Sydney on a shoestring: 6 brilliant ways to entertain kids without breaking the bank

Sydney just doesn't stop. Plonked in the CBD within an Airbnb apartment close to all the action, it soon became apparent that our city escapade could quickly rack up a house loan of expenses if every tourist brochure was followed. But as somewhat grey and brutish as the city can be, some clever treading can reveal no or low-cost options that will keep a family amused.

The flight was always going to be a big highlight in itself but a splurge on travel, rather than enduring a 12-hour car trip from regional Queensland, prompted some creative thinking in terms of bang-for-buck in the big smoke. For us on a break with a 12-, nine- and five-year-old, price tags and menus are scanned with thrifty vision. So here are six ideas to embrace Sydney without melting the credit card.

Mum's adage that "it doesn't cost anything to look" rings in my head as we enter the sprawling length of the Queen Victoria Building. Harvey Galleries' display of the Art of Dr Seuss Collection provides giggles and memories as fingers are pointed at images from familiar stories, and even a small bronze statue which prompts the discussion point that: "I thought the Lorax would be taller."

In another part of the building, courtesy of an old-world elevator or spiral staircase, rests a toyshop, Hobbyco, that has been serving up fun since 1935. Inside is a blast of colour and shelves stacked to the ceiling. From model kits to LEGO, board games, radio-controlled cars and craft supplies, kids can wander the two-storey facility, making birthday/Christmas lists in their heads.

Sometimes it is the adult mundane which can be the child's delight. Like escalators. Sure, they aren't a toy or a ride, and care needs to be taken when mounting and dismounting, but there's a simple joy in catching a lift on a moving set of stairs. Children soon realise that for every flight up there must be a flight down, often prompting calls that "we'd better go up another level".

Myer Sydney sure likes its escalators, and as such, we sure like Myer Sydney.

Of the myriad shops screaming at passersby, one common one offers something of a treat not easily found elsewhere.

I speak of EzyMart. Yes, those tiny stores that seem to populate every street where folk zip in and out to grab a bag of chips or an Ice Break.

But a curious wall of colour within shows off an eyeball-whacking, tastebud-tantalising array of soft drinks. Just beholding the number of energy drinks in their many forms is amusing in itself, and prompts a worrying concern about the heart health of the younger generation.

With cars shooting overhead on the A4, there's a bizarre tranquility to the Darling Harbour Playground below.

With its water fountains, balance ropes, spider-web climbing frames, swings and giant slides, it's the sort of place where holiday friendships are instantly made, if only for the duration of the game of tag.

Perhaps one for more of the nerd-burgers and children of nerd-burgers but Kings Comics on Clarence Street brings instant grins upon entry.

Boxes and boxes of comics for sale, as well as retro toys, posters, trading cards, collectables, mini figures and plenty of other science fiction, comic book and video game-related paraphernalia adorn the walls and shelves.

There are some boxes which simply must be ticked when in Australia's largest city. Getting up close to those dominating arches of the Sydney Opera House is one.

The good news is, it costs nothing to stroll around them, taking a thousand photos with that bridge in the background and discovering that the famous white sails are actually covered in tiles. Who knew?