The best things to do in Sydney between Christmas and NYE

Dates: From Dec 28

Price: From $40 for adults (and $20 for kids)

Melbourne is famous for its tennis – but the summer action actually hits off in Sydney, with the United Cup. Now in its third year, this international mixed tennis tournament sees top male-female teams from all over the world hit it out in Sydney and Perth (with Sydney games on in Olympic Park). The fun thing about the United Cup is that these big-name players are relying on the success of their teammates, as well as themselves – it's a country-versus-country tennis tournament, as opposed to individual-versus-individual. So there's a team comaraderie on the sidelines that you don't get at the Grand Slams. And then there's the fact that the teams are made up of men and women – it's a genuinely mixed tennis tournament.

Dates open: Dec 14 to Feb 2 (except for Dec 25 and 31)

Price: From $44

Ever wondered what it’d be like to play Squid Game for real? Now you can. Luna Park Sydney is teaming up with Netflix to bring you Squid Game: The Experience. Kicking off on 16 December under Luna Park’s iconic Big Top, and running on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all the way until February, you’ll get the chance to step into the intense world of the Netflix hit show and take on some of its infamous challenges. Once the games are done and dusted, you can refuel at the Korean Street Food Night Market.

Dates open: Year round (except for Dec 25)

Price: Free

Want something to do that will most definitely blow your mind? We recommend heading to the Sydney Modern extension of the Art Gallery of NSW. With its towering floor to ceiling glass windows, this light-filled gallery is  perfect pit-stop on a sunny day. It's the most significant cultural development in the Harbour City since the Sydney Opera House, and you cannot fully comprehend the scale of this mammoth building until you start descending down within it. Expect to explore a massive underground WW2 fuel bunker, a whole host of wildly colourful multisensory exhibitions, and an all-round art experience that rivals MoMa in New York. You heard it here first folks. 

Dates open: Nov 21 to Feb 16 (except for Dec 26, 31 and Jan 1)

Price: Free

Head across the hallway to your besties’ apartment and get ready to giggle – everyone’s favourite '90s sitcom is setting up shop at The Fullerton Hotel, and you can get involved. The Friends Experience is taking over level one of the CBD hotel from Thursday, September 26 – so you and your friends will soon be able to relive unforgettable moments from the show. The Friends Experience has attracted more than a million visitors around the world, and now it's our turn. The 45-minute nostalgic experience will set you back $25 per person, and the interactive sets are suitable for all ages.

Dates open: Dec 28, 29 & 31

Price: From $59

You don’t need any prior knowledge of D&D to get swept up in the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. This is an interactive show that began in New York as an Off-Broadway production – the same director, Michael Fell, also rehearsed with the Australian cast. In what ways is it interactive? The story lies in the audience’s hands, as well as with the roll of the 20-sided dice. Throughout the show, you make decisions for the character, mostly by choosing options via your mobile phone (after scanning a QR code) – and sometimes just by yelling out. Then dice rolls are directed by the Dungeon Master, played by the charismatic Cody Simpson-lookalike William Kasper. So, led by the dice and audience decisions, the acting is largely improv, which makes for a fun and chaotic time that really rouses the audience.

Dates open: Dec 26-30

Price: $26

These in-between times are perfect for catching a flick – and why not do it outdoors? Pack your picnic baskets and bring a blanket, because after months of being cooped up inside, Sydney's famous Moonlight Cinema is back for another run at Centennial Park. 

Dates open: Until Feb 2

Price: $35 for an adult

Film director James Cameron is best known for his blockbusters Titanic and Avatar, but did you know he’s also an avid deep-sea explorer? Not only has he completed 72 deep dives in submersibles (specialised vessels designed for underwater travel) but he’s also led eight major expeditions. His most recent was a record-breaking dive to the bottom of the ocean in the Deepsea Challenger, the submersible he co-designed and co-engineered. Experience moments from Cameron’s greatest underwater adventures through large cinema-scale projections, artefacts and specimens from his expeditions at this fascinating exhibit, James Cameron - Challenging the Deep.

Dates open: Nov 1 to Jan 26 (except for Dec 25)

Price: From $40

This Christmas season, Hunter Valley Gardens has turned luminous with the biggest Christmas lights display in Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere for that matter. Spread across eight magical acres, the spectacular display features more than four-million lights – all illuminating a magical fairground setting. You’ll find a ferris wheel, a traditional Venetian carousel, a 35-metre-long superslide, swing chairs and spinning teacups – operating from 6pm until 10pm every night.

Dates open: December 26-30

Price: from $50 (includes unlimited rides)

if the Squid Games experience is a little too adrenaline-inducing for you, Luna Park is still open for its regualr ride passes and the Dream Circus. Dream Circus is its own event so you can either enter a new world at the Big Top of holograms and light, or pair it with some epic rides for all ages. There’s plenty of time for repeat goes on the Wild Mouse, soaking up history in Coney Island or spinning on the Rotor until you vomit (although we don’t recommend ending your night that way).

Dates open: Summer time

Price: Free

In excellent news for CBD-dwellers, the list of free things to do this summer just got a boost – with The Rocks precinct announcing a packed program featuring free yoga classes, market, and community picnics. If you’re up for an active morning, join The Rocks’ free run club. If you’re in the mood for an open-air movie, The Rocks’ free Laneway Cinema is back this summer every Wednesday evening. Tickets are free, and are available to book on the Monday before the screening. You can learn more about all the free events popping up throughout The Rocks this summer over here.

Dates open: Until Feb 28

Price: $35 for an adult

There’s something so intriguing about exploring the depths of the ocean, because we don't get many chances to check out what's down there. If you’re not a diver but you’ve always wanted to see what happens underneath the ripples of the water's surface, check out this ocean photography exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum. The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition features all the winners and finalists of the prestigious prize, which is led by the London-based Oceanographic Magazine. Check out 118 of the most awe-inspiring wildlife shots ever snapped.

Dates open: Year round

Price: Free

All other kinds of activities aside, it's no secret that Sydney's real power lies in its astoundingly beautiful beaches. We have put together a list ranking the 50 best beaches in town. Spend the middle days hopping between them all, with each of these beachy selections chosen for their accessibility, safety and all-round beachy beauty that has to be seen to be believed. Start packing that picnic now.

Dates open: Summer time

Price: Free

Office workers based in the harbour-front precinct of Barangaroo can get active with a series of free community activities. There’s a free Pickleball tournament going down at Harbour Park Community Recreation Space every Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime and Barangaroo Run Club meets every Friday morning at Hickson Park from 7.15am. If you’re looking for a way to cool off, head to the harbourside swimming spot Marrinawi Cove. If you time your visit between 12pm and 3pm on any Saturday or Sunday until February, you’ll be serenaded by live music. For a full line up of the activities, head here. 

Dates open: December 25-30

Price: From $298

If you’re a Sydneysider and you’re yet to climb the Harbour Bridge, now is as good a time as ever. They are open on Christmas Day for a festive time with a twist, and are hinting that Santa may make an appearance at the summit. Take in the iconic white sails of the Opera House, the silhouette of the Blue Mountains and the endless ocean that flows beyond the east.

Dates open: Nov 23 to Feb 23

Price: $42.50

The Australian Museum’s latest exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, is landing in Sydney with one of the most impressive gold collections to ever tour the globe. This blockbuster takes you back in time with over 130 artefacts showcasing the daily lives, spiritual practices and extraordinary achievements of societies in ancient Peru. In addition to the stunning gold collection, you’ll also find priceless treasures on display, including exquisite jewellery and funerary objects unearthed in royal tombs. You can also upgrade your visit with a thrilling VR experience that takes you on an expedition to the Incan city of Machu Picchu.

Dates open: December 26-30

Price: from $60 (for a two person pass)

Game on, Sydney. These interactive gaming rooms in Darling Harbour offer full-scale, immersive versions of Squid Game, Angry Birds, Ghostbusters and a whole lot more. You and your crew will have more than 13 exhilarating games to pick from, which range from 30-minute speed sessions to epic 120-minute extravaganzas.

Dates open: Nov 1 to Jan 31

Price: Free

Sydney Harbour has welcomed a glorious new addition – in the form of a free-to-access swimming pool in the heart of the city. Pool by Pier Bar is bringing beach club energy to the Harbour City – with guests at Pier One’s airy indoor-outdoor venue invited to cool off in a pop-up harbourside swimming pool. Running until Friday, January 31, the pop-up swimming pool is transforming the sun-soaked corner of harbourside into an adult playground. Order drinks and summery snacks. The pool is netted, so you don’t need to worry about any unwanted friends, and there are towels available to hire at $10 a pop. Access to the pool is free, but a minimum spend of $75 per person applies for groups of ten people and more.

Dates open: December 26-30

Price: Varies

IMAX Sydney closed for a rebuild back in 2016, and after a longggg wait, it finally relaunched in October 2023. IMAX Sydney’s new movie screen is the third largest in the world, spanning a staggering 693 square metres. While most cinemas rely on digital projectors, IMAX Sydney goes all out with a state-of-the-art 4K laser projection system. This means that the screen practically pops with brighter images, more vivid colours and crystal-clear resolution. Plus, it boasts an impressive 12-channel sound system, meaning you will be able to feel the action run through your bones.

Dates open: Year-round

Price: Free

Let's be real. Europe ain't as cute as at this time of year, but even if you can't travel out of Sydneytown during this time, you can pretend that you have. Head to one of these eight places that will make you feel like you're living in a European summery dream, all without the hefty international price tag. 

Dates: Year round 

Price: Free

In the national parks that sit on the city’s fringes, you'll find several wonderful hikes that are perfect for those who prefer a relaxed amble to a major expedition. Lace-up those boots, grab a fistful of trail mix, top up your water bottle and head out on one of these easy day hikes near Sydney.

Dates open: December 25-31

Price: From $40.80 (if you book online)

Head underwater with the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, the world's largest indoor system of Australian marine life, with 60 tanks and three oceanaria filled with more than 12,000 animals from 650 different species. Highlights include Shark Valley, the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, Japanese Spider crabs and the Bay of Rays.

Dates open: Year round

Price: Free

When you can’t choose between the beach and a swimming pool, these salty swimming spots have the best of both worlds. Dive in as the sun rises and you’ll have the baths to yourself, or wade in at high tide for a thrilling swell as waves crash against the walls. Here, we have collected Sydney's 11 best ocean pools for all your salty needs during the holiday season.