From Toddlers to Teens, Top Activities To Get Kids Out And About This Summer

The sun is shining, the kids are keen and you’re on the hunt for a family-friendly adventure that gets everyone outside and burning off all that energy.

Summer school holidays are the perfect opportunity to make memories with your kids, but the challenge often lies in making activities fun and engaging for children of all ages, whether you're sparking curiosity in little ones or finding new ways to convince teens to spend more time away from their screens!

Whether it’s adrenaline-charged go-kart racing to keep the teens happy, or cruising Sydney Harbour with a boat-loving toddler, read on for your essential list of ways for you all to have fun in the sun with Experience Oz.

From Toddlers to Teens, Top Activities To Get Kids Out And About This Summer 

Top Activities For Teens

Sydney

Picton Go Kart Racing

Start your engines because a day out at Picton Go Kart Racing combines high-octane activity with friendly competition to get your teen’s heart racing. Perfect for drivers 14 years and over, this impressive outdoor track sees thrill-seekers pitted against each other in three 10-minute races to see who can take out the top spot on the podium. 

Sydney Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Cruise

Explore Sydney’s stunning harbour while expanding your knowledge with this captivating two-hour Sydney Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Cruise that delves into the incredible heritage of Sydney’s indigenous peoples. From learning about ancient traditions and landmarks to enjoying a cultural performance on Me-Mel (Goat Island), this is an unforgettable day out for the whole family.

Sydney Wakesurfing Lessons in Middle Harbour

If you’ve got a keen surfer on your hands, a Wakesurfing Lesson in Sydney’s gorgeous Middle Harbour is a great way to take their skills to the next level. Forget watching the surf report - a fully equipped wakesurfing session sees experienced coaches on hand to help teach impressive tricks on endless waves, and best of all, there are free photos and videos to remember the day.

Western Sydney Axe Throwing Experience

Got an axe to grind with your teen? Make tracks to Blacktown to bury the hatchet with a fun-filled Axe Throwing Experience for two that will see you play off against each other in a one-hour round-robin game. No experience is necessary, but there are experienced coaches on hand to help you really nail your technique.

Hawkesbury River Jet Ski Tour

Located just over an hour’s drive from Sydney, the gorgeous Hawkesbury River is a serene sanctuary that can make you feel like you’re a million miles away. So, what better way to explore the waterways and local wildlife than on a Hawkesbury River Jet Ski Tour? Grab the kids (no licenses needed, but participants need to be over seven years old) and let loose at your own pace - whether that’s speed demon or slow and steady - on this scenic one-hour guided tour.

Melbourne

Melbourne City Moonlight Kayak Tour

If the kids are clamouring for something different for dinner, why not serve them fish and chips with a view? Hit the water on this incredible Melbourne City Moonlight Kayak Tour that sees you paddle down the Yarra River to take in a spectacular sunset before being served delicious fish and chips while still afloat. After you’re finished, work off the meal by kayaking up to Crown Casino to take in the impressive nightly fireball display.

IceBar Melbourne

Are your teens acting like they’re too cool to hang out with you? Chances are they’ll change their mind when you tell them you’re heading to Australia’s only IceBar. Located at The Atrium in Federation Square, temps are set at a chilly -10 degrees, so pop on some snow gear, sip on a cocktail (or mocktail for the kids) and enjoy the ultra-cool vibes inside. Packages start from $42.

Albert Park Private Golf Lesson with a PGA Pro

Great for parents with a budding golfer on their hands or those who simply just want to get started, PGA professional Jamie McCallum is here to give you all the essential tips and tricks for a better game. Held at the Albert Park Driving Range, this personalised one-hour Private Golf Lesson will see golfers leave with a custom plan to help improve confidence and finesse skills.

Melbourne Indoor Go Karting

Speed demons at the ready! With a course that includes switch backs, tight and wide hairpins and sunken corners, the pro racing karts at Melbourne Indoor Go Karting reach up to 60km per hour to really up the adrenaline ante. Located in Port Melbourne and open every day from 10 am, get your teens and their crew together and choose from anything from a 15 to 45-minute session to see which of them can take the chequered flag.

Gold Coast

IMAGINATOR Future Playground Experience

From the moment you step into the IMAGINATOR Future Playground Experience, get ready to have your mind blown. This immersive art experience sees light and sound combine for the ultimate sensory experience that’s sure to ignite the imagination of all the family. From battling your way through a baffling digital maze to making small talk with the most advanced A.I on earth, and leaping off a four-metre ledge to land on a cushion of air, this walk-through is a whimsical playground like no other.

Virtual Reality Escape Room

Step out of Gold Coast’s sunny Southport and into a mind-bending alternate universe thanks to the fantastical Virtual Reality Escape Room that will challenge everyone’s problem-solving skills. Choose from seven escape rooms that range from outer space, under the sea or even a pirate ship, and race against the 45-minute time limit to find objects and figure out puzzles. A bargain at just $39, this is a must for any escape room lover!

Surfers Paradise Parasailing Experience

With blue skies above, sparkling water below and nothing but air around you, it’s time to tick parasailing off the bucket list with this exhilarating Surfers Paradise Parasailing Experience seeing you soar 100 metres in the sky to marvel at stunning views over Surfers Paradise, South Stradbroke and the Gold Coast hinterland. Book in a triple parasail with three people for the ultimate memory-making family adventure!

Gold Coast Flyboard Lesson

Does your teen love aerial dives, tricks and all-around daredevil antics? Found right on Cavill Avenue, make a beeline for Gold Coast Watersports Flyboard Extreme to get their heart pumping with a 10, 15 or 20-minute Flyboard Lesson that will see them take flight in a way like no other.

Gold Coast Indoor Skydiving

If jumping out of a plane for a skydive seems a little extreme, get the same intense adrenaline-rush experience without even leaving the ground thanks to iFly Indoor Skydiving Gold Coast. Fabulously fun for the entire family, an indoor glass wind tunnel helps to simulate a 14,000-foot free fall, while an instructor stands right next to you. All this for just $73? Sign us up! 

Top Activities For Toddlers

Sydney

Taronga Zoo

The world-class Taronga Zoo is iconic for a reason - where else can you see 5000 animals from over 350 species, set against the backdrop of beautiful Sydney Harbour? Whether your little one loves African Savannah animals such as lions, tigers and zebras, or homegrown heroes such as koalas and echidnas, this is one day trip that is guaranteed to delight. Make sure to catch the Free Flight Birds and Seals for the Wild shows!

Tall Ship Afternoon Discovery Cruise

Set sail with your mini-me in tow on this relaxing 90-minute Tall Ship Afternoon Discovery Cruise departing from The Rocks, taking in all the iconic landmarks of Sydney Harbour including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Not only will kids love helping the busy crew setting the sails onboard the authentic 1850s tall ship, there are also delicious snacks provided and excellent photo opportunities to remember the day.

Scenic World Pass

Bundle the kids in the car for the easy 90-minute drive to Katoomba, and be rewarded with a fantastic day out at Scenic World. At the bargain price of $58, the Scenic World Pass allows you to enjoy four fun attractions including the steep Scenic Railway, the Skyway - which takes you 270 metres into the sky for epic views over Katoomba Falls and the Three Sisters - the Cableway and Walkway. It’ll be a quiet trip home once the day is done!

Sydney Attractions Pass

Whether you’re visiting from interstate or simply keen to play tourist in your own city, the Sydney Attractions Pass is a must-buy to tick off the best family-friendly sites in town. Get unbeatable bang for your buck, with $85 buying you access to WILD LIFE Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower Eye and Madame Tussauds Sydney – all within walking distance of each other. As an added bonus, the pass also includes an unlimited digital photo pass and allows you to skip queues with express mobile ticket entry.

Melbourne

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre + SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium Combo

Pack a lunch, pop on your sneakers and get the kids ready for the ultimate adventure day out with a trip to LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE. Save up to $29.50 with a combo ticket, with LEGO fiends sure to spend hours exploring the rides, build and play areas, and 4D cinema on offer at this first-of-its-kind Australian LEGO experience. Don’t let the fun stop there either – follow it up with an afternoon marvelling at the 10,000 marine animals spread out over 12 zones on display at the incredible SEA LIFE aquarium.

Puffing Billy Belgrave to Lakeside Return Tickets

All aboard! If your toddler is obsessed with trains, this authentic heritage steam train experience is sure to captivate and delight. Hop onboard the historic Puffing Billy steam railway from Belgrave to Lakeside for a four-hour round trip that travels through the stunning Dandenong Ranges. Kids above the age of four can experience the fun tradition of sitting on the carriage sill and watching the lush scenery go by.

Metartworld Exhibition and Indoor Playground Entry Ticket

Sick of telling your toddler ‘Don’t touch that!’ when heading to an exhibit? The Metartworld Exhibition is the perfect place for inquisitive little hands, with this interactive metal art gallery featuring animals, cars, motorcycles and princesses – all crafted from scrap metal and recycled materials, and ready and willing to be played with. Children under the age of two are free, quite possibly making this the happiest place in the world!

Gold Coast

Tropical Fruit World

Toddlers and fruit go hand-in-hand, so why not sort out snack time while adding to your little one’s eating repertoire with a trip to Tropical Fruit World? Located in the lush Tweed Valley region and home to a whopping 500 exotic fruit varieties such as chocolate pudding fruit, book a farm tour to sample sweet treats, before checking out the Jungle River Cruise and Fauna Park packed full of native wildlife.

IMAGINATOR Future Playground

Experience Lights, sound, colour and wonder combine for an incredible sensory experience that will please little and big kids alike at IMAGINATOR Future Playground. From the kaleidoscopic Chroma room to interactive games, this immersive art installation walk-through houses the kind of awe-inspiring screen time you won’t have any problem exposing your kids to. Great for the whole family, children under the age of three are admitted free.

Aquaduck Gold Coast City Tour and River Cruise

The kids will have an absolute quacker of a ride onboard the iconic Aquaduck Gold Coast City Tour and River Cruise, with this iconic sightseeing vessel cruising the streets of Surfers Paradise before seamlessly slipping into Gold Coast waterways to check out local landmarks. Best of all, kids have the chance to drive the Aquaduck once it hits the water, with all junior captions receiving a free certificate to take home. 

Find more fun things to do with kids across Australia at Experience Oz.

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