Woohoo the strict restrictions started melting away, so we were off on our first family of four getaway. The destination, Sydney! Dean and I love Sydney, so we were excited to take our girls on a little family getaway down there. Zara has been on many airplanes prior to COVID-19, but this was Emilia’s first plane ride, and we were ecstatic.
Flying out to our Sydney Getaway
Always arrive early when travelling with children. Having the extra time helps take some stress away. We decided to just take one big suitcase for the three of us and a small one for Emilia, as babies need more. A helpful tip when travelling with babies is only pack enough wipes and nappies to get you through one day. No matter where you travel to you will be able to buy nappies and wipes for them, so there is no need to be lugging it around. Less is more!
Zara was very excited inside the airport and enjoyed finding our gate where she could sit and watch the planes. Of course, our boarding was delayed due to severe weather (Queensland was flooding. Again). Once the airport was given the all clear we were finally able to board our flight.
Onboard tips with Children
When flying domestic it is handy to bring snacks for the plane ride no matter how long the flight is. I always charge up the tablet and download shows or movies that are currently being watched to help get through the boredom. We also created a little travel backpack that Zara couldn’t open until we were onboard the plane. Inside the backpack: play-dough, a little notebook with colouring pen, stickers and a game. If you are short on time to do up an entertainment pack there are companies out there like Kooshy Kids who do age appropriate packs.
When flying with babies make sure they are either having a bottle or soothing with a dummy during take-off and landing. This always worked when Zara was a baby, but unfortunately it was a little different with Emilia.
Sydney Airport to City Center
Sydney has always made it easy getting from either airport terminals into the city center. The most convenient way to get from the airport to the city center is via train. The train system runs underground and regularly. If you live in Australia and are visiting they have made getting on and off even easier by allowing you to use your debit card to tap on and off. This replaces tickets or transport cards. If you are an international visitor, never fear, you can use your credit card or purchase tickets. Aside from the train you also have taxi services and bus lines.
Waiting for the train.
Where we stayed in Sydney
This Sydney trip we decided to stay more towards Paddy’s Market and away from the main strip. Dean chose to book the Novotel Sydney Central Hotel and I am so glad he did. Everything about this hotel was family friendly. Down in the lobby across from their restaurant they have a kid’s nook where they can play with various toys or watch a movie. Outside of the hotel you have an abundance of cafes and restaurants, a supermarket and a tram stop within walking distance.
We booked a double room with an additional cot. It was large enough to accommodate a family of four and had a bath in the bathroom, which is a huge bonus when you have small children. The hotel facilities also include a gym, rooftop garden, rooftop pool and spa and function rooms. During our visit the pool was closed, which was fine as it was raining the whole trip.
Bandit testing out the bed.
What we did during our Sydney Getaway
Due to the bad weather the east coast of Australia was having we made the most of our rainy short getaway. Here are a few child-friendly activities we enjoyed.
Taronga Zoo
On the shores of Sydney Harbour you will find the Zoo with the best view, Taronga Zoo. You can purchase tickets online and they last for 12 months from date of purchase. Children under four are free, which is perfect. Included in your ticket is riding the cable car from the bottom of the Zoo back to the top. There are daily keeper talks and presentations, various souvenir shops and a café with views of the Elephants. Make sure to get there at opening time, so you can spend the whole day exploring. My favourite animals to visit here have always been the hippos and the giraffes.
Chinese Garden of Friendship
We stumbled upon this hidden gem on our first walk around the area we were staying in. The Chinese Garden of Friendship is nestled between the Darling Quarter and Darling Square. There is a small admissions cost of $8 per Adult and children under five are free. Bring a carrier if you visit as it isn’t pram friendly.
Australian National Maritime Museum
If you are a lover or admirer of historic ships the Maritime Museum is well worth a visit. You can climb aboard an Australian built Replica of Captain Cook’s HMB Endeavour, explore the Duyfken, explore the newly open HMAS Onslow, plus much much more. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the HMAS Onslow with our three year old as it was the first time the submarine had been reopened to the public after the COVID-19 outbreak. You can click here to view information on ticket pricing.
Market City
Market City is located above Paddy’s market, which is unfortunately not on the list this time as COVID has impacted the stallholders too much for them to even open. We stumbled across Market city during our last trip to Sydney. If you like shopping this has some great outlet shops to keep you going.
Sydney Opera House
Little children love seeing big buildings so we took ours to one of the wonders of world, the Sydney Opera House. Unfortunately Zara was in a sour mood as she wasn’t allowed icecream and the stairs were barricaded off, so she couldn’t climb them. It’s hard impressing a three year old.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
We walked from the Sydney Opera house into a part of the Botanic Garden. The Royal Botanic Garden is very large with many different areas to explore. This being our last day the weather took a turn for the worse and we ended up caught out in heavy rain. Non-the-less a beautiful walk.
Where we ate
Breakfast
Every morning we would walk down the street to Chambers Fine Coffee Haymarket for breakfast. Hands down the best coffee we have had to-date in Sydney! Service was excellent and the breakfast delicious.
Fat Thaiger
The Thai food at Fat Thaiger was amazing and the name gives you a giggle. We ordered a selection of things to try and each thing was delicious.
ROBO
Serving authentic Hong Kong street food in a futuristic style. From the outside ROBO doesn’t look like much, but the food was so good!
The Sandwich Shop
Down Steam Mill Lane you will find an epic sandwich shop selling homely meals. Everything from The Sandwich Shop was delicious but very pricey, and a little bit of a shock to the system. However if you are looking for something filling and good for you I recommend checking them out.
Uliveto Italian Restaurant
What a treat it was to celebrate my birthday with an absolutely delicious meal by Uliveto Italian Restaurant! The interior was lovely and unique. You were able to go into a little area where you could choose a bottle of wine, which is great for wine lovers like us. If you are a fan of Italian food I strongly recommend a meal here.
Andersen’s of Denmark
This, my friends, is an ice cream shop across from Tumbalong Park Playground. Zara picked the watermelon sorbet from Andersen’s of Denmark and it was pretty damn good.
Cyren Bar Grill Seafood
As we were walking along Darling Harbour we spotted a Happy Hour sign and decided to include ourselves in the rare happy hour. Cyren Bar Grill Seafood became our favourite spot to visit in the afternoon for a little cocktail (or two). We tried their meals one night during the happy hour, because it included food as well, and was great. The service here was lovely as well and family friendly, which is a big plus.
Our Sydney getaway was exactly what we needed after not being able to travel since 2019. Travelling as a family of four was a lot easier than I expected. Sydney is such a great place to visit, whether you are single, a couple or a family. There is something for everyone here! Getting around is also made very easy with the new tram system, existing train lines and the ferries.
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