Ultimate guide: 50 ways to have fun in Sydney and NSW for free
Cost of living pressures are hitting hard and many people are tightening the purse strings — but that doesn’t mean cutting down on the fun. Here’s 50 free ways to enjoy Sydney and NSW.
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Cost of living pressures are hitting families hard and many are tightening the purse strings — but that doesn’t mean cutting down on the fun.
Jessica McSweeney takes you through 50 ways to enjoy Sydney and NSW without spending a cent.
OUTDOORS
• Take a picnic to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, with beautiful views of the city and the Opera House. The Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters and First Farm walk is the perfect way to learn the story of the Gadigal people through nature.
• Take on the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, the crown jewel of Sydney’s many coastal and bush walks. Beloved by locals and tourists, it’s the perfect way to work up a sweat in the Winter months.
• Cycle or walk through Western Sydney Parklands, with sprawling tracks and picnic spots, it’s a great place for children learning to ride their bikes.
• Let the kids burn energy at the playground in Darling Quarter, known as the best (and busiest) in Sydney.
• Find your Zen in the Auburn Botanic Gardens, which features a reflection pool, sunken rose garden and an aviary. The pergola and decorative bridges of the Japanese Garden are perfect for grabbing that new Instagram shot.
• The Blue Mountains is known for grand sweeping views and iconic bushwalks. An easier option for families with little one is the Red Hands Cave walk, leading to the region’s most significant Aboriginal art sites.
• Explore the Paddington Reservoir Gardens, a heritage listed site comparable to Roman baths with stunning gardens and boardwalks. The reservoir supplied Sydney’s water from 1878 to 1899.
• Manly Dam is a favourite for mountain biking in Sydney.
• Yoga With a View holds free one-hour sessions for people of all experience levels at Gap Park in Watsons Bay. Just make sure to rug up in the Winter months!
• Take a walk up to Macquarie Lighthouse at Vaucluse, designed by convict architect Francis Greenway.
FESTIVALS AND MAJOR EVENTS
• National Indigenous Art Fair will see artists from across the country come together at the Overseas Passenger Terminal July 2. Entry is by gold coin donation, and features artworks, design objects, fashion, jewellery, homewares, and native dyed and hand-printed textiles.
• Bondi Festival comes to Sydney’s most iconic beach from June 30 with a slew of ticketed events, but there is still fun to be had for free. Songs of the Sirens is a unique operatic experience at sundown, and kids will love seeing all the pups at the Pavilion Paw Parade.
• Winterfest Camden will see Onslow Oval transformed into a winter wonderland from July 7, with three days of family friendly activities and appearances from your favourite Frozen characters.
• Hyde Park is the place to be for NAIDOC Week. The free NAIDOC in the City festival will bring dance, music, storytelling and traditional games to the CBD.
• Vivid may be over for this year, but it’s always worth remembering the city’s most popular winter festival is free for the whole family, with the harbour decked out in enthralling light installations.
• HSBC will host a free ticketed concert performance featuring artists from Opera Australia’s Young Artist Program, on Sunday July 16 at the Sydney Opera House. For the chance to secure free tickets, Sydneysiders are invited to enter the ticket ballot that runs until 5pm Monday July 3.
• The popular Bastille Festival returns to Circular Quay in July, celebrating all things French. Entry is free and features a foodie village, wine tastings and French movies.
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
• See real dinosaur skeletons at the Australian Museum, which has plenty of free things on offer for kids of all ages. For little ones the free Burra play space has a ton of interactive and educational games.
• Learn about technology and design at the Powerhouse Museum, including the Future Fashion exhibition now open. The exhibition showcases the next generation of textile design talent.
• Immerse yourself in culture at the Art Gallery of NSW and Museum of Contemporary Art, both with free entry. The Art Gallery of NSW is holding free kids art workshops for NAIDOC week.
• The Rocks discovery museum is completely free and is a great way to learn about the historic heart of Sydney.
• The Justice and Police Museum tells the stories of Sydney’s crooks and cops. Housed in an old police station and courthouse, the museum is a great way to learn about Sydney’s grizzly past.
• Learn about Sydney’s Indigenous history at the Museum of Sydney. In July the museum is hosting a new exhibition The Peoples House: Sydney Opera House at 50.
• Visit the studio and home of renowned Aussie artist Brett Whitely in Surry Hills. The studio features his unfinished painting, art equipment and graffiti covered walls.
• Chippendale’s White Rabbit Gallery celebrates contemporary Chinese art. The newest exhibition I Am the People celebrated different perspectives of Chinese culture.
SYDNEY ICONS
• Explore the history of Cockatoo Island, which holds a UNESCO heritage listed convict site, Learn the stories of convicts held on the island when it was a jail in the mid 1800s.
• St Marys Cathedral is one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings and the home of Sydney’s Catholic community. Free guided tours of the cathedral are available every Sunday at 2pm.
• The State Library has plenty to keep kids interested in reading, and the perfect place for a rainy winter day. Currently the library is paying tribute to children’s books with a free exhibition “Imagine … the Wonder of Picture Books”.
• The Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park is part museum, part shrine. Learn about the brave Australians who served in world wars, and pay respect to those who lost their lives.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
• Create warm clothes for those in need by bringing your own supplies and joining the Wrap with Love knitting group. The group meets at the Cliff Noble Community Centre
• Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for most kids, but not all adults are confident teaching their children. Sydney Park Cycling Centre holds free lessons for kids aged three to eight years old every Saturday morning.
• Sewing, knitting and crochet is a great way to extend the life of your clothing or make something completely unique. You can find plenty of free classes around Sydney – Berala Community Centre is holding free knitting and crochet workshops for kids in July.
• Learn the basics of stand up comedy in a free class from Sydney Comedy School. Held every month in Newtown, you’ll learn basic joke writing and how to give funnier presentations.
• If you’re new to Sydney there are plenty of free walking tour operators, which will guide you around the city including historic sites in The Rocks completely free of charge.
• Kids looking for a challenge can learn beginners chess for free at Eastgardens Library. Coaches from Sydney Academy of Chess will hold a one-hour workshop Wednesday July 5 for kids aged five to 12.
• Every Saturday morning, Carriageworks in Redfern transforms into a bustling farmers market. While shopping isn’t exactly free, there are plenty of free samples to try from local vendors.
REGIONAL
• Grafton Jacaranda Festival features events from in October and November celebrating the beautiful and fleeting trees. Grafton becomes bathed in purple with plenty of live music, including a special free performance by Troy Cassar-Daley and Don Walker.
• The Bathurst Winter Festival has plenty on offer for kids, with two days (Wednesday 5 and 12 July) dedicated to kids. Think free face painting, games and interactive shows.
• Visit Wollongong’s Nan Tien temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. The stunning architecture and gardens are a feast for the eyes, and just a 10 minute drive from Wollongong.
• The Three Sisters landmark in Katoomba is one of the most striking natural beauties in NSW. It’s also the perfect place to learn about the Indigenous people of the Katoomba area, and the legend of the three sisters who were turned to stone.
• The Kiama Blowhole is a NSW icon for a reason. The 2.5m rock opening blasts plumes of water up to 30 metres high, and has entranced adults and kids alike for a hundred years. It’s the perfect spot for a school holiday picnic.
• KYUP! Project holds free self defence workshops across NSW for women and young girls aged 11-22. Girls learn how to gain confidence, how to make smart choices and how to fight back when needed.
• One Giant Leap foundation is hosting special workshops for NSW students aged 12-15 who are interested in space and aviation. The two workshops will teach practical skills, and give kids an insight into real life careers and could launch them into an exciting future.
• Active kids will be amazed by the historic Glow Worm Cave in Wollemi National Park, however keen in mind the two hour bush walk to find it. Go out, stretch your legs.
• Byron Bay is a summer oasis, but in winter families can spot some extraordinary tourists from the headland, as migrating pods of humpback whales pass through from May to November.
• The Grand Pacific Drive and Seacliff Bridge is a beautiful scenic drive and the perfect way to spend a day exploring south of Sydney. Take a road trip and make sure to stop at the bridge for stunning views.
• Hyams Beach is one of Australia’s most famous, known for sugar white sand and clear water, the spot is the perfect place for a winter picnic – or a swing if you’re brave.
• The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre hosts a free museum showcasing the colourful history of dairy in the region, complete with relics of the butter churning days of yore.
• Kids interested in robotics will relish the opportunity to get hands on with Soccer Bots at Helensburgh Library 13 July. Kids eight and over will create their own robots and then verse each other in a soccer match.
• Tackle the challenging Wentworth Falls track in the Blue Mountains and venture to the bottoms of a spectacular waterfall.
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