We took the kids to Sydney for the March school holidays. I planned the trip with AI beforehand, but reality had its own ideas. Plans fell through, the kids had strong opinions (spoiler: playgrounds), and the best moments were unplanned.
Here’s what we actually did, day by day.
March weather in Sydney is perfect. Early autumn, 20 to 25 degrees. Just bring a light jacket for evening walks.
@junda001 A week in Sydney
♬ original sound - junda
Day 1: Arrival and Tumbalong Park
We took the train from Sydney Airport to Central. Don’t make our mistake.
There’s a hefty airport surcharge. $18 per adult, $16 per child. For a family of 4, that’s close to $70 one way. A cab is around $50. AI told me to take the train but conveniently left out the cost.
We bought Opal cards for the kids, topped up $20 each, thinking that’s plenty. The airport fare alone nearly wiped it out. For the adults, we tapped Apple Watch and didn’t realise the damage until later.
Just take a cab.
We stayed at Mantra Sydney Central. Average hotel, but walkable to Darling Harbour, which is what matters.
The amount of bubble tea shops around Chinatown is wild. Way more expensive than Shanghai, but you get Molly, Yomie’s Rice and Hey Tea.
If you arrive early, head straight to Tumbalong Park playground at Darling Harbour. Massive. Tons of climbing structures, a flying fox, the works. My kids would’ve gone every single day. And we pretty much did.
Day 2: Sydney Opera House
Train to Circular Quay, walk to the Opera House. Must-see, obviously.
From there we went into the Royal Botanic Garden. It’s massive. We covered maybe 10% before the kids started fading, so we headed back to Central for food.
After lunch, the kids voted unanimously to go back to Tumbalong Park. So we did. When your kids find something they love, just let them have it.
While adults sip some bubble tea and enjoy some breeze at the harbour.
Day 3: Taronga Zoo by Ferry
Train to Circular Quay, then Ferry 4 to Taronga Zoo. Departs every 30 minutes or so. The ferry ride itself is a highlight.
From the wharf, a free bus takes you to the zoo entrance. Same bus back down.
The zoo is huge but doable in 4 to 5 hours with kids.
Evening? Back to Tumbalong Park. Obviously.
Day 4: Pick Up Car and Drive to Blue Mountains
Picked up the rental from Budget at Mascot, near the station. First stop: The University of Sydney, which is open to the public and has parking. The Quadrangle is beautiful.
From there, about 1.5 hours to Blue Mountains.
Fairmont Resort was surprisingly good. Proper resort with unexpected perks:
- Ice skating rink: $60 for a family of 4, 2 hours. Kids loved it.
- Decent restaurant on site.
- Gym (which I used, because holiday calories).
Dinner at Leura Village. The main road is called Leura Mall, but it’s a street name, not an actual mall. Good cafes and restaurants along it.
Day 5: Scenic World
Highlight of the Blue Mountains. Scenic World has 3 rides:
- Scenic Railway: steepest in the world. My kids loved it so much we rode it 7 times. The descent is genuinely thrilling, almost like a roller coaster.
- Cableway: cable car back up from the valley floor.
- Skyway: gondola with a glass floor that passes by the waterfall.
If you’re short on time: railway down, walk the rainforest boardwalk (easy, flat), cableway back up, then skyway across for the glass-floor waterfall views.
After the skyway, walk 10 minutes to the cascades at the bottom of the waterfall. Worth it for the photo.
Also drive to Three Sisters Lookout at Echo Point. Very close. Closest view of those 3 iconic rock formations you’d have already spotted from Scenic World.
Day 6: Drive to Wollongong
Long drive day.
Stopped midway at the Australian Botanic Garden (Mount Annan). Huge garden, playground for the kids, cafe right beside it. Iced latte while they burn off energy. Good way to break up the drive.
Checked into Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. Good hotel, but parking is $39 per night. I tried to save that.
There’s an outdoor car park on Cliff Road near the hotel, used by beach goers, but a sign says no parking 1am to 5am. I parked there initially, then moved the car at night to a residential street. Most cars clear out overnight, and I suspect they patrol.
Not worth the risk. Pay the $39 or park on a residential street from the start.
Day 7: Nan Tien Temple, Illawarra Fly, and Kiama
Nan Tien Temple first. Large Chinese Buddhist temple. I’ve visited many temples, but this one genuinely impressed me. Very clean, beautifully laid out. Worth it even if temples aren’t your thing.
Then we drove to Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk. Long curvy drive through hill roads, but it doubles as one of the most scenic stretches of the trip. Huge green pastures, cows grazing. Beautiful countryside.
When we arrived: lightning alert. Closed. Real shame after that winding drive. Check weather before committing.
Then Kiama Blowhole. Didn’t catch it in action (probably wrong timing), but still a nice spot. Big rocky area to walk around. Careful with kids on the rocks.
Day 8: Sea Cliff Bridge, Timezone, and Fly Home
Last day. Morning at the beach in front of Novotel. Nice sand, good water. Kids loved it.
Drove back towards Sydney via Sea Cliff Bridge. Nice coastal drive, worth the detour.
Stopped at Westfield Miranda for Timezone: 60 minutes play card for $35. Kids’ favourite send-off. Plenty of food and shopping too if you need to kill time before the flight.
Returning the car at Terminal 1 was easy. Follow signs for “Rental Cars” along the arrival road, turn right to the carpark, and Budget office is right there.
Final Thoughts
Sydney is nice. CBD/chinatown has lots of restaurants, easy to navigate, and charming enough. Beyond the city, driving is easy.
Just a bit expensive with bubble tea averaging $8 AUD. Yet coffee just $5.