Heading to January with my children early in January and haven't been to Sydney in over 10 years or more. Looking for day trip ideas to please both a 15 and 10 yo boy (yes tricky age gap)… we are staying close to Darling Harbour any suggestions would be amazing thanks! (will stop by at Bondi/Coogee for a beach day or two depending on weather).
Looking for Holiday Activities in Sydney
mreddie on 02/12/2022 - 17:31
Comments
+1 for maritime museum
pay the extra to go on the submarine
The zoo is terrific. You might get a side order of watching escaping lions.
The Powerhouse might be interesting.
https://www.maas.museum/event/experimentations/Jump on a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, a 30-minute ride to a place that is a thousand miles from care.
Don't be a tourist and run to the front of the ferry, run to the back right hand side when you board… once you pull out of Circular Quay and start heading east towards Manly you will be rewarded with the picture postcard moment, back towards the Harbour Bridge and Opera House with the Parramatta River unfurling behind it…. while all the tourists are at the front looking at waterfront mansions and nothing else.
Spend the day at Manly, swim at the beach, relax, take a surfing lesson, go blading/skating along the promenade, so much better than Bondi with less people. Walk 15 minutes around to Shelly Beach via the Maritime Reserve and back. Wander along the Manly Corso pedestrian area, with an icecream, work your way through the lanes full or arts and crafts (and artisan beers and craft beers!). Jump back on the ferry just before sunset and this time go to the front to see the setting sun going down behind the Harbour Bridge as you pull in to Circular Quay 30 minutes later.
Thank you!
Don't be a tourist and run to the front of the ferry, run to the back right hand side when you board…
I feel attacked.
Ferries are both one of the most underrated and cheapest things to do in Sydney and see the best bits of it.
I would actually go ferry from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay and do the cliff top walk.
The other is the ferry from Circular Quay to Parramatta which you get the best look at the nooks and crannies of Sydney harbour. If you like Malaysian stop off at Temasek for lunch in Parramatta and catch the train back to Sydney (unless you love the ferry trip).
The walks around Mrs Macquarie’s chair are also great.
Powerhouse museum is good for kids of all ages
Do you need to book the ferries in advance or can you just rock up on the day and get tickets?
It’s regular public transport. Just show up like you would catching a local train or bus
Just rock up
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/fer…
Use your credit card to tap on / off the ferry (as with train/bus/lightrail /metro)
Thanks everyone, very helpful cheers!
Maybe train to blue mountains and grab a hop on hop off bus ticket to see stuff like three sisters, scenic railway etc (albeit those things may not have changed much since you last came)
years ago you could book an "underground adventure at circular quay area this included following the tank stream ( main stream for water when first settled, old railways tunnels and MacArthur's bunker located down from the site of the old Metropole hotel etc.
Check the Sydney tourist info for tickets
Think the kids would love it there is also an old rail tunnel started but unused near north Sydney station but you have to get someone to show you where it is i have forgotten now , also close to Luna Park but must book for the park.
Into movies? 4dX cinema at George St, Moonlight outdoor cinema and/or Westpac OperAir some unique movie watching experiences this time of the year
i've only seen one 4dx movie and i found it more distracting than immersive
they were a bit heavy handed with the chair controls i was being tossed around like a bull riderFor kids is great fun..
Not immersive at all.. is a theme park version..for the money give me a gold class recliner anyday
yeah me too
i just mentioned gold class because it's about the same price as 4DX
Do the ferry to Manly & spend the day at either Manly or Shelley Bch, fish and chips for lunch, etc
Maritime Museum in the Darling Harbour is great for a few hours
Walk from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour past the Opera House, under the bridge and around Barangaroo, could then finish at the Aquarium