Family Fun under the Sun with the 6 Best Free Things to Do with Kids in Adelaide!
On weekends, I love to bring my husband and kids for some outdoor bonding time at family-friendly places! However, since we’re tight on money right now, it’s best to look for free activities.
I found ones that are stimulating, energising, and open to all, especially families. More importantly, my children loved exploring these places!
Now they keep asking us to come back every weekend. How could we say no?
So, if you also want to entertain your kids for free, here are my kid-approved recommendations!
Have a chill stroll at the Adelaide Botanic Garden
– Media credit: botanicgardenssa
Address: North Terrace
Contact: +61 8 8222 9311
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday – 7:15 am to 5 pm
Saturday to Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm
My kids loved going to Adelaide Botanic Garden. It spans around 50 hectares, offering a lot of space to explore and observe nature!
The garden also has a casual restaurant called the Botanic Lodge. Visitors have a scenic lake view while eating there!
After eating, we decided to learn more about plant life at their Museum of Economic Botany! This museum showcases how plants are used in everyday life, such as in medicine and meals.
It also depicts how plants were important in social improvement throughout history, like learning how to farm or adapting plants into everyday materials like paper, ink, and house construction.
Pro Tip: The Adelaide Botanic Garden also hosts exhibits and events! Right now, they have an ongoing art display called A Whimsical Life: The Art of Linda Catchlove. The exhibit started last May 31, 2025, and will end on September 14, 2025, with details available on their website.
Swim in the waters of Glenelg Beach
– Media credit: glenelgbeach.com.au
Address: S Esplanade, Glenelg
Contact: +61 434 860 595
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – open 24 hours
Glenelg Beach has something for everyone. Visitors enjoy the waters and its sandy shores. There are also other entertainment and activity areas, such as the Glenelg Foreshore Playground and Moseley Square!
My children loved frolicking in the playground after swimming. It has swings, slides, and trails that children could explore. They also have a rock climbing wall and a water play area!
Then, after a long day of diving and playing, we went to Moseley Square to enjoy its restaurants and cafes! It’s located right in front of the beach and has an access jetty road for visitors. It’s open until late to accommodate events and parties.
Pro Tip: During the warmer months, the activities held in Glenelg Beach increase! Check out their website if you want to keep up with their events.
Learn about indigenous peoples at the South Australian Museum
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Address: North Terrace
Contact: +61 8 8273 9100
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 am to 5 pm
The South Australian Museum has five floors full of art!
One collection my family loved was their humanities section. We got to explore Aboriginal culture and artefacts, learning more about Australia’s heritage. We were intrigued by the shields said to be used in Aboriginal communities.
You can also do a self-guided tour at the museum. We downloaded a copy of the guide from their website, but we saw some visitors grab a brochure from the staff, too.
The guide further enhanced the immersive learning experience for us, as it pointed out displays we should prioritise and suggested kid-friendly activities as well.
Pro Tip: The South Australian Museum also hosts events and exhibitions throughout the year! As of writing, they have a show called Ride on, Shine on: The East Kimberley Movement, running from July 5 until December 14, 2025. This free exhibit showcases the contemporary art movement in East Kimberley.
Interested in more? Check out other events through their website!
Enjoy a nature walk at the Morialta Conservation Park
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Address: Morialta Falls Rd, Woodforde
Contact: +61 8 8336 0901
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
My husband loves nature walks and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Morialta Conservation Park! With interesting rock formations, flora, and fauna, it’s suitable for families who want an immersive outdoor experience.
Children can also play in the park’s Mukanthi play space, located along Stradbroke Road. It has four sections: Great Snake, Bird Nests, Eagle’s Perch, and Frog Island. My kids especially like the climbing walls and boulders!
We also saw some koalas along the First Falls trail! Aside from that, the trail is great for birdwatching, with avian visitors like golden whistlers and mistletoe birds, and keep an eye out for kangaroos too!
Pro Tip: Morialta Conservation Park protects and prioritises the safety of its environment and animals. Thus, the park and staff kindly request visitors not to disturb the animals in their natural habitats. Follow the rules, such as not feeding them certain foods and keeping quiet during walks.
Get active at Adelaide Park Lands and Playspaces
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Address: 5006 North Terrace
Contact: +61 8 8203 7203
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – open 24 hours
Adelaide Park Lands and Playspaces is another commendable mixed-use area where families could bike, run, jog, or skate. The parklands also have a designated picnic area where you can lay out a blanket and enjoy the fresh air.
My family availed of a guided tour, as it’s a big place to explore. The park has tour guides for different areas of the trail you want to explore, with each guided tour lasting up to two hours.
This helped us stay focused on the activities we wanted to do, such as finding out about an olive grove area!
The park also has areas for specific activities, such as disc golf. It is what it sounds like: a Frisbee disc must be thrown into a hole! I found this challenging, since the disc has to go through the olive grove, which creates a natural obstacle.
Pro Tip: Adelaide Park Lands and Playspaces are often chosen as venues for public events, so the park has an events calendar on its website. Check it out! One recent notable event was the vintage car exhibit that concluded last May, called the Roaring Start.
Study global culture at the Migration Museum
– Media credit: migration_museum
Address: 82 Kintore Ave
Contact: +61 8 8151 3240
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 am to 5 pm
The Migration Museum offers another engaging way to learn more about Australia’s history, specifically its migration movement, heritage, and cultural shifts.
A few of their permanent exhibits feature 20th-century immigration across the globe, documenting the intercultural exchange across various countries.
The museum also has child- and family-friendly activities! For July, they have an event called Our Changing City. It was launched on June 28, 2025, and will conclude on July 20, 2025. This is a collaborative, engaging artwork where various people can put marks across a map, signifying landmarks, shops, neighbourhoods, and more!
The museum also has free self-guided tours, with a guide available on their website. My family thoroughly appreciated their help in getting us more acquainted with migration history!
However, take note that a minimum of ten people is needed to schedule a self-guided tour. Booking is needed to avoid dates with school visits.
Pro Tip: Check out their website to keep updated with their activities. One tour happening for the entirety of 2025 is the Destitute Asylum Discovery tour, which highlights the history of houses for the poor and migrants.
