22 Awesome FREE Things to do with Kids in Sydney

23 AWESOME FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN SYDNEY

 (THE OUTDOOR EDITION)

Free activities are generally boring. Not this list. Here is a list of great family friendly FREE activities that the kids will love. These activities are focused on being outdoors and getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather. In time I will put together a list for indoors, when the weather is not ideal. 

 

These are some of my favourite places to go! 

 

While these are family orientated activities there is no reason why you can’t drop off the kids with friends and spend some quality time with your partner, family or friends maybe minus the scooters.

 

PULL OUT THE SCOOTERS OR BIKES 

Along almost every beach you can find a good stretch of pavement or walkway for a bike / trike ride or a scoot but with my son I try to make sure we’re in an area far away from cars.

 

What makes a bike ride or scoot even better is when there is a designated area, the below are my top picks.

 

  1. Brightmore Reserve, Cremorne. With a ‘gas station’ and road markings this little area is great fun for the kids.
  2. Fearnley Grounds in Centennial Park has a big cycleway for kids to ride around.
  3. For an ‘off road’ experience filled with mud and ramps and little bumps to ride over try Golden Jubilee Park, Wahroonga.
  4. Sydney Olympic Park has a great network of paths for riding or scooting wide enough for you to fit a pram next to your intrepid explorer. We tried the ride around Lake Belvedere and thoroughly enjoyed it, you can picnic too if you’d like to spend more time there.

23 AWESOME FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN SYDNEY 

HAVE A BEACH DAY

 

With so many amazing beaches on the North Shore it could be hard to choose. If you haven’t tried these suggestions you certainly have to – head down to:

  1. Mosman and visit Chinamans Beach or Balmoral (no suprises there :)) or
  2. Aim for Manly but go to Little Manly or Shelley Beach (just be prepared for the walk down the hill to the beach) or
  3. Try Clontarf Reserve. There is a great playground too so you may spend quite a bit of time three.
  4. Parsley Bay in Vaucluse is also a great family space.

 

It’s not always free. The caveat to visiting a beach is that you may have to pay for parking. In the links above you will find details about the parking which should also reflect any free parking.

 

Free activities are generally boring. Not this list. Here is a list of great family friendly FREE activities that the kids will love. These free activities are focused on the Sydney's North Shore and Northern Beaches. Lists of free activities will be prepared for the other areas.

 

TAKE A COASTAL WALK WITH THE KIDS 

Sydney has fabulous walks and while some of them seem impossible to do with kids, there are actually a few fantastic Coastal Walks to do with the whole family, kids included.

 

We have personally tested out the following walks with out 2 and 4.5 year old. Each Coastal Walk has its own review so click on the link to get all the information you need.

  1. Watson’s Bay Lighthouse Walk
  2. The Fairfax Walk around Manly North Head. 
  3. Manly to Shelly Beach.

Sydney Coastal Walks with Kids - Watsons Bay Lighthouse Walk

MEET SOME ANIMALS 

You don’t have to pay zoo or park entrance fees to get close to the native animals in Australia. Sydney is no different – you just have to know where to look. Here are some suggestions that may keep your little one’s entertained.

 

  1. Feel the fish. Stand in the water at Northbridge Baths and feel the fish swimming around your feet. It’s shallow enough for the kids to enjoy.
  2. See the wallabies, kookaburras and lizards at St Ives Wildflower Gardens.
  3. Feed the ducks at Narrabeen Lakes. Just remember – you can’t feed ducks bread, its not good for them. Rather take a lettuce.  You may also get a few Pelican sightings.
  4. Go check out the resident Pelicans at Long Reef Beach in Collaroy.

 

 

VISIT AN AMAZING PLAYGROUND

 

Sydney is so family friendly. You can’t doubt that. You can’t drive a kilometre without passing a playground or reserve. With so many good playgrounds it is hard to choose what should be featured in the top 23 free activities.

 

My top playgrounds are definitely:

  1. Collaroy Beach Playground is one of the nicest beach playgrounds around. 
  2. Flying Fox, Mona Vale is really great! 
  3. Livvi’s Place, Yamble Reserve Ryde. 
  4. The Chelsea Street Playground in Redfern is famous for its innovative style.

 

All three playgrounds are flat and easily accessible but not committed to disabled children whereas Livvi’s Place is. The Livvi’s Place playgrounds are really fantastic – if you’re interested in great playgrounds check out the list of Livvi’s Place inclusive playgrounds.

 

23 AWESOME FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN SYDNEY

 

ENJOY A PICNIC

For some reason my kids love picnicking and will eat everything I put on offer making a picnic a great alternative to lunch or tea at home.

On our travels I’ve found some great picnic spots with the kids:

  1. Berry Island Reserve has a great big open area adjacent to a playground where you can picnic.
  2. The magnificent Davidson Park in Forestville.
  3. Bicentennial Park, West Pymble.While you will not have to pay for parking for Berry Island if you park on the Street or Bicentennial in the parking lot you will have to pay $8 for entry into Davidson Park as it is a National Park.
  4. Little Manly Point. There are so many spots to choose from and you can combine it with a walk around manly or a swim at the beach.

 

23 AWESOME FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN SYDNEY

 

 

If you know of any other great free activities in Sydney, please comment below or

send me an email at Michal@AllThingsMomSydney.com