School holidays in Autumn

From bushwalking to stargazing, Sydney is full of fun attractions for kids in the autumn school holidays. You’ll find special holiday activities for kids in Sydney’s museums and galleries, as well as plenty of outdoor experiences from kayaking to cycling.

Zoos and wildlife parks

The array of rare and exotic animals in Sydney’s zoos and wildlife parks will enthral the whole family. Walk above the lions on the boardwalks at Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney or watch the incredible free-flight bird show at Taronga Zoo. In Darling Harbour, you can visit the penguins at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and koalas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo.

More animal encounters await at Featherdale Wildlife Park, where the kids can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies. Just south of Sydney, Symbio Wildlife Park has exotic and native animals, a farmyard petting zoo and a fun splash park.

Outdoor activities  

The mild autumn weather is great for exploring the great outdoors in Sydney. Try bushwalking in Australia's oldest national park, kayaking in tranquil waterways and cycling along the spectacular coastline. Take time out to relax with a picnic at Bondi Beach or the Royal Botanic Garden, next to the Sydney Opera House. Or if you want to learn something new, take a surfing lesson at one of the city's famous beaches.

You’ll discover plenty of exciting adventures in Western Sydney, including:

• Zip-lines at the TreeTop Adventure Park
• Archery lessons at Sydney Olympic Park
• Mountain biking in Western Sydney Parklands
• Steam train rides at the NSW Rail Museum

Museums and galleries

Museums are full of interactive activities. For young adventurers, the Australian National Maritime Museum has a submarine and a tall ship, and the Powerhouse Museum's technology will intrigue kids of all ages. At the Museum of Fire in Penrith, everyone can participate in firefighting adventures and learn new skills.

Nightfall is earlier in autumn and the telescopes at the Sydney Observatory will help you explore the planets and the Moon, as well as star-studded Milky Way. In a heritage-listed building in the historic Rocks, the Observatory offers many out-of-this-world experiences for budding young astronomers.

Theatre

Check out the events calendar for kids and family shows at the majestic Sydney Opera House and other venues, including the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta.