Best Indoor Activities in Sydney on Rainy Days

Consider the inner west where you can combine murals with independent shops, or Cronulla where you can discover over 20 murals between the train station and the beach. Jamberoo is about 90 minutes south of Sydney and there are water play areas, water slides, fun rides and plenty more. There are good facilities with a fenced playground, gas BBQs and beautiful harbour views. You can follow a walk from the ferry wharf that will take you to a significant rock art site. The small general store near the waterfront often has free pamphlet guides you can follow.
It features a variety of interactive exhibits and activities for kids to explore, including hands-on workshops, art classes, special events and exhibitions. The Powerhouse Museum has many interactive exhibits where your kids can explore and learn, with regular changing exhibits and school holiday programs. The Royal Botanic Gardens often offer free school holiday activities for the kids with outdoor activities, with regular events all year round. Whether it’s so hot you need to cool down, or so cold you need to warm up, the swimming pools and water playgrounds at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre are always a balmy 26 degrees. Pack swimmers for the whole family and spend the day racing the kids down the Rapid River Ride or work up the nerve to leap from activities to do in sydney the 10 metre platform.

Beyond play centres, Sydney offers a staggering range of structured after school activities for kids of all ages. Swimming lessons are practically a rite of passage in Sydney — with so many beaches and backyard pools, most parents enrol their kids from infancy. Council pools and private swim schools operate across every suburb, with lessons typically running $18 to $25 per session. Flip Out Trampoline Arena is Australia’s largest trampoline playground.
We have considered things like the number of beds per room, special family facilities and the best locations for families. There are lots  of family activities to be found in western Sydney from Sydney Olympic Park to Parramatta to the Parramatta River. Check out our guide to the best things to do in Parramatta for ideas. The Australian Museum has an interesting program for kids from 9 months to 3 years, Tiny Tots playgroup, where they will be exposed to First Nation’s history and culture through music, craft and games.

It is perfect for children of all ages since it is both exciting and educational. You can take a guided tour or just wander around the gardens at your leisure. The kids will love exploring the many paths and discovering all kinds of flora and fauna. Unlike your typical museum, interaction with the exhibits is encouraged at Madame T’s. Superheroes are a big part of the fun, with displays of both Marvel and DC’s costumed crusaders.
Right next door is Wild Life Sydney Zoo, both this and Sea Life is air-conditioned and undercover so great indoor activities. Take a self guide tour or book one of the special animal encounters like breakfast with the Koalas. Most kids light up when they see native Australian animals, and Sydney gives you world-class options from the  stunning Taronga Zoo to intimate encounters at smaller attractions. Plus, if you visit June to October, whale watching cruises offer an unforgettable experience. One of my favourite harbour beaches is Balmoral Beach looking out over Middle Harbour.
These tend to run $30 to $45 per child but deliver high-energy entertainment that keeps even the most restless kids engaged. For something more creative, art studios, cooking schools, and science workshops across Sydney run structured party experiences that are perfect for smaller groups of 8 to 12 kids. Sydney's indoor play centre scene is the largest and most diverse in Australia. The industry has matured significantly in recent years, with new venues raising the bar on design, hygiene, food quality, and parent amenities. Kids will be high-as-a-kite with excitement after hearing about this place. Children from as young as three years old can learn how to skydive in an indoor facility in Penrith – and it’s fun for adults too.

You also get some great views of the Sydney skyline from Watsons Bay on a clear day. Or if camping and glamping aren’t your scene, there are also holiday apartments too. Whale watching is a perfect Sydney family activity to witness these magnificent creatures up close on a comfortable vessel. The Sydney whale watching season is typically between May and November each year, although the winter months of June and July are usually the best time for whale sightings. You may see a variety of artifacts from many centuries ago and also learn about the local and traditional custodians of the area.
Along the way, there are several family-friendly beaches, like Tamarama with its popular kid’s playground and Clovelly with its sheltered bay. My grandkids love this park with its water fountains and play area, swings and slides, and climbing equipment suitable for kids of all ages. In Sydney’s east it’s hard to beat Shark Beach at Nielson Park, part of Sydney Harbour National Park. On scorching hot days, its enormous fig trees providing the perfectly shaded picnic spot.

There are around-the-clock music videos screening during sessions and a brand-new compressor and dehumidifier to create optimum skating conditions at all times. Playground data includes information from © City of Sydney (CC-BY) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Vacation care quality ratings from ACECQA National Register (Australian Government).
The park has a playground that is perfect to burn your little ones’ energy. They also have free hands-on school holiday programs during the NSW school break. This is a good option for older kids who have an interest in the local history as it tells the story of The Rocks from their pre-European days to the present time. There are also playgrounds for the kids in each of them, including Centennial Homestead Playground, Paddington Gates Playground and nearby Moore Park Rotunda Playground to name just a few of the play spaces.

The walk is not too challenging but best suited to older kids, as it is quite long. You can do this tour alone by following this walking guide; however, it is well worth going on a guide-led walk if the times and prices suit you. The tour I recommend is led by volunteer guides, and the cost of the tour is donated to kids in need.
If they’ve gotten their hands on one of the extravagant milkshakes from the diner, get them to burn off all that sugar-strength running around the laser tag field or games arcade. This glittery wonderland is open seven days but the kids get kicked out after 8pm. Before you even get into the nitty gritty of the exhibitions, the welcome hub offers a 'kids trail' map, activity sheets and a fold-your-own chatterbox with cues to spark discussion about the artworks. If your little ones like getting messy, send them off to one of the hands-on art-making workshops and clubs that you can browse on the gallery website. BOUNCE is the premium player in the Sydney market, with locations in Alexandria and other suburbs.
This zoo provides an amazing opportunity to see wildlife of land and sea with the only combined zoo and aquarium in New South Wales. One of the greatest Sydney family activities is a day at heritage-listed amusement park Luna Park Sydney. If you’re really daring, and visiting with older kids who are a little daring, try the Skywalk experience around the outside of the Sydney Tower  Eye.