Fun activities for kids on the Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches has plenty of activities for children of all ages. Whether you are here for a day, the weekend or a longer escape, the Northern Beaches has plenty of fun things to keep the kids busy.
Get wet – waterside activities
Relax on the beach or by a beachside rockpool
The Northern Beaches has many family friendly beaches and rockpools. After a day of building sandcastles and splashing about in the waves, grab a snack at one of our amazing beachside cafes.
Go for a paddleÂ
Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is a fun activity to do with family and friends. Narrabeen Lagoon and Manly Cove provide sheltered and protected areas for kids of all ages to paddle and play.
Splash around at Manly Waterworks
Cool off at the Northern Beaches only water slide park! Manly Waterworks located in Manly Cove is open in the warmer months and during school holidays. It is the perfect place to entertain the kids and children must be taller than 110cm and over the age of 10 years old to slide.  For the adults there is a shady sitting area, with benches, tables, and a café next door, so you can sit back and relax.
Dive deep into Cabbage Tree Bay
Cabbage Tree Bay is home to over 150 different species of fish, including the blue grouper, Australian giant cuttlefish and turtles to name a few. Grab your snorkel and start exploring the amazing creatures that live under the sea
Learn to surf!
To really exhaust the kids, hire a surfboard or book them in for a learn to surf lesson at one of our nearby beaches. For a full list of the best beaches for learners check out our top 5 beaches for beginners.
Stay dry
Jump on your bikes
The Northern Beaches has plenty of amazing scenic bike paths for all ages. One of the best family paths is the stunning bike ride around Narrabeen Lagoon. This 8.4km flat ride has plenty of spots along the way to stop for a play in a playground or stop for a midway picnic.
If your child wants to improve their bike skills in a controlled space under the supervision of qualified and experienced coaches, stop by Big Air Indoor Bike Park.
Battle it out it with a game of ten pin bowling
Enjoy hours of family friendly ten pin bowling, arcade games and bumper cars at Zone Bowling in Dee Why.
Enjoy these indoor and outdoor playgrounds
The Northern Beaches has plenty of amazing kid-friendly indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Our playgrounds range from small neighbourhood setups often in grassy reserves, to larger playgrounds with engaging equipment for all ages. Some of the larger and more popular outdoor play playgrounds are – Winnererremy Bay, Newport Beach, Bilarong Reserve and Collaroy Beach playgrounds.
When the sun is scorching hot, or the forecast is predicting drenching rain, you may find yourself searching for an indoor playground to keep the kids happy and active. Some popular indoor playgrounds are Cheeky Monkeys Play House in Warriewood, Major Fun in Freshwater and Planet Mino in Brookvale.
Jump around at Jumpd
Jumpd is an indoor trampoline and Xtreme Ninja centre located in Brookvale, offering facilities for kids, teenagers, as well as adults. Their Xtreme Ninja course is a great way for kids to strengthen their bodies through climbing and jumping on their indoor course.
Have a go at mini golf
Explore the well-kept pirate themed 36 hole mini golf course at Pittwater Golf Centre located in Warriewood. A fun day out for the whole family and you can choose to either do one or both of the 18 hole courses or upgrade for an unlimited day exploring the pirate ship themed course.
Try rock-climbing
For active families, try one of our two family friendly climbing gyms, both located in Brookvale. Umbrella Nine Co has a bouldering room that is like climbing, only with no ropes. The walls are lower to the ground with padded mats around the animal themed climbing objects.
The Northern Beaches Rockhouse has been running for over 20 years and it is a great family friendly activity. With 37 different climbing walls, kids will have fun racing each other as they make their way to the top, jump off, glide down and start their next climb all over again!
Explore the local walking tracks
The Northern Beaches is blessed with some the best walks in Sydney, that are perfect for the whole family. If you need some inspiration on where to go, have a look at our guide on the ‘Five picturesque walks to get your steps up.’
Visiting during the school holidays? Get more inspiration with our ultimate school holiday guide.