The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Sydney’s best family passes and memberships

If you are at a loss for gift ideas or feel overwhelmed by your family’s countless toys and gadgets, why not give your family an experience? Annual passes and memberships are a great-value way to enjoy Sydney’s best attractions and a perfect present for kids. Not only will it keep the kids busy in the school holidays, but an annual pass is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the whole year! And best of all, you can enjoy some family time together. Here’s our pick of Sydney’s best value family passes and memberships.

Something for Everyone

A Merlin Annual Pass will get you entry to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds, Sydney Tower Eye, and Illawarra Fly. The pass also includes attractions in Victoria, Queensland and Auckland. With so much on offer, your family will be kept busy for the whole year. Family memberships start from $79 per person or $109 per person for Individual memberships. 

Thrill Seekers

For the thrill-seeker in your family, a Luna Park annual pass will give them the ride of their life! With access to Luna Park rides, annual passes start from $109 per year.

Stay cool in summer with a Jamberoo Action Park season pass from $139 per person when you book online ($149 at the door). With this pass, you get unlimited entry to the park for the entire season, plus free dive-in movies, entry to the Giant Easter Egg Hunt at Easter, a 30% Discount off Treetop Walk and Zipline Experience @ Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures plus much more. Kids under 4 are free. 

Animal Lovers

At Taronga Zoo, the Zoo Friends Annual Pass gives you loads of member benefits including unlimited entry and discounted parking, plus two children are included for FREE. That's right - with the Family Zoo Friends annual pass you get entry for one adult and two kids (aged 4-15 years) from just $99 online. Under 4's get free zoo entry too! The pass also gives you discounts at the Zoo Shops, Zoofari Lodge, Roar & Snore at Taronga Zoo (on select days) and Wild Ropes, plus exclusive pre-sale opportunities and ticket discounts for events.

Experience a stock whip show and sheep shearing show with an annual pass to Calmsley Hill City Farm. The kids will love feeding the animals in the Farmyard Nursery and learning how to milk a cow. An annual family pass will set you back $195 for two adults and up to three children).

At the brand new Sydney Zoo there is a membership special of Adult (1 adult and 2 children): $9.99 per month or $99 per year when you pay upfront.

Be Cultured

The Australian Museum annual membership provides free entry and discounted prices for school holiday activities, the Tiny Tots program and the Mini Explorers program. Under-5s can also enjoy Kidspace, a dedicated mini-museum area. Family memberships are available for $98 for one year and $180 for two years.

* The museum is currently closed for renovations but you can join now and be the first to enjoy the new-look Australian Museum in 2020. *

The Early Start Discovery Centre offers fantastic membership programs that all include unlimited entry for 12 months - perfect because there is just so much to see and do! Annual membership prices start at $50 for one adult (and one child under 12 months) and go up to $240 for eight people, including exclusive discounts and perks. If you are the kind of family that likes to science together - this one is for you! 

An annual membership to the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences is one of the best value membership passes around. With annual household membership for $115, this pass gives you access to the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and the Museums Discovery Centre.  You also get discounted tickets for school holiday programs, discount entry to special exhibitions and heaps of other benefits. 
 

A Sydney Living Museums Membership gives you unlimited year-round access to 12 museums and historic houses. You can visit Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Museum of Sydney, Justice & Police Museum, Susannah Place Museum, The Mint, Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Elizabeth Bay House, Vaucluse House and Rose Seidler House, or experience country life during colonial times at original homesteads Elizabeth Farm, Rouse Hill House & Farm and Meroogal. Annual membership starts from $75 including free entry for four children, free entry to exhibitions, exclusive member events and loads of other benefits.

Membership with the Maritime Museum gives you entry for the year, plus FREE school holiday programs and kids activities. Little pirates will love exploring the Endeavour replica and submarine. Family memberships cost $130 for one year and $195 for two years including up to FOUR children aged to 16 years. 

For those with a dramatic flair, you can become a Sydney Opera House Insider for $110 per year and you'll be among the first to access tickets to many of the amazing shows and festivals happening at Sydney Opera House, including Vivid LIVE and the Contemporary Music and Kids' programs.

Sports Fans

This one is a winner! Spoil a sports fanatics with membership to their local sports club. NRL Clubs offer various memberships that include tickets to home games and merchandise for the kids. Check your team’s website for details and offers.

For soccer fans, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers offer various membership packages for families. Wanderers family memberships that include all home games start from $440, while Sydney FC junior club memberships start from $40.

Swans or GWS Giants memberships will please all AFL fans, with family memberships starting from $163 per year.

Big Bash junior memberships are great value for cricket fanatics, providing entry to games and access to junior cricket clinics. Sydney Thunder junior memberships start from $80, and Sydney Sixers junior memberships start from $35.

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