Budget-friendly School Holiday Experiences in Sydney For Curious Minds

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

You don’t always need to spend big to entertain kids in Sydney. These eight fun-filled ideas will leave them happy (and wear them out).

Open a portal to the past and give kids the chance to get hands-on with history and science. The Australian National Maritime Museum sits right on the edge of Darling Harbour and has always been a family favourite. And while discovery awaits within the museum’s walls, the kids can channel their inner sailor in the vessels floating out the front: go below deck on a submarine, marvel at the machinery on a navy warship or check the rigging on a replica of the first European ship to reach Australia in 1606.

At the Australian Museum, explore the huge collection of dinosaur bones, taxidermy, glittering gems and much more. Smaller children will love the Burra interactive space exploring Aboriginal knowledge.

Cost: Both museums offer free entry to their permanent galleries. Tickets to the Maritime Museum’s special exhibitions and vessels are $35 for adults, $25 for children or $89 for a family (two adults and three children).

The best part: School holidays open up a schedule of interactive workshops and events at both museums. You’ll find sensory-friendly days, activity trails, a mini mariners program and an underwater drone challenge at the Australian National Maritime Museum, for example.