Families across Sydney will have access to a wide range of free and low-cost activities during the spring school holidays, running from 28 September to 9 October 2026.
Programs across major public spaces will include street performances, science and engineering activities, cooking experiences, nature play, animal encounters and outdoor recreation.
The NSW Government has brought together activities across locations including The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Moore Park, Sydney Olympic Park and the city’s major botanic gardens to make it easier for families to plan school holiday outings.
Unbound Street Performance Festival at The Rocks
The school holiday period will begin with the free Unbound Street Performance Festival at The Rocks on 26 and 27 September from 10am to 7pm.
The two-day event will transform streets and laneways with buskers, circus artists, acrobats, interactive performances and large-scale installations.
The program includes performers from Street Performers Australia, giant puppets from Curious Legends and performances by physical theatre company Legs on the Wall.
Big Ideas Factory Brings STEM to Darling Harbour
Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour will host the free Big Ideas Factory on 3 and 4 October from 11am to 3pm.
Designed for children, the program combines science, technology, engineering and creativity through hands-on experiments, robotics, construction challenges, sculpture-making and giant lawn games.
Activities also include science-inspired storytelling and opportunities for children to experiment with coding and robots.
Free Cooking Sessions at Little Chef
Darling Quarter will also host Little Chef from 3 to 11 October, offering free 90-minute cooking sessions for children aged 6 to 12.
Sessions are divided into age groups for children aged 6–7, 8–9 and 10–12, with bookings required due to limited capacity.
Young chef and entrepreneur Morgan Hipworth will also appear as a special guest during the program.
Moore Park Adds Free Animal and Outdoor Activities
Moore Park South will run a school holiday program from 28 September to 9 October, featuring free outdoor games, nature activities and animal encounters.
The program includes opportunities for children to meet farm animals and explore temporary play areas across the park.
Free Outdoor Attractions Available Year-Round
Families looking for activities outside scheduled events can also visit a number of free public attractions across Sydney.
These include:
- Swimming at Marrinawi Cove in Barangaroo
- Pump tracks, disc golf, boardwalks and cycle routes at Sydney Olympic Park
- Sydney’s botanic gardens, including the Royal Botanic Garden, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah
- The Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden at Centennial Park, which is open daily from 10am to 5pm with free entry
- Walking, cycling and nature play at Lizard Log in Western Sydney Parklands
Lizard Log includes a nature-based playground with flying foxes, climbing areas, swings, water play and tracks suitable for bikes and scooters.
With many activities available at no cost, the spring program is aimed at giving families more options for keeping children active and entertained during the two-week school break.
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