7 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Adelaide

Adelaide's laid-back attitude and exciting arts scene makes it the perfect place to bring the family for a chilled out or cultural adventure together. With plenty of activities to keep the little ones happy, no doubt parents will be happy too. Here are our favourite family-friendly activities to keep kids entertained and enthralled.

Spend the day at the beach

Lucky Adelaide is super close to golden sands. Most beaches around the city take less than 30 minutes to reach, and the southern city’s warm climate means you can enjoy them practically all year round. Head north from the CBD to find family-friendly beaches with attractions for the kids, or jump on the tram down to historic Glenelg. Just 12 kilometres from the city centre, here you can browse the shops and cafés on Jetty Road and at Holdfast Shores Marina. Mosey through Moseley Square and along the jetty as you overlook the water. Picnic under the pine trees and watch the beach-goers stroll by. Oh, but you brought the kids, right? No worries – there's an adventure park called the Beachhouse to keep them occupied for hours.

Alternatively, head down to gorgeous Henley Beach where there’s a great seaside atmosphere in the square with cafes, pubs and ice-cream shops available to help you through those hot summer days. Henley’s wide sandy beaches and gentle waves are perfect for the kids looking to play a game of beach cricket or collect some shells.

Bounce around the Botanic Gardens

It may be known as the city of churches but Adelaide also boasts stunning Botanic Gardens and plenty of parks for the kids to run around and burn off some of that energy. Head to the heart of the city where the 50 hectares of Adelaide Botanic Garden houses another world. Explore the diverse beauty of plants from around the globe and kick back at a cafe beneath a shady tree while the kids tire themselves out on the lawn.

Roar on at Adelaide Zoo

Listen to the roars of the tigers and lions, see if the kids can reach as tall as the giraffes, and meet the Southern Hemisphere’s only breeding pair of giant pandas. If your little ones are interested in animals, there’s no better way to kill a day than at Adelaide Zoo. Home to 2,500 animals and 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, there’s loads to explore.

Get curious at the South Australian Museum

If your children have an overly inquisitive mind, head to the South Australian Museum where kids are encouraged to get hands-on and learn about the world around us in an interactive way. With five floors to explore, there’s endless wonders and curious collections to explore. Best of all, entry is free.

Catch cricket history at Adelaide Oval

South Australia’s historic oval has been the site of many historic cricket matches. Legendary Sir Donald Bradman made Adelaide his home and graced the hallowed turf of the oval on many occasions. The sporting great is honoured here with a museum display showcasing his career in a state-of-the-art, purpose built museum. The Bradman Collection lives in the newly-built Riverbank Stand. The venue seats more than 50,000 spectators and is Adelaide's home of AFL as well as cricket and depending on the age of your kids, you can choose which to attend.

Visit during “Mad March”

If you love being part of an enthralled theatre audience, dancing to international music, laughing at cheeky comedians or being mesmerised by innovative visual arts, then Adelaide is for you. March is the time to come to Adelaide if you want to experience its thriving festival scene. 

Dubbed “Mad March”, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to what to see with thousands of shows and things to do in Adelaide during this time. The Adelaide Festival is one of the world's great art festivals, and the diverse Adelaide Fringe is now so popular, it's the second biggest fringe festival in the world. Encompassing theatre, comedy, dance, circus, spoken word, film and visual arts, Fringe attracts some of the finest artists from Australia and overseas.

If you are a family of music lovers don’t miss WOMADelaide, a four-days display of dazzling music from around the globe. It’s held in the heart of the city at the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Giant Moreton Bay fig trees provide shady groves for performances, while the lawn provides plenty of room to dance.

Catch flicks at Adelaide Film Festival

The exciting Adelaide Film Festival is where you'll catch world movie premieres, film forums and more each October. It's the only Australian festival that both screens and finances films. It even has a best feature award, the first film festival award of its kind in Australia. Plus, there’s always something for kids.