Things to do in Sydney on a Rainy Day with Kids
The Sydney Powerhouse Museum provides an ideal place for rainy day activities in Sydney. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Sydney with kids and activities you can do as a family, there are plenty of options that all ages will love. Sydney is a city filled with indoor fun offering shelter from the rain, with some of the best Sydney attractions being perfect for time indoors. Sydnney's iconic harbourside theme park is home to some totally transporting indoor activities, including the super immersive Dream Circus. If there's a break in the rain, we'd suggest jumping aboard the recently re-opnened Wild Mouse roller coaster.
Council pools and private swim schools operate across every suburb, with lessons typically running $18 to $25 per session. The Inner West has carved out a niche for creative, design-conscious play spaces. cool things to do in sydney Nubo Alexandria is the poster child of this movement, with its Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, natural materials, and focus on open-ended sensory play. It's not cheap at around $22 per child, but the experience is genuinely different from a traditional play centre. For our complete guide to indoor play centres in Sydney, including suburb-by-suburb breakdowns and current pricing, check out our dedicated page.
The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney is an exciting, educational and entertaining experience for the family. Located in the historic Darling Harbour precinct, it is a museum of science and history that houses over 400,000 artifacts from around the world. It offers interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences that are sure to provide hours of entertainment and learning for families of all sizes. Luna Park Venues is the perfect location for your next indoor birthday bash. Make your special day even more memorable with a private party here.
Bicentennial Park is a diverse park whose natural setting makes it one of the most iconic attractions in Sydney. With more than 40 hectares of stunningly beautiful parklands and a host of natural features, it is little... The Australian Reptile Park is an award-winning must-see attraction located an hour north of Sydney. This family-friendly destination is home to numerous exotic species and a wide variety of reptiles, making it a great... Wild Life Sydney is located at Darling Harbour and is a great place to see many of Australia’s native species up close.
Let’s see why Flip Out is the go-to destination for mums and their active little ones. This is one of the best things families can do at home on a rainy day! Maybe play a game of Uno, or just play something with a standard deck of cards.
Most venues require grip socks, which you can buy on-site for around $3 to $5 (or bring your own if you already have a pair). For toddlers, many parks offer dedicated “Tiny Tots” or “Mini Bounce” sessions on weekday mornings when the trampolines are reserved exclusively for under-5s. Check out our trampoline parks guide for detailed venue profiles and current pricing. On the North Shore, Planet Mino in Chatswood sets the standard for design-led play. Their two-storey space-themed playground features augmented reality walls, a giant ball blaster arena, and a cafe that serves genuinely good coffee. It's pricier than Western Sydney options at around $20 to $25 per child, but the quality of the fit-out is noticeably higher.
Bring scooters, bikes or skateboards and explore the walkways and cycleways around the park following the Wulugul Walk, the original shoreline before European settlement. Australia’s oldest national park is accessible by train, ferry and car, and less than 40km from the CBD. Stretching along a stunning coastline, there’s something for everyone in the Royal National Park. It’s also the first stop on the famous scenic Grand Pacific Drive road trip running along the South Coast to Kiama and the Shoalhaven.
Located around 1.5 – 2 hours from Sydney, the Blue Mountains is known for its dramatic cliffs, bushwalks and iconic lookouts including the famous Three Sisters at Echo Point. Right in Darling Harbour, IMAX offers one of the world’s biggest cinema screens. Watching a big animated film or nature documentary on this scale is a different experience from a standard cinema — the sound and scale genuinely impress. A good option for a mid-day break if the kids need to sit down and decompress between active attractions, or as a rainy day option when outdoor activities aren’t on the cards.
Our ready-to-use itineraries help you make the most of every day, whether you’re here for a quick city break or a longer holiday. Art is for everyone, but the kids will be particularly fond of the ceramic-painting workshops at Jenny’s Painted Pots. You can decorate ceramic mugs, plates, animals or signs and lettering starting from $15, and they supply all the arty equipment. It’s also home to a traditional lolly shop, so you can scoff old-timey sweets while you paint.
Operating since 1935, the park offers family fun for all ages, from the thrilling Big Dipper rollercoaster to the Ferris wheel, Coney Island and side show games. Rockhouse Indoor Climbing centre has been a Brookvale institution for just on twenty years and offers a great space to learn to rock climb for all ages. They offer tuition, clubs and holiday programs alongside casual climbing rates.