Overview
When your inner child is begging to be let out, you've got to turn the city into your giant playground. Whether you want thrills and spills or sugar rushes and showbags, there are many ways to embrace your childlike sensibilities in Sydney.
You can marvel at sea creatures, get set with go karts or give your adrenal gland a workout on wet and wild waterslides in the west. Get ready to spoil your dinner and stay up way past bedtime — you'll soon find being a kid is a whole lot more fun now that you make the rules.
BREAK YOUR FAST AT PANCAKES ON THE ROCKS
Rise and shine and head to Pancakes on the Rocks for its beloved all-day brekkie menu and a nostalgia-filled start to your day. Settle in for one of its famous pancake stacks like the decadent chocolate peanut butter, sweet and sour lemon meringue or the nutty macadamia stack. Or, if you're after something simple yet satisfying, opt for a classic serve with ice cream and maple syrup.
If variety is your thing, order an Aussie Sunrise which includes pancakes, bacon, eggs, fried banana and pineapple rings. There are also savoury options available if you're not in the mood for a sugar rush.
Felipe Bustillo via Unsplash
CATCH A MORNING MOVIE SESSION
Nothing screams 'I'm on school holidays' like seeing a movie before midday. And HOYTS at the Entertainment Quarter is the ideal spot to have a morning cinematic experience.
Catch the hottest new releases at the Xtremescreen or book in for a blockbuster on the LED Samsung Onyx screen to get lost in a deeply immersive viewing experience — it's the first LED cinema screen in NSW. Not sure what to watch? This'll help.
Sea Life Sydney
DIVE DEEP INTO SEA LIFE
Been a while since you hit up SEA LIFE aquarium in Darling Harbour? Even when you're all grown up, an up-close view of the wonders of the ocean never gets old.
Stop in and meet nature's marvellous sea cow, Pig the Dugong, take a boat ride to slide up next to penguins, or explore the famous underwater tunnels where you can watch sharks and wobbegongs float on by. You can also learn about the conservation projects underway, get up close in the rockpool touch tank or just marvel at your favourite undersea pals like serene turtles, gliding rays and bright tropical fish.
SPEND THE AFTERNOON GETTING TOPSY TURVY
The House Down Under describes itself as "Australia's first inverted house photo experience", which is, well, exactly what it sounds like. Yep, just a perfectly normal house that's completely upside down.
Each room is flipped on its head (with all furniture secured, of course), chairs above you, roof below. The whole house is a surreal, Alice in Wonderland-type topsy-turvy experience. Experience it for yourself and snap the most disorienting selfie of your life as you stand on the ceiling and reach up to the living room floor.
GET YOUR HEART RACING
Speed around Australia's largest indoor go-kart circuit at Hyper Karting at the Entertainment Quarter. Here you'll find a heart-pumping 410-metre track with an environmentally friendly difference. These German-made electric karts not only offer great handling and a smooth ride, they also have higher acceleration than your standard kart meaning you can go faster with a quieter and cleaner vehicle.
You can book in for as many 15-minute racing slots as you like, but it's recommended you take a little break in between laps so you can hit the track again in top form. Got a whole swag of mates who want to lean into their childhood? You can book the whole 16-place race for your crew and see who really has the need for speed.
GET WET AND WILD AT RAGING WATERS
Grab a pass for the day — or the full season — and make a splash at this 25-hectare water park in Western Sydney. Battle white water as you spin and whirl through rushing channels on a whole bunch of thrilling slides.
Cool off with high-speed plunges and twists and turns in the enclosed Aqua Tube, hurtle at 60 kilometres per hour on the 260Rush, swing back and forth through tidal waves on T5 or race your mates on the H2Go Racers. When you need to refuel, pick up pizza or grab a salad for lunch to enjoy on the man-made beach before hitting the slides one more time before heading home.
STRIKE THE NIGHT
Strike at the Entertainment Quarter is a cut above the bowling alleys of your childhood. Seven days a week, this joint buzzes with eight neon-lit lanes, killer tunes and a full bar — one of the perks of going bowling as an adult.
Kick back between bowls with a beer or cocktail — there's everything from margs to espresso martinis on offer — or tuck into the tasty food like the smoked beetroot rueben or the beef brisket sando. If bowling isn't enough, enjoy the thrill of the chase in the on-site 30-person laser tag arena or retreat to a private karaoke room to unleash your secret stage persona.
TRY YOUR LUCK AT B LUCKY AND SONS
B Lucky and Sons is the throwback arcade of your dreams. Your game card is your ticket to fun, so load it up with credits and get ready to be drenched in nostalgia in no time.
The arcade has everything from Mario Kart and Space Invaders to basketball hoops and electronic dance games to keep you entertained. Whether you want to hustle to win or simply play for fun, you can test your fortune and, if you're lucky, maybe walk away with a winning prize. Whatever your approach, you can head to the bar to celebrate your wins (or losses) with your mates afterwards.
LOSE YOURSELF AT LUNA PARK
Remember how it felt visiting a carnival as a kid? The excitement of the rides, the roving entertainers and the intoxicating scent of sugar and fried food wafting throughout the grounds. You can relive all that — and also enjoy the on-site wine bar — at Luna Park.
If the last time you visited you were a kid, there's a good chance you're now tall enough to go on the rides you missed out on last time like the Big Dipper, Sledgehammer and the 50-metre drop on the Hair Raiser. Challenge your G-force limits in the Rotor or seek some classic thrills in the wooden Wild Mouse coaster. Check out the mirror maze, fun house and slides at Coney Island, test your skills at the sideshow games and grab a showbag for a token of your trip down memory lane.
Ready to relive your childhood? For more information on the Entertainment Quarter and its incredible offering of activities, visit the website.