If you are planning a full day out in Sydney, this itinerary is a fun mix of exhibition, food, shopping, Japanese BBQ and night activities. We started the morning at Harry Potter™: The Exhibition – Sydney, had lunch at Big Fish Hot Pot in Top Ryde, spent the afternoon shopping at DFO Homebush, then finished the day with dinner at Kagoshima Master Yakiniku Ultimo and games at Power Play Sydney.
This route is especially good for weekends, school holidays, date days, family outings or anyone looking for a full Sydney day trip with a little bit of everything.
Morning: Harry Potter™: The Exhibition – Sydney
We started the day at Harry Potter™: The Exhibition – Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park. As a Harry Potter fan, I was excited to see the props, costumes and themed displays in person.
Overall, I would give the exhibition 3/5. We spent a little over one hour walking through it properly. Some parts were quite well recreated, especially the familiar scenes and details from the Harry Potter world. If you enjoy seeing costumes, props and movie-related displays, there are definitely moments that feel nostalgic.
However, I personally felt the exhibition could have been stronger in terms of interaction and visual impact. There were some interactive elements, but not as many as I expected. The overall experience felt more like a display exhibition than a highly immersive attraction. It is still worth visiting if you are a Harry Potter fan, but I would recommend going with realistic expectations.
Rating: 3/5
Time spent: Around 1-1.5 hours
Best for: Harry Potter fans, families, casual visitors, rainy day activities
Official Website: Harry Potter: The Exhibition Sydney
Lunch: Big Fish Hot Pot at Top Ryde
For lunch, we went to Big Fish Hot Pot at Top Ryde City, and this was honestly a very good-value stop. Three of us spent around $100 in total, and we were all very full.
The portion was generous, the flavour was good, and it felt like a satisfying lunch after walking around the exhibition in the morning. If you like hot pot or warm shared meals, Big Fish Hot Pot is a practical and enjoyable option. It is also located inside Top Ryde City, so parking and shopping centre facilities are convenient.
For the price, I think it is very worth it, especially if you are eating as a small group.
Rating: 5/5
Cost: Around $100 for 3 people
Best for: Hot pot lunch, group meals, families, value-for-money dining
Info Page: Big Fish Hot Pot at Top Ryde City
Afternoon: DFO Homebush
After lunch, we went to DFO Homebush for some afternoon shopping. Since it is close to Sydney Olympic Park, it makes sense to add it to the same day trip.
The discounts at DFO Homebush felt pretty good at the moment. There were some decent deals across fashion, shoes, sportswear and outlet brands. That said, I still feel the best discounts might come closer to the end of the year, especially around bigger sale periods.
If you are already around Olympic Park or Homebush, it is worth stopping by. I probably would not go only for DFO unless I had something specific to buy, but as part of this day trip, it worked really well.
Rating: 4/5
Best for: Outlet shopping, shoes, sportswear, casual browsing
My tip: Current discounts are decent, but end-of-year sales may be better
Official Website: DFO Homebush
Dinner: Kagoshima Master Yakiniku, Ultimo
Dinner was definitely one of the highlights of the day. We went to Kagoshima Master Yakiniku Ultimo, and the Japanese BBQ experience was excellent.
The food was genuinely very good. The flavour was rich, the ingredients tasted fresh, and the wagyu quality was impressive. Kagoshima Master is known for premium Japanese BBQ and wagyu, including A5 and M9 wagyu options, and you can really taste the quality when the meat is grilled at the table.
The beef tongue was especially memorable. It tasted very fresh, with a clean texture and great flavour. If you enjoy yakiniku or Japanese BBQ, this is the kind of place where the meal feels special rather than just casual BBQ.
The Ultimo location also has a more modern city dining atmosphere, which made it a nice choice for dinner after a full day out.
Rating: 5/5
Best for: Japanese BBQ, wagyu, beef tongue, group dinner, date night
Must try: A5 wagyu, M9 wagyu, wagyu platters, beef tongue
Official Website: Kagoshima Master Yakiniku
Booking: Kagoshima Master Reservation
Night Activity: Power Play Sydney
After dinner, we went to Power Play Sydney, and this was such a fun way to finish the night. It is one of the most enjoyable indoor activities in Sydney CBD, with different interactive game rooms, including the Laser Crossing room.
The Laser Crossing game was really fun because everyone had to dodge the laser-style light beams and move through the room without touching them. The funniest part was watching everyone’s different dodging poses. Some people were bending, crawling, twisting or freezing in the most ridiculous positions, which made the whole experience even more entertaining.
It is not exactly traditional laser tag with blasters. It is more like a laser maze challenge, but honestly, that made it even more fun for a group. It was active, silly, competitive and very easy to enjoy after dinner.
If you are looking for a night activity in Sydney that is not just drinks or dessert, Power Play Sydney is a great pick.
Rating: 5/5
Best for: Friends, families, date nights, teens, after-dinner activities
Vibe: Fun, active, silly, competitive
Official Website: Power Play Sydney
Laser Crossing: Power Play Sydney Laser Crossing
Suggested Itinerary
10:00am – Visit Harry Potter™: The Exhibition at Sydney Olympic Park
11:30am – Finish the exhibition and take photos
12:30pm – Lunch at Big Fish Hot Pot, Top Ryde
2:00pm – Shopping at DFO Homebush
5:30pm – Dinner at Kagoshima Master Yakiniku Ultimo
8:00pm – Play games at Power Play Sydney
9:30pm – Head home
Final Thoughts: Was This Sydney Day Trip Worth It?
Yes, this day trip was worth doing, especially because every stop gave the day a different feeling. It was not just one activity, but a full Sydney itinerary with exhibition, food, shopping, Japanese BBQ and indoor games.
Harry Potter™: The Exhibition – Sydney: 3/5
The exhibition was enjoyable, but not amazing. Some displays were nicely recreated and fans will still enjoy the nostalgic details, but the interaction and visual impact could have been stronger. We spent a little over one hour inside, which felt enough.
Big Fish Hot Pot Top Ryde: 5/5
This was one of the best value stops of the day. Three of us spent around $100 in total, and we were all very full. The food tasted good, the portions were satisfying, and it was a great lunch choice after the morning exhibition.
DFO Homebush: 4/5
DFO Homebush was a convenient afternoon stop and the discounts were pretty good. I would give it 4/5 because it was worth visiting as part of the day trip, though I feel the end-of-year sales may have even better deals.
Kagoshima Master Yakiniku Ultimo: 5/5
Dinner was excellent. The wagyu, beef tongue and fresh ingredients made the meal feel really premium. The A5 and M9 wagyu quality stood out, and the flavour was genuinely very good. This was definitely one of the highlights of the day.
Power Play Sydney: 5/5
Power Play Sydney was the most fun way to end the night. The Laser Crossing game was active, silly and hilarious, especially watching everyone dodge the laser beams in different poses. It was fun, memorable and perfect for a group activity after dinner.
Overall, this Sydney day trip is easy to recommend if you want a full itinerary with something magical in the morning, a satisfying lunch, outlet shopping, premium Japanese BBQ and a fun night activity.
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