Winter school holidays: family activities roundup for Adelaide

The winter school holidays are in full swing in Adelaide, and families are hunting for ways to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. While most of the big headline events are happening interstate, including more than 600 trombone players gathering in Queensland to attempt a world record, Adelaide’s local venues are offering a solid lineup of low-cost and free activities. With rain forecast for much of the week, indoor options are at a premium.

This matters now because the school holidays run until July 20, and many parent groups on social media are already complaining that they've exhausted their usual rainy-day options. The South Australian government’s Kids in Museums program, which runs annually, offers free entry to participating venues for children under 15 when accompanied by a paying adult. This year, 11 museums across the state are taking part, including the South Australian Museum on North Terrace and the National Motor Museum in Birdwood.

What’s on around town

The Adelaide Zoo on Frome Road is running its usual winter keeper talks and feedings, with general admission costing $42 for adults and $22 for kids under 15. Members enter free. The zoo’s giant pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, remain a drawcard, though keepers caution they are often less active in cold weather.

Over at the Art Gallery of South Australia, also on North Terrace, the Winter Family Weekend program continues every Saturday and Sunday through the holidays. The gallery offers free drop-in art-making sessions from 11am to 3pm, themed around the current Exhibition: Modernism & Movement. No booking is required, but spaces fill quickly. Families can also pick up a free activity-backpack from the front desk to explore the galleries independently.

For outdoor types, the Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills is hosting Keeper for a Day sessions, limited to 12 participants per day. The program costs $95 per child and runs from 11am to 2pm. Bookings are essential and available through the park’s website. The park is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4pm. Standard entry for a family of two adults and up to three children is $85.

Free and low-cost options

The City of Adelaide is running its School Holiday Fun program at the Adelaide City Library on Rundle Place. Free storytime sessions for toddlers and preschoolers are held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10.30am. The library also has a dedicated children's area with puzzles, LEGO, and iPads loaded with educational apps. No bookings are required.

On the west side of the city, the Adelaide Skatepark on West Terrace remains open 24 hours, and on dry days it’s packed with kids on scooters and bikes. Nearby Bonython Park has a large adventure playground with climbing nets and a flying fox, as well as free barbecues and undercover picnic tables. The park is easily accessible by tram, with a stop at the Thebarton Theatre.

Parents looking for structured indoor play should check out the Winter Wonders workshops at the Mod. Museum on North Terrace. The museum runs free creative workshops for children aged 5 to 12 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12pm. The theme this year is 'Colour and Light', tied to the museum’s current exhibition on optical illusions. Spaces are limited; families are advised to arrive early to register at the front desk.

The school holidays end Monday July 20. Many programs require advance booking, particularly those at Cleland and the Mod. Museum. For up-to-date weather and cancellation information, check the respective venue websites or call ahead. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting showers for Thursday and Friday, so indoor plans are a safe bet for the back half of the week.