Australian educators are typically tasked with managing an insurmountable workload that often includes researching, choosing and booking memorable school excursions. The best picks are aligned with the school curriculum, are engaging for students of all abilities, plus deliver a ‘wow’ factor that will have students talking about the day long after the worksheets are handed in.
Sydney’s iconic landmarks, world-class art galleries and plethora of museums filled with treasures and tributes make an excursion to Australia’s unofficial capital city a great opportunity to take young hearts and minds on an adventure through a diverse cultural history.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Experience the Great Barrier Reef in Sydney with a school excursion to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Get on board for interactive zones that give students a larger than life introduction to ocean life, conservation efforts, and so much more. Teachers can also access classroom resources for use before or after the visit.
ABC tours
Inspire the journalists of tomorrow with an ABC tour at the Sydney Ultimo centre. A visit to the home of Q+A and Triple J will school your kids on the behind-the-scenes machinations of Australia’s national broadcaster.
Centennial Parklands
Describing itself as Sydney’s biggest classroom, Centennial Parklands has developed a comprehensive schools program with custom excursions that cater to early years, primary and secondary students. Check out the Indigenous school excursion with connect to country, walks on country, and cultural immersion for those age groups respectively.
Taronga Zoo
The iconic harbour-front Taronga Zoo has two school excursions for schools to choose from. One is a self-guided visit where schools plan the day themselves, the other is partly self-guided and includes a curriculum-linked workshop delivered in partnership with the Department of Education for K-12 students. There are also full-day workshops on offer for the senior students, as well as ‘depth studies’ with talks from zoo scientists and experts.
Paul Maguire, Director of Education at Taronga Zoo says, “Taronga Zoo has a long-standing partnership with the Department of Education and four of our educators are Department of Education employees. This sets us apart from other excursion venues, as our education team have access to curriculum experts supporting them in teaching current curriculum and embedding high impact teaching strategies.”
Teachers will generally book a few months in advance or arrange standing annual bookings.
Raging Waters
This Sydney water park has set Education Days and schools are invited to “swap desks for water slides” and purchase education packages to celebrate the end of term, end of school year, graduation, or other milestone events with a fun day out.
Treetops Adventures
Get out of the classroom and into the fresh air with a Treetops Adventure ropes session. Benefits include being immersed in nature, confidence-building, team skills and class bonding.
Sydney Tower Eye
“Bring your lessons to life with 360-degree city views” at Sydney Tower Eye on a journey to the sky that starts with a 4D cinema experience flying across Sydney and ends with binoculars and touch screens on the interactive observation deck. Teachers can download free resources for activity planning around the fun facts shared throughout the day.
Luna Park
Turn education on its head with the Luna Learning Program: interactive experiences with a fresh perspective of motion laws, gravity, business studies, art history, mathematics, engineering and more. School excursions can be customised for education or wellbeing days.
Art Gallery NSW
Art Gallery learning tours are designed to spark ‘inquiry-based conversations’ and critical thinking about art and life, led by gallery educators. There are two themes to choose from: Art Lives here and Yiribana. The first is an exploration of the stunning new building, its works, and the process of creating it. The second offers a chance to connect with Indigenous art, also in the new building.
Sydney Zoo
Sydney Zoo school excursion programs are tailored for every grade and give access to wildlife from all over the world – in Western Sydney. The focus is on conservation and Indigenous culture, with traditional music, dance workshops and (lots of!) animals all on the impressive list of things to see and do.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Plant ideas in the minds of Australia’s future botanists with “learning activities, gardening experiences and immersive exhibitions” at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Educators can get started with curriculum-based activity plans and excursions “encourage imaginative, emotional, and playful outdoor learning (for all weather conditions)”.
Cockatoo Island
“Escape to Cockatoo Island” for a day of historical learning with 90-minute stage-specific education programs aligned with the NSW syllabus. There are three primary school excursion programs and two for high school students, covering everything from convict times to the roles dock workers played in the Second World War.
Powerhouse Museum
Plan your own visit around the Powerhouse Museum or be led by an educator or creator as students are taken on a tour of the museum’s interactive activities. Explore space, investigate climate change, and get creative with science, at the home of “half a million objects of national and international significance”.
The Supreme Court of NSW
Take the law into your own hands with a self-guided tour of the Supreme Court of NSW using the interactive app that gives an overview of the court’s history, trail tips and court protocols. Pro tip: check which cases are listed on the date you plan to visit.
Sydney Opera House
Educators are treated to a comprehensive suite of resources and programs at Sydney Opera House. From guest speaker talks about the education sector to creative leadership workshops, there are inspirational activities for both primary and high school students.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Take learning to new heights with a School Excursion Climb that encompasses history and architecture – 134m high in the sky. School excursions include a guide, event space, workshops, group photo, caps and certificates.
The Australian Museum
A visit to the Australian Museum is part of the fabric of every Australian’s childhood memories. School excursions are visitor-led or educator-led and there are currently nine programs to choose from, including a First Nations galleries tour and the popular Dinosaurs: Feathers, teeth and claws.
The University of Sydney
Sydney University periodically runs full-day Spectacular Science excursions where high school students get to meet real scientists and get hands-on in the university’s lab for a taster of what their future could look like.
Downing Centre Local Law Courts
The Downing Centre is Sydney’s main courthouse complex, found on Liverpool Street in the heart of the CBD. It’s housed in the art nouveau heritage-listed former Mark Foy’s department store. It’s open to visitors for self-guided group tours that begin with a court sheriff briefing and include a tour, as well as the opportunity to watch real cases as they unfold.
Q Station
Q Station in Manly on the northern beaches is a former quarantine station that transforms students into history detectives for the day. They hunt for clues, take on maintenance duties, and talk about the importance of preservation as the rest of the world evolves.
National Maritime Museum
The cleverly-branded mu-sea-um is the portal to an action-packed day of exploring Sydney’s past, present and future marine life. Students get the benefit of a high-tech learning centre and educators can design a day that fits their lesson plans, with access to free teacher resources.
The Sydney Jewish Museum
The Sydney Jewish Museum offers students a meaningful and memorable connection to Sydney’s Jewish community. The carefully considered learning program includes the privilege of age-appropriate talks with a Holocaust survivor for a unique first-hand account of life during and after the war.
