There’s so much to do on an Adelaide family holiday: explore the museums and markets, feast on delicious local produce, ride the tram to kid-friendly beaches, see koalas in the wild and enjoy all the outdoor adventures South Australia’s capital has to offer.
Here are 22 awesome things to do when visiting Adelaide with kids.
22 of Adelaide's best family-friendly activities
1. Adelaide Zoo
Opened in 1883, Adelaide Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Australia and the self-declared home of the panda. Aside from coming face-to-face with local panda celebrities, the zoo has around 250 species of animals that range from native species to the exotic. Don’t miss the daily keeper talks to learn about the resident lions and Sumatran tigers, and play on the all-abilities, nature-inspired equipment.
Families with kids aged six and over can book the Panda and Friends experience to tour the Bamboo Forest before the zoo opens and join red pandas for breakfast before seeing the giant pandas bring in the new day exploring their exhibit.
2. Art Gallery of South Australia
With its impressive collection of artwork spanning centuries, the Art Gallery of South Australia is one of Adelaide’s premier cultural institutions. But it’s particularly popular with families on the first Sunday of each month when the Start at the Gallery program takes place. Each event is themed around a current exhibition and includes kid-friendly tours, art activities and live entertainment.
3. Kayak with dolphins at Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
Just the name of this marine park should be enough to excite the kids! Only 20 minutes from Adelaide, this area is home to more than 40 wild bottlenose dolphins, with another 300 regularly visiting. Adventure Kayaking SA offers three-hour kayak tours for kids four and over, exploring the shoreline, mangroves and shipwrecks dotting the area, with plenty of dolphin spotting along the way. Add in a visit to nearby St Kilda to refuel at the cafes and restaurants, burn energy at the adventure playground or follow the boardwalk around the mangroves.
4. Adelaide Oval Roofclimb
It’s been described as one of the most picturesque sporting ovals in the world, and there’s no better place to view it than from the roof. If your kids are aged eight or over, you can strap into a harness for an unforgettable experience climbing 50 metres above the Adelaide Oval’s hallowed turf. From the top, you’ll enjoy 360-degree views across the city and beyond.
5. Mega Adventure Park
Featuring more than 70 obstacles to challenge parents and kids alike, West Beach Adventure is located on the coast just 15 minutes from Adelaide CBD. It features a multi-tiered climbing frame, a zipline and an elevated observation deck, as well as a giant swing that reaches speeds of up to 70km an hour. Children need to be at least 120cm tall to climb with an adult, and 140cm to explore unassisted.
6. Haigh's Chocolate Factory Tour
Haigh’s Chocolates are proudly made in South Australia – and when you’re visiting the state’s capital with kids, a free chocolate factory tour is a must. Kids will be fascinated seeing their favourite treats crafted by skilled chocolatiers. Find the famous store and Visitor Centre at Parkside just south of Adelaide CBD.
7. Adelaide Gaol
Follow in the footsteps of some of South Australia’s most notorious criminals at Adelaide Gaol, which provided a home for around 300,000 prisoners over 147 years. On guided tours through this notorious institution, you’ll experience what daily life was like for the inmates and explore the eerie cells, which have been the location of numerous ghost sightings.
8. Dolphin cruise with Temptation Sailing
From Adelaide’s favourite beach, Glenelg, step aboard the Temptation catamaran for a dolphin-spotting cruise in St. Vincent Gulf. Not only can you see these intelligent creatures up close but also swim and interact with them (safe in the knowledge that the vessel is equipped with electronic shark deterrents).
9. Adelaide Botanic Gardens Bush Food Trail
From the International Rose Garden to the Bicentennial Conservatory, you could easily spend a whole day at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. But if you’re visiting with kids, then a guided tour with Indigenous storyteller and educator, Trent Hill, is a must. It offers a fun and educational insight into how Aboriginal people have used plants for food, tools and medicinal purposes over tens of thousands of years.
10. See penguins and whales at Victor Harbor
Hop aboard the horse-drawn Victor Harbor Tramway, which operates from the mainland across the Causeway and around the northwest side of Granite Island at Victor Harbor, around 80km south of Adelaide. The trams operate every day of the year, and you can choose a return trip, or ride across one way and walk the other. Granite Island is also home to a penguin colony, and southern right whales can be spotted in the waters surrounding Encounter Bay from June to September.
11. Henley Beach
Centred around the grassy lawns of Henley Square, this popular beachside suburb is the place to head on hot, summer days. Kids will love splashing in the shallow waters and there’s a long jetty for afternoon strolls. You will find plenty of cafes and restaurants surrounding Henley Beach where you can dine alfresco on everything from Greek cuisine to fish and chips and gelati.
12. TreeClimb at Adelaide Park Lands
The Adelaide Park Lands are home to TreeClimb, Australia’s first inner-city aerial adventure park. With more than 70 obstacles over eight different routes, there’s enough to challenge both little kids and parents: from low-level courses allowing ground level coaching, to tree top ziplines. (The outdoor café is a welcome pit stop.) The nearby BMX course has been recently upgraded, and there are sporting fields and playgrounds aplenty.
13. Adelaide Central Market
The Adelaide Central Market is a foodie paradise! Established in 1896, the bustling undercover markets are full vendors selling local produce – everything from fruit and veg to seafood, baked goods, deli meats and cheeses. You’ll wish you had a spare suitcase to take back all the amazing local food! Browse over 70 stalls at your own pace, follow the tasty Kids Market Trail or book in for the Little Market Chefs school holiday program.
14. Barristers Block Winery
In the picturesque Adelaide Hills community of Woodside, Barristers Block is one of the most family-friendly wineries in South Australia. It has a large grass area where you enjoy lunch or a glass of wine from the cellar door, as well as a huge sandpit filled with trucks and spades. In the farmyard, kids can meet the winery’s friendly deer, alpaca and chickens.
15. Gillies at the Grounds Markets
If you’re lucky enough to be in town on a Gilles at the Grounds market date, don’t miss the chance to drop in! This quirky shopping hub is focused on all things vintage, boutique, collectable and unique. Seasonal events are held year-round including spring, winter, Halloween and Christmas markets, as well as vintage fashion and food truck markets. Catch them in the Old Brick Dairy at Adelaide Showgrounds.
16. Cleland Wildlife Park
In the rugged Mount Lofty Ranges to the southeast of the city, this iconic wildlife park is the place to meet native fauna near Adelaide. You won’t see many enclosures at Cleland Wildlife Park with most of the kangaroos, wombats and bettongs roaming free. Aside from the keeper talks that are held throughout the day, other highlights include the Breakfast with the Birds and the chance to meet cuddly koalas.
17. Morialta Conservation Park
The rugged ridges, gullies, cliffs and waterfalls of Morialta Conservation Park are only 10km from the city, with walks from 30 minutes to full-on, full-day trips. There’s also plenty of wildlife, with a healthy population of koalas (look up!), and the chance to see echidnas and kangaroos, as well as plenty of native birds and sunning lizards. Let your kids loose in the amazing nature playground, or watch the rock climbers take on their more vertical version in the gorge.
18. Glenelg Beach
Jump on an Adelaide tram and in just 20 minutes, you’ll be stepping onto the sand at Glenelg. As well as calm waters perfect for kids to have a paddle or swim, there’s a restaurant precinct along Jetty Road and The Beach House – the most epic kids’ play arena ever! Indoor activities include three heated waterslides, bumper boats, dodgems, mini golf and a colourful arcade. Littlies will love the 7-story playground, carousel and miniature train.
19. Hahndorf Farm Barn
Kids can try their hand at milking a cow, riding a pony, bottle-feeding baby lambs and hand-feeding camels and donkeys at the Hahndorf Farm Barn in the Adelaide Hills. Part farm and part wildlife park, the attraction offers a wonderful educational experience, just 30 minutes’ drive from Adelaide. There’s also an undercover picnic and barbecue area, playground and sandpit to keep the younger ones content.
20. Strawberry picking at Beerenberg Family Farm
Pick strawberries grown in the nutrient-rich soil of the Adelaide Hills at Beerenberg Family Farm, which has been in the same family for six generations. The name Beerenberg means ‘Berry Hill’ in German, a nod to the family’s heritage, its produce and the property’s hillside location. Jam, chutneys, sauces and dressings are also manufactured on the farm. Check their website to make sure they’re open before you visit, because sometimes (particularly on weekends), they are so busy they get “picked out”, and have to close the patch for a few days.
21. The Big Scotsman
Australia’s oldest BIG thing is a statue of a 5-metre high Scotsman, known as Scotty. It was erected in 1963 on the corner of Scotty’s Motel in the Adelaide suburb of Medindie. Scotty was designed by Paul Kelly, who went on to create The Big Lobster.
22. National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant
Marking the start of the festive season in Adelaide, this event sees hundreds of thousands of happy faces lining the 3km route to watch the parade pass by. The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant began in 1933 and is one of the largest free community parades in the world. It boasts 174 moving theatrical sets, including 270 certified clowns and elves, 65 floats, 18 bands, four penny farthings, 33 dance groups, five choirs and a live DJ/rapper.
Where to eat in Adelaide with kids
Big Table
Adelaide Central Market, Gouger St, Adelaide
It’s worth visiting the Markets just to eat at family-owned Big Table. A local institution for over two decades, many dishes from the early days remain unaltered today, including the iconic ‘green eggs and ham’ – local organic scrambled eggs served with parsley pesto and SA prosciutto on homemade ciabatta. If it’s too busy to eat in, grab some fresh sandwiches instead.
O'Connell Street café strip
North Adelaide
For a variety of family-friendly dining options, head to O’Connell Street, a popular entertainment and dining strip in North Adelaide. Choose from historic 19th Century pubs like The Royal Oak Hotel and The Archer, both of which serve quality pub grub, or more than 40 casual dining restaurants serving Moroccan, Indian, Lebanese, Italian or Japanese fare (just to name a few). While you’re there, check out over 200 boutiques and stores or catch a movie at The Piccadilly art deco cinema.
Where to stay in Adelaide with kids
South Australia’s capital has a fantastic variety of kid-friendly accommodation. From heritage-listed hotels, modern serviced apartments, budget-friendly stays and beachfront holiday parks, there’s something to suit every family.
Discover five top picks in our Adelaide family accommodation guide
Opening image: A child at Art Gallery of South Australia. © Megan Crabb
Content contributors: Elisa Elwin, Megan Holbeck
