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Fun Family Activities in Adelaide

Ten incredible things to do in Adelaide with kids.

Whether you have a day or a week to spend in this gorgeous South Australian city, there is never a lack of fun things to do in Adelaide. With sandy beaches, fun-filled museums, adventure parks, and more, your family is sure to have a brilliant time. Discover ten great kids' activities that Adelaide delivers, during the school holidays and year-round.

Semaphore Beach
Semaphore Beach - image credit: Michael Waterhouse Photography

1. Visit Local Beaches

If your family fancies the sun, sand, and sea, Adelaide is the place to be. Other Australian cities and states may be better known for beaches, but Adelaide and South Australia have some of the best-hidden gems along the coast.
Grab your togs and travel just 45 minutes by tram to reach the popular beach-side suburb of Glenelg. The white sandy shores are a haven for a dip, building a sandcastle or the age-old pastime of crabbing. Keen to get away from well trodden tracks? Lined with cafés, bars and restaurants, Semaphore also makes for an excellent day at the beach in Adelaide with kids.
Adelaide Zoo - Sven Kovac
Adelaide Zoo - Sven Kovac

2. Wander the Adelaide Zoo

Younger and older kids will be awestruck at every corner of the 8-hectare grounds of the Adelaide Zoo. 3,000 animals and 250 different species reside at the zoo, so you'll keep yourself and the kids entertained easily. The Adelaide Zoo hosts daily live shows, where the entire family can experience the wonder of Southeast Asian birds, feed the penguins, or enjoy the sea lion antics.
South Australian Tourism Commission Adam Bruzzone
South Australian Tourism Commission Adam Bruzzone

3. Explore the South Australian Museum

While some museums may not hit the right note with the kids, the South Australian Museum is a must-visit attraction for the younger kids, older kids, and the grownups too! With its ever-changing exhibitions including dinosaur fossil discovery or the wonders of Lego, your family is guaranteed to love exploring and learning. Best part? The museum is open every day and is completely free of charge.
If that doesn't satisfy your family's desire to learn, there are plenty more museums in Adelaide city and the greater Adelaide Hills region to enjoy! You can visit the National Railway Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia, ACE Open (in Adelaide's North Terrace), and plenty more!
Bonython Park - South Australian Tourism Commission
Bonython Park - South Australian Tourism Commission

4. Play at Local Parks

There is no better place to spend the day than the local Adelaide park lands, boasting over 7,600,000 square metres of gardens and recreation space. Whether you want to enjoy a morning stroll, an evening picnic or uncover an exciting new playground, there is no shortage in Adelaide. The kids will love running wild across the newly renovated playground, boasting a mouse wheel and flying fox at Bonython Park. Hiring a paddle boat at Elder Park or riding Leo the train at Kapunda Playground also make for great options.
South Australian Tourism Commission Adam Bruzzone
South Australian Tourism Commission Adam Bruzzone

5. Get Hands On at the Hanhdorf Farm Barn

The Hahndorf Farm Barn with a stack of tourism awards to its name, is an adored sanctuary for animal lovers in Adelaide Hills. Your family will enjoy the novelty of getting up close and personal with a variety of farmyard life including rabbits, sheep, and ponies. For just $5, you can hop on the tractor to watch the animals graze and take in the history of the farm. For a more hands-on experience, visitors can even give milking the cows a go. Stop by the farm shop on your way out to grab a coffee and a memento to remember the day.
Mega Adventure Park Adelaide - Tourism South Australia
Mega Adventure Park Adelaide - Tourism South Australia

6. Get Sky High at West Beach Adventure

Want to unleash your adventurous side? Then head to Mega Adventure and choose between the Sky Challenge, Sky Walk or Mega Bounce. Climb 83 steps to get uninterrupted views of Adelaide on the Skywalk or manoeuvre 50 obstacle crossings on the Sky Challenge. For younger kids, the Megabounce is a flipping, jumping and twisting heaven. 
Cooking
South Australian Tourism Commission

7. Heat Up the Kitchen at Scoffed Cooking School

Strap on an apron and pop on a chef's hat at this cooking school, full of food and fun for your little ones. Learning to slice, dice, mix, and bake is the name of the game at Scoffed. From pizzas to dumplings, your child will have the opportunity to whip up a delicious meal. Bon appétit!
Image credit @carrick_hill / Instagram
Image credit @carrick_hill / Instagram

8. Use Your Imagination at the Children's Story Book Trail

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. But what if you could do both at the same time? The Children's Story Book Trail will take you and your family on a wild adventure across classic tales through charming gardens. As you weave through half a kilometre of ponds and tree groves, the tales of Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Jungle Book, Charlotte's Web, and much more will be revealed.
Riverbank, Elder Park - South Australian Tourism Commission
Riverbank, Elder Park - South Australian Tourism Commission

9. Cycle Around River Torrens Linear

Get off the couch and get moving on the River Torrens Linear Trail. With hundreds of points along its 30-kilometre route, families will love cycling alongside the beautiful scenery of Adelaide. For those in need of bike rental, begin your journey at Linear Park Bicycle Hire in Elder Park. Enjoy peddling past the beachside suburbs of West Beach, the city centre and iconic landmarks like the Adelaide Oval and Festival Centre.
South Australian Tourism Commission - Adelaide
South Australian Tourism Commission - Adelaide

10. Try Geocaching

Do your kids love a game of hide and seek? If you answered yes, geocaching should shoot to the top of your to-do list while in Adelaide. Geocaching is a real-life treasure hunt enabled through a smartphone. Explore the Adelaide CBD, Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Botanic Garden, and anywhere else your hearts and hunt take you! Smiles will be plastered across the children's faces as they uncover trinkets and prizes sprawled across a variety of locations in the vast South Australian city.
To get started with Geocaching, all you need is a GPS, so your smartphone can do the trick! Download the Geocaching app before you head out and start hunting! Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water if you plan on hunting out the more obscure caches. And don't forget to bring a small trinket to add to the cache for the next person to find!
Hero image: Kristy Billing @gypsyandherwild

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