17 Top Outdoor Activities in Sydney for Kids

Encouraging an active lifestyle for your kids at an early age is a crucial part of being a parent, but is often overlooked. 

Keeping kids active is essential for their overall well-being and development. Engaging in physical activities not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also contributes to the growth of fundamental motor skills, coordination, and strength. Beyond the physical benefits, regular exercise plays a significant role in fostering social skills, teamwork, and self-confidence. Moreover, it helps children manage stress, enhances their mood, and promotes better concentration in school. 

Lucky for Sydneysiders, our gorgeous city is full of outdoor activities for kids that parents can enjoy too! So whether you're labouring through those long school holiday periods, or just looking for something exciting to do away from screens, we've got loads of outdoor activities in Sydney for kids that we know they'll love.

17 Top Outdoor Activities in Sydney for Kids

1. CityDays Sydney Scavenger Hunts

Get their detective skills to work to solve a stream of clues sent to your phone and embark on an exciting expedition with CityDays.

Get a new perspective of Sydney with a family scavenger hunt where you work together to unveil the secrets of our stunning city. Discover hidden gems and learn all about their fascinating history on the way. It's fun, it's educational and it's an immersive urban adventure that encourages kids to get active in the outdoors! What's not to love? 

Location: Throughout the Sydney CBD

2. Treetops Adventure

Are you and the kids keen to scale to new heights?!

Treetops Adventure Park at Western Sydney Parklands has 90 sky-high challenges in the treetops, where kids can slide down Flying Foxes and move from tree to tree on suspension bridges up to 15 metres above the forest floor!

If you're on the North Shore, there's a Treetops Adventure in St Ives with 95+ aerial obstacles and 10+ ziplines.

Read more about our experience at Treetops Adventure.

Locations:
Western Sydney Parklands - 749 Elizabeth Dr, Abbotsbury
St Ives Show Ground - 450 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives

3. Go for a Skate

If your school-aged kids are extremely agile and coordinated, they might love trying out a grind at your local skate park.

Bondi Beach Skatepark is among the most popular half-pipes around, and Sydney Olympic Park’s Monster Skatepark is also a favourite.

Check out more skate parks in Sydney for skater boys and girls.

Locations: multiple throughout Sydney

4. Engage in Animal Adventures

Give your kids a chance to connect with wildlife or a taste of the country at these wildlife parks and farms around Sydney.

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is a great place to get up close, hands-on and interact with Australian wildlife. Head to Taronga Zoo to engage with over 5,000 native, exotic and endangered animals. Don't miss out on Seals for the Wild and Free Flight Bird Show every day. And if you're looking for outdoor activities for kids of the animal kind in Western Sydney, Sydney Zoo has plenty of animals to visit including Sydney's only rhino!

At Golden Ridge Animal Farm, you’ll have the chance to be involved in all activities on the farm including holding the baby chicks, ducks and rabbits, feeding little lambs and kids and milking cows. For more of the slinky, slimy species head out to the Australian Reptile Park or for an intimate, bushland encounter visit Symbio Wildlife Park. They have a farmyard precinct where you can feed and pat goats and sheep, meet the cutest guinea pigs and see chickens and ducks and there are interactive daily presentations.

Locations:
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo - Darling Harbour, 1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney
Taronga Zoo - Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman
Sydney Zoo - 700 Great Western Hwy, Bungarribee
Golden Ridge Animal Farm - 686 Old Northern Rd, Dural
Australian Reptile Park - Pacific Hwy, Somersby
Symbio Wildlife Park - 7/11 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Helensburgh 

5. Jump Aboard a Ferry

Why not see Sydney from a floating vantage point aboard a ferry?!

We love making the most of Sydney's awesome ferry network by jumping aboard a kid-friendly ferry ride for a few hours to soak up the sites from the water. 

7. Ride Some Waves

For kids who aren't afraid of high speeds, hit some waves in Sydney Harbour on a thrilling Jet Boat ride.

Thunder Jet Boat is one of the fastest ways to take in all the sights of the harbour and get your adrenaline pumping while you're at it. Kids over five years old (or 120 cm tall) can feel the wind and waves through their hair as you slide, spin, and sweep from these powerful jet boats. 

8. Get Some Thrills at an Amusement Park

You can't talk about outdoor activities in Sydney for kids and not include some amusement parks! 

Luna Park is a firm family favourite that offers a colourful carnival atmosphere right on the edge of stunning Sydney Harbour. From the adrenalin-pumping Wild Mouse to the wonky walkways of Coney Island, kids will have the time of their young lives at Luna Park. 

Raging Waters is Sydney’s biggest waterpark with over 30 rides, slides, and attractions in the greater West. Kids can make a splash on thrilling slides like T5 and Bombora to the family-friendly Raging Waters JNR.

Over on the north side, Manly Waterworks is ideal for kids who can't get enough water and splashing with pools, slides, and fun in the sun.

Further afield, Jamberoo Action Park is another action-packed water world with thrilling rides and attractions in a lush natural mountain setting. Lay back and relax on the Rapid River, white-knuckle through The Perfect Storm or join the dance party at Outback Bay.

Locations:
Luna Park - 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point 
Raging Waters - 427 Reservoir Rd, Prospect
Manly Waterworks - Commonwealth Parade, Manly
Jamberoo Action Park - 1215 Jamberoo Rd, Jamberoo

9. Hop on a Horse

Almost every child grows up wanting a pony, so why stop with pony rides once your preschooler has grown up into a school kid?

There are plenty of horse riding spots across Sydney for kids to hop on a horse and enjoy the beautiful nature of these regal creatures. 

Centennial Park Equestrian Centre offers horse riding from three riding schools in the beautiful inner-city parklands so kids can enjoy an equestrian experience like no other. 

Palomino Riding School in Belrose offers trail rides, holiday programs, and lessons for beginners to advanced riders.

Check out more spots for horse riding in Sydney.

Locations:
Centennial Park Equestrian Centre - Grand Drive, Centennial Parklands
Palomino Riding School - 192 Forestway Rd, Belrose

10. Run Through a Mesmerising Maze

One of our favourite outdoor activities in Sydney for kids if you don't mind adding a little road trip to your itinerary!

Get lost amongst incredible greenery and try your best to remember the way back at some of NSW's intricate mazes - two of which aren't too far from Sydney.

11. Explore Exquisite Gardens

Sydney is home to not one but three extraordinary botanic gardens, and they're all open for exploring.

One of the most well-known is the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney next to the Sydney Opera House, but there's also The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, and The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah.

All three gardens are exquisite destinations in their own right, offering visitors free reign to explore the natural settings at their leisure. Kids can run through fields of wildflowers, get up close to native animals, learn about the science of nature, discover UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, and plenty more.

It's always worthwhile checking each garden's events calendar to see if there's something special happening during your visit.

Locations:
Sydney - Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney
Mount Annan - 362 Narellan Rd, Mount Annan
Mount Tomah - Bells Line of Rd, Mount Tomah

12. Playgrounds Aplenty

Sydney is bursting at the seams with awesome playgrounds!

From free water playgrounds to adventure playgrounds, playgrounds in Western Sydney, and playgrounds by the water, there's a Sydney playground to entertain your tribe and encourage outdoor activities for kids.

13. Get Wet and Wild

If you have an adventurous water baby in your household, then have we got some active water sports for them!

Cables Wake Park Penrith is a great spot to go wakeboarding, waterskiing, tube riding, barefooting, or hot dog riding.

If you don't mind the drive, Central Coast Aqua Park is one of the biggest inflatable water parks in Sydney!

There are also awesome surfing lessons across Sydney, including Let's Go Surfing.

Locations:
Cables Water Park - 405 Jamison Rd, Penrith
Central Coast Aqua Park - 42 Masons Parade, Gosford

14. Grab Your Helmets

Get out for some wheely good fun! Sydney has plenty of family-friendly bike tracks and tours for two-wheeled adventures of the motorised or kinetic kind.

The Children’s Learner's Cycleway at Centennial Parklands is a fantastic kid-friendly space for little ones to ride, skate and scoot, and the bike and scooter track at Ryde is equally awesome.

Sydney Olympic Park’s Bicentennial Park and Wentworth Common have plenty of bike tracks and pathways through its wetlands and woodlands. Sydney Park has a super cool, award-winning bike track that is popular for both little ones and tweens.

Check out more kids' bike tracks in Sydney.

Locations: 
Centennial Parklands Bike Track - Grand Drive, Centennial Park
Ryde Park - Blaxland Road, Ryde 
Sydney Olympic Park - Australia Ave, Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Park - 410 Sydney Park Rd, Alexandria

15. Play in the Pool

When the temperatures start to soar, there's no better place to be than in the pool.

Sydney is full of outdoor pools for kids to splash away an afternoon. From heated pools to pools with slides, inflatable water parks, and outdoor water play stations, we know the kids will be in pool heaven at these locations. 

Check out some of our favourite outdoor pools in Sydney.

16. Go Island Hopping

With a harbour as beautiful as Sydney's, why would you want to stay grounded on the mainland?

The many islands dotted around the harbour are full of historical adventures and Aboriginal culture to learn and discover. You can camp out at Cockatoo Island, discover the haunted history of Quarantine Station, and cross a 130-year-old wooden bridge on a guided tour of Bare Island. 

17. Suss Out a Secret Beach

If you've got kids, chances are you've already visited all of the kid-friendly beaches many times over. But, have you scoped out any of Sydney's secret beaches?

Avoid the crowds and let the kids go crazy at some of the city and the coast's most beautiful secluded coves and hidden oases. 

More Cool Kids' Adventures

Where to See Sunflowers in NSW
Top FREE Water Parks in Sydney
Fun Family Fruit Picking Near Sydney

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