Autumn school holidays activities in Sydney

Animal encounters

The array of rare and exotic animals in Sydney’s zoos and wildlife parks will excite the whole family. Walk above the lions on the boardwalks at Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney or watch the incredible free-flight bird presentation or seal presentation at Taronga Zoo. In Darling Harbour, you can visit the penguins at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and the koalas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo.

Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee

More animal encounters await at Featherdale Wildlife Park, where the kids can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies. Just south of Sydney, Symbio Wildlife Park has exotic and native animals, a farmyard petting zoo and a fun splash park.

Featherdale Wildlife Park, Doonside

Outdoor activities  

The mild autumn weather is a great time for exploring the natural surrounds in Sydney. Try bushwalking in Australia's oldest national park, kayaking in tranquil waterways and cycling along the spectacular coastline. Take time out to relax with a picnic at Bondi Beach or the Royal Botanic Garden, next to the Sydney Opera House.

If you feel like something more active, you can hire bikes and cycle around Sydney’s best parklands and cycleways such as Centennial Parklands.

Bonza Bike Tours, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Luna Park in Milson’s point is the much-loved amusement park which has spectacular views over Sydney Harbour and you can expect to have a fun-filled family outing. 

You’ll also discover plenty of exciting adventures in Western Sydney, including:

• Zip-lines at the TreeTop Adventure Park
• Archery lessons at Sydney Olympic Park
• Mountain biking in Western Sydney Parklands
• Steam train rides at the NSW Rail Museum

NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere - Credit: Transport Heritage NSW

Indoor activities

Sydney museums have offer plenty of interactive activities for children over the school holidays. For young adventurers, the Australian National Maritime Museum has a submarine and a tall ship, and the Powerhouse Museum's technology will intrigue kids of all ages. At the Museum of Fire in Penrith, everyone can participate in firefighting adventures and learn new skills.

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

If you’re in the mood for something cultural, try one of these four Sydney Culture Trails that will take you on a self-guided tour to find significant cultural attractions across the city.

The Australian Museum has fascinating temporary and permanent exhibitions, from dinosaurs, to indigenous collections. Madame Tussauds lets you get up-close and personal with your favourite wax sculpture celebrities and the Sydney Tower Eye takes you to the highest point above Sydney for breathtaking 360-degree views.

Sydney Tower Eye, Sydney City

Nightfall is earlier in autumn and the telescopes at the Sydney Observatory will help you explore the planets and stargaze, as well as soaking in the star-studded Milky Way. In a heritage-listed building in The Rocks, the Observatory offers many out-of-this-world experiences for budding young astronomers.

Check out the events calendar for kids and family shows at the majestic Sydney Opera House and the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta.