55 Best Things to Do in Adelaide with Kids |

Are you looking for the best things to do in Adelaide with kids?

Maybe you live in Adelaide and are looking for something fun to keep the kids entertained, or maybe you are visiting Adelaide on a holiday and are trying to plan an itinerary. Either way, there are plenty of fun things to do in Adelaide with kids, and this list separates the best things to do by whether they are indoors or outdoors.

Everything on this list is within 30 minutes of the Adelaide CBD, so you do not have to go far to have fun. You may even be able to take the free tram!

Keep reading to find the best things to do in Adelaide with kids.

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Map of Things to Do with Kids in Adelaide

Things to Do Inside in Adelaide with Kids

Australia Space Discovery Centre

A girl on the interactive computer at Australian Space Discovery Center. The walls have information about the planets and the moon. There are a few interactive screens. The Australian Space Discovery is a fun and free thing to do with kids in Adelaide.

The Australian Space Discovery Centre is always free to enter, and my kids enjoyed it so much that they weren’t ready to leave when it closed.

In addition to many hands-on exhibits, there is a plants-in-space exhibit and workshops throughout the day.

Find more fun and free things to do in Adelaide with kids.

South Australian Museum

Most of the exhibits at the South Australian Museum are free to enter.

A lot of the exhibits are interactive, and most focus on the history and natural history of South Australia.

The Beachouse

We stumbled upon The Beachouse during a trip to Glenelg, and it is the perfect place to take the kids if you want to be indoors.

You can even go on waterslides without ever going outside at The Beachouse!

The Beachouse is a family amusement centre with an arcade, indoor playground, dodgem cars, bumper boats, a carousel, and heated waterslides.

A few items, such as mini golf, are outside, but the majority of the attractions at The Beachouse are indoors.

The Ice ArenA

Join a public skate session at The Ice ArenA, an ice skating rink in Adelaide.

During the school holidays, The Ice ArenA also hosts Snow Play for kids ages 0-12. Snow Play takes place each Thursday and Sunday from 10 am until 12 pm during Adelaide’s school holidays, and bookings are essential.

Things to Do with Kids in Adelaide at Night

MOD

Best for teens, MOD is a museum in Adelaide that is focused on the future.

MOD has free entry and is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Migration Museum

Another free museum in Adelaide is the Migration Museum.

This museum focuses on immigration in Australia. Some of the exhibits have a fee to enter.

South Australia Maritime Museum

Kids can learn about the journey to Australia by boat and the sea at the South Australia Maritime Museum.

Permanent kid-friendly exhibits include Bound for South Australia, Museums in the Port, Life’s a Beach, and Active 2.

Family-friendly events also take place at the South Australia Maritime Museum.

South Australian Aviation Museum

Take the kids to explore the planes at the South Australian Aviation Museum.

In addition to aircraft, there are rockets at the museum.

24 Hours in Adelaide Itinerary

National Railway Museum

For kids who prefer trains, check out the National Railway Museum.

A small train ride is included with admission. Rides leave about every 30 minutes.

Adelaide Central Market

A red brick building that says "Federal Hall" on it. A sign that says "market" and has a heart on it is in front of the building. This building houses Adelaide Central Market.

The Adelaide Central Market is filled with restaurants, markets, and food stalls.

Kids can choose from many kid-friendly food options at the Adelaide Central Market. Plus, on Saturdays, there is free face painting for kids at the market.

There are many seating options inside the market, so you can sit down and enjoy the delicious food you find while wandering through the market.

We went on the F Factor Food Tour that includes a few stops inside Adelaide Central Market.

Art Gallery of South Australia Start at the Gallery

Best for older kids and teens, the Art Gallery of South Australia is always free to enter and open daily.

Younger kids ages 3-12 can join in on Start at the Gallery, which are kid-friendly workshops, tours, and classes offered on the first Sunday of each month.

Holey Moley

While kids are not always allowed in Holey Moley, it is fun for families earlier in the day.

Holey Moley is an indoor miniature golf club with uniquely designed holes and is lots of fun for kids.

The Holey Moley in Adelaide allows kids until 8 pm on weekdays and until 5 pm on weekends.

Hijinx Hotel

Located at Rundle Place, the Hijinx Hotel offers lots of family fun with its challenge rooms.

Not sure what to expect? Check out our review of the Brisbane Hijinx Hotel.

Strike Bowling

Located near the Hijinx Hotel, Strike Bowling is a fun and family-friendly bowling alley.

You can combine Hijinx Hotel, Strike Bowling, and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq arcade for a fun indoor day with kids.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq

Buy a game card and play the day away at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, an arcade at Rundle Place.

In addition to arcade games, Archie Brothers has dodgem cars, virtual reality, and bowling.

Adelaide Aquatic Centre

You can take the kids swimming indoors year-round at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

The Leisure Pool is set up for kids. It has slides as well as shallow areas. Make sure you check before you go to ensure that this pool is open, as it is closed during swim lessons.

The waterslides are only open on weekends, school holidays, and public holidays.

Haigh’s Chocolate Factory

A kid-friendly tour is offered a few times daily at Haigh’s Chocolate Factory, but be sure to book it in advance.

If you miss the group tour but still want to visit, you can take a self-guided tour.

My kids loved watching the factory workers make chocolate treats on our self-guided tour, but I am sure we all would have loved the chocolate tasting on the guided tour.

State Library of South Australia

Kids are always welcome in the State Library of South Australia, and there are often kid-friendly events.

Check in advance to see if you need to sign up or if you can walk into an event at the State Library.

Wacky Warehouse Play Cafe

Wacky Warehouse Play Cafe is an indoor playground aimed at kids 10 and younger.

Family-friendly workshops take place at Wacky Warehouse, plus they have a cafe for meals and drinks, so you do not need to leave, and the kids can keep playing all day long.

Bounce

Bounce is an indoor trampoline park, and they have a location in Adelaide.

You can bounce by the hour, and they also have special late-night packages.

Bounce has a cafe for those who want to stay and keep jumping.

Vertical Reality Climbing

You can go indoor rock climbing with kids at Vertical Reality Climbing.

If you don’t have your own equipment, you can rent everything you need.

Lollipop’s Playland

Lollipop’s Playland has multiple locations around Adelaide.

The indoor play centre is open daily, and admission includes a large indoor playground, ball pits, a merry-go-round, a toddler area, and an electronic games station.

Lollipop’s has a cafe and seating for adults.

Funtopia Prospect

With a 5-story indoor playground, rock climbing walls, and a special area for babies under 2 years old, Funtopia Prospect is a fun place to go with kids.

We Rock the Spectrum

We Rock the Spectrum has locations around the world, including in Adelaide.

The Adelaide We Rock the Spectrum location has open play and classes.

Adelaide Planetarium

At the University of South Australia campus is the Adelaide Planetarium.

Movies and events are held at the planetarium, and kid-friendly events take place over the school holidays. Programs are also held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.

Hey Caddy

Hey Caddy is an indoor miniature golf course with 2 locations in Adelaide.

Each of the 18 holes at Hey Caddy has a different theme.

Escape Room

Adelaide has lots of kid-friendly escape room options, including:

Eat at a Restaurant with a Playground

Plenty of restaurants in Adelaide have indoor playgrounds and playrooms to keep the kids entertained while you wait for your meals.

Find out where kids eat free in Adelaide every night of the week.

Things to Do Outside in Adelaide with Kids

Adelaide Zoo

Spend the day with the kids at the Adelaide Zoo.

All entry includes access to keeper talks. If you want, you can book a special animal encounter, including, but not limited to:

Junior Keeper
Giraffe Face-to-Face
Inspect an Insect
Giant Pandas
Koala Encounter

The animal encounters vary by age, but some welcome those even younger than 6 years old.

Treeclimb Adelaide

Adventurous kids can go ziplining and participate in a ropes course in the Adelaide CBD.

Treeclimb Adelaide has different courses that kids can participate in based on their height. The kids’ course requires each participant to be at least 100 cm tall.

Kids 2 to 10 can participate in the Nets Adventure Course.

Anyone 135 cm or taller can climb on the Grand Course.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Two kids walking on a brick path towards a fountain with large green plants on each side. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is free to enter and a fun thing to do with kids.

The Adelaide Botanic Gardens are open daily and are always free to enter.

The gardens are large, and there are many walking paths and places to picnic, as well as a cafe.

Adelaide Oval Roof Climb

Kids 8+ can climb the roof of the Adelaide Oval.

This is a 2-hour-long tour that includes a tour with local history and facts, as well as a climb to the top of the roof. You can even do a lean-out at 50 meters above the ground.

Adelaide Oval Tour

Would you rather just tour the oval from the ground? Take a guided tour of the Adelaide Oval.

A 90-minute-long tour includes access to normally restricted areas and also includes entry into the Bradman Museum.

Storybook Trail

Carrick Hill Parklands has a Storybook Trail that is always free to wander.

Some of the storybooks that are included in the trail are Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Jungle Book, The Secret Garden, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Hart’s Mill

Explore with kids along the waterfront and at the playground at Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide.

West Beach Adventure

An adventure park with a Mega Climb with more than 70 obstacles, West Beach Adventure is the largest aerial park in Australia.

A kid’s course for those 90 cm to 140 cm is available and includes 10 different challenges and ziplining.

There are no age limits at West Beach Adventure; everything is accessible by height.

Dolphin Sanctuary Kayaking

Kids 9+ can go kayaking through Adelaide’s dolphin sanctuary on a guided tour. No prior experience is required.

Dolphins are likely to be spotted in this area.

Glenelg Beach

Reachable by public transportation, or a quick drive from the Adelaide CBD, is Glenelg Beach.

It is easy to spend a day at Glenelg Beach with kids. In addition to the beautiful beach and calm water, there is a playground on the beach, a splash pad nearby, lots of restaurants, and a Ferris wheel.

Don’t miss The Beachouse, an indoor waterpark and arcade.

Mount Lofty Lookout

View Adelaide CIty from Mount Lofty Summit

You can opt to walk or drive up Mount Lofty. Either way, there is a large viewing platform at the top with views of Adelaide.

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden

While you are checking out the view from the Mount Lofty Summit, take the time to visit the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, which is open daily and offers free entry.

Wittunga Botanic and Butterfly Garden

There is a playground at Wittunga Botanic and Butterfly Garden, as well as a pond with ducks and turtles.

Always free to enter, the Wittunga Botanic and Butterfly Garden has pram-friendly walking trails.

Hahndorf Farm Barn

Depending on traffic, Hahndorf Farm Barn can be slightly more than 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, but it is a fun place to go with kids.

Located in the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf Farm Barn lets kids interact and touch the animals. Kids can milk a cow, ride a pony, and hold a python in addition to going on a tractor ride and spotting animals, including kangaroos, camels, and deer.

You can bring a picnic and even rent a BBQ at Hahndorf Farm Barn.

Beerenberg Farm

Take the kids strawberry picking, just 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD.

Beerenberg Farm has U-Pick strawberries available depending on the time of year. Their farm shop and restaurant are open year-round.

The Popeye River Cruise

Ride down the River Torrens on The Popeye on a sightseeing cruise that makes a stop at the Adelaide Zoo and Botanic Gardens.

The entire cruise is 45 minutes long, 30 minutes of which have commentary about the surrounding area.

Wilfred Taylor Reserve

Walk along the trails and play on the playground at Wilfred Taylor Reserve.

A miniature train rides through the park on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.

Cleland Wildlife Park

See kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallabies, dingos, snakes, and reptiles at Cleland Wildlife Park.

Most of the animals at Cleland Wildlife Park live in their natural environment, so sightings are not guaranteed.

Kids can hand-feed some of the animals, and you can watch the animal feedings throughout the day.

Special events, including holding a koala, an echidna encounter, and breakfast with the birds are available by booking in advance.

Morialta Conservation Park

Hike to a waterfall at Morialta Conservation Park or let the kids play at Mukanthi Morialta Playground, a nature playground with plenty of places to climb and play.

Woodhouse Adventure Park

Located in Adelaide Hills, Woodhouse Adventure Park has plenty for kids to do.

Challenge Hill
Tube Slide
Cameron’s Climb
Disc Golf
The Labyrinth
Bouldering
Laser Skirmish
Orienteering
Hiking Trails

Waterworld Aquatic Centre

Take the kids swimming at Waterworld Aquatic Centre, a pool with a splash pad for kids to play in, plus waterslides to slide down.

Glenelg Ferris Wheel

Ride on the Ferris wheel at Glenelg Beach for views of the water, the beach, and the cute beach town.

In addition to the Ferris wheel, Glenelg has a playground, splash pad, and my kids’ favorite indoor waterpark, The Beachouse.

Adelaide Goal

The Adelaide Goal is open daily for self-guided tours, and guided tours are available.

Of course, not all of the tours are kid-friendly, and it depends on the ages of your kids as well as their interests. Our kids toured a goal in Brisbane when they were 6 and 8, and while the tour was a little bit long for them, they were interested in the information.

During the school holidays, there is a treasure hunt designed for younger kids at the Adelaide Goal.

Cruise Down the Murray River

Leave from Adelaide and take a lunch cruise on the Murray River.

This tour also includes free time in Mannum and a stop at either Melba Chocolate Factory or Woodside Cheese Wrights.

Splash Pads

Adelaide has many splash pads for the kids to play in on a hot day. Find the best splash pad near you.

Playgrounds

A large metal slide coming out of the mouth of an orange bird structure at Throndon Park in Adelaide.

Another thing Adelaide has plenty of is playgrounds, including some with unique features. Check out this list of playgrounds to find the best one for your kids.

Best Things to Do in Adelaide with Kids Wrap-Up

Adelaide may be a small city, but there are so many fun things to do with kids there. Whether you want to be inside or outside, are looking for a free activity, or are willing to pay, there are so many fun choices for kids in Adelaide.

This list includes the best things to do within 30 minutes of the Adelaide CBD. Even so close to the city, you can go fruit picking, cruise down the river, spot dolphins, and slide down a waterslide without going outside.

Hopefully, this list helped you decide what to do, whether you live in Adelaide or are simply visiting.