Nine Excellent Things To Do With Kids in Sydney This Summer

While we’re fortunate to have access to fantastic playgrounds and some of the best beaches in the world in Sydney, there’s only so many times you can visit them during the six-week school holidays. Here’s nine great activities to keep your littlies entertained in other ways.

Explore The Curious World of Pamela Allen at the State Library

This whimsical, interactive exhibition celebrates Pamela Allen, author and illustrator of children’s classics including Who Sank the Boat? and Mr McGee. The display invites exploration of Mr McGee’s apple tree, playful scenes with the animals from Who Sank the Boat? and cosy reading nooks. Original illustrations, drafts and letters offer a glimpse into the creative process behind these timeless books. Until July 18, 2026. Free.

Play at The Underground Park at the AGNSW

Beneath the Art Gallery of NSW, artist and disruptor Mike Hewson has transformed The Tank into a one-of-a-kind exhibition The Key’s Under the Mat, a wonderland of interactive art pieces and play equipment to inspire visitors. Free to all, there are functioning saunas, five public barbeques that you can cook on, a water play area, a sandpit, a working laundry, a reading corner, and more. Visitors are encouraged to pack a picnic (and swimmers) and come ready to play, explore, and make. Until August 23, 2026. Free.

Drop in to The Patchwork Portal at the AGNSW

The Art Gallery of NSW is also hosting The Patchwork Portal exhibition by Sydney artist Raquel Caballero. Inspired by 1970s psychedelic textiles and her favourite childhood book, L Frank Baum’s The Patchwork Girl of Oz, the exhibition features a larger-than-life-size doll named Scraps. Visitors can decorate fabric squares to help complete Scraps’ dress, then follow the patchwork yellow brick road to explore Caballero’s sculptures, portraits, and an audio meditation through Oz. Until February 8, 2026. Free.

Enter a Prehistoric World at the Australian Museum

Following extensive renovation, the free and permanent Surviving Australia exhibition at the Australian Museum is back – bigger, wilder and deadlier than ever. Step into a prehistoric world when the largest known marsupial (the size of a van) once roamed and fanged kangaroos stalked their prey. Featuring 350 specimens, including a rare fossilised spider, this experience combines life-size displays, new fossils and interactive elements. The free, home-grown exhibition is a chance to also learn how First Nations conservation practices, like cultural burning, sustain Country. No end date. Free.

Celebrate 50 Years of Sydney Festival at Tumbalong Park

Experience an evening of music and magic under the summer sky with Symphony Under the Stars. The free, open-air concert brings the joy of live orchestral music from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to one of Sydney’s most iconic harbourside locations. This will be accompanied by 50 years of festival moments, featuring archival footage and stunning artwork. Pack a picnic and settle in for a night of soaring melodies and celebration. As tradition dictates, the evening will end with a spectacular fireworks finale lighting up the harbour. January 17, 2026. Free.

Adventure Through the Bush at Carriageworks

Created by Box of Birds, this immersive 360-degree installation transports kids – and the young at heart – into the Australian bush, where bounding kangaroos, playful wombats, and other native creatures respond as you wander past. Each session runs for a 30-minute cycle, making it easy to fit into your day and perfect for a cool escape from the summer heat. Until January 10. Free.

See The Wind in the Willows at the Royal Botanic Gardens

The Australian Shakespeare Theatre Company brings Kenneth Grahame’s classic story to life among the lush gardens, complete with music, laughter and plenty of audience participation. The open-air performance won’t see kids just watching from the sidelines – they’ll become part of the story, transformed into rabbits, and encouraged to shout, sing, and follow the action as the performance roams through different locations within the garden. January 7–25. Tickets from $25.

Go to Sunset Cinema at North Sydney Oval

Warm evenings and outdoor movies are a winning combo when school’s out. At Sunset Cinema, see Christmas classics like Home Alone or revisit the original Zootopia before catching the sequel Zootopia 2 and other blockbuster titles like Wicked: For Good. Snacks are covered, with popcorn and choc tops for kids, while parents can make a beeline for the licensed bar. Until March 14. Kids $16 (under-threes are free) and adults $29.

Step Into Mind Games: Art Alive

At this immersive exhibition, challenge your perceptions and spark curiosity. Explore the work of 17 visionary artists who’ve mastered the art of illusion across 10 interactive exhibits, from the surreal holographic moon room to the gravity-defying levitation station and cinematic secrets in the movie magic room. Watch walls shift, colours dance and living art installations respond to light, sound, and motion. Until February 1. $30–$39.