With school out for the winter holidays, parents are scrambling to find ways to keep kids entertained and stimulated over the break. Visits to the park or beach are always a fun option for parents, babysitters, and nannies, but the July chill and wet weather may not always play along with your plans. It’s also important to choose activities that will keep young minds active and encourage thoughtful play. Luckily, living in Sydney has many advantages, one of them being access to some fantastic kid-friendly museums.
Whether you’re looking for a place to let your kids get their hands busy with interactive play, on the hunt for activities for rainy days, or hoping to enrich their lives with art and history, the museums we’ve included on our list of the 10 best Sydney museums for kids offer something for everyone! From locomotive exhibitions that take kids on an adventure back to the 19th century to themed maritime play, there are fun activities to please kids both big and small. We’ve got you covered for a fun family day out in Sydney!
Powerhouse Museum
Address: 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm | Thursdays, 10am to 9pm
Phone: +61 (02) 9217 0222
Admission: Free entry, no bookings required
For a cost-effective school holiday excursion or a family day out, look no further than the Powerhouse Museum, a contemporary museum in the heart of Sydney. With its diverse collection of objects and its focus on arts, science, innovation and design, this is the perfect place for kids to enjoy an interactive experience with plenty of hands-on exploration. The museum frequently holds exhibitions and programs designed to engage kids and young people. We recommend checking out The Lab, a hands-on, immersive multimedia space for exploring digital technologies. Or, if you’ve got a choo choo train lover, the Locomotive No. 1 is bound to be a hit. This permanent exhibition is all about steam travel and New South Wales’s very first locomotive, and kids get to enjoy a recreation of the vehicle’s journey hauling the state’s first train in the 19th century.
If the little ones get hungry, simply head to the museum’s very own Powerhouse Café on Level 3, which offers burgers, coffee, cake and more – they even have wine for mum or dad.
Australian National Maritime Museum
Address: 2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Daily, 10am to 4pm
Phone: +61 (92) 9298 3777
Admission: Adults, $24 | Concession, $20 | Kids (under 15), $15 | Kids (under 4), FREE | Family, $70 | Member, FREE
Membership: Individual, $125 | Concession, $95 | Family (2 adults and up to 3 kids), $140 | Family (1 adult and up to 3 kids), $110
One of the coolest places to visit in Sydney, the Australian National Maritime Museum is a favourite with curious kids and their parents. It’s a place to play, create, explore and embark on adventures, with activities for pre-schoolers, family programs and exhibitions that are specifically designed to stimulate children’s learning. The activities on offer include climbing and playing on real-life ships, interactive activity trails, guided tours and themed play, and marine-inspired arts and crafts.
Interested in becoming a member? Benefits include unlimited year-round admission to the museum, vessels and exhibitions, plus exclusive discounts. What’s more, your membership cost will go towards helping the museum’s conservation, research and education efforts.
The Rocks Discovery Museum
Address: Kendall Ln, The Rocks NSW 2000
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm | Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Phone: +61 (02) 9240 8680
Admission: Free
Housed in restored sandstone buildings dating back to 1844, this museum is located at Circular Quay and is a real crowd pleaser. Kids can learn about the historic area of Sydney in which the museum is located, with contemporary artefacts and objects on display, plus others dating back thousands of years. The museum offers an engaging virtual tour through its four permanent exhibitions that explores the stories of the area and the impact of European settlement – a truly stimulating voyage to inspire curious young minds! Plus, these school holidays, the museum is hosting a fun and crafty badge-making workshop the kids are sure to love.
Museums Discovery Centre
Address: 172 Showground Rd, Castle Hill NSW 2154
Hours: weekends, 10am to 4pm (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day)
Phone: +61 (02) 9217 0222
Admission: Free
With permanent exhibitions covering technology and innovation, science and exploration, transport, art and design, architecture, and social history, you can’t beat a free trip to the Museums Discovery Centre. As the name suggests, this is a place where kids can explore, learn and discover the wide range of treasures on display. The museum is also offering fantastic programs for kids these school holidays, including a workshop in which children are introduced to coding where they can learn how to make their very own characters jump, dance and sing. Or how about a family-friendly workshop where kids learn how to make their own animated short film? Check out more of the learning programs on offer here (fees apply). You can find more information on the individual pages.
We recommend bringing your own snacks and packed lunches to enjoy on one of the outdoor tables or designated indoor areas, as only a limited range of snacks are available for purchase on site.
Australian Museum of Magical Arts
Address: 91 Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2000
Hours: One-hour guided day tour, Monday to Sunday at 11:30am and 1:30pm | 90-minute dusk tour, Monday to Wednesday, 7pm | Bookings required
Phone: +61 (02) 9267 4747
Take the kids on a tour of a magician’s theatre, guided by a genuine magician or magician’s assistant. Recite the magician’s secret oath before you enter their world of magic. As well as exploring the historical, artistic and cultural magic treasures, you’ll get to discover the secret behind magic tricks, illusions and more. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the art of magic in a creative and educational environment, with plenty of interactive and hands-on experiences.
Please note that bookings are essential.
Sydney Living Museums
Address: Various locations around Sydney
Hours: Varies depending on location
Phone: +61 (02) 8239 2288
Admission: Adults, $35 | Concession, $28 | Kids (5–15), $28 | Family, $75 (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children) | Kids 4 and under, free
Membership: 1 adult + up to 4 children, $75 | 2 adults + up to four children, $135
Twelve historic houses, gardens and museums in NSW fall under the Sydney Living Museums umbrella, including Elizabeth Farm, Hyde Park Barracks, the Justice & Police Museum, Vaucluse House and the Museum of Sydney. Each venue represents a unique opportunity to discover the fascinating history of the city through fun Sydney events, Sydney museum exhibitions and experiences. These school holidays, you can also enjoy a family day out in Sydney and celebrate NAIDOC Week on Darug Country at Rouse Hill Estate. This year’s theme is “Get up! Stand up! Show up!”, where the whole family will get an opportunity to experience Aboriginal culture through dance, performances, storytelling and art.
Interested in becoming a member? Support the museums’ preservation and enjoy fantastic year-round benefits including unlimited free entry to Hyde Park Barracks and Susannah Place Museum, a 20% discount on all events, and exclusive member experiences, plus more perks!
Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm | Friday, 10am to 9pm | Weekends 10am to 5pm
Phone: +61 (02) 9245 2400
Admission: Free
Membership: Individual, $75 | Concession, $50 | Dual, $120 | Family, $160
The Museum of Contemporary Art, also known as MCA, offers a number of family-friendly creative events and programs for everyone to enjoy. It runs family tours, has a Kids Committee that gives kids a say in what the programs offer, and even provides ideas for at-home activities! If you’re heading to the museum, we especially recommend Art Safari and ARTplay for younger kids who want to explore contemporary art and get creative, while anyone looking for entertainment over the school break will find fantastic school holiday programs.
Interested in becoming a member? Benefits include year-round admission to the museum and ticketed exhibitions, behind-the-scenes access, and a whole host of exclusive discounts!
Australian Museum
Address: 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Weekdays, 10am to 5pm | Weekends, 9am to 5pm (Closed Christmas Day)
Phone: + 61 (02) 9320 6000
Admission: Free general admission
Membership: Adult, $80 | Concession, $64 | Family (1 adult), $90 | Family (2 adults), $135
One of Australia’s leading museums of natural history and culture and the first museum in the country, the Australian Museum has plenty of fascinating exhibitions and programs to keep the kids entertained. The museum’s permanent exhibitions include Dinosaurs, Birds of Australia, Wild Planet and more. We also recommend checking out Museum Minis – a pop-up playgroup for kids, their parents and caregivers to discover various topics about nature and Australia through hands-on learning, music, crafts, games and play – and Nights at the Museum for a taste of museum life after dark. And don’t forget to pick up a Little Adventure Bag packed full of take-home goodies and activities!
Interested in becoming a member? Your membership will support research and cultural projects, and give you access to exclusive benefits including free or discounted tickets to special exhibitions, a 20% discount on programs, Members Lounge access, discounted cinema tickets and more!
Madame Tussauds
Address: 1–5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Thursday to Monday, 10am to 4 pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) | Open every day during school holidays
Phone: 1800 205 851
Admission: General admission from $36.80 | Children under 3, free
You can’t go past a trip to the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum if you’re looking for a fun excursion that the whole family will enjoy. In addition to the usual celebrity and film-character wax figures – think ET, Spiderman and their favourite Marvel heroes – the museum also houses figures from Australian history and offers school holiday activities the kids will love.
Sydney Tramway Museum
Address: Corner of Rawson Avenue and Pitt St, Loftus NSW 2232
Hours: Wednesday, 10am to 3pm | Sundays 10am to 5pm
Phone: +61 (02) 9542 3646
Admission: Adults, $20 | Concession, $15 | School kids, $10 | Pre-school kids, free
Looking for a fantastic day out for the whole family? For big kids and little transport lovers, a trip to the Sydney Tramway Museum will be right up their alley. Here, they get to take a step back in time and enjoy the travel experience of the past: buy a ticket from the conductor before hopping on and taking a ride on a historic Australian tram. Then, check out the display hall, which is full of unique vintage trams including Australia’s oldest electric tram. And if you’re after refreshments, the museum kiosk sells hot and cold food, ice creams, tea and coffee, and a variety of drinks.