With school holidays in Adelaide coming up, are you racking your brains on how to have the best school holiday fun with your kids? No need to fret because we’ve got you covered with all the best school holiday ideas in Adelaide!
Whether you want to splurge or enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank, this ultimate guide has all the fun and exciting school holiday activities in Adelaide you can do with the whole family.
Note that school holiday dates in Adelaide and South Australia are the following:
2021 Term 3: 25 September 2021 to 10 October 2021
2021 Term 4: 11 December 2021 to 30 January 2022
2022 Term 1: 15 April 2022 to 1 May 2022
2022 Term 2: 9 July 2022 to 24 July 2022
2022 Term 3: 1 Oct 2022 to 16 Oct 2022
2022 Term 4: 17 Dec 2022 to 29 Jan 2023
Top activities above $100
- Victor Harbor & Southern Highlights Day Tour - from $119
- Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships Graveyard Kayak Tour with Lunch - $158
Top activities below $100
- Mega Adventure Park Sky Challenge Experience - $50
- Adelaide Eco Caddy Scenic Garden Private Tour - $65
- Temptation Dolphin Cruise - $68
- Dolphin Sanctuary Kayaking Tour - $69
- Cleland Wildlife Park Self Guided Tour from Adelaide - $89
Top activities below $50
- Marion Outdoor Pool -$7.50
- Adelaide Aquatic Centre - $8.60
- Warrawong Sanctuary - from $12
- Hahndorf Farm Barn -from $16.50
- National Motor Museum - from $17.50
- The Beachhouse - from $25
- Monarto Zoo - from $39
- Adelaide Zoo - from $39
Top FREE Activities
- Migration Museum - FREE
- Adelaide Playgrounds - FREE
- MOD Adelaide - FREE
- Art Gallery of South Australia - FREE
ABOVE $100
1. Kangaroo Island Day Tour - $315
If you’re up to go all out and splurge during the Adelaide school holidays, going on this Kangaroo Island Day Tour might just be your greatest idea yet! Everything is already arranged and taken care of, so all you have to do is hop aboard the ferry and enjoy the sights with your family!
You’ll pass through Seal Bay and Admirals Arch before landing on Kangaroo Island, where friendly kangaroos and koalas are ready to welcome you! For lunch, a sumptuous 2-course meal is available at Vivonne Bay Bistro. This day tour takes care of all admission fees as well as roundtrip transfers to and from Adelaide!
2. Victor Harbor & Southern Highlights Day Tour - from $119
You and your kids will definitely enjoy a day out with the whole family! With this day tour around southern vales and beaches, the school holidays just got more fun. Enjoy the great outdoors when you drive through the scenic Adelaide Hills region and visit Victor Harbor and McLaren Vale.
Stroll along Victor Harbor and visit quaint cafes around the main street. Make it more exciting when you ride the iconic horse-drawn tram in this charming seaside town before heading to McLaren Vale. Here, you’ll witness rolling vineyards and olive groves unfold.
Level up your day tour when you add a 3-course Carvery lunch at Hotel Victor!
3. Dolphin Sanctuary and Ship Graveyard Kayak Tour with Lunch - $158
Take your kids out for a thrilling water activity during the school holidays in Adelaide with a kayak tour around Dolphin Sanctuary and Ship Graveyard! This kayak adventure will definitely build your kids’ confidence as they learn the basics of how to paddle across calm waters. The playful dolphins are a great bonus to this fun outdoor experience!
BELOW $100
1. Mega Adventure Park Sky Challenge Experience - from $50
If your idea of spending the school holidays in Adelaide is to stay active instead of being cooped up at home, then a trip to Mega Adventure Park is a must-do! With 70+ obstacles to conquer, this exhilarating theme park will definitely leave you memories to last a lifetime. Make it even more memorable when you book it with the Giant Swing!
2. Adelaide Eco Caddy Scenic Garden Private Tour - from $65
Learning doesn’t have to end within the four walls of a classroom. Make your school holidays in Adelaide educational AND enjoyable with this private garden tour around Adelaide Parklands! Hop on an eco-caddy or an eco-bike tricycle for a 60- or 90-minute exploration around majestic Veale Gardens and historical landmarks such as the Adelaide Oval. You can even drop by the Adelaide Festival Center, home to South Australia’s performing arts since the ‘70s!
3. Temptation Dolphin Cruise - from $68
For an exciting school holiday in Adelaide, why not head to the open seas and meet dolphins? Without straying too far from Adelaide CBD, you can climb aboard the Temptation, South Australia’s first vessel that allows you to get close and swim with dolphins.
In this cruise, you can opt for a Dolphin Watch where you can interact with friendly Adelaide dolphins within arm’s length. You can also go for a Dolphin Swim to get extra close to these adorable creatures. Wetsuits are provided, so no need to worry about bringing your own gear.
4. Dolphin Sanctuary Kayaking Tour - $69
Another fun school holiday activity in Adelaide that involves cute dolphins is this kayaking tour in Dolphin Sanctuary. Don’t miss this chance to interact with local bottlenose dolphins right at the heart of Port Adelaide aboard a trusty kayak. Your kids will absolutely enjoy manoeuvering through shipwrecks and mangrove inlets!
5. Cleland Wildlife Park Self Guided Tour from Adelaide - $89
From Adelaide, drive out to Cleland Wildlife Park and enjoy a fun day with Aussie’s beloved native wildlife! You can wander around at your own pace in this self-guided tour around the park. Plus, you’ll be given a bag of animal food to feed free-roaming animals like kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and koalas. You can also head to the wetland to spot pelicans and emus!
Cheap things to do during Adelaide school holidays!
1. Marion Outdoor Pool - from $7.50
Add a splash of fun during your Adelaide school holidays with the kids at Marion Outdoor Pool! This outdoor water play park has 2 waterslides: the Twist Slide that comes with a 15-metre enclosed tunnel, and the Speed Slide that’ll make you feel like you took a vertical plunge from 10 metres up!
2. Adelaide Aquatic Centre - from $8.60
You and the whole fam can practise your swimming skills during the Adelaide school holidays in this aquatic centre open 7 days a week! Practise your laps at the main pool, attempt a perfect dive on the 1-metre springboard, or play with splash pads in the leisure pool - there are tonnes of things to do while you’re here!
After your swim, you can head to their lawned areas and grill up a BBQ lunch with their free electric barbecue facilities!
3. Warrawong Sanctuary - from $
Witness behind-the-scenes animal care in Warrawong Sanctuary! You and your kids can become animal keepers for a day when you go on guided tours to see wallabies, ‘roos, bandicoots, koalas, and more. Feel free to roam around as you observe these animals in their natural habitat!
4. Hahndorf Farm Barn - from $16.50
You and your little ones can experience farm life with just a short drive up the freeway to Hahndorf Farm Barn. Hear your kids squeal with glee as they interact with friendly farm animals, cuddly rabbits, and adorable guinea pigs in this farm slash wildlife park. They can even try their hand at milking a cow or bottle feeding a baby lamb. Hahndorf Farm Barn gives you nothing short of an enjoyable experience that your kids will definitely beg you to take them back!
5. National Motor Museum - from $17.50
If your kids adore cars or anything that goes “vroom!”, then a trip to the National Motor Museum is the perfect Adelaide school holidays activity for your family! Discover the history of the Aussie motor vehicle scene with the museum’s collection of over 400 historic vehicles. Kids can even sit inside a vintage 1928 Chevrolet Tourer! Amazing, right?
6. The Beachhouse - from $25
The Beachhouse in Glenelg is the perfect theme park to visit during the Adelaide school holidays if you’re looking for something that won’t blow your budget! Keep your kids entertained with world-class rides and games such as the Dodgem Cars, epic water slides, and interactive play castle!
7. Monarto Safari Park - from $39
Venture into the world’s largest open-range zoo for the Adelaide school holidays and let your kids learn more about Australia’s native wildlife! Hop on Zu-loop buses that will take you around the open plains of this safari park. You can also get on your feet and trail along the park’s walking tracks!
8. Adelaide Zoo - from $39
Another perfect school holiday idea is Adelaide Zoo, home to more than 250 exotic and native animals like the African Lion, Sumatran Orangutan, and Giant Panda! Here, you can book a wildlife experience where you and your family can hand feed the resident Giant Pandas. You can experience being a zookeeper for a day as you prepare animal feed, clean enclosures, and get access to off-limit areas!
Enjoy these for FREE!
1. Migration Museum - FREE
Listen to stories about South Australia’s migration history and its vibrant cultural diversity through exhibits at Migration Museum. This museum runs special programs for kids during the school holidays, like the popular “detective trails.” You’ll be turned into super sleuths on the hunt for evidence to uncover South Australia’s past!
2. Adelaide Playgrounds - FREE
You don’t have to spend money to have fun! If you’re on the lookout for free things to do during the Adelaide school holidays, the city playgrounds won’t let you down. There are plenty of playgrounds with interactive facilities all around Adelaide that you’ll find near you, such as the Wilfred Taylor Reserve in Morphett Vale, the Morialta Nature Playground in Woodforde, Prospect Memorial Park, and Stanley Street Reserve Playground in Glengowrie.
3. MOD. Adelaide - FREE
Ever wanted to know what it feels like to travel to the future? MOD. Adelaide gives you precisely that and encourages kids and young adults to be interested in science and technology! Be amazed by its mind-boggling exhibits and interactive gallery areas about all things science. With a trip to MOD., you can keep your minds refreshed even during the Adelaide school holidays!
4. Art Gallery of South Australia - FREE
Encouraging your kids to be interested in the arts is easier if you take them on a trip to the Art Gallery of South Australia for the Adelaide school holidays. Browse through its carefully curated exhibitions while kids can join their Start at the Gallery program that aims to introduce art to children.