A rainy day in Sydney with kids
This is a wet-weather day in Sydney with kids, built from indoor places. Four stops are in or near the city, between 0.6 and 1.3 km from the centre. The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters is 5.6 km out. Two stops are free (the Australian Museum Dinosaur Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art for under-18s). The rest are ticketed, so choose what suits your budget.
Begin with the dinosaurs, then work through the day, finishing at the climbing gym, which is open into the evening. The Museum of Contemporary Art is closed on Tuesdays, so this plan works best Wednesday to Monday. Take a jumper for the museums and spare socks. Check each listing for current prices and session times.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: Australian Museum - Dinosaur Gallery
- Late morning: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Afternoon: Timezone Haymarket
- Late afternoon: Entermission Sydney CBD
- Evening: Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym St Peters
Morning
Dinosaurs at the Australian Museum
Australian Museum - Dinosaur Gallery, Sydney · Museums & Science Centres · Ages 0-17 · Free · 4.6 stars (13690 reviews)
A free permanent dinosaur exhibition on Level 2 of the Australian Museum at 1 William Street, 0.6 km from the centre. It is open daily from 10am. Dinosaur fans of any age can start here, and because it is free you can stay as long as the kids stay interested.
Tip: Open daily 10am to 5pm.
Prices, hours and map for Australian Museum - Dinosaur Gallery
Late morning
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks · Museum · Ages 3-15 · From $0 · 4.3 stars (9256 reviews)
A contemporary art museum at Circular Quay in The Rocks, with family programs. Entry is free for under-18s. It is a slower stop after the dinosaurs, and the listing gives ages 3 and up. Look at the listing for what family programs are on the day you visit.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays; open until 9pm on Thursdays.
Prices, hours and map for Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Afternoon
Arcade games at Timezone Haymarket
Timezone Haymarket, Haymarket · Arcade & Entertainment · Ages 3-14 · From $35 · 4.5 stars (1961 reviews)
An arcade in Market City, Haymarket, with more than 150 games and the PIXEL floor game. Game credit starts from $35. It is a good way to let kids run around and choose their own games when they have had enough of looking at things. Open late every night.
Tip: Game credit: load $35 and get $40 credit. Open until midnight.
Late afternoon
VR games at Entermission
Entermission Sydney CBD, Sydney · Escape Rooms · Ages 5-17 · From $5 · 4.9 stars (1811 reviews)
VR escape rooms and challenge games in the Sydney CBD for ages 7 and up, with some games from 5. Escape rooms are $55 per player. There are shorter, cheaper options too, including a 30-minute VR challenge room at $30 and a 15-minute Floor is Lava game at $15.
Tip: Pick a shorter game if your kids are younger or on a budget.
Evening
Rope climbing in St Peters
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym St Peters, Saint Peters · Climbing & Ninja Warrior · Ages 4-12 · From $9 · 4.7 stars (1757 reviews)
An indoor rope climbing gym in St Peters, 5.6 km from the centre. It is the most energetic stop, so it makes a good end to the day. Walk-ins are welcome, and the listing gives day passes by age, starting with under-6s.
Tip: Day passes: under-6s $9.50, ages 6-12 $17.50. Walk-ins welcome.
Prices, hours and map for Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym St Peters
Where to eat
The Potting Shed (Grounds of Alexandria), Alexandria. The Potting Shed at the Grounds of Alexandria has kids eat free from 5pm, Sunday to Thursday, and a kids menu with $15 mains. It is 4.9 km from the centre.
Kids Eat Free deals change. See every current deal in Sydney.
Before you go
- The Museum of Contemporary Art is closed on Tuesdays, so the full plan works Wednesday to Monday.
- The Australian Museum Dinosaur Gallery is open daily 10am to 5pm.
- Entermission games start from age 5 and the escape rooms are for ages 7 and up.
- Timezone Haymarket is open late, until midnight every night.
- The climbing gym takes walk-ins and has day passes for under-6s at $9.50.
Questions parents ask
What can you do with kids in Sydney when it rains?
Start at the free Australian Museum Dinosaur Gallery, then try the Museum of Contemporary Art, Timezone Haymarket, Entermission VR games or the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters. All five are indoors. The museums are free for kids, and the others are ticketed. Check each listing for current prices.
Are there free indoor things to do in Sydney with kids?
Yes. The Australian Museum Dinosaur Gallery is free and open daily 10am to 5pm. The Museum of Contemporary Art is free for under-18s, but it is closed on Tuesdays. Both are within about 1 km of the city centre. Timezone, Entermission and the climbing gym charge.
Is there somewhere for older kids to burn off energy indoors?
The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters has day passes of $17.50 for ages 6-12 and $21.50 for students and concession ages 12-17. Entermission in the CBD runs VR escape rooms for ages 7 and up. Timezone Haymarket has more than 150 arcade games. Check the listings for current prices.
More days in Sydney with kids
- Your first day in Sydney with kids - The places to start with when you have one day and want the best of the city.
- A beach day in Sydney with kids - Patrolled beaches, calm water and what is near the sand.
- A free day out in Sydney with kids - A full day where every stop has free entry.
- Sydney with toddlers and under-5s - Short distances, space to run and places built for under-5s.
- Sydney with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Sydney with kids: all guides