The autumn school holidays are almost here — and in Sydney, that’s genuinely good news. The break runs from Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April 2026 (with Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April giving you a head start on the fun).
Weather-wise, autumn hits that sweet spot — not too hot, not too cold — making it ideal for beach walks, park picnics and outdoor events. And if the rain does roll in, there’s no shortage of museums, galleries and indoor play zones to duck into.
Here’s your go-to guide for keeping the kids busy (and genuinely happy) these school holidays.
🎡 The Big Ticket: Sydney Royal Easter Show
No April school holidays guide would be complete without it. The Sydney Royal Easter Show runs 2–13 April 2026 at Sydney Olympic Park, with carnival rides, agricultural displays, animal encounters and nightly fireworks. Families can watch sheep shearing demonstrations, visit the petting zoo and explore the famous Showbag Pavilion. It’s a full day out — come hungry, leave with a showbag or three. We’ve got a full guide to the Sydney Royal Easter Show if you want to plan your visit in detail.
Cost: Around $41 per person | Where: Sydney Olympic Park
🌿 Free & Budget-Friendly Fun
You don’t need to spend big to have a great holiday. Sydney is loaded with free and low-cost options for families. For everything happening across Sydney over Easter specifically, check out our Sydney Easter Events guide.
Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery of NSW is a fab, kid-friendly space. The Nelson Packer Tank is currently hosting Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat — a playground for young and old alike, featuring swings, monkey bars, a real sauna and steam room, showers, and barbecues. Entry is free, and it’s on until 23 August 2026.
Cost: Free | Where: Art Gallery Rd, The Domain
Royal Botanic Garden — Alice in Wonderland
At Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, there are plenty of things to keep the kids busy, learn and have fun. These Easter school holidays, catch a production of Alice in Wonderland brought to life — Lewis Carroll’s absurd and wickedly clever classic, running 4–19 April.
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Royal Botanic Garden, CBD
Free Library Programs Across Greater Sydney
Almost every council in Greater Sydney runs a free school holiday program — and between them, there’s something for every age and interest. Here’s a snapshot of what’s on this April:
City of Sydney libraries are running workshops including an Introduction to Ozobots for kids aged 5–8 at Glebe Library, a felt card-holder sewing workshop at Newtown Library for families with kids 8+, and block-print tote workshops for ages 10–13.
City of Parramatta is NSW’s largest provider of free school holiday programs, with sport, recreation and creative workshops for ages 5–18 running across libraries, community centres and recreation facilities. This April the program includes a children’s musical comedy Pineapple People at Riverside Live at PHIVE (14–15 April), plus cooking, science challenges, crafts and sports sessions. Not just for Parramatta locals — families from across Sydney are welcome.
Other councils worth checking include North Sydney (bush walks, eco workshops, spotlight night walks and teen events), Inner West, Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire — all run dedicated programs across the two weeks. Search your council’s website or check your local library branch directly. Bookings are almost always required and fill up fast in the first week.
Cost: Free | Where: Libraries and community centres across Greater Sydney
Festival of Democracy
Celebrate democracy at Australia’s oldest Parliament with free, fun activities for children and their families. A surprisingly engaging day out on Friday 17 April for curious kids who love history and big ideas.
Cost: Free | Where: NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St
🦁 Paid Attractions Worth Every Cent
Taronga Zoo — Wild April School Holidays
Taronga Zoo is pulling out all the stops these school holidays, and there’s genuinely enough to fill two visits. Start by picking up a kids’ map at the gate to follow the Wildlife Saver animal trail — complete it for a chance to win an overnight family stay.
The highlight reel: the Harbour View Cinema is back on the iconic concert lawns (9–12 April, tickets from $29), with harbour views, complimentary zoo access from 2pm, and films ranging from Madagascar to Bridesmaids.
Say hello to new arrivals including Hari the Greater One-horned Rhino and three playful Asian Water Buffalo at Rhino Reserve. The Staying Alive! Live Show runs twice daily at 11:45am and 2:30pm in the Centenary Theatre, featuring echidnas, Corroboree Frogs, Ringtail Possums and Shingleback Lizards. And don’t miss the Free Flight Birds presentation daily at 12pm and 3pm — Australia’s birds of prey soaring over Sydney Harbour is something else.
The Red Energy & Zoo Friends Activity Hub runs 10am–3pm daily, with a jumping castle, food trucks, free face painting (10am–1pm), and meet-and-greets with alpacas, goats and sheep at Backyard to Bush House. For the adventurous, Wild Ropes Treetop Adventure is open daily from $27, and the Zoo Adventures school holiday program (ages 5–11, $75) runs full days from 8:30am–3:30pm. Budding keepers can also sign up for Junior Keeper (ages 8–11, $170) or Cadet Keeper (ages 12–17, $190) experiences.
With over 4,000 animals and 15 free daily keeper talks, it’s an easy full day — or two.
Cost: From $49.50 adults / $29.70 children | Where: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman | Book: taronga.org.au
Australian Museum: “Tiny Vampires” Exhibition
The Australian Museum has a brand-new exhibition diving into the world of leeches, ticks and mosquitoes. It’s highly interactive, with over ten hands-on displays where kids can use microscopes and models to see how these tiny vampires actually work. Opening 2 April 2026 and running through October — a fantastic option for any age, especially on a rainy day.
Cost: $28 adults / $18 children (members free) | Where: Australian Museum, CBD
BridgeClimb Sydney
One of Sydney’s most unforgettable experiences — children as young as eight can scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge and learn its fascinating history. There’s even an Easter Egg Hunt on the Bridge running across the holidays, where kids count Easter eggs along the journey to the Summit.
Cost: From $174 adults / $124 children | Where: 3 Cumberland St, The Rocks
Sydney Tower Eye
Get high above the city with sweeping views across Sydney and an immersive 4D cinema experience. Great for a half-day activity and endlessly impressive for first-timers of all ages.
Cost: From $29 adults / $21 children | Where: 100 Market St, CBD
Sydney Family Easter Show
The Sydney Family Easter Show returns to the Entertainment Quarter this April, packed with carnival rides, live shows, craft workshops and animal encounters — plus Sydney’s largest Easter egg hunt. Running 2–19 April 2026.
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
🏖 Outdoor & Nature
Hit the Beach
Sydney has a long list of family-friendly beach spots for a dip, from the sheltered Nielsen Park to the gently lapping waves of Balmoral Beach. You can also make a splash at one of the city’s ocean and outdoor pools — autumn temperatures make this very doable. Looking for a great playground to stop at along the way? Our Sydney Playgrounds guide has the best spots across the city.
Cost: Free | Where: Various — Balmoral, Nielsen Park, Bronte, Coogee
Coastal Walks
Autumn is the perfect season to lace up and explore. The Bondi to Coogee walk or Spit Bridge to Manly are classics for families, offering stunning harbour and ocean scenery without too much exertion.
Cost: Free | Where: Bondi, Manly, and beyond
Whale Watching
Between April and November, jump on a whale-watching tour to see the gentle giants in the wild. The season kicks off right on cue with the school holidays — it’s a genuinely magical experience for kids and grown-ups alike.
Cost: From $45 per person | Where: Departing Darling Harbour or Circular Quay
NSW National Parks Junior Ranger Programs
NSW National Parks runs guided school holiday programs across Sydney’s parks this April — and they’re genuinely excellent value for curious kids who love being outdoors.
At Royal National Park (about an hour south of the CBD), options include the Junior Ranger tour for ages 6–12, running 9 and 16 April from 11am–12:30pm at the Royal National Park Visitor Centre ($15 per child, accompanying adults free). On 8 and 15 April, the Junior Ranger: Creativity in Nature session teaches kids environmental lessons through art and creative play. For under-6s, Little Lyrebirds explores the local ecosystems at Ironbark Flat picnic area. Also on offer: guided coastal walks at Wattamolla, night spotlight tours along Lady Carrington Drive, and guided bush and mangrove explorations departing Bonnie Vale.
At Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Hornsby, Junior Ranger tours run on request at 11am–12:30pm. At Kamay Botany Bay National Park in Kurnell, there’s a family-friendly guided spotlight tour after dark to find nocturnal wildlife.
Park entry fees apply in addition to tour costs. Bookings are essential — call 1300 072 757 or book online at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.
Cost: From $15 per child (adults free) + park entry
🌧 Indoor & Rainy Day Options
Sydney autumn can be unpredictable, so it’s smart to have a backup plan. Luckily, some of the best experiences these holidays happen to be indoors.
Mind Games Sydney
Mind Games has arrived in Sydney with over 10 immersive rooms and 60+ interactive exhibits, all about creating illusions and twisting perception through light, sound and motion. Highlights include a pink train turned upside down and a mesmerising 3D holographic space flight. A genuinely wow-worthy experience for kids and adults alike.
Cost: From $28 per person | Where: Check website for location
Coco Chocolate Easter Workshop
The Sydney Chocolate School at Middle Head harbour-side is running a special Easter workshop where kids aged six and older learn from a French chocolatier and pastry chef how to make chocolate hot cross buns and chocolates — which they get to take home. Honestly, what could be better?
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Middle Head, Mosman
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Step back in time with an interactive journey through Sydney’s convict history. A great option for curious kids who love stories, with school holiday programs often focusing on science, animation, space and design.
Cost: From $15 adults / $10 children | Where: Queens Square, Macquarie St
Australian National Maritime Museum
Ships, submarines and hands-on exhibits make this a perennial favourite for curious kids. The Australian National Maritime Museum runs dedicated school holiday programs — check their website for what’s on across the two weeks.
Cost: From $22 adults / $12 children | Where: 2 Murray St, Darling Harbour
Improv Theatre Sydney Drama Workshop
Playful and silly fun for ages 8–14 these Easter school holidays. A great option for kids who love performing — and an easy hour or two for parents too. Booking essential.
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Check Improv Theatre Sydney for venue details
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
Kids as young as three can try indoor skydiving at iFLY in Penrith. The action takes place behind glass in the middle of the venue, so even being a spectator is fun — and there’s a camera capturing the whole thing if you want to take home your best G-force pose.
Cost: From $49 per person | Where: Penrith
📅 Key Dates to Know
| Date | What’s On |
|---|---|
| Fri 3 April | Good Friday (public holiday) |
| 2–13 April | Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Olympic Park |
| 2–19 April | Sydney Family Easter Show, Entertainment Quarter |
| 2 April onwards | “Tiny Vampires” exhibition, Australian Museum |
| 4–19 April | Alice in Wonderland, Royal Botanic Garden |
| Mon 6 April | Easter Monday (public holiday) |
| Tue 7 April | School holidays begin |
| 7–17 April | School holiday workshops, various venues |
| Fri 17 April | School holidays end |
💡 Quick Tips for Surviving the Holidays
- Book early — popular workshops and shows fill up fast, especially in the first week.
- Check Creative Kids vouchers — many activity providers accept them to offset costs.
- Use Opal — public transport is the easiest way to get around Sydney with kids.
- Layer up — autumn mornings can be cool, but afternoons are often gorgeous.
Have a wonderful Easter break, Sydney families! 🐰
Looking for more inspiration beyond the school holidays? Browse our guides to free things to do in Sydney and things to do in Sydney for year-round family fun.