We have pulled together our favourite ideas for celebrating Mother’s Day, so you have no excuse, get organised and show your mum how much she means to you! Whether you’re looking to roll out the red carpet or show your appreciation with something low key, there are many ways to show your mum some love in Sydney.

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, 12 May 2024 in Australia

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Mother’s Day in Sydney for the Foodie Mums

A special lunch for mother’s day is one of the top picks for celebrating with mum. Each year, Sydney restaurants pull out all stops to impress her with special menus, cocktails and treats. Here are just a few to get you started. See our updated list of Mother’s Day 2024.

Celebrate Mother’s Day on Sydney Harbour

Celebrate Mother’s Day on Sydney Harbour and give Mum everything she could ask for – the family as a captive audience and a view that will captivate.

Captain Cook has three options, two dining experiences, which include a glass of bubbles for Mum or an afternoon session at Harbour Bar.

Captain Cook Top Deck Lunch

Choose between a 2 or 3 course lunch with premium upper deck restaurant seating and 360 degree harbour views.

• Top Deck Lunch 2-course dining & up to 1½ hrs
• Top Deck Long Lunch 3-course dining & up to 3 hrs
• Every Mum enjoys a complimentary glass of Sparkling Wine
• 12 noon or 1.30pm from King St Wharf 1 or 12.30pm from Circular Quay Wharf 6

Harbour Sunset Dinner

The Sunset Dinner is a perfect way to celebrate with mum. Take a visit to the Botanic Gardens or Darling Harbour before you board your afternoon cruise and watch the sunset and the city lights sparkle.

• 3-course menu, served alternatively
• One 2 hour circuit of the harbour
• Every Mum enjoys a complimentary glass of Sparkling Wine
• 5.00pm from King Street Wharf No.1
• 5.30pm from Circular Quay Wharf No.6

See our guide to Sydney’s Best Mother’s Day Dining

Mother’s Day ideas for creative mums

For the creatives at heart, we have a couple of fun options to choose from. Spending time learning a new skill together almost always results in lots of laughs and perhaps even a masterpiece

Help your mum find her inner Frida Kahlo with paint and sip classes across Sydney.

Show mum that you can teach an old dog new tricks with creative classes at Class Bento! With anything from cooking, perfume making, floral arrangements, pottery, glass blowing, jewellery making, photography, screen printing, macrame, and cocktail making (the list goes on), you can be sure to find something to suit.

For Mums who like the finer things in life

High Tea is always a popular mother’s day experience, and for a good reason. What mum would love to dine on the finer things in a spectacular setting? There are plenty of high teas on offer in Sydney, so we have selected our favourites to get you started.

Mother’s Day high tea at Vaucluse House – Treat Mum to a special high tea experience at Estate Vaucluse House featuring a decadent menu of scones, eclairs, finger sandwiches, and more. Members enjoy a 10% discount. Gift vouchers are also available. Bookings available for 10am, 12.30pm & 3pm Call 9388 8188 or email [email protected] to book.

Mother’s Day High Tea on the Harbour with a glass of bubbly, premium teas and high tier platter from $75, book directly with Captain Cook

Aperture Afternoon Tea at Capella Sydney

Experience Mother’s Day Aperture Afternoon Tea held over two sittings, 12.30pm and 3pm, with a high tea-inspired menu (sampled below) including tea and coffee.

On offer are 5 savoury treats including spanner crab brioche, salmon roe tartlet and wagyu beef pie. Followed by scones and 3 sweet pieces made up of Aperture’s signature lamington, salted caramel and wattleseed mascarpone eclair and pavlova with finger lime, passionfruit curd and strawberry. Book: online or via email [email protected]

Take mum out for a night on the town

From musicals to opera or comedy, a night out with a few drinks and a show is a great way to show mum how much you appreciate her.

Get mum tickets to a musical

Show Tickets for mum (and maybe her favourite kid) are a great way to show your love! If your mum loves a good musical I think any one of these ideas will work for you.

• &Juliet
• Parade
• Chicago
• Sister Act
• Six the Musical

Tip: Deliver your tickets with breakfast in bed, croissants and coffee. Work a treat, and you will soon be the favourite child.

A night at the opera

Nothing says refined like a day or evening spent watching a show at the Sydney Opera House.

Matinee and Evening sessions for Mother’s Day weekend are still available. Combine your show ticket with a special occasion meal at Circular Quay. Also on sale is Opera Australia’s Il Trittico or Sunset Boulevard.

Let’s laugh

For Mums who love to laugh, the Sydney Comedy Festival is a no brainer. While there are a multitude of acts to choose from between April and May, some shows have tickets available on Mother’s Day.

Mother and Daughter Pampering

Pampering is another traditional but very much appreciated Mother’s Day gift idea is some pampering. You can book her a voucher or day spa but for an even more special experience, why not have a mother-daughter day at home. AmazingCo. have a lovely Mother’s Day Girl’s Night in package that they have.

For the active and outdoors mums

Mother’s Day Classic Sydney is a fun way to get active and support a good cause. Raising money for breast cancer research, this fun run, jog or walk, is a family affair. Even your furry friends can come along – and they get their own pet bandana as a souvenir for their participation!

Treat mum to a surprise picnic from AmazingCo. These are perfect for anyone who would prefer someone else to do the hard work and pull together a really memorable lunch. There are a bunch of secret picnics to choose from around the city and suburbs, the Blue Mountain, Southern Highlands and Central Coast.

What makes these surprise picnics special is the element of fun that is included. When you choose your location, you will get a set of digital clues that you need to solve to collect your basket of gourmet picnic food.

A DIY family picnic is a perfect solution if the budget is lean. Choose a couple of recipes, pack your hampers, and then find the perfect picnic location. We have a bunch of articles that can help you find the right spot!

Take a harbour walk – if you have left things to the last minute and made it all the way to the bottom of the page, then a picnic or walk and casual lunch is a great idea.

Check out all our harbour walks and coastal walks to find the right one for your family.

Barefoot Bowls are not too taxing; plenty of time to chat and a bit of exercise make this a fun family activity. Check your local bowling club – we usually head to the Neutral Bay Club in the north or on the east side; the views at Clovelly Bowling Club are hard to beat.

When all else fails, take mum shopping

Let your mum find her own gift!

Got a question? Head over to our Sydney Expert Facebook Group and ask a local.