Things to do this Easter in Sydney

The four-day Easter long weekend is a wonderful time to explore some of Sydney’s iconic attractions. The Sydney Royal Easter Show has a full program of entertainment, animal experiences and rides for the whole family. See a show at the Sydney Opera House, admire the animals at Taronga Zoo and Sea Life Sydney Aquarium or climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

 

Sydney Royal Easter Show

The Easter weekend coincides with the first weekend of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, a fun family event with carnival rides, tasty produce, farm animals and show bags. There is even a petting zoo for the kids to meet friendly farmyard animals.

The easiest way to get to Australia’s biggest agricultural show at Sydney Olympic Park is by public transport. There are regular trains from the city centre to the Olympic Park railway station and the travel time is only about 30 mins.

A boy petting a ram at the Sydney Royal Easter Show

Royal Easter Show, Sydney Olympic Park

Easter activities

Sydney has many Easter activities and a fun event for kids is Easter in Nature 2023, an annual event held at Centennial Parklands between Paddington and Randwick, where children get introduced to Easter Bilby and engage in nature-based games and art projects celebrating Australia’s native plants and animals as well as plenty of other fun activities. 

Easter at Centennial Parklands, Inner Sydney

Egg-cellent Easter, Centennial Parklands

 The Fairfield Easter Fair is an exciting, gold coin entry event featuring rides, games, animal shows, fireworks, and movie nights from 6 – 11 April. And The Sydney Family Show at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park has lots of fun activities, rides and shows from 6 – 23 April.   

Two children lying on grass wearing fluffy bunny ears at Vaucluse House

Egg-cellent Easter Trail, Vaucluse House - Credit:  James Horan - Sydney Living Museums

Outdoor adventures

Enjoy exhilarating walks along the spectacular coast and explore magnificent national parks and gardens. Take a ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena and explore the Royal National Park, Australia’s oldest national park.

harbour cruise is enjoyable way to relax and soak up memorable sights. The mild autumn weather is perfect for a family day at Sydney beaches including Bondi, Coogee, Cronulla and Manly. You Can enjoy a swim, surf, or snorkel in the mild waters before they cool as winter sets in.

Couple enjoying harbour views aboard a Captain Cook Cruises vessel in Sydney Harbour

Captain Cook Cruises, Sydney Harbour

Museums & zoos

Head to Darling Harbour and climb aboard a submarine at the Australian National Maritime Museum, and then meet the penguins and sharks at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium or get close to Australia’s cutest mammals like koalas, wombats and platypus at WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay and head to Taronga Zoo where you can be entertained by a seal presentation and admire all the animals. 

In Western Sydney, meet the city's only rhino, hand-feed squirrel monkeys, get up-close to elephants and much more at Sydney Zoo, which is home to over 4,000 native and exotic animals. Nearby in Penrith, the headline attraction at Zambi Wildlife Retreat are the big cats, including lions, tigers and a puma. 

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour

For cultural attractions across Sydney, try one of these four Sydney Culture Trails that will take you on a self-guided tour to find significant cultural attractions across the city.

 

Public holiday dates 2023-2024

Holiday 2023 2024
New Year's Day Sunday 1 January (Additional day Monday, 2 January ) Monday 1 January
Australia Day Thursday 26 January Friday 26 January
Good Friday Friday 7 April Friday 29 March
Easter Saturday Saturday 8 April  Saturday 30 March 
Easter Sunday Sunday 9 April  Sunday 31 March 
Easter Monday  Monday 10 April  Monday 1 April 
Anzac Day  Tuesday 25 April  Thursday 25 April 
Queen's Birthday  Monday 12 June Monday 10 June
October Long Weekend (Labour Day) Monday 2 October Monday 7 October
Christmas Day public holiday Monday 25 December Wednesday 25 December
Boxing Day Tuesday 26 December Thursday 26 December