Luna Park Sydney

Luna Park has entertained Sydneysiders from its site at Milsons Point, on the northern shore of the harbour beside the Harbour Bridge, since October 1935. Its entrance, a huge smiling face set between two Art Deco towers, is one of the city's most recognisable sights, especially when lit up at night. The current fibreglass face, installed in 1993, is based on a 1960 design.

The whole park was placed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2010, and a special act of parliament protects the site for amusement and public recreation. Some of its attractions have been part of the park for decades, giving it a different character from modern theme parks. The heritage-listed Coney Island funhouse, with its mirror mazes, spinning barrels and giant slides, is a good example.

There are rides for different ages and nerves. Younger children can enjoy the carousel and gentler rides, while thrill-seekers head for the Big Dipper roller coaster, opened in 2021, which runs with the Harbour Bridge as its backdrop, or the Sledgehammer swing ride. Height requirements apply to many attractions and are listed on the website for each ride, so check them before you promise anything to children.

Opening days and hours vary through the year and extend during school holidays, so check the official operating hours page before you go. Ride passes and tickets are sold on the website; buying in advance can save queuing at the gate. Allow two to four hours depending on how many rides you plan to try, and expect longer queues on weekends and during holidays.

The park suits families with children of all ages, groups of friends and anyone who enjoys a bit of nostalgia. Even without riding, it is worth walking past the entrance for the views across Lavender Bay and the harbour to the city skyline, particularly at dusk.

Milsons Point station is a few minutes' walk away, and ferries stop at Milsons Point wharf beside the park. It pairs well with walking across the Harbour Bridge, whose northern stairs are close by on Broughton Street, and with a stroll around the Kirribilli and Lavender Bay foreshore afterwards.