Adventure and Sport

From kayaking on Sydney Harbour to surfing at Bondi Beach, Sydney is a great big adventure. Battle rapids on an Olympic whitewater rafting course. Kids as young as three can master gravity at iFly indoor skydiving. And sports fans will be thrilled with the action-packed sporting calendar.

Wonderful ways to enjoy one of the finest natural harbours in the world include sailing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. You can hire sailboats or join a kayak or a SUP tour and marvel from the sparkling blue waters one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks, the Sydney Opera House.

On walking trails around the harbour are splendid views, too. You can also explore Australia’s two oldest national parks – the Royal and Kur-ring-Gai Chase. How about camping? There are camp sites in both parks as well as Lane Cove National Park. Or hire a tent on Cockatoo Island in the harbour.

IThere are many more fun activities for all ages. Cycling is popular, with shared paths along the coast and in pretty parklands such as Centennial Park, near the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Royal Randwick Racecourse. Or explore the national parks on road cycling and mountain bike trails.

For horse lovers, saddle up for marvellous adventures, with horseriding in the Centennial Parklands in the heart of Sydney and at horseriding centres in the Hawkesbury and Campbelltown. There are lessons for beginners and guided trail rides, and the kids will love the school holiday pony camps.

Children as young as seven can learn to surf with Let’s Go Surfing at Bondi Beach. There are also surf schools in Cronulla, Maroubra and Manly – and a bodyboarding academy in Cronulla. Riding a board for the first time is an unforgettable experience and with a lesson or two you’ll be carving up waves.

For thrill seekers, fishtailing in a harbour jet boat will pump up your heart rate. For more adrenaline, Western Sydney is an adventure capital - whitewater rafting at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, blasting skyward with Jetpack Adventures and wakeboarding at Cables Wake Park, to name just three thrills.