The winter school holidays are almost here and despite the cooler temperatures, Sydney absolutely comes alive in July.
The NSW winter school holidays run from Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July 2026, giving families two full weeks to explore. Winter is Sydney may be rainy or sunny, but there’s a genuinely impressive lineup of festivals, shows, wildlife encounters and free programs to fill every day, both indoor and out.
Here’s your go-to guide for keeping the kids busy (and genuinely happy) these school holidays.
The Big Ticket: Bondi Festival 2026
The Bondi Festival returns for winter school holidays and it’s one of the best free family days out in Sydney. The three-week festival brings an ice rink and Ferris wheel to Bondi Park, alongside comedy, theatre, music and food. It’s a rare chance to skate by the beach — and for families who haven’t been, the combination of harbour views, winter air and carnival atmosphere is genuinely hard to beat.
Cost: Free entry (ice rink and rides ticketed separately) | Where: Bondi Park, Bondi Beach |When: Throughout July school holidays
🌿 Free & Budget-Friendly Fun
You don’t need to spend big to have a great winter holiday. Sydney has a strong lineup of free programs and events running across the two weeks. For everything happening across Sydney over the July holidays, check out our things to do in Sydney guide.
Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery of NSW is one of the best free family destinations in Sydney these winter holidays. The highlight is the Hive Festival on 11 and 12 July, transforming the Gallery with live performances, storytelling, music, interactive tours and creative workshops celebrating nature, animals and the waterways of Sydney. Outside the festival weekend, free drop-in art activities, kids’ guided tours and a family screening of the fantasy classic Labyrinth at Cinémathèque Junior run throughout the holidays. Open 10am–5pm daily.
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
Museums of History NSW
Museums of History NSW is running a brilliant mix of free school holiday activities across Sydney this July. Kids can follow interactive trails, make convict-era crafts, dress up for mock trials, enjoy garden games and explore hands-on history at iconic sites including Hyde Park Barracks, the Museum of Sydney, Elizabeth Farm, Vaucluse House, the Justice & Police Museum and Rouse Hill Estate. There are also ceramics, illustration and weaving workshops celebrating NAIDOC Week — ticketed from $20. Running 6–19 July.
Cost: Free general admission and activities (workshops from $20) | Where: Various Museums of History NSW sites across Sydney
State Library of NSW — The Curious World of Pamela Allen
The State Library is hosting a dedicated exhibition celebrating beloved Australian children’s author and illustrator Pamela Allen — perfect for little ones who grew up with Mr McGee and Who Sank the Boat? Free entry and a gentle, creative way to spend a winter morning.
Cost: Free | Where: State Library of NSW, Macquarie St, CBD
Free Library Programs Across Greater Sydney
Almost every council in Greater Sydney runs a free school holiday program — and July is one of the biggest rounds of the year. Check your local branch for what’s on, but councils consistently worth checking include City of Sydney, City of Parramatta (NSW’s largest free program, with creative and sports workshops for ages 5–18), North Sydney, Inner West, Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire. Bookings are almost always required and fill up fast in the first week.
Cost: Free | Where: Libraries and community centres across Greater Sydney
Chiswick Restaurant Kids Gardening Workshops
A lovely free option for families in the eastern suburbs — resident gardener Pete Hatfield runs hour-long sessions where kids plant, dig and harvest produce from Chiswick’s working kitchen garden. After the class, kids eat free with any adult main purchased at the restaurant. Bookings essential.
Cost: Free (lunch extra) | Where: Chiswick Woollahra, 65 Ocean St, Woollahra
🦁 Paid Attractions Worth Every Cent
Taronga Zoo — Wild April School Holidays
Taronga Zoo has a packed winter program that gives families more than enough to fill two visits. Start by picking up a kids’ map at the gate to follow the Survival Secrets animal trail — discover how five incredible species use clever adaptations to survive and go in the draw to win a family overnight stay at Zoofari Lodge at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, thanks to GIO.
The new arrivals are a highlight: a trio of Koala joeys are beginning to emerge from their mothers’ pouches in Koala Country at Nura Diya Australia, while two new female Capybaras, Iapa and Zoe, are already delighting families in their habitat beside the Forest Adventure Playground. The Aussie Animals Alive Show runs twice daily at 11:45am and 2:30pm, while Free Flight Birds soars over Sydney Harbour daily at 12pm and 3pm. Don’t miss Seals for the Wild at 11am, 1pm and 2pm during the school holidays.
The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centre is worth a dedicated visit — 42+ species that hop, slither and crawl, with conservation work you can see in action. For the adventurous, Wild Ropes Treetop Adventure is open daily from $27. The Zoo Adventures school holiday program (ages 5–11, $75) runs full days from 8:30am–3:30pm, and Keeper for a Day experiences are available for ages 8–17 from $170. With over 4,000 animals and 15+ keeper talks daily, it’s a full day — or two.
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
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium — Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Back by popular demand, the Animal Crossing™: New Horizons experience returns to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium this winter with a fresh, more immersive island adventure. From 1 July to 23 August, dive into a unique underwater world where characters from the game meet real-life marine life.
Pick up an Island Excursion Guide on arrival and work through the aquarium collecting embossed stamps from beloved characters including Fang, Stitches and Flip, with Blathers popping up throughout with marine life facts. There’s also a meet-and-greet with Isabelle, and kids who complete the trail leave with an exclusive commemorative postcard. Flexible family tickets are available online with savings of up to 40% when booked in advance. You can also add a WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo visit for just $10 per person.
Cost: See website for family ticket pricing (book online for best rates) | Where: 1–5 Wheat Rd, Darling Harbour | Book: visitsealife.com/sydney
Sydney Opera House — Flying Fruit Fly Circus
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus brings thirteen young acrobats to the Playhouse at the Sydney Opera House for a high-energy show Pay No Attention mixing circus skills, comedy and sleight of hand. Running 4–11 July with multiple sessions daily (Auslan-interpreted performance 10 July, audio-described 5 July).
In YOU & ME and The Land of Lost Things, the team behind the 13-, 26-, 52-, 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses brings Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope’s brilliantly bonkers book to the stage in a hilarious new theatrical adventure for children aged 6+ and their adults. Get ready for action, imagination and extremely questionable navigation. And whatever you do… don’t lose your ticket!
Cost: Shows from $39.90–$49.90 | Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point |Book: sydneyoperahouse.com
ACO Families — Pinocchio
The Australian Chamber Orchestra brings Pinocchio to life at ACO On The Pier in a 30-minute performance reimagined by award-winning playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer with live strings and percussion. After the show, kids can meet the musicians — a brilliant introduction to live classical music. Free creative play activities run in the foyer before and after each performance, with views of Sydney Harbour as the backdrop. Recommended for children aged 3 – 8 and their families
Cost: $42 per ticket for adults or child 2 years and over | Where: ACO On The Pier, Walsh Bay | Book: aco.com.au
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. Winter is actually a great time to climb, with clear skies and cooler temperatures making for a comfortable ascent.
Cost: From $174 adults / $124 children | Where: 3 Cumberland St, The Rocks | Book: bridgeclimb.com
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 | Book: sydneytower.com.au
🍃 Outdoor & Nature
Whale Watching
July is prime whale watching season — the peak of the humpback and southern right whale migration along the NSW coast. Over 40,000 whales make their way north between May and November, and July sightings are almost guaranteed. It’s a genuinely magical experience for kids and grown-ups alike.
Cost: From $45 per person | Where: Departing Darling Harbour or Circular Quay
Bastille Festival — The Rocks
Le quatorze juillet! The Bastille Festival transforms The Rocks into a slice of France from July 16 – 19, with French food and wine, street entertainment, market stalls, and more. It’s a lively, atmospheric day out that feels unlike anything else in the Sydney winter calendar — and kids love the theatrical atmosphere.
Cost: Free entry | Where: The Rocks, Sydney CBD
NSW National Parks Junior Ranger Programs
NSW National Parks runs guided school holiday programs across Sydney’s parks in July. At Royal National Park (about an hour south of the CBD), Junior Ranger tours run for ages 6–12 with guided bushwalks, nature explorations and coastal walks at Wattamolla. At Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Hornsby, Junior Ranger programs run at Bobbin Head. Winter is a beautiful time in the national parks — clear skies, manageable temperatures and far fewer crowds than summer. There’s also free NAIDOC sessions at various National Parks as well. Bookings essential — call 1300 072 757 or book at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.
Cost: From $15 per child (adults free) + park entry | Where: Royal National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase
Coastal Walks
Winter is genuinely one of the best seasons for a coastal walk in Sydney. The Bondi to Coogee walk or Spit Bridge to Manly are classics for families, with crisp air, brilliant light and far fewer people than the summer months. Pack a windproof layer and stop for a hot chocolate along the way.
Cost: Free | Where: Bondi, Manly, and beyond
Kids Playgrounds
Winter is a great time of year to discover a new playground. Don’t have to worry about kids burning themselves on hot playground equipment. Our Sydney Playgrounds guide has the best spots across the city.
Cost: From $45 per person | Where: Departing Darling Harbour or Circular Quay
🌧 Indoor & Rainy Day Options
Sydney winters can be grey and chilly, so it’s worth having a solid indoor list. Luckily, this July is particularly well-stocked.
Australian National Maritime Museum
Ships, submarines and hands-on exhibits make this a perennial favourite for curious kids. The museum runs dedicated school holiday programs across the two weeks — check their website for what’s on. The HMAS Onslow submarine is always a hit.
Cost: From $22 adults / $12 children | Where: 2 Murray St, Darling Harbour
Children’s International Film Festival
Young film buffs will love the Children’s International Film Festival at Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, running across the winter school holidays. A curated selection of international films for kids — a brilliant alternative to the multiplex for families who want something a little different.
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
Sydney Dance Company Workshops
Sydney Dance Company’s winter school holiday workshops run 6–17 July for kids and teens aged 5–18, covering Commercial & Street Dance, Musical Theatre, Classical & Contemporary and All Styles. Sessions run across their Wharf studios in Walsh Bay and in Pennant Hills, with afternoon, two-day and three-day options. A Neuro Inclusive Dance Workshop is also available.
Cost: Ticketed | Where: Sydney Dance Company, Pier 4, Walsh Bay and Pennant Hills | Book: sydneydancecompany.com
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is running a packed school holiday program this July built around its Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires exhibition. Exploring the world of leeches, ticks, mosquitoes, vampire bats and bed bugs, the exhibition features hands-on displays including touchable models, microscopes and a mosquito swarm simulator. It runs through October and is best suited to ages 8 and up, though there’s plenty to engage all ages.
During the July school holidays, the museum is offering two-for-one tickets to Bloodsuckers. Add-on experiences include a Splatter & Sketch art workshop for ages 5-16 (7-8 July, from $65), an After Dark Family Night on 8 July from 6pm to 9pm (from $13 children), and a free pay-what-you-wish vampire film marathon on 18 July. General entry to permanent exhibitions is free.
Cost: $16 children / $24 adults (online advance booking) | Members free | Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney CBD
📅 Key Dates to Know
| Date | What’s On |
|---|---|
| Mon 6 July | School holidays begin |
| 1 July–23 Aug | Animal Crossing Trail, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium |
| 4–11 July | Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Sydney Opera House |
| 6–17 July | Sydney Dance Company Winter Workshops |
| 6–19 July | Museums of History NSW free school holiday programs |
| 4–19 July | YOU & ME, Sydney Opera House Centre for Creativity (ages 2–4) |
| 11–12 July | Hive Festival, Art Gallery of NSW (free) |
| 16-19 July | Bastille Festival, The Rocks |
| 3-19 July | Bondi Festival — ice rink, Ferris wheel, music and food |
| Throughout July | Taronga Zoo winter school holiday program |
| Fri 17 July | School holidays end |
💡 Quick Tips for Surviving the Holidays
- Book early — popular workshops and shows fill up fast, especially in the first week.
- Check Active Kids vouchers — the July round of vouchers is now available and can be combined with unused 2025 vouchers for up to $100 off activity fees.
- Use Opal — public transport is the easiest way to get around Sydney with kids, and most major attractions are well-served by train or ferry.
- Layer up — Sydney winter mornings are cold, but afternoons can be beautiful. Bring a puffer and peel off as the day warms up.
Have a wonderful winter 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.
Planning a regional excursion? Check out our regional guides to the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.