sydney | travelforkids

Ferries - Circular Quay is the central terminal for ferries departing in all directions - east to Watsons Bay, north to Luna Park, the Taronga Zoo and Manly, west all the way to the Sydney Olympic Park. With a MyMulti ticket, you can ride the ferries as far as you like.

Harbor excursions - Go on a one or two hour tour of Sydney Harbour. Sail by the Opera House, past Shark Island, along the North Shore, under the Sydney Bridge, and around Darling Harbour.

Whale watching - May through November, take a whale watching trip to spot humpback and southern right whales on their migration north along the Australian coast. During a three or four hour trip, you'll have a chance to see these magnificent whales, breaching in the air, as well as dolphins, sharks, and seals. Highly recommended.

Walk - Walk on Circular Quay around the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Botanic Garden:

Start at the western end of Circular Quay, at Herald Square (Alfred St.). Kids can dabble their fingers in the charming Tank Stream Fountain (in honor of the Tank Stream, the original water source for Sydney). The fountain is decorated all kinds of native Australian animals - platypus, turtle, echidna, lizard, iguana, etc.

Walk east on the promenade along the wharves, watching the ferries coming and going. Turn left and walk toward the Sydney Opera House, all the way to the end of the point. (As you go by, look up at the roof of the Opera House, with its million cream-colored tiles.) This is a wonderful spot to watch the boats go by in the harbor - huge cruise ships docking or departing, yellow and green ferries, sail boats, jet boats, tall ships, pontoon boats, and more.

Sydney Opera House - The Sydney Opera House is more than an architectural landmark; there are dozens of shows and programs for kids, from world music and dance, Christmas programs and more.

Continue walking east around the Opera House, to the entrance to the Royal Botanic Garden. For a longer walk, follow the promenade around Farm Cove all the way to Mrs. Macquarie's Point (where kids can plunk down on the rock bench called Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, named after Elizabeth Macquarie, the governor's wife).

Royal Botanic Garden - The garden cover a large area, with different habitats - palm grove, a rainforest, succulent and flower gardens, bushland, so wander on the paths as far as the kids like. Not only do the gardens have an amazing variety of tropical trees and plants, birds are everywhere - we saw oodles of bright white cockatoos. Don't miss Cadi Jam Ora, where kids can learn about aboriginal "bush tucker" plants, and trees used to make canoes and shelters.

If you have little ones, from the Queen Elizabeth II Gate (next to the Opera House), ride the bright red mini "choo choo express" in a 25 min. loop through the Botanic Garden, with four stops, you can hop on and off.