From the moment we saw a whale breach right before landing, to stepping off the plane with four big smiles, Sydney announced itself in the best possible way. We were understandably tired but not one of us was showing it. Customs was smooth — the officer handed the kids a bookmark that we still use in their chapter books — and before long we had our luggage and were headed to the train. Our week in Sydney with kids begins!
Getting Around Sydney
We were centrally located which made getting around remarkably easy. A lot of our exploring happened on foot, but when we wanted to reach a specific neighborhood we’d hop on a bus, the light rail, or the train depending on where we were headed. Sydney’s public transit system is well connected and genuinely family friendly — we never once felt like we needed a car. Getting around Sydney with kids was as simple as it comes.
The train from the airport to city center was simple and straightforward. Easton was all smiles as it pulled up, immediately faced with the difficult decision of upper or lower deck. We went up, found a spot, and the kids bounced around looking out the windows the whole way in.
A few practical things worth knowing: adults can scan their credit card directly to board. Children four and older need a companion pass. Airport train rates vary based on peak and off peak times, but outside the airport the system caps at $50 AUD per week per adult and $25 AUD per child four and older — and that cap covers trains, metro, buses, ferry, and light rail. The week runs Monday through Sunday. It’s genuinely one of the best value public transit systems we’ve used anywhere. Milo was a month away from turning four so he rode free the entire week, which was a nice bonus.
Easton’s excitement every time he scanned his companion pass to board something new was one of the quiet joys of the whole trip.
Airport Link Sydney
Ferry from Taronga Zoo
Where We Stayed
We stayed at YEHS Hotel Sydney Harbour Suites, a short walk downhill from Town Hall station. Check in was easy and our room had everything we needed — one bedroom, two twin beds in the main living area, a small kitchen with a stove, microwave, mini fridge and dishwasher, a table for four, and a washer and dryer. That last one mattered more than we expected since we don’t own much cold weather gear and needed to do laundry a few times throughout the week.
Once we’d settled in we explored the hotel and discovered two things that became daily rituals: a fitness room we used a few times, and an indoor pool with a hot tub on the top level that we visited constantly. Every single morning the kids woke up asking to go to the pool. Every single morning we found ourselves back in our room changing into swimsuits.
The location was also ideal. A few blocks away was a Woolworths grocery store where we stocked up on snacks and food for the week. Just a short walk over an overpass was Darling Harbour, which became one of our most frequented spots.
Tumbalong Playground and Darling Harbour
Let’s just say Australian playgrounds are something else. You can really tell how thoughtfully they design spaces for young kids. Tumbalong Playground was no exception — each time we visited the kids found a new favorite thing, whether it was climbing the web netting, redirecting water flows, or the zipline swing. My favorite memory here was watching Easton make a new friend every single time we went. He’d just run up to someone and start playing like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Darling Harbour itself had plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and ice cream to explore. Matt and I would grab a coffee while the kids played, and occasionally we’d treat everyone to some vegan ice cream in the afternoon. There was also a carousel that wasn’t always running, but we caught it once and Milo was completely delighted — even if choosing which animal to ride on nearly broke him.
The area also has the SeaLife Aquarium and the Australian National Maritime Museum. As someone who is fascinated by marine life, the aquarium was high on my personal list — but we let Easton choose between the two and the Maritime Museum won. It was the right call for him and we don’t regret it, but the aquarium is absolutely on the list for next time. Trying to squeeze both into one day didn’t feel like the right move for our family.
Swing zipline at Darling Harbour
Carousel at Darling Harbour
Taronga Zoo
Wow is all I can say. If you are in Sydney with kids or even without, this is a must see! The zoo was something we were so excited to take our animal loving Milo to — he always asks to go to the zoo at home, and by zoo he means our local PetCo. We caught a bus that dropped us off right near the entrance and arrived to a rainy, chilly morning. First stop was coffee for Matt and I and oat milk hot chocolates for the kids at the Forage and Graze Cafe. Warmed up and ready, we headed in.
Our first koala sighting was right by the entry — up in a tree and from a distance, but I will never forget the moment Easton spotted one and the excitement in his voice pointing it out. We made our way through the African Savannah where the rain picked up and we took shelter near the chimpanzee enclosure. The chimps were being rowdy. One of the younger ones kept pestering an older one until the older chimp had enough — smacked the younger one, who swung down on a rope and flew straight down and pounded the glass with his hands right in front of Milo’s face with a laugh-scream sound. We all just stared at each other and burst out laughing. One of those moments you genuinely couldn’t plan.
The rain cleared as we left the savannah and we paused to take in the Sydney skyline before continuing through Lemur Walk, the Amphibian and Reptile Experience, and into Nura Diya Australia where the kids saw koalas up close for the first time and were completely in awe. Milo also became newly obsessed with Tasmanian Devils. We stopped at the kids trail where they got to pet and feed barnyard animals, then grabbed lunch at the Taronga Food Market — vegan options were available and clearly labelled, which we always appreciate. Full details on that in our Sydney Vegan Guide.
After lunch we surprised the kids with the wild ropes course. Milo did one lap, got a little stuck near the end, and was done. Easton we could not get off it. We continued through Tiger Trek, the Rainforest Trail, Rhino Reserve, and the Seals before a final stop at the gift shop where both kids picked out a souvenir and something for friends back home and their cousins.
We spent a full day at the zoo and I’d strongly recommend doing the same — there is too much to rush through and the zookeepers were out throughout the day taking questions which made everything more educational and engaging.
At the end of the day we made our way down to the ferry terminal and took the 15 minute ride back to Circular Quay. It was the perfect ending — calm water, kids finally still for a moment, the Opera House coming into full view as we glided past. Easton spotted some speedboats in the distance doing sharp turns and that kept him entertained the rest of the way. The ferry runs on the same public transit system as everything else, so no separate ticket needed — just scan and go.
General admission at time of writing: $55 AUD adults / $33 AUD children / free under four. Discounts available when booking online.
Taronga Zoo
Australian National Maritime Museum and Titanic: The Human Story
With the zoo being Milo’s day, it was only fair that Easton got to pick next — and he landed on the Australian National Maritime Museum. We breezed through the indoor exhibits fairly quickly, but once we went outside and boarded the ships and submarines that’s where we all fell into Easton’s world. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and let the kids touch and experience things we didn’t expect — a captain’s wheel, the inside of a gun turret on a battleship, the periscope of a submarine. The submarine was the highlight for Easton. Walking through the living and sleeping quarters and trying to imagine spending weeks or months inside one put a lot into perspective for all of us.
On our last day before flying home we had one final morning in Sydney with no real plan. That’s when we spotted it — Titanic: The Human Story, a traveling exhibition at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. We looked at each other and said let’s go. Easton has been obsessed with the Titanic for as long as we can remember, and the fact that this was a traveling exhibition that just happened to be there made it feel like the trip was giving us one last gift. Over 200 original artifacts, life size recreations of the ship’s interior, and a self guided audio tour. Watching Easton move through it — bouncing with excitement, telling us facts — was one of the most special parenting moments of the whole three weeks. At the end there was a giant block of ice replicating the temperature of the Atlantic water the night the Titanic sank. We could barely keep our hands on it for twenty seconds.
Maritime Museum at time of writing: $32 AUD adults / $20 AUD children ages 4–15 / free under four. Titanic exhibition: $36 AUD adults / $22 AUD children ages 4–12 / free under four.
Coogee to Bondi Walk
We took a bus down to Coogee Beach, grabbed a coffee, and spent some time just sitting and watching the water. Matt studied abroad in Sydney during college and lived right in this neighborhood. It was something to watch him take it all in — noticing what had changed, what hadn’t, memories surfacing that he hadn’t thought about in years. Sharing that chapter of his life with our kids in the actual place it happened was quietly special.
After some sand play and snacks we packed up and did the coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi. It is beautiful. Hilly in spots with some steps, but the kids kept going without complaint. We stopped at a couple of small playgrounds along the route, took our time with the views, and refueled with snacks and water along the way. When we reached Bondi we found a great lunch spot before making our way back to the hotel. This is a great outdoor adventure to do in Sydney with kids!
This is a half day activity that costs absolutely nothing and delivers a lot. If your family enjoys being active and getting into nature, plan a full half day around it and don’t rush it.
Coogee to Bondi Walk
Royal Botanic Gardens
One morning we made our way back to Circular Quay, walked up the steps of the Opera House to see it up close, then headed into the Royal Botanic Gardens — free to enter and a perfect low key morning. The kids ran around a large grassy field turning sticks into toys while Matt and I watched and snacked. On a walk through the gardens they spotted a flock of cockatoos grazing in a field on the other side of a fence which they loved. We wandered through the Calyx and the Sydney Fernery — both beautiful if you share our love of greenery — and the kids found a little scavenger hunt that kept them engaged the whole time. No agenda, no rushing, just a slow and easy morning that everyone needed.
The Rocks and Harbour Bridge
The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest neighborhood — the site of the first European settlement in 1788 — with cobblestone streets and sandstone architecture that makes you feel the history immediately. It sits right near Circular Quay and is worth a wander. The kids’ favorite part was a dog statue. Matt and I appreciated the architecture.
From there we spotted the Harbour Bridge and decided to do the free pedestrian walk across. We made it about halfway before the wind won. It was brutal that day and the kids were done. The views from up there are genuinely impressive, and I’d try it again on a calmer day — maybe as an early morning run. For younger kids on a cold windy day though, I’d set expectations accordingly.
Walking the neighborhood and the bridge is free. Ticketed experiences are available if you want to go further.
Paddy’s Market
A good one stop shop for trinkets, shirts, and souvenirs to take home. There’s a small fresh produce market inside as well. We didn’t stop to eat — there are bars and food stalls but nothing that pulled us in. Worth a browse if you’re nearby but not worth going out of your way for.
What We’d Skip Next Time
Paddy’s Market was a fun browse but wouldn’t make our list on a return trip. The Harbour Bridge walk was a swing and a miss for us — not because it wasn’t beautiful but because the wind and cold made it miserable for the kids that day. On a warmer calmer day we’d try it again, and I’d love to run across it early one morning. But with younger kids in winter conditions I’d temper expectations.
Vegan Sydney
The vegan scene in Sydney exceeded every expectation. We found options everywhere — dedicated vegan restaurants, plant friendly menus at regular spots, and a Woolworths a few blocks from our hotel that was well stocked with vegan groceries, snacks, and breakfast staples. We picked up avocado and bread for toast, vegan yogurt with fruit and granola, tofu for scrambling, and easy dinners like pasta and sauce for nights we were too tired to go out. The kitchen had limited supplies so we kept cooking simple, but having those options meant we were never scrambling in the morning.
The only regret we have from Sydney is not having more time to eat our way through it. There is simply too much to cover here — head to our full Sydney Vegan Guide for every restaurant and food moment worth knowing about.
→ Sydney Vegan Guide — The Best Vegan Food We Found and What We’d Go Back For
Weather — Pack Accordingly
June is winter in Australia and Sydney will remind you of that. Average highs hover in the low 60s Fahrenheit, but the wind is what catches you off guard. We came prepared with jackets, beanies, long socks, pants, and sweatshirts — but the one thing we wished we’d packed was gloves. The mornings especially were brisk. When the sun came out in the afternoons it was genuinely lovely, and we only encountered real rain on our first day at the zoo. Pack layers, bring gloves, and don’t let the forecast scare you off — Sydney in winter is very manageable and the lack of summer crowds made everything more enjoyable.
Staying Active
Travel days rack up a lot of steps on their own, but Matt and I find that carving out dedicated time to move makes a big difference in how we feel and how we show up for the kids. We both prefer mornings — so we’d trade off, one of us heading to the hotel gym or out for a run while the other took the kids to the pool. Sydney’s waterfront areas are beautiful for running and the mild temperatures made midday runs work just as well on days we came back to the hotel for a rest.
A Note on Costs
Sydney felt very manageable compared to what we’re used to paying at home in Hawaii, and the exchange rate worked in our favor throughout. Most major attractions offer family bundles but with Milo still under four and free almost everywhere we often found it cheaper to pay individually. Always worth running the math before you book.
Leaning into your kids’ passions while traveling makes our trips so memorable, and leaving space to explore is incredibly important to us. I used to be guilty of overplanning and it made trips more stressful than they needed to be. Sydney reminded us again that having a loose idea of what you want to do — and letting the days breathe around that — is where the magic lives. The Titanic exhibition we stumbled upon on our last morning in the city is proof of that. You can’t plan the best moments. You just have to leave room for them.
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