7 best things to do outdoors with kids in Darling Harbour

If you gave a 10 year old genius with a wild imagination free reign to create whatever they wanted, you’d probably end up with something like Darling Harbour Children’s Playground. In the heart of Darling Quarter, this wonderland features a huuuuge 21 metre long flying fox, an 8 metre-long mega-slide and 83 sqm of climbing nets.

If the kids fancy some wide open spaces and lush green lawns for a game of tag or a picnic, Tumbalong Park is the way to go. This 5 hectare grassed area is smack-bang in the middle of Darling Harbour, right next to Darling Harbour Children’s Playground. Plus if the kids (and the kidults) need to relax after all the fun, the serene Chinese Garden of Friendship is just next door.

Experience Australia’s diverse and adorable wildlife all at once at Wildlife Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour. Put at least a half day aside because there’s a lot to see - from Tasmanian devils in the Devils’ Den and cuddly koalas in Gumtree Valley, to forest dragons in a replication of the incredible Daintree rainforest.

There’s so much to explore at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. That includes the largest Great Barrier Reef exhibition in the world, teaming with jubbly jellyfish, colourful coral, sea turtles and more. There’s also a sub antarctic exhibition where you’ll catch king and gentoo penguins waddling around and diving into icy waters. Further on, you’ll find gigantic sharks, dugongs, shipwrecks, rockpools and more.

There are few better spots in the world for a picnic than Darling Harbour. Load up the kids lunch boxes, dust off your deck chairs and find a spot in Tumbalong Park, or in one of the many community spaces along the boardwalk on Cockle Bay Wharf.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is home to Australia’s biggest collection of maritime treasures, exhibitions and archaeology. Find it across two modern buildings right on the waterfront at Cockle Bay Wharf. Highlights include entry to the HMAS Onslow (a real working submarine) and deck tours of the HMAS Vampire - the last of Australia’s big gun ships. This monster of a vessel features four Bofors anti aircraft guns and three twin turrets, each housing six guns.

As far as free things to do in Sydney go, a stroll along the boardwalk in Darling Harbour is near the top of the list. If you’ve got the time and want to get the kids out for some exercise, you can walk around the entire Harbour, all the way from Pyrmont Bay to Millers Point.