Image source Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Rd, The Domain

The Art Gallery of NSW has a collection of Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian and contemporary art. Admission to the Gallery is free, including the permanent galleries: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Drop In and Make is a free artmaking activity for families fortnightly on Sundays from 11am to 3.30pm with a new theme each month.
Art Club for ages 9 to 13 focuses on a medium and a technique and runs for 90 mins monthly on a Saturday and Sunday. It costs members $35, non-members $45, bookings essential.
Kids Club for ages 5 to 8 is an introduction to art and artmaking. It runs for 90 mins monthly on a Saturday and Sunday and costs members $35, non-members $45, bookings essential.
For babies to 5 years
Tours for Tots is an artmaking tour for 3 to 5 years held on a Tuesday and Thursday toward the end of the month. It runs for 60 min and costs $30 for one child and one adult, bookings essential.
School Holidays
Drop In and Make is also on selected weekdays in the school holidays.
School Holiday Workshops for ages 5 to 8 run for 90 mins on a couple of days in the school holidays, with a new theme each holiday. It costs members $35, non-members $45, bookings essential.
Children's Access Workshops are a free artmaking activity running 90 min for children with specific needs and their families and carers, held one morning of the school holidays, bookings essential. Auslan interpretation and assisted access for individuals or groups with specific requirements can be requested when booking.
Art Gallery Rd, The Domain https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/calendar/type/kids/

Image source The Australian Ballet

The Australian Ballet
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney

The Australian Ballet is a resident company at the Sydney Opera House and perform four works each year in April, May, November and December. They also present Storytime Ballet, a narrated version of a fairytale ballet created especially for children aged three and up and run Boys Day workshops for boys aged 9 – 14 with a foundation in ballet: https://australianballet.com.au/kids
The Friends of the Australian Ballet is a not-for-profit fundraising organisation to which you can subscribe and purchase tickets to attend the Dress Rehearsals of each work: https://fab.org.au.

Image source Australian Museum

Australian Museum
1 William Street, Sydney

This is Australia's oldest museum and permanent exhibits include Dinosaurs, Wild Planet, Birds of Australia and cultural treasures from Australia and the Pacific, including the exhibit 200 Treasures featuring 100 treasures from the collections alongside the stories of 100 of Australia’s most-influential people: https://australianmuseum.net.au/ Resources for families to explore at home include AM Inside Out with activities for kids about science, nature and culture and Fact Sheets. School holiday activities can include free drop-in activities, theatre and science workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, craft activities, live shows, film screenings and talks: https://australian.museum/visit/whats-on/?eventType=school-holidays

Image source Australian National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum
2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour

Here you can go aboard and explore tall ships, warships and a submarine (minimum height 90cm, no prams and baby carriers). Permanent exhibitions include the Eora First People, Navy and the Sea Science Pontoon with its reverse periscope, There is a PLAY gallery for under 5s, interactive displays and some exhibitions have Kids Activity Trails:https://www.sea.museum/visit/kids
Every Sunday during term (11am - 3pm) and daily in school holidays (10.30am - 4pm), the Kids on Deck Activity Space has art making, interactive games and dress ups: https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/events/kids-on-deck. The Cabinet of Curiosities has maritime artefacts to touch and discover on Sundays during term (11am – 12pm and 2pm – 3pm) and daily in school holidays (11 am–12 noon and 2–3 pm): https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/events/cabinet-of-curiosities.
For babies to 5 years
Mini Mariners has creative free play, craft, games, dress-ups and story time for ages 2 to 5 on Tuesdays in term time (and one Saturday each month) at 10am and 11am, with a new theme each month, bookings essential: https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/events/mini-mariners.
Seaside Stroller Tours for babies & carers include an educator-led tour through new exhibitions, treats from Yots Café and baby play time in a sensory space. They are held montly for carers with children 0-18mths, bookings essential: https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/events/stroller-tours.
School Holidays
The Kids on Deck Activity Space (see above) is open daily in school holidays. There are workshops, live performances, 3D film screenings and activities themed around a current exhibition: https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/events/school-holidays

Image source Monkey Baa Theatre Company

Monkey Baa Theatre Company
ARA Darling Quarter Theatre, Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour St, Sydney

Monkey Baa Theatre Company is based at the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre. See family productions from Monkey Baa and others for a variety of ages. Workshops are also offered occasionally: https://www.monkeybaa.com.au/show_category/whats-on/
For babies to 5 years
Monkey Play is a playgroup for ages 0 to 5 on the first Monday of the month (starting in February) in the theatre foyer from 9.30am – 11.30am. There is a new theme each month. Bookings not required but capacity is limited: https://www.monkeybaa.com.au/shows/2019-monkeyplay
School Holidays
There are always shows in the school holidays: https://www.monkeybaa.com.au/show_category/whats-on/

Image source Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
140 George St, The Rocks

The MCA presents international and Australian art by living artists and the collection includes over 4000 works by Australian artists including painting, photography, sculpture, works on paper and moving image, as well as works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists: https://www.mca.com.au
For babies to 5 years
Art Baby is for adults with babies up to one year old. Go on a gallery tour before the smaller art lovers enjoy an interactive play session on a multisensory blanket. Prams/front packs and babies up to one year old welcome. It runs once a month on diferent days, bookings essential.
Art Safari is for children aged 3-5 years and their grown ups. Visit a current exhibition with an Artist Educator playing games and sharing stories and then do some art making activities. There is a different theme each month. It runs once a month on a Tuesday or a Friday, bookings essential.
ARTplay is creative play sessions for under 5s. Explore an interactive artwork, sing songs and play exhibition inspired games. It is on Wednesday mornings during school term, drop in. $5 donation per family welcome and bookings not required.
https://www.mca.com.au/plan-your-visit/kids-and-families/
School Holidays
Contemporary Kids for ages 4+ and their grown-ups runs from Tuesday to Saturday for one week of the school holidays. Explore art works and then join in collaborative art-making activities. Purchase tickets online or at the door. There may also be other events for families such as family gallery tours: https://www.mca.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-programs/
For the disabled
Bella Family is available for family groups of all sizes. Join an Artist Educator for a sensory and social experience of the MCA. Visit current exhibitions, the Bella Room, and get hands-on with art making activities in the creative studios. The whole family is invited to participate in this inclusive and collaborative experience of contemporary art, bookings essential: https://www.mca.com.au/plan-your-visit/kids-and-families/access/
Bella Room Open Afternoon: occasionally the Bella Room is open on Sunday afternoons: https://www.mca.com.au/whats-on/bella-room-open-afternoons/

Image source Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences: Powerhouse Museum

Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences: Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris Street, Ultimo

The collection includes history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration and permanent exhibitions are Space, The Wiggles Exhibition, The Lab, Experimentations, Locomotive No 1 and EcoLogic. There are Family Days on selected Sundays either themed around current exhibitions or festivals: https://maas.museum/powerhouse-museum
School Holidays
There are free drop in activities for children and also an extensive range of workshops including Minecraft, coding, Game Design, Electronics and more, most;y fr primary aged children and some for families, bookings essential: https://maas.museum/whats-on/

Image source Royal Botanic Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens
Bordered by Mrs Macquaries Road, Art Gallery Rd, Hospital Rd and Macquarie St, Sydney

Gardens include Cadi Jam Ora - First Encounters Garden, the Palace Rose Garden, Palm Grove and the Australian Native Rockery. At The Calyx there are plant- themed exhibitions, often with workshops and events. The Choo Choo Express, a trackless train, takes you on a tour of the gardens with four stops that you can hop off and on at. The views of Farm Cove and Sydney Harbour are spectacular. In Summer, there is an open air cinema and in Autumn, Opera Australia presents an open air production. This is also a spectacular venue to view the New Year's Eve fireworks. There are a number of festivals throughout the year, for example, The Tomato Festival in February and World Storytelling Day in March: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
Garden Night-Life for Families is an evening event on every couple of months for families with children aged 5+ to spot nocturnal animals in the Garden, bookings essential: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whatson/Garden-Night-Life
For babies to 5 years
Dandy Lions for children under 5 and their carers has gardening, craft, singing and play. It's on Thursdays (except Public Holidays and in extreme weather), bookings essential: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whatson/dandy-lions
School Holidays
There are often family perfomances in the Gardens during the school holidays, for example, The Wind in the Willows by The Australian Shakespeare Company has been performed in January for the past 16 years!
The Gardens runs a program of activities for primary aged children including shows and workshops: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whatson

Image source State Library of New South Wales

State Library of New South Wales
Corner of Macquarie Street and Shakespeare Place, Sydney

As well as the collection, the library has e-resources, reading rooms, free wi-fi, free computer use, printing and photocopying and study rooms. There are also spaces showing free exhibitions: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/
Family Sunday at the State Library is on a few times a year with activities such as workshops, gallery adventure tours and creative activities: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/family-sunday
School Holidays
Kids at the Library has workshops, a Drop in Activity Centre and free Kids tours: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning/kids-and-families

Image source Sydney Observatory

Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences: Sydney Observatory
1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point

Family Friendly Twilight Tours run at 6.30pm during daylight saving and include viewing sunset over the harbor, learning about the constellations of the southern sky in the digital planetarium, looking through the telescopes (weather permitting) and a hands-on rocket launching activity (weather permitting): https://maas.museum/event/family-friendly-twilight-tours

Sydney Observatory Night Tours include viewing through the telescopes (weather permitting), the Planetarium and a dome tour: https://maas.museum/event/sydney-observatory-night-tours/ Sydney Observatory Day Tours run on weekends and in school holidays. Look through the safe solar telescope and visit the Planetarium: https://maas.museum/event/sydney-observatory-day-tours/

Sydney Observatory Day Tours run in school holidays, see above. Workshops and events for kids/families are held on selected days such as Observatory Adventure Day and Rocket Day: https://maas.museum/sydney-observatory/

Image source Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney

The Sydney Opera House is an iconic building with magnificent views. All types of performance take place here including all genres of music, dance, talks, theatre, film, performance and the theatres are often venues for festivals such as the Sydney Festival in January and Vivid Sydney in May/June. Some of the resident companies such as The Australian Ballet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Theatre Company present family performances: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/

You can also do tours in a variety of languages and with different themes: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/tours-and-experiences.html

For babies to 5 years
Kids Music Café in the Western Foyers is an introduction to live music presented by the Sydney Youth Orchestra for toddlers on a Friday in most months, bookings well in advance essential: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/Kids-and-Families/2019/kids-music-cafe.html

Some school holiday performances are suitable for 5 years and under: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on.html

School Holidays
There are at least 2 different family performances on in the school holidays, more in Summer.
The Junior Adventure Tour is a guided tour for the family with has interactive activities and games and costume dress ups: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/tours-and-experiences/junior-adventure.html
The Junior Day Pack includes a Junior Adventure Tour, 15% off tickets to a specified family perfoamnce and enjoy a Junior Lunch and drink at Opera Bar: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on.html

Image source State Library of New South Wales

Visitor Centres

Shop 1-2, The Rocks Centre, Cnr Argyle and Playfair Streets, The Rocks

Sydney Visitor Centre - The Rocks
Available here are maps, brochures, personalised advice and a complimentary booking service: https://www.therocks.com/things-to-do/sydney-visitor-centre/

City of Sydney Information Kiosks
These kiosks provide maps, brochures and tourism information to visitors. The four kiosks are located at

• Circular Quay, Corner Loftus and Alfred streets, Sydney
• Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Sydney
• Haymarket, Corner Goulburn and Dixon streets, Haymarket
• Kings Cross, Darlinghurst Road and Springfield Avenue, Kings Cross: