Darling Quarter playground received it's much needed makeover, and what a makeover it is!…read moreThe sand pit is still there but slightly smaller, but the children won't notice because they are greeted by a much cooler distraction - the water play! shallow water puddles, water pumps, screws, and squirts everywhere! The flying fox is amazing, and climbing play is better than ever. There are a lot seating but we could do with more shades. The only bad thing about this playground is dragging the kids out afterwards and finding a restaurant that is happy to play host to wet and sandy bottoms. But that's why we pay big $$ at Darling Harbour ;)

Darling Harbour has really kicked it into full gear as of late. A great representation of that is…read morethe evolution of Darling Quarter. A delight for both children and adults alike (and the self-proclaimed in betweeners like myself), this is a must see portion of the harbour. The kid's playground is spectacular. I agree with my fellow reviewers when they say it may be Sydney's best playground. If you can elbow the kids off the swinging, rotating disc, definitely do so, and take a ride. It's a surefire good time. And what about the slide? Yes, you can glide down the wide slide with several mates by your side (couldn't resist that one, sorry). During the weekdays around lunchtime, however, the Quarter becomes the "play and lounge" center for the nearby corporate crowd. With public ping pong tables (BYO paddles and balls), it's a good place to get a little physical without turning your business suit into a sweatsuit. And while you're letting your hair down, bring your lunch on over and sunbake in the public lounge chairs. It might just be the perfect pick-me-up to get you through the rest of your work day.

Fabulous park with a massive off leash area for dogs. Tons of people out with their dogs walking…read moreenjoying the sunshine and hanging out at the kiosk. This place used to be a dumping ground in the old days and has been transformed into a gorgeous park. Sydney Park includes a series of visually prominent hills which provide panoramic views of the city skyline and Sydney Airport. There is a massive skate park, kids play areas and some of the heritage of this area has also been preserved nicely. Loved going here with our dog.

Located just south of Newtown is one of Sydney's best reclaimed green spaces. Sydney Park…read more Identifiable from the historical heritage listed brickworks chimneys from the days when the area used to be the brickworks for Sydney, it's a vast green area that is perfect for any recreational activity. Lovely open green areas perfect for walking the dog, and a large kids playground equipped with a large sandpit, climbing frames, swings and slides, it's got everything a kid needs to explore, play and wear themselves out. There's a challanging skate park, and a learn to ride bike area for the kids. There's also a sports oval where I believe a local Sydney grade cricket team plays during the summer months. Lush green grass is plentiful, and perfect for a picnic. Climb up the steep hills and you will find yourself with views stretching to the City and lower North Shore in the north, to the Aiport and Brighton le Sands region in the South, and on clear sunny days, free of smog and polloution you can glimpse the sprawling Blue Mountains and Great Dividing Range. Whether you're jogging or cycling through for a bit of quick fitness, or spending the day relaxing, it's a fantastic park with plenty of amenities. One downside is the toilets aren't the cleanest, and probably need more attention especially during weekend periods. There's a small cafe just outside the childrens play area which serves a good range of coffees and light meals. I'm sure in time that'll get a review on it's own. But with two young kids, it's going to be a regular destination for myself. And with walking distance to King St, Newtown, I'm sure there's plenty of opportunities for a cheeky beer or two in one of the many pubs and bars located along the strip. Or, if you're my wife, plenty of (window) shopping.

A park which overlooks Pirrama Park and Sydney Harbour on the cliff end of Point Street in Pyrmont…read more I think I have only been here a few times but I think that's something I should fix by going here more. It has fantastic views of the harbour and of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which is good for picnics, taking a nap or watching the fireworks. There are a number of benches located around the park which are carved from sandstone which is a nice touch and something different compared with other places. Good for people who lives around Pyrmont to go relax and enjoy the breeze, and its also good for people in general to go have a picnic or just to enjoy the views.

New South Wales' first pedestrian plaza got itself a facelift last year, and now it's well and…read moretruly come back to life. It's favourite spot for local mums to meet, with the sun sails providing shady play area, and - perhaps most importantly - a plethora of local coffee shops for a quick caffeine fix (including Firefly and the new Pablo & Rusty's). Ok, it also means getting past the clog of prams can be a bit tricky for non-parents, and the odd tennis ball may come hurtling at you if you're sitting and an ourdoor cafe, but isn't that what local flavour is all about?

Lane Cove plaza was always a favourite place for my family to come when we were kids, as mum and…read moredad went to the fancy fish restaurant and my brother and I ate pizza all by ourselves on the corner. The pizza place is still there but the fish restaurant is gone, to make way for massive renovations they have done there recently, with the plaza refurbished and an arcade created from the new library to the plaza. This involves new shops and Firefly at its entrance. The bandstand is still there and shade sails cover the playground area. Still a great spot for families and ideal to let the kids loose while you get a coffee.

I'm not even typically a fan of aquariums, but this one is exquisite. Highlights were definitely…read moreseeing the manta rays, sharks, and penguins. Would recommend doing the ride through the penguin enclosure for sure. You can also buy tickets to swim with the sharks, although we didn't do that. Great indoor activity in the heart of Sydney.

We bought our tickets online a couple of weeks before and it came with free digital photos. There…read morewas a line to get in before the aquarium opened. They had different lines, but I only saw the line for individuals with tickets already. I am so glad we bought our tickets in advance. It was awesome to see various themed exhibits throughout the aquarium and get our photo taken. Our favorite exhibits were from the Great Barrier Reef.

What a great spot in Sydney. You can take a nice, short ferry ride from Circular Quay to get there…read more There's something for everyone, including the kids. Unlike the US, the food prices here, while a bit higher than areas outside, are not the high gouging prices you see in the US. You can buy an unlimited ride pass (which is a bit pricey), or you can buy single rides for certain rides. Most rides require a pass which is a downside if you want to try certain rides. We rode the ferris wheel which was a lot of fun and gave us some great sites of Sydney Harbour. We loved that the lines aren't long at all, certainly not by US theme park standards. If you have time, swing by to try a ride or two or three and some theme park food.

From 1924 onwards, the future site of Luna Park Sydney was used extensively by the Dorman Long firm…read moreto fabricate and assemble steel components for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which officially opened in 1932. Once the bridge was completed, North Sydney Council opened up applications for tenders to develop the site. Consequently, the owners of Luna Park Glenelg won the tender for the North Sydney site and began a 20-year lease on September 11, 1935, forming Luna Park (NSW) Ltd. The rides from Glenelg were dismantled and transported to Sydney over a three-month period. Construction of the park employed almost 1,000 engineers, structural workers, fitters, and artists. Less than one month later, it opened. The park's signature entrance face, designed by Rupert Browne, was placed between two Art Deco-style towers with spires imitating New York's Chrysler Building. The Big Dipper roller coaster was an instantly popular attraction. After a successful opening season, the park closed down for the winter months so that rides and attractions could be overhauled and repainted, and new ones could be added. In 1936, the North Sydney Olympic Pool was also opened on an adjacent site. During WWII, as non-essential uses of electricity were curtailed in wartime, the park's neon lights were disconnected and many ride facades were dimmed. The park's external lights were also 'browned out' in case of a Japanese sneak attack on Sydney. In the 1950s and 1960s, the park changed hands and also management style, not allowing for the routine maintenance the park needed in the off season. As a result, it almost became a site for several high rises but was rejected by the then Governor. Instead, in the 1970s, the park went through transformations and renovations, trying to find its "identity" among the ever-changing taste of its customers. Unfortunately, this led to drastic measures in the 1980s of tearing down the old park and rebuilding it, after which there were several disputes over its name and elements of the park that were saved and put into storage. It wasn't until the 1990s that a historic trust was established to finally bring the park back to life, though still riddled with lawsuits, it had a hard time staying open. As of today, it is open with new rides to enjoy! Our Experience: The park is still struggling, though continues to operate year-round with it being reduced to a limited experience in the winter, which means just three rides are open and a couple of food stands and games. At night, it takes on a more eerie feeling - the lights are on but everything is closed, yet you can still walk through it.

Disney on Ice- This…read morepicturesque beach in Sydney's Eastern suburbs. A hub for surfing, beach sports, and- apparently, Disney Princesses. Even on cold winter days, you'll never fail to find an interesting character wandering the sand or the promenade. On one rainy late night, a certain Disney princess decided to crawl out of her moss-laced, concrete castle (the stormwater drain towards the northern end of the beach) to soak in the midnight sun after a firm session of amphetamine indulgence. Snow White (a fitting name for many reasons) stumbled towards the promenade, making her bi-daily migration to escape the rising tides. I happened to catch sight of her in quite a state; her rosy cheeks replaced by flaking, scarred skin, and her delicate jawline coated in a patchy grey beard. Snorting a line off her hand, she approached a bin. She rolled up her soggy dress sleeves, "Fucking cockroaches!" She grumbled in a gravelly baritone, as she rummaged her delicately wrinkled hands through the bin bag. "Stop eating my dinner!" She gracefully trembled away with a half-eaten apple (at least she has a healthy diet), lit up a pipe, and heaved her bones into the shallow darkness of a nearby park. Deeper and deeper, she disappeared out of view... as mysteriously as she came into it. There are many more stories of this place that I am not willing to tell. 5 stars- I haven't been stabbed yet.

Beautiful beach, especially if you can make it during the week. I was one of 5 people on a Friday!…read more Waves are hit or miss, so it's a nice chill beach, not a great surfing one. I did see some on Saturday, but it seemed more like training waves, so don't worry!

Definitely the biggest playground I've ever been to! It has it all... swings, giant climbing…read morestructure and very high rope bridge, flying fox, tunnels and slides, rope climbing web, etc. We spent more than 2 hours here and had a group of kids ranging from age 1 to 12. We definitely will be back whenever we're in the area!!

Drawn in by the potential of the Armory Wharf Cafe (review http://frid.co/nikCOQ) I found my self…read moredriving a bit out of my way to give it a go. Not knowing a great deal about this park, when I arrived I was amazed to see the play area with the shiny slippery slides, climbing areas and massive swings. This is an awesome park. While some parts of it still seem under development, and there is a real lack of shade areas, this has to be one of the best play areas I have seen in Sydney. If your kids can not have fun here they are simply not trying hard enough. While it appeared there was a tonne of parking available, on the weekend you are going to find it challenging. As for what to bring when you come, if you have a bike, bring it as there is a huge bike track to check out. If you don't have one, you can rent one ( http://frid.co/qSpPMO ). Of course if you want to chill out and relax, perhaps with a coffee, then head to either the Armory Wharf Cafe or the Armory Wharf Canteen ( http://frid.co/nKLbIw - which is only open on weekends and public holidays). Alternatively you could grab one of the benches near the free BBQ hot plates and cook up a couple of snags. If you are looking for the perfect place to have a kids birthday party, this might be it! You just might not want to do it on the weekend...