Things To Do in Sydney When It's Hot – With Kids!

When it’s a scorching day in Sydney, yours kids might just get a bit fractious.

You might feel fairly hot and bothered yourself.

So, what to do when the thermometer is heading into the 30s and 40s? Lots of kids can’t bear being cooped up in air conditioning – so where to take them? And when you are at home, what to do?

Here’s my list of tried and true venues and play ideas for hot days. These have worked well for my four wild children over the past 17 years in Sydney!

1. Indoor swimming pools

We’ve spent hours and hours in the water out of the sun at indoor pools. There are heaps of great indoor pools in Sydney, check out just a few of them here.

2. Indoor Play Centres

Not places we go to a lot in summer, but when it’s boiling it can pay to pay to play. Most are air conditioned but it’s a good idea to check ahead. Great places to go from 11am – 3pm when it’s best to stay out of the sun but your kids no longer have daytime naps.

3. Family-Friendly Cinemas

If you have babies or toddlers check out the cinemas with baby crying rooms, you’ll find them all listed on this site. But book tickets ahead, half of Sydney might be heading to the movies.

4. Shopping Centres

For the heat of the day, a place to stretch the legs in aircon comfort. A place just to walk with that stroller. Shopping optional! I loved Chatswood Westfield when the kids were little as there’s a play centre there plus cafes and space to run about.

5. Beaches With Shade

A great option for mornings and afternoons, Sydney has beaches with shade. Just take full sun protection kit: rashies, shorts, waterproof hats, a bucket of sunscreen (at least!) and truckloads of cool water. My ebook Sydney’s Best Beaches With Kids lists the best beaches with shade – it’s a free download when you sign up for email newsletters.

Just looking at this photo of South Curl Curl rock pool makes me feel cool. There’s actually no shade there but it’s fab for mornings and afternoons.

6. Water Play Playgrounds

There are quite a few in Sydney, check out Putney Park Playground for a start, and also Steel Park in Marrickville, Darling Harbour Playground and Pirrama Park, Pyrmont, and the most excellent Blaxland Riverside Park Playground.

7. Ice Skating at an Ice Rink

Why not? Good spot to stay cool and there are quite a few dotted around Sydney. A hot day could be a great reason to give the kids their first bash at ice skating. Check the list here.

8. Just Drive

I’ve often decided to visit a far away pool or play centre just to spend time in the coolness of the air conditioned car. Wasteful, I know, but desperate times…..

9. Play In The Bath

My children all love bathtime, so in the middle of a hot day we’d often bath for hours and hours. Use food colour, bubbles, Barbie dolls, Lego, and eat lunch in the bath… you get a lot of soggy sandwiches but it keeps them happy.

10. A Big Fan and a Big TV

I try to wear the kids out in the morning and over lunchtime indoors and then FLOP for the afternoon. A new DVD can work wonders, served with popcorn and platefuls of fruit.

11. A Sprinkler In The Garden

The oldest and the best, an Aussie tradition for generations, you can’t beat setting up a sprinkler in the backyard and letting the kids run wild.

There’s lovely water play areas at Pirrama Point playground in Pyrmont.

Look after yourself, drink plenty and here’s hoping we enjoy warm but not roasting temperatures again soon.

Take it easy.

How do you keep your cool in ferocious heat?

What are your kids favourite things to do in Sydney when it’s hot?

P.S. This post updated 20th November 2015 – I just noticed that the photo I made is not of Sydney at all – it’s Jervis Bay… not to worry.