I admit I like lists and even more so, I love ticking things off. Ticks gives me a sense of achievement, even when my lists seem endless. I also like having lots of options when it comes to school holiday activities, without having to spend hours researching where to go and what to see.
So if you are trying to decide what to do during the next school holidays, here is a list of great adventures to embark on with your kids. It is in no particular order, but provides you with the most important information about each place, so you can plan according your schedule, budget and your kids' preference.
If I have missed some fun places, please post them in the comments section below, so I can include them on my future to-do list.
Museums
1. Powerhouse Museum
Address: 500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $12, Child $6
2. The Rocks Discovery Museum
Address: Kendall Lane, The Rocks
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Cost: Free
3. The Australian Museum
Address: 6 College Street, Sydney
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $12, Child $6
4. Australian National Maritime Museum
Address: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $25, Child $15 (Entry to galleries & exhibitions only - Adult $7, Child $3.50)
5. QStation Tours
Address: 1 North Head Scenic Drive, Manly
Opening Hours: Day and night, depending on the tour
Cost: Varies – depends on tour
6. Museum of Fire
Address: 1 Museum Drive, Penrith
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: Adult $10, Child $6
7. Cockatoo Island
Address: Cockatoo Island, Sydney
Opening Hours: 24/7, but check website for ferry timetables
Cost: Free
Read more about Cockatoo Island
8. Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Address: Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $10 Child $5
Read more about Hyde Park Barracks
9. Justice and Police Museum
Address: Cnr Phillip & Albert Street, Circular Quay
Opening Hours: Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $10 Child $5
Cockatoo Island
Powerhouse Museum
10. Royal Botanic Gardens
Address: Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm
Cost: Free
Read more about Royal Botanic Gardens
11. Chinese Garden of Friendship
Address: Darling Harbour, near Sydney Entertainment Centre
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $6, Child $3
12. Eden Gardens
Address: 301 Lane Cove Road, North Ryde
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Cost: Free
Read more about Eden Gardens
Attractions
13. Sydney Tower
Address: Pitt Street, Sydney
Opening Hours: 9am – 10.30pm
Cost: Adult $26, Child $15, but cheaper deals are available online
Read more about Sydney Tower
14. Sydney Entertainment Quarter
Address: 122 Lang Road, Moore Park
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Cost: Various activities are available at different prices
Read more about Sydney Entertainment Quarter
15. Sydney Observatory
Address: Watson Road, The Rocks
Opening Hours: Day Session: 10am – 5pm Night Session: From 8.15pm
Cost: Day Session: Adult $8 Child $6, Night Session: Adult $18 Child $12
16. Sydney Luna Park
Address: 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point
Opening Hours: Various – please check their website
Cost: Free entry, cost rides depend on the height of the visitor
Read more about Sydney Luna Park
17. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Address: King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour
Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm
Cost: Adult $38 Child $22, but cheaper if you buy online
Read more about Madame Tussauds
Sydney Luna Park
Sydney Entertainment Quarter
18. Macquarie Ice Rink
Address: Waterloo Road, North Ryde
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 6pm (2 hour sessions) also some nights
Cost: Adult: $22, Child $20
Read more about Macquarie Ice Rink
19. Monster Skate Park
Address: Grand Parade, Homebush
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (check website for bike/skate session times)
Cost: $10 per session or $25 for all day pass
Read more about Monster Skate Park
20. Ryde Aquatic Park
Address: 504 Victoria Road, Ryde
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 5.30am – 8.45pm, Friday 5.30am – 7.45pm, Saturday 6.30am – 5.45pm, Sunday 8am – 5.45pm
Cost: Adult $7.10 Child $5.40
21. Splasher's Water Playground
Address: Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm
Cost: Adult: $7 Child $6 Spectator $3.50
22. Cables Wake Park
Address: Mulgoa Road, Penrith
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm
Cost: Adult $39 Child $34 for 1 hour
Read more about Cables Wake Park
23. Manly Water Works
Address: Corner West Esplanade & Commonwealth Parade, Manly
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (closed in winter)
Cost: $21 for all day pass
24. Avalon Skate Park
Address: Barrenjoey Road, Avalon
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
25. Bondi Skate Park
Address: Campbell Parade, Bondi
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
26. Andrew Boy Charlton Pool
Address: Mrs Macquaries Road, The Domain
Opening Hours: 6am – 7pm
Cost: Adult $5.80, Child $4.40
27. Kingpin Bowling Lounge
Address: 2-10 Darling Drive
Opening Hours: 10am - late
Cost: Adult $14 per game, Child $12 per game – discount on multiple games
28. Sydney Trapeze School
Address: 1/3-7 Unwins Bridge Road, St Peters
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm, check website for class schedule
Cost: $60 for off peak class
Bondi Skate Park
Cables Wake Park
Macquarie Ice Rink
29. Taronga Zoo
Address: Bradley's Head Road, Mosman
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Cost: $44, Child $22
30. Koala Park Sanctuary
Address: 84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $26, Child $15
Read more about Koala Park Sanctuary
31. Sydney Sea Life Park
Address: 1-5 Wheat Road, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm
Cost: Adult $38, Child $22 but cheaper if you buy online
32. Wild Life Sydney Zoo
Address: 1-5 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm
Cost: Adult $36 Child $20
33. Manly Sea Life Sanctuary
Address: West Esplanade, Manly
Opening Hours: 10am – 5.30pm
Cost: Adult $24, Child $12 but cheaper if you buy online
34. Featherdale Wildlife Park
Address: 217 Kildare Road, Doonside
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $28, Child $15.50
35. Calmsley Hill City Farm
Address: Darling Street, Abbotsbury
Opening Hours: 9am – 4.30pm
Cost: Adult $23, Child $14
Read more about Calmsley Hill City Farm
36. Symbio Wildlife Park
Address: 7/11 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Helensburgh
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5pm
Cost: Adult $26 , Child $15
37. Marine Discovery Centre
Address: Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 4.30pm
Cost: Adult $10, Child $5
Calmsley Hill City Farm
Taronga Zoo
Wild Life Sydney Zoo
38. Cook Park
Address: The Grand Parade, Brighton Le Sands
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
39. Centennial Park
Address: Lang Road, Centennial Park
Opening Hours: 6.30am – 5.30pm
Cost: Free
40. Winnererremy Bay
Address: Mona Street, Mona Vale
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
41. The Basin
Address: Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Nominal fee
42. Parsley Bay Reserve
Address: Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
43. Manly Dam
Address: King Street, Manly Vale
Opening Hours: 7am – 8.30pm
Cost: Free
44. Bicentennial Park
Address: Homebush Bay Drive, Homebush
Opening Hours: 6am – 7.30pm
Cost: Free
45. Darling Quarter Playground
Address: 25 Harbour Street, Sydney
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
46. Clifton Gardens
Address: Morella Road, Mosman
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
47. Clontarf Reserve
Address: Sandy Bay Road, Clontarf
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
48. Carss Bush Park
Address: Carwar Avenue, Blakehurst
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
49. Pirrama Park
Address: Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
50. Cathy Freeman Park
Address: Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
51. Little Manly Point Park
Address: Stuart Street, Manly
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
52. Bronte Park
Address: Bronte Road, Bronte
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
53. Robertson Park
Address: Military Road, Watsons Bay
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Read more about Sydney's Best Parks
Bicentennial Park
Bronte Park
Sydney has so much to offer families during the school holidays. The question is how many of these places will you visit during the next holiday.
