What❜s Open on Good Friday 2023

Marking the start of the Easter long weekend, families are often keen to get out and about on Good Friday in Sydney. To make sure you don't get caught out or locked out, we recommend planning ahead with what's open in Sydney on Good Friday.

Here's our guide to what's open in Sydney on Good Friday 2023, including what to do and where to go with kids.

Where To Go & What's Open On Good Friday in Sydney

Sydney Family Show and Royal Easter Show

The Sydney Family Show at Moore Park and the Sydney Royal Easter Show are two of our top picks for Good Friday in Sydney. While everywhere else in Sydney may seem a bit dull, these two epic Easter events definitely don’t slow down! There are petting zoos, carnival rides, carnival-style food, showbags, entertainment, music and more – guaranteeing you the best Good Friday around!

Dinosaur Safari at Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek

 

Looking for a Good Friday adventure that will have your kids roaring with excitement? Look no further than Sydney Zoo's NEW Dinosaur Safari! Get up close and personal with life-size, moving, and roaring dinosaurs, including the mighty T-Rex and the awesome Allosaurus. Plus, take advantage of free photo opportunities, an exhilarating Jurassic Rollercoaster, and a fossil dig. Best of all, it's open all Easter Weekend!

Dinosaur Safari is only available for a limited time, so don't miss out on this prehistoric adventure! 

Watch a Movie

Spend your Good Friday in the comfort of plush seats with boxes of salty popcorn and the best part… entertained children! If you're keen to make Good Friday a super quiet one, check out our list of awesome new kids' movies coming out in 2023 to lose yourself in over the long weekend! Or if you're keen on streaming, a lot of these films are going straight to Netflix or Disney Plus for the perfect movie day at home.

Visit Chinatown

Chinatown will still be hustling and bustling this Good Friday. Take the kids to the ever-exciting yum cha experience, and have an indulgent day of dumplings and san choy bau. 

Hit the Sydney Fish Market

Make your Good Friday delicious with a trip to the Sydney Fish Market! This is their BIGGEST day of the year and will be open from 5 am to 5 pm. With Sydney’s recent abundance of rain, fresh seasonal fish will be plentiful, in particular: Tiger Flatheads, Octopus, Sea Mullet, Yellowtail Kingfish and Ocean Jacket!

Visit Some Creatures

Make the most of all the amazing attractions Sydney has to offer by visiting one this Good Friday! Are sea creatures your thing? Check out SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium at the stunning Darling Harbour for some all-Aussie marine life or WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo for some Australian faves. Taronga Zoo is always a winner too, of course, with beautiful city views and a great range of animals.

Easter Events in Sydney

If you and the kids want to start off the long weekend on a high (chocolatey!) note, head out on Good Friday and make the most of the Easter buzz around Sydney. From Easter fairs to Easter egg hunts, Easter activities, high teas and more, Sydney is jam-packed with Easter events this year to check out. 

Catch a Ferry Ride

Rug up and use this exciting mode of transport to travel somewhere like Taronga Zoo or Manly. It doesn't matter where really, because this is ideal for little boat lovers. Check out the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and maybe dine at one of the gorgeous restaurants along Darling Harbour for an adventurous day that celebrates the very best of our city. Just check the ferry timetable for any holiday changes.

Hunter Valley Gardens

If you fancy a trip slightly further afield, Hunter Valley Gardens is showcasing its epic Mega Creatures exhibition, and if you visit on Good Friday (or any time throughout the Easter long weekend!), you can expect free chocolate and to bump into the Easter Bunny!

What's Closed on Good Friday?

First and foremost: alcohol! For those who want to really relax on the weekend, you'd better stock up! Takeaway sales are banned in NSW, with pubs and hotels only permitted to open until 10 pm. Small bars are not allowed to open at all, but there will still be a few places around to grab a drink, including The Winery, The Glenmore, Brew Pub Manly, Newtown Hotel, Archie Rose Distilling Co in Rosebery and the Dolphin Hotel in Surry Hills.

It's not the best day for shopping because the following centres will be closed for trading: QVB, Westfield Pitt Street, Westfield Bondi Junction, Broadway Shopping Centre, Supa Centre Moore Park, Westfield Warringah Mall, Chatswood Chase and the Macquarie Centre. Remember to stock up on Good Friday goodies too, because the biggies like Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, Liquorland and Dan Murphy's will be closed. 

More Easter Fun 

Top Easter Egg Hunts in Sydney
Easter Showbags you can Buy Online
Our Favourite Easter Pyjamas
 

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