Free and cheap activities in Sydney for families
Recreational hunting for all ages shouldn’t have to break the bank or empty the gas tank this Easter. Think of the city’s galleries, theaters and museums as your own personal treasure map.
From secret libraries to starry skies, these are some of the best freebies and hidden corners that offer mostly free holiday treats. As NSW Arts Minister John Graham has noted, cost of living pressures are real. “Everyone loves a treasure hunt, and our cultural institutions truly have something for everyone and offer so many wonderful things to explore and do.”
library within a library
State Library of NSW: Shakespeare Room Tucked away on the ground floor of the Mitchell Building is a piece of Tudor England you probably never knew existed. The Shakespeare Room pays tribute to the legendary playwright, with a striking ceiling inspired by Cardinal Wolsey’s closet at Hampton Court Palace. The shelves contain more than 5,000 works by or about Shakespeare, as well as books about Shakespeare’s England.
Hunting: Look above to find the “seven ages of man” represented in a series of stained glass windows, as depicted in Shakespeare’s work. As You Like (Act II, Scene VII). Closed on Good Friday, otherwise open seven days. Exit Martin Place Station.
Art you can touch
Art Gallery of NSW: ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou Australian Laotian artist Mechelle Bounpraseuth creates bright ceramics depicting condiments such as soy sauce, fish sauce and Australian classics such as Heinz tomato sauce, Vegemite and Gravox. For this interactive exhibition, Bounpraseuth created a fruit bowl of watermelon and mangosteen, passion fruit and apples to celebrate the effort and love that goes into family meals. Buy a Lao place mat and make paper fruits to place on the steps of the fruit temple.
Hunting: Take the escalator up one floor to visit the working Japanese tea room at Asian Lantern Gallery’s show elemental. Draw a creative scene inspired by the vivid Indian images of animals, people and nature on display. Materials and instructions provided. Closed on Good Friday, otherwise open seven days. Exit at St James or Martin Place stations.
starry sky
Sydney Observatory: Southern Sky Astrophotography The exhibition showcases the winners of the 2025 David Malin Awards. Accordingly theme of the year, People and Skyamateur and professional photographers engaged in shoots exploring the relationship between the observer and the universe. Photo by Rob Embury Lights of Stykkisholmur It won its category by capturing a lone traveler gazing at the vibrant green waves of the aurora borealis dancing over the Icelandic coastline. Overall winner was Kavan Chay Crown of Light For an image that captures waves crashing against a rocky shore beneath a dramatic geomagnetic storm.
Hunting: Use the narrow stairs to see the historic dome and telescopes on guided tours with tickets starting at $24 Wednesday-Sunday (closed Easter Sunday). Exiting Circular Dock Station
songbirds
Sydney Opera House: To capture Art on the Steps On 11 April when Mel O’Callaghan brought together 300 choristers from the Sydney Philharmonic Choir and composer Dan Walker for a performance Living EchoIt transforms the Opera House into a resonant musical instrument. Under Frances Barrett’s stairs Celia will bring together seven vocalists in an impromptu exchange of calls and echoes.
Hunting: Once a month on a Monday night, Sydney singers are invited to join the Big Heart Singing Choir, a joyful celebration of the simple power of shared song. A different repertoire is presented in each session, from the Beatles to Beethoven, from ABBA to opera. Free with registration as of Monday, April 27th. Exit Circular Quay station.
Bloodsuckers and dinosaurs:
Australian Museum boasts double admiration and bloody curiosity. newly opened Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires takes a closer look at leeches, ticks and blood-feeding mites. Dinosaur Gallery features Australia’s own Muttaburrasaurus; the Minmi paravertebra, A four-legged plant-eating dinosaur and a majestic plant-eating dinosaur, armored with hard ridged scales Jobaria tiguidensis.
Hunting: At the end of the gallery is the world’s first anatomically correct Tyrannosaurus rex model. – an 11 meter long fragmented replica created for the documentary T.rex Autopsy. Exit the Museum Train Station.
interior house design
Mint: Remember when houses weren’t painted white and neutral tones, Sydney’s grandest homes were filled with opulent furniture and linoleum was the flooring of choice. Caroline Simpson Library It has Australia’s largest repository of historical wallpapers, dating back to the 1840s. Color paint charts from the 1970s show mustard, avocado green and rust brown were very popular. In the 1980s, softer color palettes such as apricot, salmon pink, pale gray and Mediterranean-inspired terracotta emerged.
Hunting: Head upstairs to the Scholars Gallery to see color examples of Laminex and Formica. These surfaces, offered in various patterns, gained popularity in the 1950s and were widely used on kitchen countertops and chrome-edged tables and chairs. Open Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 – 16:00. Closed public holidays. Exit Martin Place station.
Visual art adventures
25th Sydney Biennale: Choose your free art adventure at any of the Biennale’s five exhibition venues: White Bay Power Station, Chau Chak Wing Museum, Art Gallery of NSW, Campbelltown Arts Center and Penrith Regional Gallery. Stand inside Nikesha Breeze’s towering 20-foot African baobab tree made of flowing cotton tulle at the Biennial’s Headquarters, White Bay. Or head to the Chau Chak Wing Museum to see Benjamin Work’s embroidered shields marking Pacific Islanders kidnapped to work on cotton and sugar plantations in Peru.
Hunting: More treats than secrets every Saturday and Sunday Biennial hosts Memory Lane Markets Bringing together Pakistani, Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian, Chinese, Southeast Asian and East African food vendors who offer dishes shaped according to the theme of the biennial. Memory. For White Bay Power Station, take the bus from the Queen Victoria Building. Exit Redfern Station for Chau Chak Wing Museum.
Skate!
Transport works: Each month the former railway workshops are transformed into a fully equipped skatepark, complete with ramps, rails and boxes for children aged six and up, with separate sessions focusing on girls, beginners and intermediates.
Hunting: Try a free skate workshop, skate JAM sessions and demonstrations guided by a team of professional skaters on April 16. For beginners and experienced drivers. Free. Registration and waiver required. Exit at Redfern or Newtown stations.
Worth the cost:
golden age drama
Community Theatre: For movie buffs, delve into the legendary rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Bette and Joan A sinister look behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most famous feud on the set of the 1962 movie What Happened to Baby Jane?
Hunting: Watch Davis’ famous slap to Crawford. The script for Baby Jane was written, but it tasted like defeat. Until April 25. Exit Kirribilli Railway station.
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