Family days out in South West Sydney and nearby

South West Sydney is a great part of the city for families. There is plenty of space, the parks are big and free, and some of Sydney’s best animal encounters are a short drive away. Here are our favourite family days out in and near the region, from feeding kangaroos to riding a steam train.

Meet Australian animals at Featherdale

Featherdale Wildlife Park, at Doonside in Western Sydney, is about 40 minutes’ drive from Liverpool. It is home to koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, dingoes and many native birds, and children can hand-feed the kangaroos and wallabies. It is smaller than a big zoo, so it suits younger children, and you can see it all in a few hours.

Sydney Zoo

Sydney Zoo opened in 2019 at Bungarribee, in the Western Sydney Parklands. Alongside native animals, it has lions, chimpanzees and other animals from Africa and Asia, as well as an aquarium. Its paths are flat and wide, which makes it easy with prams, and there is a big playground for a break between enclosures.

Heritage trains at Thirlmere

The NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere, near Picton, has a large collection of steam and diesel locomotives and old carriages, many of which you can climb aboard. On selected days, heritage trains run along the old line, which children love. Check the museum’s timetable before you go.

Combine it with lunch in Picton, a historic village just up the road.

Big parks and free barbecues

The Western Sydney Parklands stretch for kilometres through the region, with playgrounds, bike paths and free electric barbecues. Lizard Log and Bungarribee are good places to start. Closer to Liverpool, Chipping Norton Lakes has lakeside picnic spots and flat paths for scooters and bikes.

Gardens to explore

The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is one of the largest botanic gardens in Australia, with walking trails, lawns for picnics and plenty of room to run around. It is a peaceful place to spend a morning, especially in spring, when the wattles and other native plants are in flower.

Something special: a balloon over Camden

For older children, a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Camden is an unforgettable treat. Operators set minimum ages or heights, so check before you book. Read more in our guide to seeing South West Sydney from the air.

Tips for families

• Beat the heat: in summer, visit outdoor sights early in the day, and bring hats, sunscreen and plenty of water.
• Book ahead in the holidays: wildlife parks and the zoo are busiest during the NSW school holidays and on weekends.
• Bring a car if you can: public transport reaches most places, but driving makes it much easier to combine two sights in one day.