Family Activities in Adelaide

Majors Rd, O'Halloran Hill

A national park located about 16km from the Adelaide CBD. The park features a brand new adventure playground for children to explore.

There are facilities to have a picnic, BBQ as well as parent facilities and toilets.

Image: Department for Environment and Water

Upper Sturt Rd, Belair

Belair National Park features many walking trails, cycling tracks, waterfalls and an adventure playground. 

There is also an area where you can construct cubbies using branches and sticks, ovals to play cricket on as well as tennis courts. Belair National Park is a great place to have a picnic.

Entry is free if you enter by walking, or AUD $11 if you drive your car in.

Image: Department for Environment and Water

Glen Osmond Road, Adelaide

Pelizer Park / Pityarilla Activity Hub, is located in the South Parklands. The park is comprised of a number of different play spaces including:

Marshmallow Park: A fenced playground with a sandpit and water play area, giant slides, BBQ facilities, shelters, and picnic tables.

Oxbow: A large wooden climbing frame and boulder stepping stones

There is also a half basketball court and tennis courts, and more nature play along the creek bed.

Image: City of Adelaide

Morialta Falls Road (Off Stradbroke Road), Rostrevor

There are five different play spaces at the Mukanthi playground at Morialta Conservation Park including Frog Island, Eagle's Perch, Great Snake, Bird Nests, climbing boulders, paths and climbing trees.

It caters for children of all ages and has picnic, shelter and BBQ facilities to enjoy.

Image: Department for Environment and Water

Cnr Jetty Road & Colley Terrace, Glenelg

Gleneg Beach is the most famous and popular beach in Adelaide. It is a 20 minute tram ride from the CBD, and features a wide sandy beach, stunning sunsets, sidwalk cafes, a playground and lots of different attractions.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Megan Crabb

Esplanade, Port Noarlunga

Port Noarlunga is a picturesque seaside village located approximately 30 kilometres south of Adelaide and perfect to swim, kayak, snorkel, dive and fish. The red sandstone beach cliffs, long jetty and reef, make it one of the iconic diving destinations in the state.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Adam Bruzzone

Esplanade, Brighton

Brighton Beach is a family-friendly and safe metropolitan beach located around 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Aside from the magnificent sandy beach, there is a the jetty which was first built in 1886, as well as loads of shops and cafes to explore.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Jason Watson

Adults: From $7.60 | Child 4-15: $7.60

443 Morphett Road Oaklands Park

There are five pools including a childrens splash pool, 1m deep learners pool in addition to 3 other world-class pools at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre which hosts national and international swimming competitions.

There are other additional health and fitness facilities as well, and a large range of classes and programs for an additional cost.

Image: YMCA

Adults: From $6.90 | Child: $6.90

Jeffcott Road, North Adelaide

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is open 364 days of the year with three pools heated to a constant temperature of 29 degrees celcius, making it a perfect year-round swimming destination.

The leisure pool features slides, shapes and shallow water for children as well as waterslides open at different times throughout the year.

Image: City of Adelaide

North Terrace, Adelaide

The South Australian Museum features the most comprehensive collection of Aboriginal cultural material in the world. Other collections include Australian polar, biological sciences, mineral sciences, palaentology, humanities and many more across five levels.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Megan Crabb

North Terrace, Adelaide

Established in 1881, the Art Gallery fo South Australia features a diverse collection of European, Australian and Asian and Islamic artwork. It was the first gallery in Australia to acquire work by an Aboriginal artist, an from the 1950s has developed a significant collection of art by the nation's First Peoples.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Adults: From $10 | Child 5+: $7 | Child 0-5: Free

76 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide

The National Railway Museum is Australia's largest undercover railway museu with 100+ exhibits from Australian railways. There are steam engines, diesel engines, rolling stock, carriages and railway memorabilia.

There is a train ride around the museum which is free with your entry to the museum.

Image: City of Port Adelaide Enfield

Adults: From $16.50 | Child 5+: $8.50 | Child 0-5: Free

Shannon Street, Birdwood

The National Motor Museum is located in Birdwood, about an hour's drive from Adelaide. It contains an amazing international collection of vehicles and tells the history of motoring in Australia.

Image: History Trust of South Australia

North Terrace, Adelaide

MOD is a museum of discovery. The exhibits change regularly and showcase how research shapes our understanding of the world. Based at the University of South Australia, MOD is a unique museum unlike any other in Australia.

Exhibitions are designed for 15-25 year olds.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | MOD./ UniSA

Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield

Drawing inspiration from famous children's books such as Harry Potter, Wind in the Willows and The Secret Garden, the Storybook Trail at Carrick Hill is a free adventure for children to use their imagination and explore throughout the magnificent gardens surrounding the house.

Carrick Hill itself was previously the home of Sir Edward and Lady Ursula Hayward, and is a completely intact period home with beautiful surrounding gardens.

Entry into the garden and grounds is free.

Entry to the House is $13 for students with children under 15 free.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Josh Geelen

North Terrace, Adelaide

More than 2 million people visit the Adelaide Botanic Garden each year, exploring the 50 hectares of gardens and beautiful architecture. It is a natural oasis right in the heart of the city where you can enjoy a picnic, explore the gardens, or enjoy a coffee. 

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Lampert Road, Crafers

As its name suggests, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is 97 hectares of gardens that displays cool climate plants from the around the world on the hillside of Adelaide's famous mountain.

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is also the location of the Heritage Rose Garden, a special collection of roses from which all modern roses have been bred.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission | Jake Wundersitz

Adults: From $27 | Child 4-15: $16.50

Mount Lofty Summit Rd, Crafers

Since 1967, Cleland Wildlife Park has been a major tourist attraction in Adelaide. Most of the animals live in natural habitat which means you can get closer to wildlife for amazing photos and interactions.

You will see all sorts of Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and dingoes, as well as birds, reptiles and even echidnas.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Waterfall Gully Road, Waterfall Gully

Waterfall Gully is the largest of seven waterfalls located in Cleland National Park.

From the base of the waterfall, there is a popular and challenging walking trail that takes you right to the top of Mt Lofty, where you can enjoy magnificent views across Adelaide.

At Waterfall Gully, there are picnic areas, toilet facilities and a kiosk as well as some parking.

Image: National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

Adults: From $31 | Child 4-14: $22.50

Frome Road, Adelaide

2,500+ animals call Adelaide Zoo home right in the heart of the city of Adelaide. It is also home to the only two pandas in Australia, who live in a multi-million dollar purpose-built habitat.

Housing the only pair of Giant Pandas in Australia has helped develop scientific data around their nutritional requirements and reproductive biology to assist international efforts to conserve them as a vulnerable species.

Image: Tourism Australia