The Ultimate Weekend Away in Blacktown

This multicultural enclave has everything from cultural experiences to adrenalin-pumping activities. Spend the weekend encountering exotic animals, becoming a race car driver or indulging in delicious night food markets. Spend the weekend in Blacktown and discover what this area is all about.

Saturday

Morning

• In the warmer months (November to April), head straight for Raging Waters Sydney (entry from $54.99 per person). Enjoy thrilling waterslides, a wave pool, peaceful lagoons and sunny cabanas at this sprawling water park.
• Alternatively, visit one of Western Sydney’s world class animal parks. Sydney Zoo ($49.99 for adults and $19.99 for children) is home to more than 4,000 native and exotic animals. Featherdale Wildlife Park ($44 for adults and $28 for children) is a quiet, interactive park where you can feed kangaroos and pat koalas.

Afternoon

• Feel the need for speed at Eastern Creek Karting (from $45 per person). Spread over 30 hectares, there are multiple track options for all levels of experience with state-of-the-art karts racing at up to 80km/h.
• Take things up a notch at Sydney Motorsport Park, where you can get behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar or a Lamborghini for a few laps on the track (from $220).

Night

• Skyline Drive-In Blacktown is one of just two drive-in cinemas remaining in NSW. Watch a blockbuster movie (tickets from $40 per car) under the stars while dining on a classic burger and fries from the retro diner.
• West HQ in nearby Rooty Hill is a huge entertainment complex with multiple restaurants and bars to choose from, as well as the high-tech Coliseum Theatre. You can catch local and international artists performing live music, comedy and more.

Sunday

Morning

Western Sydney Parklands is Blacktown’s backyard, with lush and diverse landscapes covering more than 5,200 hectares. Spend the morning discovering its charms, from the excellent Bungarribee Playground to the Wylde mountain bike tracks, gentle walking trails, huge dog exercise area

Where to stay

Atura Blacktown – colourful, stylish and very family-friendly, Atura Blacktown is a great base for a weekend away. It has a quirky, industrial feel, lots of fun communal spaces, handy kitchenettes in the rooms, and is close to all the major Blackton attractions. From $258 per night.