There’s no shortage of amazing attractions in NSW to keep the kids entertained. Enjoy a spectacular outing at themed adventure parks, game parks and wildlife centres that will keep tots, teens and parents happy all day long.
Scenic World
Why families love it: This one-of-a-kind attraction has been entertaining families since 1945. Get your heart pumping as you descend to the valley floor on the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest passenger train with a 52-degree incline. Take the one-kilometre journey through Dinosaur Valley along the rainforest floor where prehistoric creatures like a life-sized T-rex and a family of triceratopses await. Then hop aboard the cableway to get back up top before you get sky high on the Scenic Skyway, where you’ll glide between clifftops above the Jamison Valley taking in the breathtaking views through wraparound windows. Dare devils can even strap into a harness and climb aboard the cable car on the Beyond Skywalk experience.
For ages: All ages but kids have to be over 10 to book the Beyond Skywalk experience.
Location: Scenic World is in the Blue Mountains and can be reached by car in 90 minutes from Sydney.
Scenic World, Katoomba
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Why families love it: With a thrilling open plains design that removes the walls between you and the wildlife (they’re separated by moats instead), you can get up close to more than 5,000 native and exotic animals from 350 species at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Meet lions in the Pride Lands, look for kangaroos snoozing under trees and see conservation work at the Animal Hospital. Families that prefer to take a slower pace can stay overnight in safari tents, cabins or the lodge, and spread their visit across two days.
For ages: All ages.
Location: Dubbo can be reached in around five hours by car from Sydney.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo - Credit: Rick Stevens | Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Copyright: Taronga Western Plains Zoo
The Big Banana Fun Park
Why families love it: The Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour is a kid’s paradise with toboggans, laser tag, ice skating, mini-golf and water slides – including one of Australia’s largest. Families also flock here to snap a picture with the beloved Big Banana, considered the first of NSW's (and Australia’s) Big Things.
For ages: With a variety of play areas, kids of all ages are catered to, but some activities are best for ages 11 and up.
Location: Head six hours north of Sydney by car and you'll reach Coffs Harbour.
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour
Australian Reptile Park
Why families love it: For budding herpetologists, Australian Reptile Park offers rare animal encounters with all kinds of scaly and slithery critters. Meet Kraken, a Komodo dragon, or Hugo, a Galapagos tortoise. You can also learn all about the milking process for some of Australia’s most venomous spiders and snakes.
For ages: All ages.
Location: Drive one hour from Sydney to Gosford on the Central Coast.
Australian Reptile Park, Somersby
Hunter Valley Gardens
Why families love it: There’s something for everyone at Hunter Valley Gardens. Lace up your walking shoes for eight kilometres of paths that wind through gardens filled with native and exotic plants. Throughout the year, the gardens host a calendar of family-friendly events. See more than three million lights turn the garden into a colourful spectacle for the festive season, hunt chocolate eggs during the Easter long weekend, walk among life-sized dinosaurs at the garden's annual Night Safari and skate loops around an ice rink during the pop-up winter wonderland. Better yet, the gardens’ permanent rides, including the Ferris wheel, teacups and Super Slide, are open during every seasonal event.
For ages: Two to 16 years.
Location: Just over a two-hour drive from Sydney CBD in the Hunter Valley.
Christmas Lights Spectacular, Pokolbin - Credit: Hunter Valley Gardens
Jamberoo Action Park
Why families love it: It’s a race to the bottom at Jamberoo Action Park, where twisting water slides, steep drops and pitch-black tunnels are guaranteed to get your heart racing. Not an adrenaline junkie? Float in a single or tandem tube down the Australiana-themed Rapid River or splash in the shallow pools at Billabong Beach where little ones can tackle kid-sized water slides.
For ages: Kids of all ages and big kids at heart.
Location: Follow the scenic Grand Pacific Drive south from Sydney, and in less than two hours you’ll reach Jamberoo Action Park.
Jamberoo Action Park, Jamberoo - Credit: Dee Kramer; Jamberoo Action Park
Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures
Why families love it: Get back to nature (while also getting the heart pumpin) at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures where you can challenge yourself to race along one of Australia’s highest ziplines. Prefer a slower pace or have little ones in tow? Take in the bird’s-eye views of the rainforest on an elevated walkway. It’s a gentle 1.5km walk through the tree canopy about 20 to 30 metres above ground.
For ages: Four and up.
Location: From Sydney, travel along the Grand Pacific Drive before continuing south and you’ll reach Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures in under two hours.
Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, Knights Hill - Credit: Treeclimb SA Pty Ltd
Zig Zag Railway
Why families love it: Take a joyride on the historic Zig Zag Railway, one of the most charming (and few remaining) relics of Australia’s history of steam-powered machinery. The heritage railway winds through the lush bushland of the Blue Mountains on a 45- or 90-minute journey and offers a front-row seat to the region’s natural beauty, one that even kids will appreciate.
For ages: Preschoolers through to teens.
Location: Drive 90 minutes to two hours towards the Blue Mountains and you'll find Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow.
Zig Zag Railway, Clarence
Stockton Sand Dunes
Why families love it: Little adventurers can sandboard, or ride a camel, horse, quad and motorbike at Stockton Sand Dunes, one of the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Reaching up to 30 metres high and covering 32 kilometres of land in Worimi National Park, this awe-inspiring destination is well-deserving of a place on every NSW bucket list.
For ages: Big kids (16+) can make the most of the activities on offer.
Location: Stockton Beach Sand Dunes are a two-hour drive north of Sydney, just past Newcastle.
4WD R US, Port Stephens
Port Stephens dolphin cruises
Why families love it: Dive under the sea or hop aboard a cruise with Dolphin Swim Australia and intercept a pod of wild dolphins in Port Stephens. Home to roughly 100 resident bottlenose dolphins, there's a good chance you'll spot some curious fins pop up near your boat. Up for a closer look? Big kids can even get in the water for an unforgettable encounter.
For ages: Over seven if kids want to get in the water.
Location: Head north from Sydney and you'll reach Port Stephens in two and a half hours.
Dolphin Swim Australia, Port Stephens - Credit: Dolphin Swim Australia
Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures
Why families love it: Pitch a tent (or park your campervan) at Glenworth Valley Campground and the whole family can unplug with creek swims, roaring campfires and stargazing. There are accommodation types to suit every family and all the basic amenities including hot showers and flushing toilets if your brood isn’t quite ready to go without. The campgrounds also have a petting farm and horse riding, alongside kayaking, axe throwing and quad biking if you’re looking for more activities to keep the kids busy.
For ages: Teens and adults can enjoy the full range of activities and put their survival skills to the test.
Location: Drive an hour north of Sydney and you'll reach Glenworth Valley.
Glenworth Valley Campground, Glenworth Valley - Credit: The Glenworth Valley Holdings Pty Ltd
Milroy Observatory
Why families love it: Milroy Observatory runs nightly kid-friendly tours where you can take in the wonders of the night sky through telescopes. Spot planets, galaxies, nebulas and star clusters on your 75- to 90-minute tour of the night sky, led by Donna the Astronomer, whose cosmos credentials are expert level, having discovered two comets herself.
For ages: Five and up.
Location: Drive six hours from Sydney CBD to reach Coonabarabran in NSW’s Warrumbungle region, known as the capital of Australian astronomy and home to Milroy Observatory.
Milroy Observatory, Coonabarabran
Dorrigo National Park
Why families love it: If you've ventured out to Coffs Harbour for a family holiday, take the one-hour drive to Dorrigo National Park, a small slice of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest. Follow walking trails past secret waterfalls and clear swimming holes and find a scenic spot to roll out the picnic rug among the idyllic wilderness and refuel with lunch and some birdwatching. Kids will love the Skywalk at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, an elevated boardwalk that lets you look out across the rainforest canopy to the coast beyond.
For ages: Bigger kids who can happily spend a day walking.
Location: Road trip six hours to the North Coast, then head inland via Bellingen to reach Dorrigo National Park.
Dorrigo National Park, Dorrigo Mountain
Thredbo Resort
Why families love it: Thredbo Resort is a year-round playground for families. In winter, you can have the ultimate snow day and take on Australia's longest ski runs. Newbies can take lessons and put their new skills into practice in the beginner's area. Come summertime, take gentle hikes to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, ride bobsleds or tackle the Thredbo Valley Track on a mountain bike, with trails catering to all ages.
For ages: Two to 14, so kids can start building their skills.
Location: Thredbo is a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney.
Thredbo, Snowy Mountains
Jenolan Caves
Why families love it: Whether you're five or 50, the Jenolan Caves are sure to wow with their beautiful limestone formations set within an ancient open cave. Come prepared to walk as you descend into the caves on a guided tour that winds through the underground rivers and glittering crystal chambers.
For ages: 10 and up.
Location: The Jenolan Caves are tucked into a remote valley in the southern Blue Mountains National Park. To reach them by car, it's a three-hour trip from Sydney on a winding road that passes through Katoomba.
Note: Due to extreme rainfall at the Jenolan Caves precinct that flooded buildings and caused landslips, the popular destination has closed to the public pending further assessment. For more information, click here.
Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains
