Family Fun

Outdoor adventures and magical experiences make Adelaide Hills a natural choice for families. With steam trains and a giant rocking horse, cuddly koalas, a chocolate factory and wide open spaces to run free, the Adelaide Hills will engage and entertain children of all ages.

Apple Picking, Lenswood, Adelaide Hills
Apple Picking, Lenswood

Farm Experiences

  • Hahndorf Farm Barn for hands-on fun with a range of farm and exotic animals, including feeding, milking, reptile shows, pony and tractor rides

  • Four Oaks Farm in Littlehampton for farm visits, trail rides and pony parties

  • Country shows and fairs for festive rural fun, particularly in Uraidla/Summertown, Mount Pleasant, Mount Barker, Callington and Meadows Country Fair

Hahndorf Farm Barn, Hahndorf
Hahndorf Farm Barn, Hahndorf

Wildlife Parks

  • Cleland Wildlife Park to get up close to koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, dingoes and Tasmanian devils as well as reptile experiences and guided night walks

  • Gorge Wildlife Park in Cudlee Creek for native and exotic animals, birds and reptiles, including koala holding

  • Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary in Mylor to discover thriving ecosystems, native animals including the elusive platypus and the Junior Keeper program

Cleland Wildlife Park, Crafers, Adelaide Hills
Cleland Wildlife Park, Crafers

Pick Your Own Fruit

Kids get a real kick out of picking their own fruit – it’s fun and gives them a greater connection with the food they eat.

  • Strawberries are in season and available for picking from November to April at Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf

  • Pick cherries from mid-November to mid-January at orchards across the Adelaide Hills – download the Cherries SA Cherry Map or Fresh Cherries app

  • Pick figs at Willabrand fig orchard at Glen Ewin Estate in Houghton from February to April

  • @Lenswood Pick Your Own offers a chance to meet the growers, learn about the different apple varieties, pick and purchase apples right off the tree and enjoy a variety of local treats at their Farm Cafe.

  • Magarey Orchard at Coromandel Valley is best known for its amazing pears and has designated open days

Strawberry Picking, Beerenberg Farm, Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills
Beerenberg Farm, Hahndorf

Attractions and Activities

  • Melba’s Chocolate Factory in Woodside to see vintage working equipment and an irresistible range of sweet treats for tasting and purchase

  • Woodhouse Adventure Park in Piccadilly where kids can run wild enjoying the Challenge Hill obstacle course, disc golf, orienteering and tube slides, with overnight options including cabins and camping and popular school holiday 'Drop and Go' day camps

  • Mount Lofty Adventure Hub in Piccadilly (within the grounds of Woodhouse Activity Centre) with a climbing wall, zipline, mega swing and ropes courses

  • National Motor Museum in Birdwood for vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and trucks, with kids’ activity books to keep them occupied and engaged, along with excellent school holiday programs and family-friendly events including the Bay to Birdwood

Creek Crossing - Challenge Hills, Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly, Adelaide Hills
Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly
Tube Slide, Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly
Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly
  • Head Heart and Hands for imaginative play in Nairne, including Stargold Puppets, natural fibre toys and craft, Waldorf dolls, pure wool felt and felting supplies, hand-made wooden toys and dolls houses

  • Jupiter Creek gold mining area in Echunga to walk through the historical gold diggings

  • Amy Gillett Pathway for cycling, walking and horse riding from Oakbank to Mount Torrens with 17 kilometres of mostly flat family-friendly bitumen track is bitumen and four loop trails to other points of interest - kids will love Woody Trails BMX Track in Woodside. Stay tuned for further developments including visitor infrastructure along the pathway. This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

Children riding bikes on the Amy Gillett Pathway (Bikeway), Woodside, Adelaide Hills
Amy Gillett Pathway, Woodside
Woody Trails BMX Track, Woodside, Adelaide Hills
Woody Trails BMX Track, Woodside
The Big Rocking Horse & Toy Factory, Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
The Big Rocking Horse, Gumeracha

Adelaide Hills Kids' Food Trail

An epicurean adventure, full of engaging experiences for the whole family including picking fruit, watching bees make honey, exploring a chocolate factory and tasting cheeses.

Making Licorice, Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery, Woodside, Adelaide Hills
Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery, Woodside

Hahndorf Main Street

  • Traditional sweet shops and ice creameries, toy shops, fairy garden and shop, entertaining leathersmith and FruChocs shop (South Australia’s iconic confectionary)

  • Hahndorf Candlemaker for beautiful candles and traditional German wooden folk art, and 3 Wishes Candle Barn where kids can create their own candle masterpiece

  • Hahndorf Mini Golf for 18 holes of fun and challenging obstacles

  • Australian Minerals for rocks and minerals, fossils and shells

  • Hahndorf Academy’s art classes for children and school holiday workshops

  • See more Hahndorf traders

Icecreamery in Main Street, Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills
Main Street, Hahndorf

Playgrounds & Nature Play

Adelaide Hills is blessed with numerous excellent playgrounds with favourites including:

For those keen to get out and explore our great outdoors, favourite 'nature play' locations include:

Stella Creek Cherries, Forest Range, Adelaide Hills
Stella Creek Cherries, Forest Range

Horse Riding & Activities

For kids into horses, the region offers a variety of things to do depending on age and experience, from pony rides, pony parties and trail rides through to riding schools of the highest calibre.

Pony Ride at Hahndorf Farm Barn, Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills
Hahndorf Farm Barn, Hahndorf

Family Friendly Wineries

Families are welcome at the region’s cellar doors, but some go the extra mile to ensure the kids enjoy the visit as much as the grown-ups. Favourite family-friendly wineries include:

Sidewood Cellar Door & Restaurant, Hahndorf
Sidewood Cellar Door & Restaurant, Hahndorf
Barristers Block Wines, Woodside, Adelaide Hills
Barristers Block Wines, Woodside

Family Friendly Dining

Pubs and bakeries throughout the region lend themselves well to family outings and picnics in the beautiful surrounds are always a hit with little ones who won’t sit still for long. Great dining options include:

  • Bridgewater Inn in Bridgewater for outdoor dining overlooking the creek

  • The Olive Branch Cafe in Balhannah for family focused, child friendly food and fun with a great kid’s menu and a dedicated gated and safe play space with toys, books and structured activities including supervised craft sessions and school holiday cooking classes

Bridgewater Inn overlooking creek, Bridgewater, Adelaide Hills
Bridgewater Inn, Bridgewater