Outdoor Activities For Adventurous Families This Summer

Are you a family of thrill-seekers and adventure addicts? Then you’re certainly living in the right city! Sydney has so much on offer for adventurous families during the warm summer months. From treetop adventures to jet skiing, abseiling, and 4-wheel driving, it’s no-holds-barred and all systems go for you crazy daredevils! 

Here are our picks for the best outdoor activities for adventurous families this summer.

The Best Outdoor Activities for Families

1. CityDays Sydney Scavenger Hunts

Get a new perspective of Sydney on a family scavenger hunt with CityDays. They offer immersive urban outdoor adventures where your family works together to solve clues that show off the city. Discover secret sights and hidden gems, and learn all about the fascinating history on the way. You can also take optional refuelling breaks at some of the city's finest cafes and restaurants!

Location:  Sydney CBD

2. TreeTops Adventure Park

If you’re not afraid of heights and are keen to see Sydney from a new, higher angle, book a day at Treetops Adventure Park. The eco-friendly TreeTops Adventure Park consists of 105 challenges in the treetops, where participants can slide down Flying Foxes, move from tree to tree on suspension bridges and enjoy many other exciting activities up to 15 metres above the forest floor!

Locations: multiple throughout NSW

3. High And Wild Canyoning, Abseiling, Rock Climbing

For those who really aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zone, why not go canyoning, abseiling, and rock climbing in the heart of the Blue Mountains? High And Wild offers thrilling adventures for all ages and abilities in the great outdoors. Along with canyoning, abseiling, and rock climbing, High And Wild also offers bush survival courses.

Locations: 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba

4. Jamberoo Action Park

When the temperatures soar during summer in Sydney, there's no better spot to be than in the water. Action, adventure, and plenty of refreshing water activities are on the cards at Sydney's best action park, Jamberoo! Just an hour south of Sydney, NSW’s largest family-owned and operated water theme park features a host of world-class rides and attractions, and the whole family gets to control the action.

Location: 1215 Jamberoo Rd, Jamberoo

5. Barefoot Bowls

If you want to stay a little closer to home— why not stay in Sydney and play some barefoot lawn bowls? A fantastic family activity for those still keen to spend time outdoors but not necessarily suspended 15 metres in the air, Sydney has a stack of great lawn bowl venues dotted across the city, so all you have to do is take your pick, take off your shoes and have a great time!  

Locations: multiple throughout Sydney

6. 4-Wheel Driving

Whether you want to go beach- or bush-bashing, NSW is the perfect destination for 4-wheel driving adventures and the best part? Some 4-wheel driving routes are just over an hour outside of Sydney. Top contenders for the best 4-wheel driving routes near Sydney include Barrington Tops National Park, Yengo National Park, Southern Highlands, and Stockton Beach – just to name a few! 

Locations: multiple throughout Sydney

7. Bushwalking

If you’d prefer to see the stunning sights of Sydney on foot, bushwalking is a great family pastime. Whether you’re keen to make a whole day of it or head out for just an hour or so, Sydney has plenty of bushwalking trails for every taste and fitness level. Here are our recommendations for bushwalking in Sydney with toddlers and kids.  

Locations: multiple throughout Sydney

8. Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures

Another epic adventure in the treetops, Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures is Australia’s premier, award-winning Treetop Walk and Zipline experience. You and the kids can decide whether you want to go on a Treetop Walk through stunning treetop canopies, test your adrenaline on the highest Zipline tour in Australia, or go on a Rainforest Ranger Interactive Trail. The adventures are endless at Illawarra Fly Treetop and we bet you once you’ve visited once, you’ll be back again!

Location: 182 Knights Hill Rd, Knights Hill 

9. Kayaking

Who said outdoor adventures can’t be relaxing? A day spent kayaking on a beautiful body of water is the perfect way to spend time as a family and zen out for a few hours. With so many waterways in Sydney, you’ve certainly got your pick of where to go kayaking. If you’re staying city-side, Rose Bay Aquatic Hire offers kayak rentals as well as stand-up paddleboards to take out for a spin on Sydney Harbour. If you’re keen to venture further, Prokayaks offers kayak hire on tranquil Narrabeen Lakes on the Northern Beaches.  

Locations: New South Head Rd & Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay and 11 Narrabeen St, Narrabeen

10. Horse Riding

There’s just something magical and majestic about Horse Riding through beautiful surroundings. If you and the kids are keen to jump in the saddle, Sydney offers the perfect backdrop to do so. Centennial Park is a great horse riding location for toddlers and beginners and offers amazing views and friendly stable hands. If you’re keen to get out of town for a bit, Glenworth Valley Horse Riding on the Central Coast is a popular spot for all riding levels.

Locations: 114-120 Lang Rd, Moore Park and Cooks Rd, Glenworth Valley

11. Go-Karting

Get ready to start your engines! Go-karting is a thrilling sport for the whole family to join in on, and hey, if things should get a little competitive, so be it! There are plenty of excellent go-karting tracks in Sydney and its surroundings for racing in the great outdoors. Check out our full list of Sydney go-karting tracks for kids to take your pick.

Locations: multiple throughout Sydney

12. Wakeboarding & Jet Skiing

You can’t write a list of summer activities for adventurous families and not include wakeboarding and jet skiing, am I right? If you and the family are new to the sport, there are a number of wakeboarding and jet ski schools that can show you the ropes, including H2O Ski School on the Hawkesbury River.

Location: 505 Pitt Town Bottoms Rd, Pitt Town

Other Summer Adventures

Sydney's Best Playgrounds By The Water
The Best Lighthouses In & Around Sydney
Sydney's Best Ocean Pools

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