Best day trips from Sydney that the family will love

Reconnect with nature and spend quality time with family this summer by taking a drive out of the city. These three day trips all offer unique experiences at expansive green space with varied landscapes. From 45 minutes to 90 minutes, these trips will transport you to a cool-climate oasis or a rainforest teeming with life. 

45 minutes to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan

The short 45 minute car trip to the Australian Botanic Garden is great for all ages and a wonderful new experience for Sydney families. Showcasing approximately 2,000 species of Australian native plants and 160 animal species across 416 hectares, there is a lot to discover. 

The garden is also home to the Australian PlantBank, a major scientific research and conservation centre for New South Wales flora. The seed vault inside the PlantBank hold millions of seeds including 50 percent of New South Wales' threatened species. 

Make this short trip a family day out by taking a picnic or having a sausage sizzle at one of the free BBQ spots. Wander through the varying bushland, grassland and ornamental gardens and you might spot wildlife along the way too. Don't forget to bring your camera!

100 minutes to Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Jamberoo National Park

This fun, family Sunday drive is an exciting trip into on of Australia's rainforests. The lush flora of Minnamurra Rainforest feels like a magical, enchanted place that kids will love to explore. They will be amazed by the double-tiered waterfall, Carrington Falls, which is a great place to stop for a picnic. The walk takes between 45 minutes to one hour to complete with the first 500 meters being paved and wheelchair accessible, great for prams too. 

The beautiful rainforest loop walk is 1.6 km and filled with a rich variety of plants and great for those that are keen birdwatchers too. The canopy of the rainforest acts as a natural sunscreen during the hot summer months, filtering out approximately 75 per cent of direct sunlight. This cooler yet humid air makes it an ideal environment to escape the summer sun and busy city life. 

120 minutes to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah

Located in a World Heritage area and home to 21,000 plants and 900 species, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, is located just under 2 hours from the city.  The Garden covers 252 hectares of land with 28 hectares open to the public with many different walking paths to explore.

There are picnic areas for families to relax and walking tracks through this cool-climate, breathtaking Garden. 

While at the visitors centre we highly recommend checking out the plants available to take home. You can find a range of native, exotic, rare, hard-to-find and endangered plants. Every purchase helps support the conservation efforts of the Garden too.

More inspiration

If you are looking for a great weekend getaway or family day trip this summer, check out the Sydney to Blue Mountains website here for itineraries and things to do.