Article written by Lucy Good from Beanstalk Single Mums.
Lucy works with hundreds of single mothers through the offering of her online courseand herFacebook group. She is a blogger, podcaster and mentor. She also speaks regularly on a local radio station, writes articles for the online parenting community and continually hunts down resources of benefit to the single motherhood.
Sydney kid-friendly attractions you may not have thought of
‘So girls, what did you make of Sydney?’ I asked my daughters (10 and 13) on our flight home from our mini break. These are the words they used:
Big, clean, easy, happy, fun.
High praise indeed … with which I entirely agree.
I’d love to share some of our adventures with you. Especially as we veered slightly off the norm in terms of typical kiddie attractions.
Yes, this trailblazing trio tried some things you may not consider when seeking entertainment in this most scenic of cities.
The Manly Sea Life Sanctuary
If you’re after underwater entertainment, many can’t go past the city’s aquarium BUT I beg to differ. We chose the smaller, more educational Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, and we weren’t disappointed.
Taking the ferry to Manly is a treat in itself. Then a short and pleasant promenade walk makes it a easily accessible attraction.
With emphasis on rescue and rehabilitation, and wonderfully knowledgeable staff at every turn, my girls were engaged and enthralled. And our admission allowed us to return as many times as we liked during the day. A nice touch which meant we could pop in and say goodbye to Sally the Stingray (named by my youngest) before our return ferry trip.
Catmosphere Space Cat Café
Cat café? I here you say. Let me explain.
You book a session (we chose the kitten one, of course), then swing by, grab your coffee and enjoy the fine company of … you guessed it … cats. All the feline coffee companions are up for adoption and the café acts as a kind of halfway house for them to interact with humans.
Honestly, tucked away in Surrey Hills, Catmosphere is an oasis of calm from the noise and pace of the city. After bidding farewell to our furry friends we received a cat-shaped cookie and headed back to the streets feeling pur-fectly peaceful.
The Opera House (and resident seal)
Of course the best attractions for a single mum such as myself, are the free ones. And the Sydney Opera House offered us hours of fun.
The huge sail-like walls and sprawling steps proved great entertainment for my girls (and a real people watching treat for me). We watched the ‘man they are HUGE’ cruise ship set sail and waved at the passengers. But the real treat was heading round the back and seeing the resident seal sunning itself on a water-side step. Honestly, allow some time for this most iconic of sites. Even your kids can’t help but love it.
The Sydney Fish Markets
Just a short journey by light rail from the centre, the Sydney Fish Market might not be top of your list for kiddie attractions, but you may be surprised.
Whether you’re a seafood loving family or not, this is an eye-opener for all. From flame-seared scallops to sea cucumbers to crustations in every form imaginable. If it’s from the ocean and it’s edible, you’ll find it here.
I very generously announced that my girls could choose whatever they wanted for lunch (we all know kids like fish and chips right?) and ended up forking out for two lobster halves. Still we were on holiday and they loved it.
Sydney Tower Buffet
I decided on a visit to the Sydney Buffet Tower for a few reasons. One, I knew the idea of a revolving restaurant would appeal to my girls. Two, it was a great way to see the whole city. And three, we love a good buffet.
Now it’s not cheap, and the food is questionable if I’m being generous. But I’d say it was worth it. I (rather cleverly I thought) booked it for early evening so we could view the city by day and night.
We had many-a-laugh due to the revolving element, which means each time you visit the buffet, your table is in a different place on your return. For kids (and for easily entertained adults such as myself) it really is highly amusing.
CONTACT
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Lucy Good
0427 444 669
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Giedius k
Family Days Out latest blogs and activities for kids, there are certainly plenty of great places to visit across the USA, Canada, and Australia.
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