The Best Of Spring For Kids & Families In Sydney 2017

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

Sydney's Spring-time calendar is looking pretty chock-a-block for kids and families! Whether you're looking to soak up the atmosphere from a fabulous festival or want to breathe in the fresh air at one of our city's best Botanic gardens, we've got you covered with places to go and things to do.

Don't step into September without browsing through this list:

1. Fabulous FREE Festivals

There are SO many is Sydney this Spring that we had to compile a whole separate list for you! Some of our favourites include Taste of Coogee, happening on the first weekend of Spring offering delicious food and wine at Coogee Oval, and Festival of the Winds where you can make and fly a spectacular kite at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. In October you simply cannot miss Kidtopia, a total children's paradise full of farm animals, kid's music, market stalls, magic shows and oh so much more. 

2. Cool Kid's Shows

Kid's shows are always big on the entertainment factor! Puppeteria presents a host of shows at their Castle Cove theatre throughout Spring including 'Doctor Dolittle's African Safari' + 'The Princess and the Pea'. Older children, in particular, will love the age-appropriate Shows For Young People happening in the Eastern Suburbs, and the whole family will be entertained when Horrible Histories: The Best Of Barmy Britain takes to the stage, introducing you to the most famous, infamous and dangerous characters in British history! You can find all the best upcoming kid's shows here. 

3. Perfect Playgrounds

'Tis the perfect time of year for outdoor play! We've got a tonne of great playgrounds for you to visit this Springtime: have a nature-filled playtime in the imaginative Lizard Log playground, little train and plane lovers will love this Clarendon playground where you can watch trains pass by, have a paddle and a bite to eat at the onsite cafe at Carrs Bush park and playground, or go for nature walks and feed the ducks at the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens playground. 

4. Amazing Animal Experiences

Springtime means there might be some baby animals born in our favourite Sydney animal parks! Head to Featherdale Wildlife Park for Koala Breakfasts and up-close encounters with reptiles and furry mammals, or go on a penguin expedition and splash around in the touch pool at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Take a trip to Taronga Zoo for a huge collection of all sorts of animals and the awesome Lemur Forest playground, or head to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo to experience their self-propelled wild flight ride where you can soar above the zoo's aviary. 

5. Get A Culture Fix

Sydney is packed with family-friendly museums, so get to one (or all of them!) this Spring! Kids and families will love the FREE Wiggles exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum, where you can take a ride in their interactive Big Red Car and get up close with memorabilia from the new cast including Lachie's teddy bear and Emma's ballet slippers. The Museum of Contemporary Art always has a full program of family events including Art Baby for mums and bubs, Art Play, Art Safari, and a fantastic Contemporary Kids school holiday program called Fact and Fantasy. The Australian Museum is another great pick for families, they even have a dedicated kid's zone called Kidspace where children are encouraged to touch and grab!

6. Gorgeous Gardens

Centennial Parklands is a fantastic spot for families to spend the Spring, with a great school holiday program on offer and their new Wild Play garden expected to open soon. Spring holiday activities at the parklands include sports camps, Bush School Bird Race, Bushrangers, Kids Vs Wild, Exploring Science, Gross and Glory, Chocolate Hands and much more. The stunning Royal Botanic Gardens is not only a spectacular nature walk or picnic destination, but they have a heap of activities on offer during the school holidays too. Kids and families are sure to enjoy Butterfly Gardens, Bush Food Hunt, the kid's show Sammy and Shellie, Botanic Beats, Garden Grubs, Wild Weather Adventure and Hunters and Collectors. 

7. Other Fun Stuff

• Hunt for fairies and sniff the fresh blooms at Sydney's secret gardens.
• On 'ya bike! Spring is the perfect time for a leisurely ride, so zoom into Sydney's best kid-friendly bike paths and trails.
• The best part about the weather warming up is the delicious fruits that come into season! Go fruit-picking at a fabulous orchard near Sydney where peaches, nectarines, plums and all kinds of berries are ripe for the pickin'. 
• For events and awesome school holiday programs, camps and workshops, check out our list of the best of the September/October Spring school holidays.