This wonderfully preserved 1930s amusement park serves up rides from a bygone era, and Sydney’s biggest smile!

When Luna Park was built on the shores of Milsons Point in 1935 it was a huge hit with locals. Over the decades the park’s fortunes ebbed and flowed until it received a major makeover in 2004. Many of its buildings and rides are listed on the State Heritage Register, and its famous entrance, which resembles a giant clown’s mouth, is often used as a backdrop for films and TV shows. Take a spin on the Wild Mouse roller coaster, or go whirling into space on the Flying Saucer. The Tumble Bug, with its rotating arms, and Moon Ranger, which suspends you 20 meters (65 feet) above the ground, aren’t for the faint-hearted. Test your driving skills on the dodgem cars and don’t miss the gravity-challenging Rotor, a favorite at Luna Park for more than 50 years. A more leisurely ride is on the beautiful 1930s carousel.Luna Park has a section dedicated entirely to children’s rides, from the Space Shuttle, where pilots-in-training can take to the skies, to the Magic Castle and the Whirly Wheel.All the family will enjoy Coney Island, a 1930s fun house with slides, a mirror maze and a spinning Joy Wheel.Take a break from the rides and games at on-site eateries The Lighthouse Café and Coney Island Café. Luna Park hosts live music shows and other events during the year (Check the website for a schedule).Entry to Luna Park is free, although rides, carnival games and attractions are individually priced. Ride passes and family packages, as well as maps, are available from the ticket booth at the main entrance. Luna Park is located at the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The park is open throughout the year, but opening hours change regularly (Check the website for a schedule). Trains stop close by, or you can park on-site for a fee. From Circular Quay it’s just a short ferry ride across the harbour with the stop directly outside the entrance.