Plan a family holiday in Sydney

Whether it’s staying in a hip boutique hotel like the Ovolo Woolloomooloo or Paramount House Hotel with your too-cool teenagers; a sophisticated heritage property like The Fullerton Hotel Sydney or QT Sydney for multi-generational travellers; or a range of serviced apartment options, the city provides a wide range of accommodation no matter the size and style of your family. A well-connected public transport system and readily available car rentals also make transport a breeze.

Now that the basics are covered, here are six reasons why Sydney should be your next family holiday.

QT Sydney Hotel, Sydney City

Stunning walking tracks with breathtaking views

A short yet fulfilling trail for the whole family is the Bondi to Coogee walk, which spans an easy 6km and features scenic views of rock pools, beaches, parks and cliffs. This track is also perfect for whale watching during the months between May and November.

Travellers can take on segments of the Bondi to Manly track that passes through some of the city’s most spectacular coastal and harbourside suburbs. The 80km walking track is rich in natural beauty and indigenous heritage, taking between four to seven days to complete. Highlights of the itinerary include the Hermitage Foreshore track, one of Sydney’s most beautiful coastal walks, and Reef Beach, which is home to an ancestral reburial site and Aboriginal rock art.

Bondi to Bronte Walk, Sydney

The best nooks and crannies to shop for unique artisanal treasures

Darlinghurst’s Foley Street is a must-see for travellers looking for sustainable, locally-made keepsakes evocative of their time in Sydney for years to come. A prime example is Studio Enti, a ceramic shop selling elegant yet sturdy porcelain tableware and accessories made with local materials like Australian porcelain – a joy for adults to explore. Teens can also take a quick trip to Spunky Bruiser for unique and eclectic fashion that’s sure to turn their friends green with envy.

Becker Minty, Potts Point

Unforgettable road trips out of the city

Road trips are a quintessential family holiday experience, especially when travelling with young children. Sydney is surrounded by several amazing regional destinations that are conveniently located less than a couple hours drive away.

For a good dose of nature, the Blue Mountains is just 90min by car – perfect for those planning a quick day trip out of the city. The Greater Blue Mountains is a World Heritage-listed area recognised for its unique plants, wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Soak up indigenous history as you head to Echo Point to revel in its sights, or bask in vibrant flora and fauna in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.

Alternatively, a road trip along the famed Grand Pacific Drive is a great option for more adventurous travellers to take on. The first stop on the coastal drive from Sydney to Kiama is at the Royal National Park – here you can take a hike to Little Marley Beach for some scenic sea views. When you reach Kiama, make sure to stop and check out the Kiama Blowhole, one of the largest blowholes in the world! From Kiama, follow the route to spectacular Jervis Bay and go dolphin spotting on a cruise, before continuing to Narooma for an unforgettable swim with seals off Montague Island.

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah

Amazing nature and wildlife encounters

Witnessing the beauty of Australia’s native wildlife has to be one of the most memorable highlights of any trip to Sydney. Stay at the elegant Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat with your young ones, overlooking the sensational Sydney Harbour and surrounded by Australian flora and fauna. You can even book one of the Animal View rooms and wake up to koalas and other wildlife roaming right outside your window. The retreat experience also offers animal tours and complimentary access to the zoo.

Take a trip down under and appreciate Sydney’s marine ecosystem at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. The aquarium has plenty of immersive zones to keep children entertained like the Penguin Expedition, Shark Walk & Shark Valley and Dugong Island, where kids will be able to get up close and personal with adorable animals such as Pig the dugong and Dave, Chong and Myrtle, the aquarium’s sweet sea turtles.

If you’re keen to go further, you’ll find that Regional NSW has so much to offer. Let the kids experience horse and pony rides down in Glenworth Valley, where you can also stop for a one-night camping trip under the stars. If you have more adventurous children in tow, take them on an ATV ride across towering sand dunes in Port Stephens – you can even surf some sand waves and do a little sandboarding. Who says you need snow?

Sand Dune Adventures, Port Stephens

Family-friendly cafes and Instagrammable hot spots

Sydney is an Instagrammer’s haven with its slew of aesthetic cafes and hot spots, perfect to liven up any teen’s Instagram feed. After all as the saying goes – pics or it didn’t happen. Our top pick is The Grounds of Alexandria, a leafy green haven built into a heritage-listed factory with aesthetics as on point as their food. For families with young children, the cafe even has a farm animal experience where they can pat and feed adorable goats and pigs. Black Star Pastry is another to add to the list – try its famously vibrant Strawberry Watermelon cake, which is also one of the world’s most Instagrammed sweet treats.

If you’re feeling a little whimsical, drop by Speedos Cafe along Bondi Beach. This treasure of a cafe was voted ‘The Most Instagrammable Café’ in the world by travel magazine Big Seven Travel, and it’s easy to see why with its collection of rainbow dessert offerings that’s sure to be the highlight of your feed. Adventurous Instagrammers can also venture out of the CBD to check out The Boathouse located on Sydney’s beautiful Balmoral Beach or Baby Coffee Co in Waterloo complete with pastel pink interiors and rainbow desserts – yum!

Aside from food, you should definitely take a trip down to the Hornby Lighthouse, an iconic lighthouse with vertical red stripes that will make a gram-worthy backdrop for your #OOTDs. And don’t forget to check out Bronte Bath Viewpoint for that majestic view of the coastline.

Black Star Bakery, Newtown

Scenic family farm stays and fruit picking activities

For a tech-free getaway that immerses you in the best of Sydney’s countryside, we recommend taking a couple nights of refuge from the city in some of the most scenic family farm stays the region has to offer. Take a quick 90min drive down to Picton and make yourself at home at Mowbray Park Farmstay. They host a myriad of activities like horseback riding, bush dances, boomerang throwing, feeding cattle, milking cows and collecting eggs. Insider tip – there is even a Kids Club so tired parents can finally take that much needed respite.

Get your kids interested in incorporating vibrant fruits in their diet when you go fruit picking at some of the area’s best orchards. Depending on the time of year, you can have the opportunity to pick a vast selection of fruits ranging from apples, oranges and pears to peaches, nectarines, persimmons, limes and lemons. We recommend heading down to Glenbernie Orchard, just an hour south of Sydney, where kids can pick buckets of apples at The Apple Shack while adults sip on the orchard’s very own cider selection and honey mead.

Glenbernie Orchard, Darkes Forest - Credit: Dee Kramer Photography