If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than another trip to the playground these school holidays, the Sydney Opera House has turned into a giant playground of creativity, imagination and very wild things.
We recently headed along to Wild Things, the Opera House’s new international kids festival, and absolutely loved it. Running from 26 September to 11 October, the festival brings together performances, free experiences, installations and plenty of opportunities for kids to get involved and explore.
We managed to squeeze in four experiences during our visit and, while they were all completely different, each one had the kids entertained.
First up was ZOOOM, an immersive 40 minute theatre experience from Australia’s Patch Theatre. Designed for kids aged four and up, it uses light, shadow and imagination to follow a lost star trying to find its way home. It was wonderfully creative and the kind of show that had the kids completely absorbed, rather than sitting there asking how much longer was left.
Then it was outside to explore Iwagumi Air Scape, and this was definitely one of those experiences where the photos don’t really do it justice. Huge inflatable rock formations have taken over the Opera House Forecourt, creating a larger than life landscape that kids can wander through and explore. There’s even an interactive soundscape featuring native birds, frogs and mountain streams that responds as people move through the installation. As the sun goes down, the rocks light up, making it worth sticking around to see them after dark too.
Puzzle was another favourite. This free outdoor experience turns the Forecourt into a playful performance space, with performers balancing, climbing and moving giant geometric shapes around each other. It’s short enough to hold little ones’ attention but entertaining enough that the adults don’t feel like they’re just supervising from the sidelines.
And then there were the stars of the show: Erth’s Wild Rumpus. If your kids love animals, this is one you don’t want to miss. Giant puppets and lifelike creatures roam around the Opera House, with everything from koalas and elephants to dinosaurs and even a mosasaur making appearances. It turns the Opera House into a very unusual zoo, with plenty of opportunities for kids to get up close to the creatures and watch the young performers bring them to life.
What I loved most about Wild Things was that it didn’t feel like you were simply taking the kids to see a show. The whole Opera House became part of the experience, with the Forecourt filled with free activities and installations alongside the ticketed performances. There’s plenty to explore between shows, which makes it easy to turn a visit into a proper family day out.
And of course, there’s something pretty special about watching your kids run around discovering giant inflatable rocks, enormous puppets and interactive artworks with the Sydney Harbour and Opera House as the backdrop.
If you’re looking for a school holiday activity that will get the kids away from screens and into a world of imagination, Wild Things is definitely worth adding to the list.
Wild Things runs at the Sydney Opera House from 26 September to 11 October 2026, with both ticketed performances and a huge selection of free experiences.
To find out more head here: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/wild-things/erths-wild-rumpus
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