My children have an abundance of opportunity compared to the generations before them. They have numerous LEGO sets, more that one pair of sneakers, they have three meals a day and they have plenty of time to enjoy their childhood, sheltered from the reality of the adult world. Could they really want for more? Most of my extended family and friends children are similarly privileged making the thought of yet another consumable wrapped in colourful paper at birthdays and celebrations almost unpalatable. What about the experience of Sydney Annual Family Passes
Sydney Attractions : Annual Family Passes
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A few years ago we decided to move away from providing additional consumables when it came to gifting and started sourcing experiences such as football club memberships, zoo passes, restaurant vouchers and theatre tickets. They were well received, my brother commented that it was “the best present ever“. The key is to match the experience to the person.
When it comes to gifting experiences for your family or friends with children you are spoilt for choice when it comes to Sydney experiences. To help you I have rounded up over a dozen to give you a head start on your next birthday celebration! Which would you love yourself?
Sydney Living Museums
The Sydney Living Museums boast some of our family’s favourite museums and historic houses – 12 overall including Elizabeth Farm, Hyde Park Barracks, Justice & Police Museum, Rouse Hill House & Farm, Vaucluse Farm and Susannah Place Museum! Each provides a different glimpse back into Sydney’s history and are mostly child-friendly.
A Sydney Living Museums Duo Annual Membership currently costs $144.00 a year and includes up to 4 children. It provides access to all living museums as well as special member events. Bargain!
Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum has become one of our favourite haunts of late with an amazing fleet of ships that you can explore. As the national centre for maritime collections, exhibitions, research and archaeology, the Australian National Maritime Museum also showcases a changing program of stimulating exhibitions and events throughout the year which members can access anytime.
An annual family pass to the Australian National Maritime Museum for 2 adults and up to 4 children is currently $130.00.
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) incorporates the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and the Discovery Centre in Castle Hill (currently closed for refurbishment). The Powerhouse continues to be a location that we head back to a few times a year so the kids can enjoy some hands-on science. A night tour of Sydney Observatory is currently on our Bucket List – we just need a warm, clear night to make it happen!
MAAS Annually Membership $115.00 (current deal for $95.00) two adult + two children. The membership shares reciprocal benefits with a number of locations.
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is the perfect rainy day destination offering a range of exhibits to satisfy all interests. As Australia’s oldest museum, the site boasts both zoological and anthropological collections that will inspire your kids to think, explore and perhaps even start to curate. I’ve been visiting the skeleton gallery since I was a little girl and have loved introducing it to my kids.
Australian Museum offers Family membership for 2 adult and their children from $98.00. Membership provides reciprocal benefits to the National Museum of Australia, Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, Museum Victoria and South Australian Museum. Please note, that the Australia Museum is free for children under the age of 18.
Merlin Annual Pass
A couple of years ago now I was the recipient of a family annual Merlin Pass. It was the BEST prize I think I’ve ever won as it gave us unlimited access to one of our favourite Sydney destinations – SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium plus the full suite of Merlin destinations. Every time a weekend would roll up and we were unsure where to go we would whip out our card. It’s an amazing little package.
Merlin Annual Pass is available for $79.00 per person for a family of 2 adults + children and includes access to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye, Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary and Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures. It also provides access to a number of sites interstate. Merlin runs a promotion twice a year where passes are a little cheaper if you can wait for the release.
Taronga Zoo
Whenever I have friends or family visiting from outside Sydney they usually insist that we plan a trip to Taronga Zoo. It is one of our most famous locations, offering unrivalled views across our city including both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as numerous exhibits where you can see a number of animals from the far reaches of the world. What’s more, Taronga Zoo is a non-for-profit organisation pouring all revenue back into animal conservation and research.
A Taronga Zoo pass is an amazing gift offering the recipient unlimited entry to both Taronga Zoo and the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. It also extends to the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth Zoos. Currently, a $99.00 adult pass comes with a maximum of 2 free child passes per adult or concession annual pass.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale Wildlife Park boasts the world’s largest collection of Australian native animals and offers visitors the opportunity to come up close to almost all of them. Each time we visit we learn a little more about Australian animals with a number of roaming staff on site to answer all our questions.
Featherdale Wildlife Park offers a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children for $200.00. Please note, that whilst Featherdale Wildlife Park is committed to animal and environmental education, it a for-profit attraction.
Art Gallery NSW
Over the last year or two, my daughter has become increasingly interested in art and enjoys a day out to walk through the latest exhibits and identify her favourite pieces. Looking at art is good for kids so it has been an interest that I’m quite happy to invest in.
Whilst the Art Gallery NSW is free, you can sign up for a family annual membership for 2 adults and 2 children which will give you access to the members lounge, free access to all paid exhibits on special member viewing days and a bevy of other benefits including assisting to increase the gallery’s pieces.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Armed with a sketchbook and a pencil case of pencils, entering the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia always overwhelms my youngest Miss. She adores the space and creates her own narratives about the artwork before finding her own space and sketching what she sees. Art Galleries truly inspire and are a great place to take the kids on any day.
Whilst the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is always free for children, a dual membership for the family, starting at $160.00, provides unlimited FREE entry to all ticketed MCA exhibitions, exclusive invitations to exhibition tours and previews, bonus MCAStore shopping opportunities and other special offers, and reciprocal benefits at both the National Gallery Australia, Canberra and the National Gallery Victoria, Melbourne. What’s more, your membership supports the gallery in their quest to bring the best contemporary art to the public.
Luna Park
Luna Park is a Sydney institution having entertained the young and old for decades with it’s plethora of amusement rides and sideshows. Even on a rainy day, kids of all ages flock to the Coney Island area to ride the slides and walk the bouncing rails.
Annual passes to Luna Park are available individually from $99.00 per person.
Calmsley Hill City Farm
If you’re worried that your kids seriously think that milk comes from a carton or that wool grows on trees, a trip to a farm should probably be on the cards. The closest place to head if you’re based in Sydney is Calmsley Hill City Farm, a working farm that offers visitors the chance to milk a cow, shear a sheep (if you are lucky), feed the baby animals and take a tractor ride. On weekends and school holidays, you can also catch a number of shows throughout the day.
Annual family passes to Calmsley Hill City Farm are available from $195 (2 Adults and up to 3 children).
360 Card – Swimmer Delight
Most swimming pools across Sydney offer annual membership for visitors. If you are in the CBD or would love to explore the pools within the area, the 360 card is for you providing access to the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool in the Domain, Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills, Victoria Park Pool in Camperdown, Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic & Fitness Centre in College street and the Ian Thorpe Aquatic & Fitness Centre in Ultimo. How awesome is that!
The 360 card provides access to all five sites and use of facilities (some age restrictions apply) and Group Fitness classes including Learn to Swim classes. It is designed for the whole family to enjoy. From $89.30 a fortnight. Membership covers two adults and two children under 17 years old.
Sydney Opera House
While not technically an annual pass, the Sydney Opera House does offer the option to buy gift vouchers. Having received one a handful of years ago, it actually kickstarted my movement to purchasing experiences for others. The Sydney Opera House offers a range of great family theatre shows throughout the year as well as the much loved Sydney Opera House Junior Tour.
Sydney Opera House gift vouchers can be purchased from $50.00 and are valid for 12 months. Head to the Sydney Opera House order page for more details.
Raging Waters
On our last trip to the Gold Coast in Queensland, the kids demanded that we include Raging Waters on our itinerary. It quickly became their favourite attraction and we headed back for a second day of fun in the water. When we heard that it was coming to Sydney, we were all extremely excited although our travel plans have so far interfered with us attending.
This September, Raging Waters Sydney will open for the 2021/2022. It’s a great place to head to when the days are super hot with Wet’n’Wild open every single day of summer. The youngest family members will love Nickelodeon Beach while the older ones will have fun on the slides and attractions. You’ll find me floating around in the wave pool!
Season passes to Raging Waters will be available later in the year.
State Library of NSW
Whilst most suburbs boast their own library, the State Library of NSW is very special. With history dating back to 1826, it is reputed to be Australia’s oldest public library and has within its collection, all types of curiosities which you can even access with the Curio App. We try to explore the State Library of NSW a few times a year and get a real kick out of spotting the World’s Largest Atlas when it is out on display.
A State Library of NSW Library Card is FREE and provides you with access to most of the Library’s collections, use of most of the e-resources including ebooks from anywhere, access to the library computers and the ability to book your own reading room. Bliss!
Sport Club Membership
For the last few years I have gifted my brother his annual North Melbourne Football Club membership. He loves receiving his new keyring and access to their home games and I am certain it is the gift he most loves receiving each year. If you have a sports mad kid in your house, junior club memberships are a wonderful gift. You can choose from a NRL membership, A-League membership, AFL membership or even a NBL membership. Click the link and choose your club – almost every club offers some great inclusions for their junior members.
I’m certain the above isn’t an exhaustive list of the annual family passes available around Sydney. What have I missed? What would you add?
Updated April 2019
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Sydney with Kids Resources
Looking for even MORE things to do in Sydney? Click on our resources below:
The best things to do in Sydney with Kids : We provide you with a plethora of activities that will keep you and your kids busy. From quick trips to overnight experiences, you’ll love this list of goodies!
Looking for a wildlife adventure? We have created the ultimate list of Australian Zoos and Wildlfe Parks for your reference. Want something a little more personal? What about one of Sydney’s Animal Encounter experiences where you can touch, feed and even care for some of Sydney’s zoo and wildlife animals?
Of course, when the sun is out you might like to head to one of Sydney’s Water Parks with the kids or even better, one of Sydney’s Best Beaches!
This one is a little scary, but we know some families love seeking out the unusual. How about one or two of Sydney’s Most Haunted places?
Fruit picking is one of our most favourite family experiences. Check out our Sydney Fruit Picking resource so you can head out this weekend!
Get out of the city this weekend and head for a Farm Stay near Sydney.
What about heading to a festival? We’ve pulled together an annual calendar of festivals across Sydney.