Where to Stay with Kids

Sydney has a range of family-friendly accommodation options that cater to every budget. Hotels in and around the CBD have fantastic facilities for kids, there are luxury camping options in unique locations that make for memorable experiences as well as more affordable holiday parks.

Inner city

The Novotel Sydneyin Darling Harbour makes a great base for families. Nearby attractions include the sharks, penguins and dugong at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, the koalas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo and the Australian National Maritime Museum, where you can climb aboard a submarine.

Swissotel is right in the thick of the action, just behind Pitt St Mall and across from the QVB. Parents stay in a king room and the adjacent twin kids rooms are designed for a fun play and sleep experience with children’s bed linen, toys and DVDs. The Family Fun package at the Four Seasons includes a welcome gift for kids, a kids' movie with snacks and a tent experience for suite stays.

Vibe Hotels has outposts in the city centre, Rushcutters Bay and North Sydney. The locations make for easy access in and around the CBD, harbour and beaches and the suites come with the extra room that families need. The Rushcutters Bay hotel is near a marina where you can hire a skipper and a yacht from EastSail to cruise sparkling Sydney Harbour.

By the beach

You’ll find great family hotels just steps from the sand of all Sydney’s most popular beaches. In Manly, the Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific has two-bedroom suites and an outdoor pool overlooking the ocean. Manly Paradise offers spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments, plus a rooftop pool, and The Sebel has stylish one-bedroom suites. Down south, Rydges Cronulla has one- and two-bedroom suites with plenty of space for the kids.

Check in to the Adina Apartments Bondi Beach for modern multi-bedroom suites directly across the road from the famous strip of sand. In Coogee, the newly-refurbished Crowne Plaza is so kid-friendly that they run special programs during the NSW school holidays and a dedicated Kids Zone with games, crafts and movies over the summer.

Glamping

For something special, Cockatoo Island Camping is a campsite right on Sydney Harbour. You have the best view in town plus picnic spots, barbecue facilities and a licenced café. You can also opt for a deluxe package with pre-furnished tent. The island is a short ferry ride from Circular Quay.

Roar and Snore at Taronga Zoo is Sydney's wildest slumber party. Families will enjoy good food and be treated to a night zoo safari, spectacular harbour views and a luxury tent right on the water for a truly memorable experience

Holiday parks

These little-known affordable gems not far from the city centre have self-catering cabins and powered sites for caravans, so you have all the convenience without the cost. Head north to find Ingenia Holidays Avina and Discovery Parks – Lane Cove; the latter once doubled as the fictional Summer Bay Caravan Park in TV show Home and Away.