The best winter school holiday activities in Sydney

If looking for a foolproof way to tire out the kids these school holidays, Darling Harbour's ice skating rink has officially glided back into town for the 2026 season. From Friday, June 27 until Sunday, July 19, you can head down to the Palm Grove Forecourt (just outside IMAX Sydney) to lace up your ice skates. Sessions run daily from 10am to 9pm and the rink welcomes skaters of all levels. What's new? Friday night performances at 5.45pm and 6.45pm see professional skaters take to the ice for a dazzling show. From July 4-5, the precinct will host a free Arctic Activity Zone, complete with dance parties, scavenger hunts, yoga and trampolining. Ticket prices for the rink start at $17 for under fours and $22 for kids under 14. You can book over here. 

The Art Gallery of NSW is a fab, kid-friendly space that allows creative minds to wonder and wander. The Hive Festival for kids and families runs on July 11 and 12 – and entry is free. It's also your last chance to catch Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat before it closes in August. Explore the space as it’s transformed into a playground for the young and old alike, featuring swings, monkey bars, a real sauna and showers, and barbecues slinging sangas. Don't miss some fun workshops by Dharug artist Billy Bain, plus a chance to check out the Young Archie 2026. 

These school hols, Sydney Zoo (not to confused with Taronga Zoo) invites you to step back in time as it transforms into a frozen prehistoric wonderland for the return of Creatures of the Ice Age. Running from June 26 to August 16, 2026, it features a walk-through trail packed with 14 life-size animatronic Ice Age creatures – think woolly mammoths, fierce sabre-tooth tigers and dire wolves. Kids will also love the Snow Dome soft-play experience and enjoy snow machine moments throughout the trail. The best bit? Creatures of the Ice Age is included free with zoo entry, making it one of Western Sydney’s best-value winter outings for families.

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus returns to the Sydney Opera House for school holidays with Pay No Attention – a show that has spectacular circus skills performed by 13 young acrobats. There's also You & Me and the Land of Lost Things, a hilarious new theatrical adventure for children aged six and older. Little ones will love MaaMaa and Nonna’s Kitchen, a multilingual interactive performance and baking workshop. 

Planning a trip to the eucalyptus-scented Blue Mountains these school hols? Be sure to add Scenic World in Katoomba to your list. Here, adventure comes in many forms – from the heart-pounding Scenic Railway to the glass-walled Scenic Cableway, offering jaw-dropping views of this heritage-listed national park. It’s perfect for anyone chasing sweeping vistas of the Jamison Valley and the iconic Three Sisters. On until August 31, kids can do The Gruffalo Spotter's Trail, a self-guided, augmented reality experience where kids look out for all the creatures in the beloved Julia Donaldson book The Gruffalo, including the Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo – who are hiding in the deep, dark rainforest at Scenic World.

A full 90 years since its famous smile first lit up the Harbour, Luna Park is still Sydney's favourite vintage attraction. You'll be greeted by Martin Sharp's iconic clown face at the entrance, and get the chance to check out the park's new immersive experiences as well as old-school faves – including the Wild Mouse rollercoaster, which is back in action after a multi-million dollar restoration project. From sideshow games and thrilling rides to Coney Island and the ferris wheel, there's something for everyone. Ready?

Nutcote is the harbourside home of May Gibbs (1877-1969),  Australia’s most loved children’s author and illustrator who is best known for The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. Visit Nutcote in Neutral Bay to reminisce about Gumnut Babies and Banksia Men, learn about Gibbs and relax in the gardens. Our tip? Book in for their lovely High Teas held on Sundays. Find out more here.

Ninja Parc in Newcastle is a perfect stop for kids wanting to burn off some steam while simultaneously finessing their parkour skills. This indoor obstacle course has rope climbs, bouldering challenges, vertical and horizontal doors, a sea of poles and the ever-classic ‘warped wall’. This gym-meets-play extravaganza is totally equipped to obliterate every last vestige of school holiday boredom. Start off by booking a trial class. Find out more here.

Are you kids into history and science? Take them to the Australian Museum where general entry is free every day. Given that they've currently got the very interesting (albiet, gory) Bloodsuckers: Nature's Vampires on until October, the school holiday activities are connected to this theme. There's a Bloodsuckers Splatter and Sketch workshop (July 7 & 8), Bloodsuckers After Dark from 6-9pm on July 8, plus hands-on craft and science activities every Monday to Thursday, 10am - 3pm these July school holidays. Get the full school holiday program here. 

Get the kids outside with these gorgeous walking routes in and around our beautiful city. From easy breezy coastal walks to half-day bush hikes and multi-day expeditions, Sydney is blessed with many different walking paths that will suit amblers of all abilities.

In Sydney, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to pristine stretches of protected wilderness that are just a stone’s throw from the heart of the city. Whether you and your kids like chasing waterfalls or discovering stunning unspoilled beaches, NSW is home to an abundance of incredible national parks. We’ve rounded up our eight favourite ones that are within 100 kilometres of the CBD.

When it rains in Sydney, it pours. So it pays to have a few wet-weather plans up your sleeve for when the kids are home and bored with YouTube and colouring in. Luckily, our city has a whole load of indoor playgrounds and kid-friendly museums as well as craft workshops, leisure centres and active areas to keep ’em busy. Click here to get inspo.

Hidden deep within the heart of Centennial Park is a playground like no other. Fit out with a wild tree house, bamboo forest, a water-play area, banksia tunnels, turtle mounds and dry creek beds, this ‘wild play’ locale is full of wonderful nooks and crannies that keep kids entertained and connected to the great  outdoors, all from within the controlled paradise of Centennial Park. Open 10am-5pm daily. 

Defy the winter blues – and gravity – at iFLY Sydney. And yes,  kids as young as three can do indoor skydiving here. It’s all about the "look mum, look dad" here, as the indoor skydiving takes place behind glass in the middle of the venue – so even being a spectator is fun. They also have a camera taking pictures throughout your ‘dive’ so you can purchase your most impressive pose – complete with G-force cheeks. They have some school holiday specials on at the moment, so find out more here.

Believe it or not, Manly Surf School runs lessons even during the winter school holidays. So if you child is daring enough to brave the cold, sign up for surf lessons in Collaroy, Long Reef, Narrabeen, Palm Beach, and, of course, Manly Beach. You can book your kid into a single session or multiples, or into the  school holiday program (various dates). You can even take a lesson along with them, if you're keen to upskill. 

The Fullerton is a hotel partly housed in what used to be the Sydney General Post Office (GPO), a heritage building that was built back in 1887. It was Sydney's first major development and regarded as a building that would come to symbolise Sydney in the way the Houses of Parliament in Westminster represent London, and the Eiffel Tower, Paris. You can discover the rich history of the building and the Post Office on the 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Their resident guide will take you on a journey through time, sharing the tales and legends of the city’s iconic grand dame. The tour is on every Tuesday to Saturday at 12 noon. Click here for more information.

Urbnsurf Sydney is a good place to let kids blow off some steam these school holidays. The "Bays" offer safe, gentle, rolling green and whitewater waves perfect for those who are learning to play in the waves. You can do a Boog in the Bays session, which is a great way for kids to build confidence on a bodyboard while developing fundamental skills. It's open daily from 6am till late. Keen? 

Enrol the little dancer of the house into one of Sydney's most established dance school's school holiday workshops. The School Holiday Workshops have everything from jazz and contemporary to commercial dance. The classes target both beginners and kids who have been dancing since they could walk, so find something that suits your child. Find out more here.

Exhausted all that Sydney has to offer? Jump in the car, and you'll discover a whole new world thanks to our round-up of the best day trips close to the city. Don't have a vehicle? This list of the best day trips to take using public transport should help.

Bowling is a lark for all ages, and Strike Bowling has multiple venues throughout Sydney, including the harbourside location at King Street Wharf, complete with a cocktail bar and three escape rooms; the Entertainment Quarter location in Moore Park, as well as the Chatswood, North Ryde and Castle Towers bowling alleys.

Game on, Sydney. In early 2024, Australia’s very first interactive gaming rooms opened in Darling Harbour, offering full-scale, immersive versions of Squid Game, Ghostbusters and a whole lot more. Their offerings include Floor is Lava, Squid Game and Batman. Younger kids can also be part of the adventure with games featuring beloved characters from Paw Patrol and Angry Birds. You can find Immersive Gamebox next door to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Find out more here.

This little pocket of Alexandria is the perfect place to hide out on a rainy day. You’ve got 9 Degrees for indoor climbing, Hijinx Hotel for group challenges, Holey Moley for mini golf, boozing for the grown-ups at Rocks Brewing Co, plus an arcade of retro games, bowling and laser tag at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Inside, there are bowling lanes, an interactive 3D theatre ride (our pick of the whole venue), a laser tag zone for kids, the tightest dodgem track you’ll ever come across, and a whole lot of arcade games. They've now also opened shop in Chatswood, Penrith, Entertainment Quarter and Castle Towers. Find out more here. 

The largest island in Sydney's harbour was once home to a convict gaol and a huge shipbuilding factory. Today, the island is run by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust – with many of the incredible old buildings still intact and waiting to be exploted. The trust run different types of tours – visitors can opt for a self-guided audio tour or on-demand guided tour (60 or 90 mins.) Those who want to stay on a bit longer also have options – there are camp sites, glamping packages, apartments or heritage holiday houses. Check out their tour offerings here.

Sydney's playgrounds are the perfect place to use up any pent-up energy. Let wriggly little ones run free at these parks and playgrounds that know how to entertain the real bosses of the household. Click through to see our top picks and find one you haven't been to before.

Want your kid to get benefit out of their screen time? Children aged 5-13 can develop valuable computer skills at a two- to three-day Code Camp. There are 121 Code Camp locations around Australia, though they can also join in online. Choose a camp based on their interests – coding, Minecraft, robotics and more. Check out their school holiday offerings here.

IMAX Sydney closed for a rebuild back in 2016, and after a longggg wait, it relaunched in October 2023, better than ever, in the W Sydney building. IMAX Sydney’s new movie screen is the third largest in the world, spanning a staggering 693 square metres. If you're looking to get the title of coolest parent ever, a seat in one of IMAX's private pods or recliner chairs might just bring you one step closer. 

If you're keen to get the kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors, camping is an excellent option. Just make sure you rug up as it will be chilly. Camping sites near Sydney are not only plentiful, but they're also one of the most affordable ways to enjoy a mini-break. We've tried and tested some of our favourite campgrounds, located in New South Wales’ most breathtaking and secluded spots.

Get creative with the kids and take the mess out of the house. At these pottery studios around the city, getting your hands dirty is encouraged. The best news? You're making, not breaking, household items.

Sydney Olympic Park has you covered with an action-packed program for the school hols, designed for kids of all ages and abilities. Choose from swimming, diving, basketball, writing, cheerleading, table tennis, as well as all-day multi-sports camps. It's a chance for kids to acquire new skills and burn off energy while they're at it. Get the deets here. 

Sometimes, a holiday day calls for a visit to the movies, especially when it's muggy or rainy outside. Order a bucket of popcorn and settle in for a family-friendly flick at one or the best cinemas in the city.

Bored of eating lunch at the kitchen table? We've rounded up the best picnic spots in the city. Our top pick for the most perfectly Sydney alfresco feast? Chargrill Charlies by the ocean. 

Don't worry if it's rainy – Sydney is home to some pretty fascinating museums. You can learn about nature, science, design, ships, time, military history, society, the police force and more. Head out on a journey of discovery at these all-weather-friendly houses of knowledge.