Family Friendly Attractions in Adelaide

Adelaide has plenty on offer for families on an urban adventure, whether the kids go ga-ga for wild animals or want to build sandcastles on a wide, smooth beach. And when tummies start to rumble, there are some great family-friendly dining options too.

 

Amazing animals

 

Adelaide may be a bustling metropolis, but look beyond the sleek urban centre and there's natural beauty and colorful wildlife galore. Kids of all ages – not to mention any adults with a sense of wonder – will be entranced by the exotic creatures that call Adelaide home.

 

 

From proud, prowling Sumatran tigers to bouncing red kangaroos, the residents of Adelaide Zoo will delight and fascinate the whole family. The achingly cute pandas are among the superstars here, while the special children's zoo will let your little ones feed the fallow deer and stroke the kangaroos.

 

Frome Road, Adelaide SA 5000.  

 

Cleland Wildlife Park

 

Sprawling over thousands of acres, Cleland Wildlife Park is where you can wander amid emus and kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and wombats. Best of all, it's where your kids get to cuddle koalas, and have their photos taken with the iconically cute critters.

 

365 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Cleland SA 5152.  

 

Fun in the sun

 

Frolicking in the South Australian sunshine on impeccable soft sands – that's a no brainer of an activity for the families flocking to this side of the country. There a number of coastal hotspots, but we think this one is the best all-rounder. Glenelg

 

You can hop on a tram to Glenelg, a very popular beach resort on the outskirts of Adelaide. Overlooking the shimmering waters of Holdfast Bay, its white sands make a perfect playground for the family, and if you're lucky you might even glimpse dolphins splashing in the bay. Family-friendly restaurants make it easy to refuel throughout the day.

 

SA 5045

 

 

Awesome exhibits

 

We're not talking stuffy museums which will leave kids restless and bored. Adelaide has some fantastic interactive exhibitions where their imaginations can run brilliantly amok.

 

 

Imagine climbing aboard an old fashioned sailing ketch, with its masts rising into the sky amid the seagulls, and its wooden helm waiting for little (and big) hands to hold. That's what's in store at the South Australia Maritime Museum, with its fleet of boats and eerie shipwreck exhibits. You can also take the kids up the lighthouse for spectacular views over the port.

 

126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide 5015.  

 

Family dining

 

Need to stop and refuel after a day's adventuring? Adelaide has plenty of informal restaurants where you can kick back with the kids and feast on great grub.

 

 

If you're after hearty food in a fun environment, try the New York Bar & Grill. It's located in a sprawling mall, and serves up solid fare like crispy-based pizzas and oozing pasta dishes. There's a special kids' menu, and even an indoor playground where your little scamps can amuse themselves while you relax over coffee.

 

297 Diagonal Road, Oaklands Park SA 5046.  

 

Zapatas's

 

With its cosy golden-red decor and ornate Mexican art and trinkets dotted everywhere, Zapata's is a veritable grotto of great grub. Its menu will please adults and kids alike, thanks to tongue-tingling favourites like prawn taquitos and sweet spare ribs, and there's a special children's menu to keep the fussiest eaters happy.

 

42 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide SA 5006.