Free Kids' Activities in Sydney: What's On, Libraries, Free Trials
Live listings refreshed 24 Sept 2026 · Last updated 24 Sept 2026
There are 8 free events listed in and around Sydney for the next month, 1,643 libraries, parks and community spaces we hold inside the city, and no kids' activity providers listed yet offering a free class or trial. This page is kept, not posted: the lists below come straight from the AroundSchools directory and refresh twice a day, and the writing is reviewed on a schedule — the dates at the top of the page say when.
Key takeaways
- The reliable free things in Sydney are run by councils: library storytimes and holiday programs, playgrounds and pools with free entry, and council-run events. Membership of a council library is free.
- One-off free events come and go. The sections below only show what is listed for the coming weekend, the next month and the next school holidays — if a section is missing, nothing is listed yet for that window.
- "Free" here means the organiser marked the event free. Where no price is listed, the table says so; check with the organiser before you go.
Free this weekend in Sydney
| When | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar – 22 Dec | Free Trial - AAGI 1st Jan to 23rd Dec-2026 · Ages 1–18 | Brookvale | Free |
| 13 July – 25 Nov | FREE Kids STEAM Club (9 to 12 year olds) - Burwood Council Monthly Activity till November · Ages 9–12 · Council event | Burwood | Free |
| 24 Aug – 28 Sept | School Holidays: Chinese Lantern Papercraft (5-12 years) - Georges River Council · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Hurstville | Free |
| 24 Aug – 29 Sept | School Holidays: Make A Pocket Monster at Kogarah Library (5-12 years) · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Kogarah | Free |
| 20 Sept – 2 Oct | School Holidays: Science Inspired Art Experiments · Ages 8–12 · Council event | Leichhardt | Free |
| 23 Sept – 29 Sept | Story Time at the Joy of Giving · Ages 2–6 · Council event | North Sydney | Free |
| 23 Sept – 26 Sept | Moon Festival 2026 @ The Crescent, Homebush West · Council event | Homebush West | Free |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 7 of 14 upcoming events in Sydney are marked free by their organiser · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Free these school holidays
| When | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct – 25 Nov | Term 4: Ukulele for Kids (8-12 years) · Ages 8–12 · Council event | South Hurstville. | Free |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 8 of 14 upcoming events in Sydney are marked free by their organiser · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
How free works in Sydney
Council libraries. Every council in the Sydney area runs a library service, and membership is free for anyone who lives, works or studies in the area. Libraries run rhyme time and storytime for babies and preschoolers most weeks in term time, and most add school-holiday sessions — craft, Lego, coding and author visits — that are free but often need a booking. The council pages below list what we hold for each council.
Council programs and venues. Councils run the playgrounds, skate parks, ovals and many of the pools. Entry to playgrounds and parks is free; pools usually charge, but many councils run free or low-cost school-holiday activities at their leisure centres. The council's own events calendar is the primary source; where we track a council's calendar, its events appear on this page with a "Council event" tag.
Free trials at providers. Many swim schools, dance studios, martial-arts clubs and sports clubs offer a free first class or a trial week so a child can try before a term is paid for. Ask before you enrol — and where a provider in our directory has listed a free class or trial, it appears in a table below.
The state voucher. NSW families can claim the Active and Creative Kids vouchers through Service NSW for eligible children; they are means-tested, so check the current rules before you count on one. Our guide to school cost help by state covers the other schemes.
Council libraries in Sydney
| Place | Suburb | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Ku-Ring-Gai Neighbourhood Centre | St Ives | Library · Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Avalon Community Library | Avalon Beach | Library · Playground, Shade / shelter, Parking, Picnic tables, Wheelchair accessible |
| Avalon Recreation Centre | Avalon Beach | Library · Playground, Shade / shelter, Parking, Picnic tables, Wheelchair accessible |
| Rhodes Community Precinct | Rhodes | Library · Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Picnic tables |
| St Peters Library | Sydenham | Library · Playground, Toilets, Parking, Dog friendly |
| The Scitech Library | Darlington | Library · Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Unitingcare Burnside | West Hoxton | Library · Playground, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| University of Sydney Freehills Law Library | Camperdown | Library · Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre | Bankstown | Library · Playground, Toilets, Parking |
| Bexley North Library | Bexley North | Library · Playground, Toilets, Parking |
| Bowen Library | Matraville | Library · Playground, Toilets, Parking |
| Five Dock Public Library | Five Dock | Library · Playground, Toilets, Parking |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 155 libraries, 1488 parks and 0 community spaces we hold inside Sydney · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Playgrounds and parks with verified facilities
| Place | Suburb | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Giba Park | Pyrmont | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables, Water play, Wheelchair accessible |
| Hurstville Oval | Hurstville | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| St Ives Village Green | St Ives | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Chatswood Park | Chatswood | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Parking, Picnic tables |
| Flying Fox Cafe | Mona Vale | Park / playground · Café nearby, Playground, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Menai Park Bushland Reserve | Menai | Park / playground · Playground, Shade / shelter, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| North Epping Oval | North Epping | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Fully fenced, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities |
| Oak Park Beach Cronulla | Cronulla | Park / playground · Toilets, Sports courts / fields, Playground, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Seaforth Oval | Seaforth | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| St Ives Showground | St Ives | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Timbrell Park | Five Dock | Park / playground · Toilets, Sports courts / fields, Playground, Fully fenced, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
| Tom Uren Park | Guildford West | Park / playground · Sports courts / fields, Playground, Toilets, Parking, BBQ facilities, Picnic tables |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 155 libraries, 1488 parks and 0 community spaces we hold inside Sydney · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Free by age
Ages 3–5
| When | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar – 22 Dec | Free Trial - AAGI 1st Jan to 23rd Dec-2026 · Ages 1–18 | Brookvale | Free |
| 24 Aug – 28 Sept | School Holidays: Chinese Lantern Papercraft (5-12 years) - Georges River Council · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Hurstville | Free |
| 24 Aug – 29 Sept | School Holidays: Make A Pocket Monster at Kogarah Library (5-12 years) · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Kogarah | Free |
| 23 Sept – 29 Sept | Story Time at the Joy of Giving · Ages 2–6 · Council event | North Sydney | Free |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 4 of 14 upcoming events in Sydney are marked free by their organiser · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Ages 6–9
| When | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar – 22 Dec | Free Trial - AAGI 1st Jan to 23rd Dec-2026 · Ages 1–18 | Brookvale | Free |
| 13 July – 25 Nov | FREE Kids STEAM Club (9 to 12 year olds) - Burwood Council Monthly Activity till November · Ages 9–12 · Council event | Burwood | Free |
| 24 Aug – 28 Sept | School Holidays: Chinese Lantern Papercraft (5-12 years) - Georges River Council · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Hurstville | Free |
| 24 Aug – 29 Sept | School Holidays: Make A Pocket Monster at Kogarah Library (5-12 years) · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Kogarah | Free |
| 20 Sept – 2 Oct | School Holidays: Science Inspired Art Experiments · Ages 8–12 · Council event | Leichhardt | Free |
| 23 Sept – 29 Sept | Story Time at the Joy of Giving · Ages 2–6 · Council event | North Sydney | Free |
| 1 Oct – 25 Nov | Term 4: Ukulele for Kids (8-12 years) · Ages 8–12 · Council event | South Hurstville. | Free |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 7 of 14 upcoming events in Sydney are marked free by their organiser · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Ages 10 and up
| When | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar – 22 Dec | Free Trial - AAGI 1st Jan to 23rd Dec-2026 · Ages 1–18 | Brookvale | Free |
| 13 July – 25 Nov | FREE Kids STEAM Club (9 to 12 year olds) - Burwood Council Monthly Activity till November · Ages 9–12 · Council event | Burwood | Free |
| 24 Aug – 28 Sept | School Holidays: Chinese Lantern Papercraft (5-12 years) - Georges River Council · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Hurstville | Free |
| 24 Aug – 29 Sept | School Holidays: Make A Pocket Monster at Kogarah Library (5-12 years) · Ages 5–12 · Council event | Kogarah | Free |
| 20 Sept – 2 Oct | School Holidays: Science Inspired Art Experiments · Ages 8–12 · Council event | Leichhardt | Free |
| 1 Oct – 25 Nov | Term 4: Ukulele for Kids (8-12 years) · Ages 8–12 · Council event | South Hurstville. | Free |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 6 of 14 upcoming events in Sydney are marked free by their organiser · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Events that do not state an age range appear in the lists above but not in the age sections.
Councils in the Sydney area
Council pages for New South Wales
| Council | Kids' activity providers | Schools | What's on |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Sydney | 61 | 45 | See the council's site |
| Northern Beaches Council | 49 | 80 | 2 events |
| Blacktown City Council | 45 | 107 | See the council's site |
| Central Coast Council | 44 | 92 | 1 event |
| Sutherland Shire Council | 38 | 75 | See the council's site |
| City of Canterbury-Bankstown | 37 | 96 | 2 events |
| Inner West Council | 33 | 59 | 1 event |
| City of Wollongong | 30 | 79 | See the council's site |
| Georges River Council | 29 | 41 | 5 events |
| Willoughby City Council | 29 | 16 | 1 event |
| Lake Macquarie City Council | 28 | 83 | See the council's site |
| Ku-ring-gai Council | 27 | 40 | See the council's site |
See all 76 New South Wales councils with a page
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 76 New South Wales councils currently have a page · correct as at 24 Sept 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is library membership really free? Yes — council libraries in New South Wales do not charge for membership, and most programs for children are free, though holiday sessions often need a booking because places are limited.
How do I know an event is free? The organiser marked it free when it was listed. If the price column says "Price not listed", the organiser did not state one — check their page or ask before you go.
When are the next school holidays in New South Wales? The next break starts 26 Sept 2026 and ends 12 Oct 2026 (government school dates; individual schools can vary by a few days). See our school holidays page for the full program.
Can I use the New South Wales voucher on these? Vouchers are for registered clubs and providers, not for one-off events. Ask the provider whether it is registered before you enrol.
Photo by Talha Resitoglu on Pexels
