Parramatta With Kids: Riverside Days, Playgrounds, And Easy Train Links
How to use Sydney’s second CBD as a family base instead of a confusing afterthought.
Parramatta is one of the most practical family bases in Greater Sydney. It is trains and ferries that connect you to the harbour, big green parks, riverside paths, playgrounds, shopping centres with everything you forgot to pack, and a food scene that can handle picky eaters and adventurous teens at the same table.
If you have only seen photos of the Opera House and Bondi, it is easy to overlook Parramatta. On the ground it feels like a real city where families actually live. That is exactly why it works. You get space, value, and transport options that make day trips into the harbour easy while you sleep and eat in a neighborhood built for everyday life. This guide walks you through how to do Parramatta with kids in a way that feels integrated, safe, and quietly smart for your budget.
Parramatta is your west-side base. Use this neighborhood guide alongside:
• Ultimate Sydney Family Travel Guide
• Sydney Neighborhood Guide for Families
• Sydney Attractions Guide for Families
• Sydney Planning & Logistics Guide
Sydney CBD With Kids · The Rocks · Darling Harbour · Barangaroo · Surry Hills · Paddington · Bondi Beach · Coogee · Manly · Mosman · Parramatta (you are here) · Newtown · Circular Quay
Building a bigger trip: connect Parramatta to your global family plan with these ultimate city guides: Tokyo · Dubai · Bali · London · New York City · Singapore · Toronto · Dublin · Vancouver · Seoul · Maui.
How To Do Parramatta With Kids (And Still See The Harbour)
Parramatta works best when you treat it as a base, not a compromise. You sleep here, do some of your best park and playground days here, and run your harbour and city days by train and ferry. For kids, that looks like big green spaces, boats, and fast trains. For parents, it looks like more square meters for your money and easy access to supermarkets and pharmacies.
A simple pattern: give yourself one or two "city days" where you ride the train into the CBD or Circular Quay, then make the rest Parramatta-centric. That means morning playground sessions in Parramatta Park, calm riverside walks, a splash in a hotel pool, or a movie and food court evening when everyone needs something familiar.
Behind that pattern, your planning stack is doing quiet work. You: check flight options into Sydney with a flexible family flight search , compare Parramatta and CBD stays side by side using a Sydney accommodation comparison view , decide whether you actually need a car with a quick car rental comparison , and give yourself room to pivot plans with family travel insurance that flexes with your itinerary .
Once those are in place, you are no longer improvising. You are choosing when to be by the river, when to be under trees, and when to pop into the harbour knowing exactly how you will get back home.
Things To Do In Parramatta With Kids
Parramatta Park: Your Everyday Backyard
Parramatta Park is where a lot of your best family hours will quietly happen. It is wide lawns, bike paths, riverside walking tracks, playgrounds, and the kind of space where kids can just run without you doing complex crowd control.
Use it as your default morning or late afternoon spot. Pack a ball, snacks, and a simple plan like "playground, scoot, then coffee." The rhythm matters more than ticking off landmarks.
For current events, closures, and facilities, check the official At Parramatta visitor site and the Parramatta page on Sydney.com . They will flag festivals, night markets, and anything that might change your park days.
Riverside Walks And The Parramatta Ferry
The walk along the Parramatta River feels different from the harbour but scratches the same itch. Kids watch boats, throw leaves in the water, and race between benches and trees. You can stretch it or shrink it depending on how everyone is coping.
The Parramatta ferry into Circular Quay turns a transfer into an experience. On a good weather day you can ride the ferry one way, do your harbour time, then take the train back when everyone is tired.
If you want someone else to handle timing, commentary, and harbour angles, skim family-friendly Parramatta River cruises . They can be a simple way to let kids see the water without you worrying about routes.
Playgrounds, Water Play, And Simple Wins
Parramatta's core advantage with kids is the density of playgrounds and open space. Bicentennial Park, local pocket playgrounds, and occasional water play features give you low-cost, high-impact stops that break up your days.
Use the City of Parramatta and At Parramatta sites to cross-check current playgrounds and facilities before you go. Start with At Parramatta "Play" listings and build a short list that matches your children's ages.
History In Small, Palatable Doses
If you have older kids or teens, you can sprinkle in heritage sites like Old Government House and local museums in small doses. The trick is to keep it short and pair it with something physical afterward so no one feels trapped.
Look at Parramatta attractions on Sydney.com for updated opening hours and any special programs that might interest your crew.
Day Trips From A Parramatta Base
One reason parents choose Parramatta is its position for day trips. With a car or well-planned train routes, you can get to the Blue Mountains, western Sydney attractions, and even back out toward the coast without moving hotels every night.
When you are ready to explore further, compare family tours and day trips that start in or pass through Parramatta on Viator . You might find Blue Mountains day trips, wildlife parks, or combined city and west-side itineraries that fit your dates.
Where To Eat In Parramatta With Kids
Parramatta's food scene leans multicultural, casual, and flexible. That is exactly what you want with kids. Your job is not to hunt for the trendiest table. Your job is to identify a few reliable anchors around the river, the train station, and your hotel.
Eat Street And Riverside Restaurants
The Church Street and Riverside precincts give you a cluster of options in one place. Italian, Asian, grills, burgers, and more mean you can walk until something feels right instead of committing days in advance.
Before you travel, browse example venues on At Parramatta's Eat & Drink section and Parramatta food listings on Sydney.com so you have two or three names ready for when everyone gets hungry at once.
Cafes around Centenary Square and the shopping centres are ideal for breakfast and mid-morning resets. Parents get coffee. Kids get pancakes, toast, or something close to home. You get half an hour to breathe and decide what comes next.
Westfield Parramatta and nearby centres have food courts that can be a lifesaver. You do not come for the atmosphere. You come because everyone can pick something different and you can be done in under an hour. This is perfect on travel days and heavy-weather days.
One smart Parramatta move is to treat your room like a mini base camp. A quick grocery run gets you fruit, breakfast basics, snacks for parks, and simple dinners for nights when no one wants to perform at a restaurant.
Where To Stay In Parramatta With Kids
The best Parramatta stays for families keep you close to trains, ferries, and the river while giving you space to decompress. You are looking for three things: easy access to Parramatta Station or the ferry wharf, a room layout that works for your kids, and nearby food and supermarket options.
PARKROYAL Parramatta
PARKROYAL sits right in the heart of Parramatta, close to Eat Street and a short walk from the river. Families like the comfortable rooms, breakfast options, and the feeling that you can get everywhere on foot or with a short taxi ride.
Check room types, family-friendly options, and current pricing here: PARKROYAL Parramatta on Booking.com .
Meriton Suites Church Street, Parramatta
If you want a kitchen, laundry, and separate bedrooms, Meriton Suites Church Street is a strong pick. You are close to the river and restaurants, with enough space for kids to play on the floor while you pack or plan the next day.
Compare suite layouts and availability here: Meriton Suites Church Street on Booking.com .
Holiday Inn Parramatta, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Parramatta gives you chain predictability, which can be exactly what you want with kids. Familiar room setups, breakfast options, and a location that keeps you close to trains and the shopping centre make it easy to land, reset, and use Parramatta as a base.
See current deals, family rooms, and reviews here: Holiday Inn Parramatta on Booking.com .
If you are still weighing Parramatta against a harbour base, it can help to open a Sydney-wide accommodation map , zoom between Parramatta, the CBD, and Circular Quay, and compare price, space, and commute time. Let the map show you what your money actually buys in each area.
Logistics: Getting To Parramatta And Moving Around With Kids
From Sydney Airport To Parramatta
You have three main choices from the airport:
- Train: Airport line into the city, then direct train from Central or another CBD station to Parramatta. Predictable and often quickest in peak traffic.
- Taxi or rideshare: Door to door, easiest with a lot of luggage or younger children, but subject to traffic.
- Pre-booked transfer: Helpful if you want a fixed price and someone waiting with your name after a long-haul flight.
Use flexible flight search tools to aim your arrival for daylight hours if possible. It is easier to orient kids and yourself when you can see the city on your way in.
Do You Need A Car In Parramatta?
For a city-focused trip, no. Trains, buses, and ferries cover most of what you will do. For Blue Mountains days or more remote western Sydney attractions, a car can be useful for one or two specific days rather than the entire stay.
When you are ready, compare prices and pickup points with Booking.com car rentals , and only book the days that actually save you time.
Trains, Ferries, And Opal Cards
Parramatta Station is a key hub. From here you can ride straight into the CBD, swap to light rail, or connect to other western Sydney lines. Kids usually enjoy the speed and predictability of trains once they know what to expect.
The Parramatta ferry is your slow, scenic option into the harbour. Build one ferry day into your trip if you can. It gives kids a sense of scale and lets everyone sit while the city unfolds in front of them.
Trip Protection That Keeps Plans Flexible
Delays, track work, weather, and kid illness happen. When you have a policy that covers disruptions and changes, it is easier to shuffle days and move bookings without panicking.
That is where SafetyWing travel insurance helps. It sits quietly in the background while you focus on trains, ferries, and playgrounds instead of worst case scenarios.
Family Tips That Quietly Make Parramatta Easier
- Use park mornings. Start big days with a run at Parramatta Park so kids burn energy before trains and ferries.
- Anchor around the station and river. Choose a stay that keeps you walking distance from both.
- Plan one ferry day. Make the Parramatta ferry into Circular Quay a highlight, not an afterthought.
- Keep a mall day in your back pocket. Westfield plus a movie and food court can save a rainy or low-energy day.
- Check At Parramatta for events. Night markets and festivals can bump a normal evening into something special.
- Pair city days with home evenings. Big CBD days are followed by simple dinners near your hotel, not more commuting.
3–5 Day Sydney Plan With Parramatta As Your Base
3-Day Snapshot With Parramatta Home Base
- Day 1: Arrive, settle into your Parramatta hotel, short riverside walk, early night.
- Day 2: Train and ferry into Circular Quay and The Rocks, harbour time, train home, simple dinner near your stay.
- Day 3: Park and playground morning in Parramatta Park, lunch on Eat Street, pack and move to your next Australian stop.
5-Day Combo: Parramatta, Harbour, And Day Trips
- Day 1: Land in Sydney, transfer to Parramatta, grocery run, early sleep.
- Day 2: Parramatta Park and riverside day, ferry ride if energy allows, relaxed evening.
- Day 3: Full harbour day: ferry or train to Circular Quay, Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden, optional Sydney CBD playground.
- Day 4: Blue Mountains or western Sydney day trip using a rental car or guided tour.
- Day 5: Free-choice day: repeat a favourite, shop for last-minute items, or add one more city adventure before departure.
You can quietly lock each layer using the same toolkit: flights into Sydney , Parramatta and CBD accommodation , car rentals for day trips , and Parramatta and Sydney family tours , backed by flexible travel insurance .
• Flights:
compare family flights to Sydney
• Hotels:
browse Parramatta, CBD, and harbour stays
• Car rentals:
compare family-friendly car hire
• Tours & experiences:
see Parramatta and Sydney tours on Viator
• Travel insurance:
check flexible travel insurance options
Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. Your price stays exactly the same, but a small commission helps pay for the coffee, train rides, and "is this playground actually worth writing about" testing that turns Parramatta from a name on a map into a real plan for your family. Think of it as sending a snack down the table without anyone fighting over the last chip.
More Guides To Pair With Parramatta
Keep building your Australia and global plan with:
- Ultimate Sydney Family Travel Guide
- Ultimate Sydney Attractions Guide for Families
- Ultimate Sydney Neighborhood Guide for Families
- Ultimate Sydney Planning & Logistics Guide
- Sydney CBD With Kids
- Bondi Beach With Kids
- Manly With Kids
- Mosman With Kids
- Ultimate Maui Family Travel Guide
© 2025 Stay Here, Do That - drafted between train timetables, river walks, and at least two debates about which playground to visit first.
