Today my family and I just completed our third modern treasure hunt through Sydney from Urban Hunt. Having lived in and explored a number of cities, these hunts are one of the best family activities we’ve done.

We are a family of five with three young children: 10, 8, and 7. That means we are always looking for ways to get outside for some activities on the weekend. These treasure hunts are an affordable way enjoy fresh air, get some exercise, and learn a bit about our city.

The hunts lead teams though an area of the city by sending clues via Facebook Messenger. The clues direct treasure hunters to seek things out and respond back with correct answers in order to receive the next set of directions. Incorrect responses add time to your overall time/score (there are leaderboards with the fastest teams). Teams can also request clues if they’re stumped.

The hunts are clever and provide just enough information to keep you from feeling stumped for too long. They also stop the clock for a break at a local pub about halfway through the hunt, but you can resume as soon as you want if you’re anxious to get back to the trail.

We’ve done The Rocks, Manly, and Newtown hunts. Newtown was our favourite, but they’ve all been enjoyable. Although we’ve done these as a family they would be just as good for a group of adults or a unique date night.

I believe more cities may be on the way, but if you find yourself in Sydney or Melbourne, spend a few wonderful hours on an Urban Hunt!