Sydney: Recommend Family/Kids Friendly Activities
 

We will be here for 1 week in the 1st week of December.<BR>In our group of 7, there are 4 kids aged btw 6 to 11yrs. Since this is their first trip to Australia, I am not sure what would make them feel good.<BR><BR>Any advice is appreciated. We are traveling by car and all our accommodations are already been fixed.<BR>

Hi Ganeash,<BR><BR>Again there are literally heaps of things for kids to do in Sydney. I am not sure where you are staying but Darling Harbour has a host of activities for kids, then there is Taronga Park Zoo across the harbour. There is Australias Wonderland amusement park which is a bit like a Six Flags park in the US.<BR><BR>How about taking them on a trip to the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountians just west of Sydney and I am sure they would enjoy the scenic railway ride at Katoomba which is also in the Blue Mountains.<BR><BR>I am sure that you will get a lot more suggestions from other regulars on the forum so I will leave it at that.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Paul

Don't miss the Sydney Aquarium. It was incredible. Our kids especiallly liked the glass tunnel.

It's summer! Slather them in blockout and take them to the beach. Take more than the usual care, and always swim between the flags. As an alternative, take them for a swim at the Sydney Aquatic Centre (Olympic Pool) at Homebush.<BR><BR>There are often kids' Christmas concerts on in the first weeks of December, at the Opera House.<BR><BR>Featherdale or Koala Park are great for kids of all ages.<BR><BR>The Zoo is interesting - and you can get there by ferry.

Sydney can be a city for kids. Taronga Zoo, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Australia's Wonderland, Olympic park Aquatic Centre, PowerHouse Museum, Australian Museum, Sydney Aqwarium, National Maritime Museum or go to a beach

Thanks for the replys.<BR>We will be staying at Pacific International Apartments

Not sure if you are looking for fun/unique food places but there was this neat kid oriented restaurant in Darling Harbor called XERTS. I believe it was at the end of King's Wharf??<BR>The one past Cockle Bay and the Aquarium on the same side of the harbor.<BR><BR>They have computers at the table and you order your own food, watch cartoons, place games, they have nintendo games etc...lots of kid oriented food but they also have a full bar for the adults!<BR><BR>Powerhouse was very neat! We went for the Star Wars exhibit but enjoyed the other areas MUCH more! They have this computer that entertains you with dancing and games! All kinds of experimental exhibits etc...<BR><BR>Riding the ferries across the harbor to no place in particular was also fun! AND Cheap!<BR><BR>Aquarium was nice but I have seen better here in the states--they just have fish/animals we don't have here--so in that regards it is better/different.<BR><BR>Perhaps a ride in the harbor on the jet boats?<BR><BR>good luck!

Toronga Zoo has just started a camp over night at the zoo! Really facinating you get to see what they do at night, see and help the feeding morn and night and have a aussie BBQ complete with wildlife and damper. Very different, educational and fun contact zoo direct.

Find a public park and take a picnic lunch. Kids in the park are always playing Aussie Rules or Rugby - turn your kids loose and let them play with the locals. It will get them out of your hair for awhile and give them some interaction with children from another land.

Thanks for all the advices. I will be leaving in 3 weeks time and if you<BR>have some more comments/inputs please post here.<BR>I will be posting a detail trip activities in a website similar to the one that i have for our German trip.<BR> http://www.vgpma.com/travel/ ).<BR><BR>Thanks folks<BR>

Hi Ganeash,<BR><BR>I forgot this important recommendation in my posting under "Travel Agent's Report". Go for the Aussie Duck. I absolutely loved this tour, combining theatre, bad jokes, the reactions of Sydneysiders to a very weird looking vehicle (that was the best!), history,learning aout the city, and of course, driving into the Harbour. <BR><BR>Our particular tour was manned by Diana and Capt. John. Diana is a treasure - so hysterically funny...there was a family in front and she asked the boy, about age 10 (privately, not on the mike) if he'd get up and do the Duck Dance with her...gee, I'm not sure if I can describe this - picture a blonde, 40 something woman and a 10 yr. old kid shaking their butts, "quacking" with a duck shaped kazoo and laughing, and you have the general idea.<BR><BR>There were several families on board; one from Melbourne, who had surprised their daughter with this and I think she'll be taking over Diana's job in the near future - she mastered the "Advanced Quacking Technique" and was dancing in the aisle!<BR><BR>Melodie<BR>There were a number of kids on board

Something we enjoyed was a walk through the Botanical Gardens(free entry). Be sure to have the kids look up into the trees for the&quot;flying foxes&quot;!Creepy!

Just thought of something else the kids like-SEGA WORLD!It's down at Darling Harbour, has indoor and some outdoor activities and a virtual reality ride just right for the kids ages.It's an easy walk from the aquarium - follow the walkway towards the IMAX theatre,go right;make a left at the small fountains.

Sega World has been closed-down for about 2 years now. Only thing popular there is the pub.

For an educational experience, try the Sydney Fish Market. You'll see all the popular seafood there, plus you get to eat them fresh there too!

I hate to say it, but our kids (and some grown kids in the group!) loved the softserve ice cream at McDonalds -- about $.50 which with the exchange rate, is really inexpensive. We only wish it were so inexpensive in the US.