From beach days and bushwalks to ferry trips, wildlife encounters and indoor fun, these are the local family outings Shire mums return to throughout the year.
The Sutherland Shire has no shortage of things to do with kids, but it helps to have the good ideas in one place.
We asked local mums to share the outings they return to again and again, from easy mornings at the park to beach days, ferry trips, bushwalks and bigger family adventures. The result is a mix of free activities, wet-weather options and full days out that work across different ages and seasons.
Here are 15 ways to explore the Sutherland Shire with kids throughout the year.
In this guide
Caringbah South
Visit Camellia Gardens
The E.G. Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens in Caringbah South is one of those local outings that can be as simple or as involved as you make it.
There are two enclosed playgrounds, open grassed areas, picnic spots and paths winding around the gardens and ponds. Kids can look for ducks, fish and turtles, while the Jade Teahouse near the President Avenue entrance is handy for breakfast, lunch or coffee.
Duck food is available to purchase from the teahouse, rather than bringing bread or food from home. The gardens are particularly pretty when the camellias and roses are flowering, but there is plenty to explore at any time of year.
Pack a picnic for a longer visit, or keep it easy with a playground session followed by something from the cafe.
Explore the Shire’s Parks and Playgrounds
A park visit does not need much planning, but choosing somewhere with the right facilities can make a big difference.
Cooper Street Reserve in Engadine is a standout for a bigger outing. Its all-abilities playground includes an accessible treetop walk, and the surrounding youth precinct has a pump track, skate park, parkour equipment and basketball half-court.
Waratah Park in Sutherland is another strong option, with an inclusive playground featuring a flying fox, climbing equipment, a carousel, musical play and a junior bike path. Burnum Burnum Sanctuary in Woronora has a large playground, picnic shelters, barbecues and views across the river, while Bonna Point Reserve in Kurnell combines a large playground, skate area and plenty of open space.
For something more relaxed, Como Pleasure Grounds has a playground, bike track, walking loop, picnic tables, barbecues and a cafe within the precinct. Castelnau Street Reserve in Caringbah is also an easy choice when you want to add coffee or lunch nearby.
Cronulla to Bundeena
Catch the Ferry to Bundeena
The ferry ride from Cronulla gives this day out a sense of occasion before you have even arrived.
Once you step off at Bundeena, you can swim at Horderns Beach near the wharf, find somewhere for lunch or continue further into the village. Families can also head to Bundeena Bowling Club, which has outdoor seating and play equipment beside the alfresco area. Check its current dining days before planning lunch, as the bistro does not operate every day.
The ferry runs throughout the week, with different summer, winter and weekday timetables. Bookings are not taken for the regular Bundeena service, so passengers pay onboard. Always check the latest timetable and operating update before leaving, particularly when the weather or swell is unsettled.
For a separate Royal National Park day, Maianbar and Wattamolla are also worth adding to your list. Wattamolla has a lagoon, beach, picnic tables, barbecues and toilets, but parking fills quickly on warm weekends and there is no lifeguard service.
Have a Movie, Arcade or Indoor Fun Day
When the weather is not working with your outdoor plans, there are several indoor activities around the Shire that can still fill a morning or afternoon.
HOYTS Cronulla is an easy option for a movie day, with Cronulla Mall, cafes and the beach all nearby if the weather clears. Timezone Cronulla works for a shorter outing or an activity with older kids, with arcade games and prize machines in the centre of Cronulla.
Climb Fit Kirrawee has climbing and bouldering facilities, auto belays and a dedicated children’s climbing area. For kids who would rather jump than climb, Flip Out Caringbah is another local option, while Inflatable World operates from The Rec Club in Miranda.
Check each venue’s current session times, age requirements and supervision rules before visiting, particularly for climbing, trampoline and inflatable activities.
Swim at a Local Leisure Centre
A trip to the pool works in almost any season, especially when you choose the centre that suits the weather and your children’s ages.
Sutherland Leisure Centre has heated indoor and outdoor pools, including a 30-degree indoor splash and play pool, an indoor toddler pool and a seasonal outdoor water park with slides and a large tipping bucket. The indoor area makes it a particularly useful option during cooler or rainy weather.
Caringbah Leisure Centre has a heated 50-metre outdoor pool, a heated 25-metre program pool and a seasonal toddler pool. Engadine Leisure Centre is another option, with a heated outdoor 50-metre pool, program pool and seasonal toddler pool.
Casual entry provides access to the available swimming and splash facilities at the chosen centre, although seasonal pools and water parks have set operating periods. Check the current lane availability and facility notices before visiting.
Eat Out with the Kids
Sometimes the activity is simply heading somewhere for breakfast, lunch or dinner where the whole family feels comfortable.
After asking local mums to share the places they genuinely enjoy visiting with their children, we rounded up the most popular suggestions in our guide to kid-friendly cafes and restaurants in the Sutherland Shire.
The list covers casual cafes, pubs, clubs, beachside venues, restaurants with children’s areas and places suited to family birthdays or larger catch-ups. It is a useful starting point when you want to try somewhere new without searching through dozens of individual reviews.
Discover Trams, Stars and Local History
Some of the Shire’s most interesting family outings are the ones that offer something a little different.
At the Sydney Tramway Museum in Loftus, visitors can ride vintage trams, explore the display hall and see vehicles from Sydney, interstate and overseas. General admission includes unlimited tram rides, and the museum also has a picnic area, electric barbecues and a kiosk. It currently opens on Wednesdays and Sundays, with the museum recommending around two to three hours for a visit.
Green Point Observatory in Oyster Bay offers group Star Night bookings during the non-daylight saving period, generally from April to September. Visits can include a presentation, observatory tour and the chance to look through the society’s telescopes when conditions allow. The Sutherland Astronomical Society also holds occasional public open nights.
In Kurnell, the Burrawang Walk through Kamay Botany Bay National Park passes significant sites, large bronze sculptures and a soundscape sharing Aboriginal songs and stories. The existing Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed while a new centre is constructed, so check national park alerts before visiting.
Closer to Cronulla, the Frank Cridland Walkway now extends the Esplanade around Hungry Point, an area with First Nations, environmental and European heritage significance.
Visit a Library or Plan a Creative Day
Sutherland Shire Libraries run regular children’s programs, including storytimes during school terms and a changing calendar of family events. Rather than relying on an old timetable, check the current Kids and Families calendar before visiting.
You can also build a creative day around Caringbah. Start with the Walk the Walls street art trail, where large-scale murals can be found throughout the town centre and surrounding laneways.
The Sewing Basket is worth a look for children who enjoy craft projects. The social enterprise sells donated fabric, patterns, yarn, embroidery supplies and haberdashery, with proceeds supporting employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Finish at The Book Station, a second-hand bookstore and cafe where you can browse for a new read and stop for a drink or something to eat.
Woronora
Hire a Canoe or Paddle Boat on the Woronora River
For a slower day on the water, hire a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or pedal boat from The Boatshed Woronora.
Equipment is available from 8am, seven days a week, and life jackets are included with each hire. Bookings are not taken, with equipment offered on a first come, first served basis.
Check the tide before deciding when to go, as higher tide generally provides more water to explore. Families can paddle along the river, stop at suitable sandy edges and return to The Boatshed for breakfast or lunch.
How far you travel will depend on the children’s ages, paddling experience and conditions on the day. A shorter hire can be plenty for younger children, while older kids may be ready to explore further along the river.
Take the Kids on a Walk or Bushwalk
The Shire has walking options ranging from flat shared paths to proper bush tracks, so you can choose one that suits the age and experience of your group.
The Como to Oatley walk crosses the old railway bridge over the Georges River and can be paired with a play at Como Pleasure Grounds, a swim at Como Pool or lunch nearby.
In Kurnell, the Burrawang Walk is a shorter accessible option that passes the foreshore and large sculptures. The Banks-Solander Track is another relatively easy walk, with connections to longer tracks for families who want to continue.
Other suggestions from local mums include the tracks around Burnum Burnum Sanctuary, Bottle Forest Trail, Mill Creek Trail, walks around Grays Point and the paths near Woronora Bridge. The new Hungry Point walkway can also be added to a Cronulla Esplanade walk.
Trail conditions, closures and difficulty can change, particularly after rain or during fire danger periods. Check official maps and alerts, take water and choose a route that matches the youngest walker in the group.
Plan a Cronulla or Kurnell Beach Day
The right beach depends on whether you want surf, calm water, a playground nearby or the convenience of having everything beside the car.
Darook Beach is a favourite for families wanting sheltered bay water away from ocean waves. Pack lunch and floats and settle in for a few hours under the trees. Council advises visitors to shuffle their feet when entering the shallow water because stingrays can be present.
Gunnamatta Bay has calm water, netted tidal baths, a playground, grassed areas and shade. It is also within walking distance of Cronulla Station and local cafes.
Shelly Beach has a sandy ocean pool, ramp access, a large grassed area and a fenced playground. Oak Park is another good option for a swim in an ocean pool followed by time on the grass or a walk along the Esplanade.
South Cronulla suits families wanting a patrolled surf beach, nearby food and an easy walk through Cronulla afterwards. Always swim between the flags when patrols are operating.
For a Kurnell day, head to Silver Beach and Bonna Point Reserve for calmer Botany Bay water, a large playground, picnic areas and walking paths. You can also stop for lunch in Kurnell or continue into Kamay Botany Bay National Park, subject to current access and construction notices.
For families with a four-wheel drive, Boat Harbour offers the convenience of driving onto the sand and setting up beside the car. Day entry is $60 per vehicle from Monday to Saturday. Season pass holders can go on Sundays and public holidays, with a ballot sometimes used on busy days. Half-year season passes currently cost $210 per vehicle. Check the Boat Harbour Park website before leaving, as entry rules, ballots and capacity restrictions can change.
Helensburgh
Spend the Day at Symbio Wildlife Park
Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh is one of the larger family outings close to the Shire and works particularly well when you have a full day available.
There are more than 500 animals, daily presentations, animal encounters, a playground, an on-site cafe and plenty of areas to stop throughout the park. During warmer weather, bring swimmers for the splash park, which has fountains, jets, tunnels and shallow splash areas.
Families who expect to visit more than once may find a season pass worthwhile. Passes provide unlimited admission for 12 months, and Symbio advises that they can pay for themselves by the third visit. Current options include individual and family passes.
Symbio is open throughout the year except Christmas Day, but it is still worth checking presentation times and splash park information before visiting.
Go for a Family Bike or Scooter Ride
The Shire has a growing mix of shared paths, junior circuits and mountain-bike tracks that can be adapted to suit different confidence levels.
Waratah Park in Sutherland is a good starting point for younger riders, with a junior bike path beside the playground. The precinct is also home to two off-road cycling facilities for children ready to try mountain biking.
Local mums also suggest riding around the netball courts at Bellingara Road, following sections of the shared path between Sutherland and Kirrawee, or creating a longer ride through Caringbah, Woolooware and Cronulla.
For a longer outing, plan playground and food stops along the route, then consider catching the train back if the return distance is too much for younger riders. Check the council cycling map before leaving and remember that not every connection is completely separated from roads.
Waratah Park can also be used for organised cycling events, so check whether the tracks are available before making a special trip.
Try the Skate Parks, Pump Tracks and Bush Tracks
Scooters, skateboards and bikes open up another group of free local activities.
The Ridge Pump Track at Barden Ridge is a large, fully fenced track with curves, dips and transitions suited to a range of ages and riding levels. There are toilets, shade structures and parking within the sports complex.
At Cooper Street Reserve in Engadine, the active youth precinct includes a street-style skate park, pump track, parkour area and basketball half-court. Seymour Shaw Park in Miranda has a skate space, playground and scooter or bike path, although parts of the wider reserve may be affected by construction works.
Other local options include the skate precinct at Bonna Point Reserve in Kurnell, Parc Menai, Bundeena Skate Park, Marang Parklands and Woronora Heights Skate Park.
Helmets and suitable protective gear are a good idea, particularly when children are trying a new track or moving from a flat riding area to ramps and bowls.
Find a Local Event, Market or Pop-Up Activity
There is always something new being added to the local calendar, from markets and family festivals to creative workshops, theatre, live music and community days.
Sutherland Markets can be an easy weekend stop, while pop-up activities such as Paws and Paintz, observatory nights, seasonal markets and children’s workshops are worth watching for when dates are released.
Our What’s On in the Sutherland Shire calendar brings current local events together in one place. Event details can change, so check the organiser’s official page before attending, particularly when bookings, weather conditions or limited places are involved.
More Ways to Have Fun with Kids in the Sutherland Shire
The ideas in this guide came from local mums who know the value of having a reliable list ready for the next free morning, sunny weekend or unexpected change of plans.
Opening hours, prices, timetables and offers can change, so check directly with each venue, council or park website before visiting.
Know a family outing that belongs on this list? Send your recommendation to the Mums of the Shire team so we can keep the guide updated.
