Sydney Rainy Day Activities

Sydney rainy day activities run from aquariums to flight simulators. You can fly an A320 simulator, escape a themed room, tour the Opera House, cook a seafood BBQ masterclass or play a round on a golf simulator, all while the weather does its worst. This page sorts the rainy day options by what you feel like doing, with the addresses so you can string two together.

Darling Harbour attractions for a wet day

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds and the Immersive Gamebox all share the 1-5 Wheat Rd address in Darling Harbour. SEA LIFE has the Penguin Expedition boat ride, Shark Valley and a day and night on the Reef. WILD LIFE covers the Aussie Big 5 with daily keeper talks. Madame Tussauds has six themed zones, from Steve Irwin to global stars.

If you plan to visit more than one, the Sydney attractions passes combine WILD LIFE, SEA LIFE, Sydney Tower Eye and Madame Tussauds. The Sydney Aquarium Shark Dive Xtreme puts you in the water with grey nurse sharks for 30 minutes if you'd rather be wet on purpose.

Sydney Opera House tours and city views

The 1 hour Sydney Opera House tour takes you through the theatres and foyers of the UNESCO World Heritage listed building with a guide. The Sydney Opera House backstage tour runs for 2.5 hours as a small group of 12, passes through rehearsal spaces that aren't open to the public and ends with breakfast in the Green Room.

The Sydney Tower Eye has an indoor observation deck 250 metres above the street, with views of up to 80 kilometres. The Australian National Maritime Museum has six permanent galleries and a collection of historic vessels.

Escape rooms, quizzes and simulators in the CBD

Three rainy day games sit at 393 George Street. The 1 hour Escape Hunt has a choice of themed adventure rooms for up to six players, and the product page describes it as an all weather attraction. The virtual reality escape room gives each player their own room to move around in for 40 to 50 minutes, and Quiz Room Sydney turns trivia into a game show. The Museum of Illusions is nearby at 413 George Street and operates in all weather conditions.

Pilots can book the 30 minute A320 flight simulation at Macquarie Street, which seats up to five in a full scale cockpit with a 270 degree screen, or head to Bankstown Aerodrome for the Boeing 737-800 flight simulator with an instructor beside you for an hour.

Indoor golf, mini golf and arcade games

The indoor golf simulator in Caringbah runs 90 minutes for up to four players with pizza and a drink on arrival. Holey Moley mini golf has themed courses at Alexandria and other Sydney venues, and Archie Brothers in Alexandria is an indoor playground of arcade games and bowling. For golf lessons that go ahead whatever the weather, see the Sydney golf experiences page.

Food and cooking for a wet afternoon

The seafood BBQ cooking masterclass is a three hour class at 1 Bridge Road in Glebe, where you cook dishes such as jumbo prawns with gochujang butter and Murray Cod with salsa verde, then eat the results. The Sydney Fish Market guided tasting tour runs for 90 minutes from the same address with seven samples and a drink. The product page lists weather appropriate gear on its what to bring list, so pack a jacket.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do in Sydney when it rains?

You can visit SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo or Madame Tussauds in Darling Harbour, tour the Sydney Opera House, try an escape room at Escape Hunt on George Street, or play a round on an indoor golf simulator in Caringbah.

Is Taronga Zoo open in the rain?

Taronga Zoo is worth visiting in the rain, as long as you don't mind getting a little wet. The Taronga Zoo product page recommends bringing an umbrella.

Can I still have a golf lesson in Sydney if it rains?

Yes. The private indoor golf coaching lesson uses an indoor simulator and practice bay in Sydney's west, and the lesson goes ahead rain, hail or shine.

Local tip: Pick one address and build the day around it. Escape Hunt, the virtual reality escape room and Quiz Room Sydney all list 393 George Street, so you can book two back to back without moving.

Pick a rainy day activity above and the forecast stops mattering. A Darling Harbour aquarium visit or an Opera House tour, all good days are waiting.