Luna Park in Sydney is a great destination for a family day out. You’ll find rides and games to satisfy the whole family, from the old-fashioned carousel to the famous Big Dipper. Coney island will fascinate all ages and, when it’s time to eat, you can choose from one of the many eateries or sit and enjoy a picnic on the Lavender Green, while enjoying spectacular views over Sydney Harbour.
Opened in 1935, over 20 million visitors have walked through the famous mouth of the recognisable Luna Park face.
We visited Luna Park in the July 2023 school holidays and the kids were thrilled walking under the giant teeth and into the vibrant world of rides, games and entertainment.
Entry to Luna Park is free, but a Day Pass is required to access the rides. Passes can be pre-ordered or purchased at the ticket booth, located inside the entry gates.
A Day Pass gives the ticket holder unlimited rides all day. Prices change daily, but expect to pay between $34-60 for a child (13 years and under) and $44-70 for an adult (14+ years).
There’s rides for all ages, but there are height rules. Luna Park use a colour system to determine who can ride each ride. Red Riders (85-106cm) require a guardian to ride with them. Green Riders (106-132cm) can some rides alone and many with a guardian. Yellow Riders (132cm+) are free to ride any ride they like. Our height was checked at time of ticket purchase/collection.
There are 9 rides available for the smaller Red Riders including Dodgem Cars, Freaky Frogs, the ‘Bug’ mini ferris wheel and more. Even though my tall 6 year old and 8 year old both made it into the Yellow Rider category they still really enjoyed these slower-paced rides.
For Green Riders there are 21 rides available including the Volare Swing Chairs, the Tango Train and the famous, heritage-listed Rotor. There were enough rides in the Green Rider category to keep the kids happy all day. Their favourite rides were the Little Nipper Rollercoaster, the Loopy Lighthouse (a mini giant-drop) and the Carousel.
Yellow Riders have 27 rides available to them, the most thrilling of these being the Sledgehammer. It swings and spins at the same time, while the giant ‘hammer’ drops and whacks riders back and forth.
There are two modes to choose from – half-swing or, for an extreme adrenaline rush, full-swing. None of our family were brave enough for this one, but it was fun to sit and watch other people ride.
An amusement park wouldn’t be complete without a roller coaster and Luna Park is home to four, including the famous Wild Mouse, the Big Dipper and the family-friendly Boomerang. We chose the more kid-friendly Little Nipper.
It was the perfect choice for Mr 6’s first roller coaster ride. The Little Nipper takes action photos which are available for purchase afterwards at the gift shop.
As the rides are being regularly maintained, it’s a good idea to visit the Luna Park website before visiting and check their online park map for ride closures on the day. The Wild Mouse is currently closed until Summer 2024 as it’s being restored in celebration of its 60th birthday.
In Sideshow Alley, you can take a break from the rides and play a selection of old-fashioned sideshow games including knock-em-downs, clowns and pull-a-string. To play the sideshow games we had to purchase a separate Games Pass.
You can choose from a 3 Games, 6 Games or 10 Games Pass. The 10 Games Pass cost $39.95 on the day we visited and came with a souvenir lanyard and helicopter hat.
Throughout the day we were entertained by Luna Park’s roving characters and performers. The entertainment was enjoyable for all ages and the entertainment staff we encountered were wonderful with the kids. Although the park was busy, they all seemed happy to talk to visitors and pose for photos.
There’s plenty of opportunity for photos in and around Luna Park.
Parts of Luna Park’s original Art Deco character have been preserved, adding to the uniqueness and charm of this famous theme park.
Inside heritage-listed Coney Island, I enjoyed learning about Luna Park’s rich history. The walls adorned with vintage photographs and the nostalgic display of historical arcade games, though no longer functional, provided a glimpse into the past.
Coney Island is free to enter and you’ll find something fun for the whole family. One particular highlight was the old-fashioned Joy Wheel. It spins the whole family around causing riders to slide off until only one winner remains.
The kids also loved the ‘Barrels of Fun’ spinning barrels, the Giant Slides and the Mirror Maze inside Coney Island.
When it was time to rest and have a bite to eat we chose to enjoy our packed lunch on the promenade. In its Milsons Point location, on the shores of Sydney Harbour, we were gifted with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House.
The beautiful Lavender Green Picnic Area, towards the back of the park, is another great spot to enjoy lunch.
For those who prefer to buy lunch, there are eateries inside Luna Park offering classic diner food and traditional hot food. From ice-creams to fairy floss, there’s also plenty of sugar-laden snacks available to keep kid’s energy levels up throughout the day.
There’s a car park at Luna Park with direct lift access. It is, however, expensive. Expect to pay $49 for 3+ hours.
Milsons Point Station is the closest train station and approximately 5-minute walk to Luna Park.
We chose to drive part of the way from Newcastle and catch a train the rest of the way, alighting at Wynyard Station. It was a 30-40 minute walk back to Luna Park and allowed us to walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an experience that added to the excitement of the day.
Good to Know
Website: Sydney’s Luna Park
Location: 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point NSW.
Parking: 380+ secure car parking available with lift access to Luna Park. Parking rates apply.
Opening Times: Opening hours differ daily. Refer to the Luna Park website for opening hours on the day you plan to visit.
Admission: Park entry and entry to Coney Island is free. To access the rides Day Passes, Annual Passes and Flexi-Passes are available. The price of Day Passes changes daily, check out the Tickets area of the Luna Park website for details. An annual pass is $150 (as at August 2023), allowing unlimited rides any day the park is open. 3, 6 or 10 Games Passes to play the sideshow games cost from $13.95 for 3 games.
Family-Friendly: Luna Park has plenty of family-friendly rides. The smallest riders, Red Riders (85-106cm) require a paying adult aged 18+ to accompany them on rides. Accessible toilets, baby change facilities and lockers are all available. There are First Aid facilities on-site.
Accessibility: All of Luna Park’s promenades and venues are wheelchair accessible and the Luna Park Sydney team are always on hand to help with any of your special needs or requirements. Service animals are permitted within Luna Park Sydney (domestic animals are prohibited).
If you require special assistance when booking for a show or concert, or need more information on accessibility to any of Luna Park Sydney’s attractions, you can contact Luna Park Guest Relations on +61 2 9922 6644.
Special Events: Luna Park holds school holiday activities and special events, such as Luna Park in the Dark and the Halloscream Halloween Experience. Check their website and social media channels for more information.
For more ideas for a day out in Sydney see our article: 30 Best Things to Do in Sydney With Kids
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Meg is a born and raised Novocastrian whose interests include gardening, reading and writing poetry. In between writing for Newy With Kids and working as a School Learning Support Officer, Meg enjoys camping and travelling with her family and exploring Newcastle and all it has to offer. Meg has two energetic kids and is passionate about kids having the opportunity to be outdoors as often as possible.