Vivid Sydney 2022: festival guide for families with young kids

Vivid Sydney returns to the CBD on Friday after a two-year hiatus. Here’s everything families with young children need to know to get the most out of the festival.

Families with little ones can look forward to enjoying a memorable experience at Vivid Sydney by following this simple guide.

From catching the best trains to finding places that are suitable for toddlers, these tips will reduce the stress for all mums and dads heading to the light show this year.

We’ve also considered toilet breaks and minimised walking distances as much as possible.

Read on for your guide to Vivid Sydney:

Where: Sydney CBD, Sydney Harbour, Lower North Shore

When: Friday 27 May – Saturday 18 June

Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm, everyday

Lily, Jasmine and Laura Borg at Vivid Sydney Hickson Road The Rocks. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Artist Gemma Ferguson is one of the youngest light artists involved in Vivid Sydney. Pictured with Thomas Heppell, Harry Oliver, Avalon Elsley, Ava Corcoran, Henry Wayland and Lachlan Oliver. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Fun light displays for kids

Most of the light displays at Vivid are great for families with young children, especially around Circular Quay and The Rocks.

Here are a few highlights we recommend taking the kiddies:

• Wild Lights at Taronga (Taronga Zoo)
• For Sydney With Love (Customs House)
• The Light Walk (Circular Quay to Central Station)
• A Mirrored City (Central Station and The Goods Line)
• Shard (Central Station and The Goods Line)
• Ephemeral Oceanic (Walsh Bay Pier 1&2)
• Vivid House (Darling Quarter)
• Bump in the Night (Darling Quarter)
• Checkmate (Darling Harbour)
• Halo (Darling Harbour)

Where to go and how far to walk for light displays

Parking is restricted in many areas and road closures are in effect from 5pm every night.

However, near Circular Quay ferry terminals, a night parking flat-rate at Wilson Sydney Opera House Car Park is $35 if bought online and you enter after 5pm.

Alternatively, pram-friendly public transport options in the city offer the best way to see everything.

Transport options

Here are the best stops and their walking distances to light displays:

Buses

Note: Circular Quay buses relocate to stops at Martin Pl on Friday-Sunday nights

• Alfred
• Central – 100m – use the escalator/ramp at Railway Square for underground access to the Goods line
• Clarence St – 200m for Barangaroo
• York St – 200m-300m for Barangaroo
• Carrington St – 300m for Barangaroo

Trains

Note: no services at Circular Quay from 6pm-11pm during Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend

• Circular Quay – 0m
• Wynyard – 300m – use Wynyard walk for Barangaroo
• Town Hall – 400-500m – use exit 4 Town Hall and 5 Cathedral for Darling Harbour

Earth Deities at Vivid Sydney 2022. Picture: Supplied

Light rail

Note: services will not run between Town Hall and Circular Quay from 6pm on Fridays and 5pm on weekends

• Exhibition Centre – 0m for Darling Quarter
• Convention – 0m – for Cockle Bay
• Paddy’s Market – 0m
• Haymarket – 0m
• Pyrmont – 0m – for Darling Harbour
• Central – 50m – use Grand Concourse exit or Devonshire Tunnel exist for Darling Harbour
• Bridge St – 200m – for Circular Quay
• Town Hall – 300m for Darling Harbour
• QVB – 400m – for Darling Harbour

Ferries

• Barangaroo – 0m
• Circular Quay – 0m
• Pyrmont Bay – 100m

Public toilet locations

• Central Station
• Circular Quay – near ferry terminal
• Circular Quay East – near Allen C Lewis Fountain
• George St – at the intersection of Gloucester Walk
• Barangaroo Reserve – near Towns Place Wharf
• Exchange Place – attached to the building on Barangaroo Av and Shelley St
• The Rocks – on Suez Canal and Greenway Ln

Originally published as Vivid Sydney 2022: festival guide for families with young kids