For those times when Sydney is hit by wild weather, here are 10 fun, safe and creative ways to keep the kids entertained indoors.
If you’ve never heard the term ‘bombogenesis’, you’re not alone — but take one look out of the window this week and you’ll know it means serious weather. Torrential rain, gale-force winds and skies so dark they turn day into night. When a storm like this rolls through Sydney, outdoor plans quickly fall apart, and suddenly you’re stuck indoors with kids bouncing off the walls.
Don’t panic: we’ve rounded up 10 of the best kid-friendly activities to help you ride out the storm in style. From hands-on museum adventures to rainy day play centres and DIY fun at home, these ideas will keep the little ones busy (and your sanity intact).
1. Hijinx Hotel
This Alexandria spot is perfect for entertaining kids with lots of pent up energy. There’s laser tag, arcades, bowling, mini golf and VR headsets, but its the Challenge Rooms that stand out. Choose from five rooms, each designed for groups of two to six people. Working together, players complete challenges and score as many points on the leaderboard as they can within four minutes.
Where: Building 3, 75 O’Riordan St, Alexandria NSW 2015
Price: Laser tag, bowling, or mini golf: from $12 per person; Arcade games from $35 per pass; Challenge rooms: from $27 per adult, $20 per child; karaoke from $100.
2. Greenwood Snow Festival
This legendary winter festival turns The Greenwood Hotel into a snowy wonderland, with heaps of activities going on. While a lot of the fun is outdoors, you can still take shelter inside and have a great time. From Shania Twain line dancing (Tuesday, July 1) to a Mario Kart competition (Wednesday, July 2), there’s lots of fun to be had. There’s also winter night markets, cosy fire pits, hearty pub food and two-for-one pizzas every Thursday from 5pm. Tasty.
Where: The Greenwood Plaza Rooftop, 36 Blue St, North Sydney NSW 2060.
When: Daily until Sunday, July 6.
Price: Prices vary from free entry to tickets from $50.
3. Grab some popcorn and go to the cinema
Did you know that two of the world’s most beautiful cinemas are here in Sydney? Golden Age Cinema and Bar in Surry Hills has an impressive cinema where you can watch classic and cult movies, plus new releases; Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, meanwhile, has six state-of-the-art screens showing F1 The Movie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and OCEAN with David Attenborough, among other flicks this week. Sydneysiders also love the Dendy in Newtown, and HOYTS, where tickets are half-price every Tuesday at all their locations.
READ MORE: Discover two of the world’s most beautiful cinemas in Sydney
4. Meet penguins at SEA LIFE Sydney
Dive into the underwater world where sharks, turtles, penguins, rays and other water-dwelling creatures await at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. For an added bonus, book a 45-minute penguin encounter (ages 14+) to learn how the team take care of the King and Gentoo penguins, before you suit up and go on the ice with the colony. They’re the stars of the show during the school holidays too, with free raft rides past the penguin colony included in admission (July 7–18).
Where: 1–5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000.
Price: Adult from $39, child from $26. Book online to save. Buy the Sydney Big Ticket to save up to 60% on four attractions.
5. Madame Tussauds
If there’s still energy in the bank after SEA LIFE Sydney, head next door to Madame Tussauds to “meet” your favourite celebs. Where else can you see Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Batman all under one roof? The Daintree rainforest has been recreated in the new Wild Australia Zone, where the Irwins now stand. Admire the terrifying jaws of a saltwater crocodile (crikey!) and discover Robert Irwin’s top photography tips.
Where: 1–5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: Adult from $39, child from $26. Book online to save. Buy the Sydney Big Ticket to save up to 60% on four attractions.
6. Take a tour of Sydney Opera House
It’s a world-famous icon, and you’ll definitely visit when you’re in Sydney. The Monumental Steps have been removed for remedial works, so your pics won’t look quite the same anyway – and that’s without mention of the rain! Take the opportunity to delve deeper instead, stepping into the Opera House and joining a tour to find out more about the building and its history. Tour and Dine is the ultimate experience of two acts. Starting with a guided tour of the Opera House, you’ll then enjoy a show-stopping lunch at one of the restaurants: Opera Bar, Midden by Mark Olive or House Canteen. Book to see the hilarious Play That Goes Wrong afterwards, and you’ve got yourself a perfect day out.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
Tour and Dine: Daily 11:30am–6pm. Adult $88, child (5–15 years) $47.50. Receive a 15% discount off adult and child ‘tour only’ component when booking online.
The Play That Goes Wrong: Tuesday–Sunday until August 3. $89–$149.90.
READ MORE: Review: The Play That Goes Wrong is Agatha Christie meets Basil Fawlty
7. Play indoor pickleball
Being forced indoors doesn’t have to put a stop to your sporting endeavours. Perry Park Recreation Centre in Alexandria has four indoor multi-purpose courts where you can play pickleball, among other sports. Further west, Camellia Indoor Sports Centre in Parramatta also offers a place for sheltered pickleball practice. Racquet Club in Bondi Junction is also a popular location – book ahead if possible though, the courts fill up fast.
READ MORE: Where To Play Pickleball in Sydney? Top Pickleball Courts
8. Go indoor skydiving
Adrenaline junkies, teens and energetic kids can take the leap without the risk at iFLY Penrith, Australia’s first indoor skydiving facility and the largest and most powerful in the Southern Hemisphere. All packages include training, flight gear and a minimum of two flights per person, with one-on-one instruction. Standard flights are 50 seconds or you can choose the Value Package for double-length flights.
It’s safe for ages three and up, so the whole family can test their mettle.
Where: 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith, NSW 2750.
9. Visit a museum
There’s a museum for all interests in Sydney, and many of them are free to enter too. Many consider the Australian Museum the crown jewel of the city’s museums, and it’s easy to see why. Explore its collection of more than 20 million artefacts, including an impressive Aboroginal and Torres Strait Islander collection. The Museum of Sydney, meanwhile, was built around Australia’s first government house and reveals the history, cultures and soul of the Harbour City and its First Nations custodians.
In Darling Harbour, the Australian Maritime Museum offers a range of rotating exhibitions as well as a fleet of vessels you can climb aboard and explore. Coming direct from London, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens this week.
Sporting fanatics should check out the new Peter Weinert Museum at Moore Park. Learn about the humble beginnings and present day triumphs of the Sydney Swans. Prefer cricket? Go to the state’s most historic sporting venue, the Sydney Cricket Ground, to find the SCG Museum.
It’s hard to talk about Australian culture without mentioning the huge role sport plays in it. As the state’s most historic sporting venue, the Sydney Cricket Ground has been the site of many of the country’s greatest sporting triumphs. The SCG Museum, part of the SCG Tour, paints a picture of some of the most memorable athletic moments on Australian soil, with one-of-a-kind memorabilia and first-hand accounts of the people who lived it.
Further afield, the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere is great fun for all ages, but especially Thomas the Tank Engine fans. Jump aboard the regular heritage train rides on weekends and during school holidays.
READ MORE: The unmissable exhibitions and museum events to explore during the winter school holidays
10. Indoor climbing
If your kids are scaling the walls at home, a few hours spent at an indoor climbing centre is the perfect solution — for their energy and your sanity. Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters is the largest climbing gym in the Southern Hemisphere, with more than 37,000 square metres of walls waiting to be climbed. Their Villawood location also offers kids caving. The Ledge Climbing Centre in Camperdown and The Climbing Centre in Penrith both offer climbing and bouldering for every age and experience level, while 9 Degrees is best for those wanting a challenge. You’ll find climbing at its most raw, with no harnesses at their locations in Alexandria, Waterloo, Lane Cove and Parramatta.
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