondi to Cronulla, discover Sydney local's favourite places to surf in Sydney.