summer school holidays in Adelaide
the big one — six weeks of summer. water play, beaches, bushwalks and holiday programs to fill the longest break of the year.
free things to do
South Australian Museum
freeFree entry. The Aboriginal Cultures gallery is genuinely world-class, and kids go straight for the Egyptian mummy collection.
ages: all agesAdelaide Botanic Garden
freeNature play space, free guided walks, and the Bicentennial Conservatory is worth ducking into. Good for a morning with a packed lunch.
ages: all agesGlenelg Beach
freeTake the tram from the city straight to the beach — kids love the tram ride as much as the sand. Fish and chips on the foreshore to finish.
ages: all agesArt Gallery of South Australia
freeFree entry. Kids' trails and holiday workshops run most days, and the Start Young program for under-5s is genuinely well-designed.
ages: all agespaid activities & attractions
Adelaide Zoo
paidGiant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni are the drawcard, plus 2,500+ animals. School holiday keeper talks are included — the reptile one is surprisingly good.
ages: all agesMonarto Safari Park
paidOpen-range zoo about 70 minutes from Adelaide. Bus safari tour is included in entry — you'll see lions, giraffes and rhinos from the bus.
ages: all agesCleland Wildlife Park
paidHand-feed kangaroos and hold a koala in the Adelaide Hills. Smaller and quieter than the big zoos — which is the appeal with little ones.
ages: all agesMega Adventure Park
paidAerial obstacle course, zipline and climbing wall at West Beach. Book ahead during holidays — they cap numbers.
ages: 5+looking for playgrounds in Adelaide?
browse our directory of parks and play spaces — perfect for burning off energy during the holidays.
Adelaide playgrounds