Image source Cumberland City Council

AUBURN BOTANIC GARDENS
CNR CHISOLM and CHISWICK RDS, AUBURN

There are different gardens to explore including a Japanese Garden, anative garden, a rainforest garden, a scented garden and a rose garden. The Fauna Reserve has animals local to the area and the bird aviary has birds from Asia. There is also an amphitheatre, lakes with fish and ducks, an equal access playground and a picnic area with BBQs. There is a walkway and bike path next to Duck River. Festivals and events are held at times, for example when the cherry blossoms are blooming in August.  www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/auburn-botanic-gardens

Image source City of Canterbury Bankstown

BRYAN BROWN THEATRE BANKSTOWN
80 RICKARD RD, BANKSTOWN

There are shows for families held here from time to time. Also in the building is the Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre and a cafe.  www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/bryan-brown-theatre

Image source Calmsley Hill City Farm

CALMSLEY HILL CITY FARM
31 DARLING ST, ABBOTSBURY

Farm animals include pigs, sheep, horses, goats, donkeys and rabbits. Other animals include a camel, wombat, koalas and peacock. There are farm activities and demonstrations throughout the day starting at 10.30am with Animal Patting, Cow Milking and a Tractor Ride. These are repeated in the afternoon. Then there is a Stock Whip Show, a Working Dog Show, a Sheep Shearing Show and a Koala Talk. There is a kiosk and BBQs or you can BYO picnic. Other events are childrern's birthday parties and overnight camping in warmer months. www.calmsleyhill.com.au

Image source Sydney Living Museums

ELIZABETH FARM
70 ALICE ST, ROSEHILL

Elizabeth Farm was one of the properties of John and Elizabeth Macarthur. It was built in 1793 and is one of the oldest homes in Australia. It is surrounded by a recreated 1830s garden and furnished with researched replicas, so you can sit on the inviting-looking lounge chair and feel how the comfort compares to today's furniture. Also speculate how comfortable the bed would have been after touching the three mattresses, the bottom one filled with straw, the middle one filled with horse hair and the top one filled with feathers and/ or wool. There are festivals at the property such as the Eel Festival.  sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/elizabeth-farm

School Holidays
Activities are held in school holidays for families such as 'Meet the servants children's tour' and for children.

Image source National Trust

EXPERIMENT FARM COTTAGE
9 RUSE ST, HARRIS PARK

James Ruse was given 30 acres to experiment to see if a new settler could be self-sufficient in feeding his family, which he achieved by 1791. Surgeon John Harris purchased the land from Ruse in 1793 and then built the cottage here around 1835. Guided tours are availble and colonial games children can try such as quoits, cup and ball and wooden spinning tops. www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/experiment-farm-cottage

Image source The Factory Theatre

FACTORY THEATRE
105 VICTORIA RD, MARRICKVILLE

Family and children's shows have been performed at the Factory Theatre during the Sydney Comedy Festival in April and May.  www.factorytheatre.com.au/events/factory

Image source Fairfield City Council

FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY
634 THE HORSLEY DR, SMITHFIELD (ENTER VIA OXFORD ST)

FCMG aims to present meaningful contemporary exhibitions that connect to the local community. As well as the gallery space, there is a Vintage Village with a slab hut from the 1880s, a replica general store, a family home from 1880, a blacksmith's forge and a schoolroom depicting schooling in the 1930s to the 1950s. You can go on a self guided tour with a free brochure guide or download the free izi.TRAVEL app to your smart device. There is also a free Vintage Adventurers booklet that takes children aged up to 12 on an interactive tour.  www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FCMG

For babies to 5 years
'Tiny Tot Thursdays' are for ages 2 to 5 at 10am - 11am during school term. Create artworks and explore a new art or craft each week, bookings essential.

School Holidays
A range of creative workshops are offered in school holidays for ages 6 to 18 years.

Image source Cumberland City Council

HOLROYD GARDENS NATURE RESERVE
CNR PITT ST AND WALPOLE ST MERRYLANDS

This reserve features a large adventure playground, an accessible playground, grassy areas, walking trails, a duck pond and BBQs and sheltered picnic tables. The bicycle training track is a miniature road system with road markings, roundabouts, signs and pedestrian crossings  www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/holroyd-gardens-nature-reserve

Image source Norton Street Festa

NORTON STREET ITALIAN FESTA
NORTON ST, LEICHHARDT

Held towards the end of October, the Festa has carnival rides, jumping castles, animal farms, face painting, street performers and pony rides for the kids, entertainment, concerts, dancing, stalls (products and food, coffee and gelato) and free cooking demonstrations.  nortonstreetfesta.com.au

Image source National Trust

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE
PARRAMATTA PARK, PITT ST ENTRANCE, PARRAMATTA

Old Government House was built by convicts and is the oldest surviving public building in Australia. Furnishing the rooms are colonial furniture and homewares from when this house was used by the early governors of NSW.  www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/old-government-house

Image source Parramatta City Council

PARRAMATTA
PARRAMATTA

Many festivals are held in Parramatta throughout the year.  www.discoverparramatta.com

Australia Day on Jan 26 in Parramatta Park starts with an Aerial Carnivale that has tethered hot-air balloon rides. Daytime events in the past have included the Big BBQ, CARnivale, the Kids' Crescent and then a free outdoor concert in the evening.  www.ausdayparramatta.com.au

Lunar New Year Celebrations in January or February are in Centenary Square with live performances, free craft workshops, K-pop workshops, games, kid’s cooking classes, food stalls and a Firecracker show. The evening usually concludes with a fireworks finale.

Parramasala in March can open with a parade on Friday night from Town Hall to Prince Alfred Park. Then in Prince Alfred Square and Riverside Theatres over the weekend there is entertainment, food, markets and activities for families.  www.parramasala.com

Winterlight in the winter school holidays in Prince Alfred Square has a pop up ice skating rink, ice skating performances, carnival rides, live music, a food village, events at Riverside Theartres and activities for children and families.  www.winterlight.com.au

Parramatta Lanes happens across 14 lanes or spots in the Parramatta CBD over four nights in October. There are 45 food stalls, bands and DJs, art installations and games.  www.parramattalanes.com.au

New Year's Eve celebrations spread across 5 precincts in Parramatta Park, including some especially for families with carnival rides, roving characters, family activities such as hula hoop workshops and face painting and family entertainers. There are lots of food options, main stage entertainment and fireworks at 9pm that can be seen from all precincts.

Image source Reverse Garbage

REVERSE GARBAGE
8/ 142 ADDISON RD, MARRICKVILLE

Reverse Garbage is a creative reuse centre where you can purchase materials at low cost at the warehouse and online shop and donate good quality materials and products you no longer need (after sending a photo via email and being accepted).  reversegarbage.org.au

School Holidays
Creative reuse workshops for kids ages 7 or 8 to 12 years are held in school holidays. Examples are String Art, Weaving and Fabric Wrapping.

Image source Riverside Theatres

RIVERSIDE THEATRES
CNR CHURCH AND MARKET STREETS, PARRAMATTA

Many performances for children and families are held at Riverside. Some festivals in neighbouring Prince Alfred Park also hold activities at this venue. The Spot On Children’s Festival is usually held in the Spring school holidays and features theatre, musical performances, film and free activities.

Image source Strathfield Council

STRATHFIELD PARK
HOMEBUSH AND CHALMERS ROADS, STRATHFIELD

The park has fields and courts, two children's playgrounds including a bike track, BBQ and picnic facilities, a kiosk and a rotunda.  www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au/parks-and-recreation/parks-in-strathfield/strathfield-park-strathfield

This is also the venue for Movies in the Park, an outdoor cinema on selected Saturdays in summer, including screenings suitable for families of young children and teens.  strathfieldevents.nsw.gov.au/major-events/movies/

Image source Sydney Bus Museum

SYDNEY BUS MUSEUM
OLD LEICHHARDT TRAMSHED, 25 DERBY RD, LEICHHARDT

At the museum you can see a collection of vintage buses, including double deckers and view the World War II exhibition. Included in admission is a ride from the muesum to the Queen Victoria Building in the city and return. Or you can catch a vintage double decker bus from the QVB Stand D to get to the museum and return to the city after your visit. The museum is open on the first and third Sunday of the month.

There are special events held as well, such as a Transport Heritage day where you can travel by vintage double decker bus to the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus. The double deckers also make appearances at other festivals such as in the CBD on Australia Day.  www.sydneybusmuseum.info

Image source Sydney Olympic Park

SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK

Sydney Olympic Park is vast and includes venues for sport, entertainment, recreation aand nature. Here are insights as to what you can do here.

Annual events include Movies by the Boulevardin January which includes films for families and kids' activities on selected nights; the Sydney Royal Easter Show(see Sydney Showgrounds below) and Sydney Olympic Park is the finish for some of the Spring Cycle rides in October:   www.springcycle.com.au

ANZ Stadium is the venue for NRL games and State of Origin, soccer, rugby and concerts. Stadium tours are also available:  www.anzstadium.com.au

The Aquatic Centre on Olympic Blvd www.aquaticcentre.com.au has lots of fun for families with a Rapid River Ride, Spray Jets, Spurting volcanos, Water slide, bubble beach and Splasher's Water Playground: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Splashers-Water-Playground
Lap swimming is available in the competition pool and training pool: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Pools. There is also a swim school www.aquaticcentre.com.au/Aquatic-Programs/Swim-School and squads www.aquaticcentre.com.au/Aquatic-Programs/Squads.

The Health Centre has group fitness classes, massage and personal trainers with memberships available: www.aquaticcentre.com.au/Health-Club
The Path of Champions honours Australian Athletes in aquatic sports: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Path-of-Champions-Aquatic-Centre
Other activites are Taekwondo: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Taekwondo and aquatic birthday parties: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Aquatic-Birthday-Parties

The Archery Centre on Bennelong Parkway has casual sessions for ages 10+ (10 -15 years must be accompanied by a participating adult): www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Casual-Archery. Archey parties are also available for ages 7+: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Archery-Parties
Laser Tag Parties are also held at the Archery Centre: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Laser-Tag-Parties

The Athletic Centre on Edwin Flack Av offers general training for athletes: www.athleticcentre.com.au/Things-to-Do/General-Training. There is also the Path of Champions and Paralympic Path of Champions honouring NSW athletes: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Path-of-Champions-Athletic-Centre

Bicentennial Park has a Village Green near the Australia Av entrance. Here there is a playground, 400 m bicycle loop, bicycle hire, picnic tables, BBQs and cafe. Elsewhere in the park are boardwalks through the mangroves, a bird hide, Lake Belvedere, the Treillage Tower for great views, fountains in front of the Treillage Tower and a second playground at the Concord West picnic area near the Victoria Rd entrance.
Mini Park Rangers is a free weekly activity for kids 5 and under and their carers. Meet a Ranger and enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and simple crafts, as you explore the natural world. It's on every Tuesday during term at 10am with a different theme each week, register online:   www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Whats-On/Art-and-culture/Mini-Park-Rangers

Blaxland River Park on Jamieson Av (next to Newington Armory) has an enormous playground and outdoor water play area, picnic areas, BBQs, riverside walking trail and cafe: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/parks/blaxland-riverside-park

The Brickpit Ring Walk on Australia Av is elevated 18.5 m above the the century-old Brickpit. Discover the habitat of the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Brickpit-Ring-Walk. Guided tours of the Brickpit are organised from time to time: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Brickpit-Tour

Circus Arts circusarts.com.au/sydney is located in the grounds of the Aquatic Centre and includes a trapeze rig. There is an 8 week flying trapeze course that children can do. In school holidays there are Mega Mix Circus workshops, Flying Trapeze classes, or combine both: circusarts.com.au/activities/kids-school-holiday-activities-sydney-mega-mix-circus/

The Hockey Centre on Shrley Strickland Av has training and competitions: www.hockeycentre.com.au

The Monster BMX track on Hill Rd is a 250 m track for BMX and Mountain Bike riding for freestylers and racers, from beginners to experienced and is free to use outside club event times: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/BMX-and-Mountain-X

Monster Skate Park on Grand Parade https://monsterskatepark.com/ has skating, scooting and BMX. There are holiday camps for kids aged 4.5 to 18: monsterskatepark.com/day-camps/

Newington Armory on Jamieson Av (next to Blaxland River Park) www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Parks/Newington-Armory includes the former Royal Australian Navy Armament Depot and over a hundred heritage buildings. There is an exhibition space and a regular exhibit is ARTEXPRESS featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and new media artworks created by talented HSC students. There is also a Visitor Centre and bike hire.
Riding the Rails is a 30 min train ride around Newington Armory on Sundays: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Riding-the-Rails. The Armory Express train runs in school holidays: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Armory-Express-Train
The BirdLife Discovery Centre has information and displays about the birdlife at Sydney Olympic Park. See the white-bellied sea eagles nesting via EagleCAM when they return every year from May to November. There is a free guided Bird Walk on the last Sunday of every month from 10am-11am run by BirdLife Southern NSW (bookings essential) and school holiday activities include Riverside Birdlife and Walk and Squawk: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Birdlife-Discovery-Centre
Segway Fun rides are 30 min rides for children aged 9+ and weighing 30 + kg with a participating adult They run on weekends and in school holidays: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Segway-Tours

The Quay Centre on Olympic Blvd www.quaycentre.com.au has gymnastics programs including recreational, competitive and Kindergym for children aged 18 months to 5 years: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Gymnastics_Kindergym

Qudos Bank Arena on the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Edwin Flack Avenue hosts sporting competitions such as netball and basketball and concerts with Disney On Ice usually performing in the Winter school holidays: www.qudosbankarena.com.au

At the Sports Halls on Grand Pd www.sportshalls.com.au, many sports are available for casuals or associations.
Badminton: www.sportshalls.com.au/Things-to-Do/Badminton
Handball: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Handball
Indoor soccer: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Indoor-Soccer
Netball: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Netball
Table Tennis: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Table-Tennis
Volleyball: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Volleyball

Sydney Showground www.sydneyshowground.com.au/ is the venue where the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW presents the Sydney Royal Easter Show around the time of the Autumn school holidays: www.eastershow.com.au. This huge event includes animal competitions and other animal activities such as the animal walk, sheep shearing, the Dairy Farmers Working Dairy and Milking Barn, farmyard nursery, chook washing, pat a chook and pony rides. There are shows for kids and families and other show favourites are woodchopping, carnival rides and the showbag pavilion. There is always a spectacular evening show ending with pyrotechnics. Special theme days include Kids Day with reduced entry for kids and 2 for 1 rides at selected times.
Other expos and events are held at the Sydney Showgrounds plus the arena hosts AFL games and BBL and WBBLcricket.

The Tennis Centre on Rod Laver Dr www.tennisworld.net.au/sydney-olympic-park/ has a gym; casual, social and competition tennis; junior and adult coaching; holiday camps and private lessons. An international tournament plays here in January.

Explore the woodlands and wetlands of the park on 35 km of walking paths, and bike trails and boardwalks: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Wetlands-and-Woodlands

School Holidays
As well as all the activities and sports mentioned above, there are additional activities in school holidays such as writing workshops, sport workshops and coaching in gymnastics, water polo, diving, badminton, tennis and free recreational activities such as Sport Star and Dance Star: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do#/school-holiday-activities

Image source Western Sydney Parklands

WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS
Abbotsbury

The 'Lizard Log' part of this vast parkland is located in Abbotsbury with the entrance at the corner of Cowpasture Road and The Horsley Drive www.westernsydneyparklands.com.au/places-to-go/lizard-log/. There is a nature playground, walking and cycling tracks, electric and coal BBQ stations and picnic shelters. Located here is the Pavillion and Amphitheatre were events such as the Moonlight Cinema is held in January. There are also markets on Saturdays with fresh produce, foods, crafts and household items.

The Parklands Track connects to The Dairy, Calmsley Hill City Farm, Moonrise Lookout, Sugarloaf Ridge and Prospect Reservoir.

The 'Plough and Harrow' entrance is at Elizabeth Drive and Windsor Road, Abbotsbury:  www.westernsydneyparklands.com.au/places-to-go/plough-and-harrow.

There are two picnic areas with BBQs, a playground with a water play area and high ropes at the TreeTop Adventure Park (cost). The Spotted Gum Trail is a 3 km walking trail and there is a cafe.