Just because the weather isn't playing fair, doesn't mean the fun has to stop. Sydney is packed with things to do with kids when it rains, from indoor animal adventures to galleries and museums filled with incredible installations, and libraries teeming with books to spark the imagination.
Beyond the more obvious indoor options, here we've dug up a few more surprising ideas too. Like a kid-friendly sky-diving simulator and kids' sushi-making workshop. To us, it's a win if parents get to enjoy the day out too. Keep scrolling for 19 fun things to do with kids in Sydney when it rains.
Animal Adventures
- Step into an underwater wonderland at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.
- Stay on land and visit the koalas, wombats, and wallabies and Wild Life Sydney Zoo.
Galleries And Museums
- Dinosaurs! Real dinosaurs! The Australian Museum is a must with kids on a rainy day, with plenty to inspire them from all things science, nature, and the natural world. Burra is the museum's incredible new First Nations learning and play space, giving kids the special opportunity to immerse themselves in First Nations knowledge. Entry is free.
- For all the budding scientists, engineers, and designers—the Powerhouse Museum is sure to surprise and delight. Think NASA-inspired space exhibits and family Minecraft workshops.
- If it's a pirate's life you're after, check out the Australian National Maritime Museum. You'll be able to board tall ships and submarines moored in Darling Harbour.
- As well as hosting year-round exhibitions guaranteed to excite the whole fam, the Museum of Contemporary Art has a free kids and families program, which you can check out here.
- The Art Gallery of NSW has dedicated children's trails and activity sheets. Children under five are admitted to paid exhibitions for free.
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Fun And Games
- Dodgems, bowling, laser tag, arcade games, and—cocktails? Yup, that is the vibe at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. This kids and kidult paradise with locations in Alexandria and Penrith has something for everyone.
- Sydney has heaps of state-of-the-art indoor play centres. Planet Mino in Chatswood has the most aesthetic ball pit we've ever seen (and they're due to open at Warringah Mall soon too).
- Sydney's carnival-themed darts spot in The Rocks, Flight Club, has easy-to-play games for kids between eight and 17, and they're welcome before 6pm.
Libraries
- Sometimes the best thing on a rainy day is a good book. Check out the rainbow reading room and the aeroplane at Green Square Library in Zetland.
- Or the secret garden and cherry red slippery slide at Woollahra Library.
- Rockdale Library has been designed to resemble a fairy tale reading forest.
- The Children's Library at the State Library of NSW is a maze of Australian children's books to explore, complete with flying books overhead.
Out-Of-The-Box Ideas
- It may be hard to believe, but indoor skydiving is a thing. And it's kid-friendly too. iFLY Downunder in Penrith is the first indoor skydive facility in Australia and kids aged three and up are welcome to join in the floating, flying, gleeful fun.
- If idle hands have you worried, why not check out one of the epic children's workshops on Class Bento. From Korean dessert classes to kids' sushi making, mindful crafts, guitar, and more, there are heaps of ideas for even the fussiest minds.
Hungry after all that fun and exploring? Check out the best kid-friendly cafes in Sydney here.
Image credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Australian Museum, Planet Mino, iFLY Downunder