Things to do in Doonside

Doonside · 1.4km from downtown

577 reviews

Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is located in Sydney's western suburbs, on the way from the city to the Blue Mountains, making it a stop included in many Blue Mountains 1-day tours. This privately founded zoo houses over 2,000 native Australian animals, including dozens of endangered species, offering an excellent opportunity to encounter local wildlife in Sydney. Here you can see wombats, echidnas, dingoes, little penguins, cassowaries, kookaburras and more, observe massive saltwater crocodiles across water barriers, and even spot endangered Tasmanian devils. A highlight is entering the open kangaroo and wallaby area to hand-feed them, stroking koalas and taking photos in the koala zone, or visiting the lorikeet flight aviary where colorful parrots fly and perch around visitors. The park also hosts multiple daily keeper talks and feeding sessions, where you can hand-feed little penguins under keeper guidance. Quokkas, typically found in Western Australia, have also made their home here, offering a rare sighting in Sydney.

No. 4 of Family-friendly Attractions in New South Wales

Sydney Zoo

7

Bungarribee · 2.9km from Doonside

604 reviews

Sydney Zoo is home toover 4,000 animals, including awe-inspiring and endangered species from all around the world. Take a stroll down the African Boardwalk where you'll see scenes from the savannah in our remarkable mixed-species habitats, wander down the leafy Primate Boulevard, and be mesmerised by the animals of south-east Asia. Get closer to all your favourite Australian natives in our beautiful open-range Australia habitat, where kangaroos and wallabies hop freely around the meandering pathways. Sydney Zoo is also theonly combined zoo and aquarium in NSW, and boasts the largest Reptile & Nocturnal House in the world!

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Sydney Opera House

9.6

Sydney · 33.6km from Doonside

4.1k reviews

The Sydney Opera House is a symbol of Australia. It is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the 20th Century and is also a landmark in Sydney. Its white exterior, a shell-like sculpture built on the harbour, like scattered petals floating in the air, have for many years left observers in amazement. It houses a concert hall, a music theatre, a performance theatre, a children's theatre and a photography studio. Auctions, concerts and other events are held every month or even every week. △ Enjoy wonderful performances from all over the world △ Behind the scenes, walks, tours and experiences △ Admire the magnificent scenery of Sydney Harbor and enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea time

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Australia

Sydney Whale Watching Cruise

9.1

4.4/5

306 reviews

The Sydney Whale Watching Cruise is a unique local experience where travelers have the opportunity to observe whales up close. From May to November each year, tens of thousands of humpback whales migrate north from Antarctic waters, passing near Sydney: late June to early July marks the peak northbound period, while after September and October, mother whales with their calves can often be seen slowly returning south along the coastline. Popular whale watching itineraries usually depart from darling harbour or circular quay. The cruise is equipped with advanced facilities, allowing you to enjoy the sea journey without missing any whale watching opportunities.

Sydney · 32.7km from Doonside

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Taronga Zoo Sydney

9.1

Mosman · 35.5km from Doonside

3.6k reviews

The Taronga Zoo shows tourists Sydney's original scenery and brings them with a satisfying wildlife experience. With incredible lush native forest belts and harbour views, it is an ideal place to enjoy Australian animals and addicting Sydney views. △ Meet Australian native animals △ Enjoy daily animal performances △ Get up close and feed the animals

No. 14 of Spring Outings in Australia

Calmsley Hill City Farm

4.4

4.1/5

8 reviews

Calmsley Hill City Farm is a vibrant agricultural experience attraction nestled in the peaceful countryside, offering visitors hands-on farm activities. As both an educational and recreational destination, the farm showcases modern agricultural operations while allowing visitors to connect with nature. The farm features various activities suitable for families and individual visitors. Guests can participate in seasonal picking activities, experiencing the farm-to-table food journey. The farm also provides guided tour services, taking visitors through orchards, vegetable gardens, and livestock areas to learn about different crop cultivation processes and animal husbandry methods. For children, the interactive zone offers opportunities for close encounters with small animals like feeding lambs and chicks. Whether for family outings or educational groups, this attraction provides rich experiences and profound agricultural knowledge for every visitor.

Abbotsbury · 11.7km from Doonside

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

8.3

Sydney · 32.9km from Doonside

2k reviews

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is located at Darling Harbour in Sydney and features marine life native to Australia. The aquarium houses multiple interactive themed zones, showcasing hundreds of aquatic species from marine and freshwater environments across Australia, including many iconic species unique to the country. Shark Valley is one of the aquarium's core exhibition areas, where visitors can walk through a transparent underwater tunnel with nurse sharks, wobbegongs, and giant smooth rays swimming slowly overhead. The Penguin Expedition area is home to king penguins and gentoo penguins; visitors can ride a small boat through simulated sub-Antarctic ice and snow, observe penguins up close on the ice and in the water, and watch the keepers feed the penguins several times a day. The Day and Night Coral Reef exhibition area is themed around the 24-hour ecological changes of the Great Barrier Reef, using interactive technology to present the different life dynamics of the coral reef between day and night; it is home to the Napoleon fish—a peculiar reef fish that can change from female to male as it grows. The Southern Coast Shipwreck area is home to little penguins, and these tiny penguins darting through the water and waddling on the sand are much loved by visitors. The aquarium is also home to a rescued dugong, one of the few captive dugongs in the world. In addition, areas such as Jurassic Seas and the Rocky Shore Touch Pool each have their own distinctive features; in the touch pool area, visitors can explore intertidal creatures such as starfish, sea cucumbers, and crabs. For visitors seeking a deeper experience, the aquarium also offers programs such as shark diving, where you can swim alongside large marine life such as nurse sharks and rays in a cage-free environment.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Australia

Sydney Tower Eye

8.2

Sydney · 33.5km from Doonside

1.3k reviews

Completed in 1981, Sydney Tower Eye is known as one of Sydney's three major landmarks alongside the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The tower stands about 300 m tall, supported by 56 giant cables. Its observation deck is about 250 m above ground, and the 360-degree transparent observation deck offers a panoramic view of the scenery within 80 km. At the top of Sydney Tower Eye, you can also walk on a glass-bottomed observation platform more than 260 m above the ground, which is very thrilling. △ 360° panoramic view of Sydney △ Enjoy the beautiful sunset and city night view △ Experience walking on the glass platform at the top of the tower

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

7.9

4.5/5

1k reviews

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is located at Darling Harbour, adjacent to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds. It is a rare compact zoo in central Sydney that focuses primarily on indoor exhibits, dedicated to showcasing native Australian animals. With a single route that takes you from start to finish, you can tour the entire zoo in about two hours. The five iconic Australian animals—kangaroos, koalas, wombats, platypuses, and crocodiles—can all be seen here. The zoo is divided into multiple themed zones based on natural habitats: the kangaroo walkabout is an open area where you can walk among western grey kangaroos for close observation; the koala rooftop is the park's signature, offering not only regular viewing but also the option to book entry into the koala enclosure for photos with the koalas, or join a koala breakfast to dine while watching them feed in the morning when they are most active; the Tasmanian devil den is home to the sharp-called, powerfully jawed Tasmanian devils, an endangered marsupial now found mainly in Tasmania; the Daintree rainforest area brings together southern cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and satin bowerbirds; the platypus pool requires some patience, as these egg-laying mammals often hide among underwater branches; the nocturnal animal zone dims the lights to "night mode," where sugar gliders, bilbies, and other nocturnal creatures are active; there are also a freshwater crocodile pool, an area housing echidnas and Goodfellow's tree kangaroos, and insect boxes filled with spiders, stick insects, and giant snails, while snakes and lizards and other reptiles are scattered throughout. During your visit, keep an eye out for keeper talk times in each zone—from wombat "Ringo" to cassowary "Princess," many animals have dedicated talks where keepers share fun facts about their habits. After your visit, the restaurants and waterfront views of Darling Harbour are within walking distance, making it perfect for a half-day city itinerary. △ Get up close with adorable koalas △ See the adorable quokkas △ Meet giant freshwater crocodiles

Sydney · 32.8km from Doonside

2026 Global 50 - Cool Water Escapes

Darling Harbour

7.6

Sydney · 33km from Doonside

1.4k reviews

Darling Harbour is Sydney's Central Entertainment District, located on the Western edge of the CBD. A thriving food and experience hub, Darling Harbour has a wide variety of bars, restaurants and cultural experiences on offer, with around 26 million visitors flocking to the precinct every year. The precinct boasts some of Sydney's most compelling attractions including Madame Tussauds Sydney, The Chinese Garden of Friendship, The Goods Line, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, and IMAX Sydney, and some of Sydney's most iconic hotels including W Sydney, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Novotel Sydney.

No. 9 of Night Attractions in Australia

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7.6