Things To Do In Adelaide For Kids

Sharing is caring!

Adelaide maybe known as the City of Churches, but it’s also a fantastic place to spend time with kids. With great parks, family friendly vineyards, amazing cafes and wonderful beaches, there is a lot to attract families and plenty of fun things to do in Adelaide for kids

My husband is originally from here, so on various trips with our kids to visit family in Australia,  we have explored some great places to help them burn off some steam and learn little bit more about where their Dad grew up.

Things To Do In Adelaide For Kids

Below are some suggestions of things to do in Adelaide with kids of various ages – from baby to teen.

Adelaide Aquatic Centre

Adelaide Aquatic centre is perfect for escaping rainy or hot sweltering days. With three pools, water slides, a indoor swimming pools and slides for al ages. There is also an indoor children’s play area, On cooler days there are picnic and BBQ areas. Open Monday – Friday 6-9pm weekends 7am-7pm. One day passes can be bought.

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (Free)

Head down to the Visitor Centre at Port River (Port Adelaide – 20 minutes from the city)  to learn about the 40 wild Bottlenose dolphins that have made their home here and the 300 who visit. Walk along the coast to spot them.

These wild dolphins come here to eat, play, socialise and live and can be seen most days from both water and land look outs. Other wildlife that can easily be spotted are sting rays, long nosed fur seals and endangered Australian sea lions.

The area is also a popular bird watching site and shares most of its northern coastal habitat with the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. Try your hand at fishing, dolphin watching, bird watching, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo is a 15 minute walk from the CBD, making it an easily accessible place if you are staying centrally, a good landmark of Adelaide.

Captain Jolley’s Paddle Boats

Captain Jolley’s Paddle Boats are located in the centre of Adelaide. Here you can explore River Torrens from River Front Elder Park, near  the Popeye Berth.  The paddle boats are closed June, July, August but they do operate during school holidays.

Cleland Wildlife Park

Cleland Wildlife Park is a MUST do. It’s only 20 minutes drive from the centre of Adelaide and a perfect way to see much of Australia’s native wildlife. Set in acres of land, this park provides an immersive nature experience, with a limited number of enclosures.

The best bit is you can roam amongst kangaroos and wallabies, wombats and see a koala up close. Don’t forget to purchase some animal food, and feed whoever you see as you wander around. We’ve been twice now and will no doubt be back again!

Escape Hunt Adelaide: Escape Rooms & Bar

Escape Hunt Adelaide: Escape Rooms & Bar: Enter into a themed room to take on one of the three mysteries. With 60 minutes on the clock and magnifying glass in hand you will hunt for hidden objects, decode clues and solve puzzles in order to crack the case and escape the room! Perfect for older kids.

Haigh’s Chocolate Tour (Free)

If you are not familiar with Haigh’s, it is an Australian owned chocolatiers founded in Adelaide. Haigh’s free Chocolate Tour is based at The Visitor Centre at 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside, SA.

Tours operate Monday and Saturday between 9am and 2.30pm, Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4pm and are unavailable on Sundays or public holidays. Tours are recommended for children over five years of age, however, children under five can be accommodated.

South Australian Museum (Free)

The South Australian Museum is located on the North Terrace and has a range of exhibits. These include: Aboriginal history and culture, Pacific Cultures, Megafauna, Opalised Fossils, Mawson, Ediacaran, Minerals and the Ancient Egyptian Room.

My two absolutely LOVED the minerals and the Giant Squid. The Egyptian room is very small and the whole museum doesn’t take long to explore but they both had fun on a rather grey dismal day.

Waterworld

Waterworld is a fun outdoor swimming centre at the corner of Jack High Lane and Golden Grove Road, Ridgehaven in Adelaide’s north-east. With heated pools, whiz down the curly slide or challenge your friends on the two racing slides.

Swim laps in the 50m pool or paddle around the learners pool. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the crazy fun of the splash pad. There are plenty of shaded areas, a café and free barbecue facilities – all in a beautiful natural environment. Our centre is wheelchair friendly and has picnic tables, toilets, showers and lockers.

Playgrounds in Adelaide (Free)

A selection of the best playgrounds in Adelaide.

• Bush Magic Playground with a maze and wheelchair accessible swing.
• Elder Park, watch the ducks and hire a paddle boat on the River Torrens.
• Fitzroy terrace, north Adelaide near Adelaide aquatic centre.
• The Glenelg Foreshore Playspace is a great mixture of beach surrounds fun for young and old kids. It features timber logs for climbing and balancing; water and sand play; a hammock swing; grassy mounds; a giant wide slide; a climbing dome, cubby and tunnel; rope activities; in-ground trampolines; and raised and sunken pods for seating and play. There is shade, grassed areas and nearby cafes, beach, seating and toilets.
• Himeji Japanese Garden and Marshmallow Park. Beautiful Japanese garden water gardens with play equipment and space to run around.
• King William Road.
• Princess Elizabeth Playground – South Terrace
• Rymill Park. There is a sandpit and BBQ facilities. Situated on East Terrace and Rundle Road.

Kid Friendly Wineries – Adelaide

With a thriving wine market – a trip to the hills is well worth it to sample the local produce! Here is a selection of vineyards which are particularly family friendly.

Anderson Hill Winery in Lenswood to try wood-fired pizzas, cake, and coffee.

Barristers Block has lots of animals on site and they provide a box of toys

Fox Creek Wines has a mapped-out treasure hunt in the cellar door grounds with a prize for those who succeed.

Maximilian’s Vineyard Adelaide Hills. A lovely spot for lunch, with a varied children’s menu and plenty of covered space from the sun. The staff were wonderfully friendly and helpful and great with our girls.

Maxwell Wines – McLaren Vale has a maze for kids.

Penny’s Hill – McLaren Vale Penny’s Hill Winery is a favourite for families. There is a wide open lawn for kids to run around on plus colouring-in and a toy box.

Adelaide surrounding area

Victor Harbour Adelaide

Victor Harbour is a delightful beach front town to wander around. Go on the horse drawn tram to Granite Island, organise a sunset tour to spot wild penguins or watch for whales and seals from the shore.

Nino’s is the place to go for pizza- they even have a a small play area at the back, with a section of toys and and some floor mats.

Nearby, the  lovely little town of Middleton has an amazing bakery (Heritage Bakery) and a general store to get some basics in. The little cafe on the corner, also offers a wonderful breakfast.

Monarto Open Range Zoo

Monarto Open Range Zoo is 50 minutes from Adelaide open daily 9.30 to 5pm. Monarto Zoo is the largest open-range zoo in the world spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 500 animals and 50 species.

Have you any favourite activities in Adelaide to add? Please let me know below!

For things to do with kids in Sydney – please see here

For things to do in Brisbane with kids see here

For things to do in the Gold Coast with kids see here.

Sharing is caring!