Winter school holidays in Adelaide: Ice skating, reptile encounters and a dinosaur dig

Adelaide families are diving into the winter school holidays with a slate of indoor and outdoor activities across the city, as temperatures hover around 14°C this July.

The break comes as national headlines remain heavy, including a major AFP investigation involving more than 120 families in Sydney and the ongoing Perth Invasion Day bombing inquiry, making local, low-cost escapes a welcome change of pace for many parents.

Ice skating comes to the city

Winter's Ice Rink has returned to Elder Park on the banks of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Pari, open daily from 10am to 9pm through July 19. Tickets are $22 for adults, $16 for children under 12, with family passes available for $60. The rink sits alongside the Adelaide Oval and offers skate hire included in the ticket price. Bookings are recommended on weekends.

For a bite after skating, the pop-up Alpine Bar next door sells hot chocolates and bratwurst, with heated marquees for parents who'd rather watch than glide.

Reptiles, dinosaurs and farm animals

The South Australian Museum on North Terrace is running its annual DinoFest event through the first two weeks of the holidays. Kids can handle real fossil casts, dig for replica dinosaur bones in a sandpit, and see the museum's collection of 70-million-year-old opalised plesiosaur fossils. Entry is free for children under 15, with adults at $12.

Down south at the Oceanic Victor marine park in Glenelg, families can book a behind-the-scenes tour to feed kingfish and pat Port Jackson sharks. Sessions run at 10am, noon and 2pm daily, costing $29 per adult and $19 per child. The facility sits on the Glenelg Jetty, and bookings are essential.

In Gawler, the Gawler Animal Farm is hosting a winter school-holiday program with llama walks, goat yoga and tractor rides. General admission is $19.50 per person, with children under two free. The farm opens from 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm.

Free and low-cost options

Libraries across metropolitan Adelaide are running storytime and craft sessions. The City of Adelaide library on Rundle Place has Lego club every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am, free of charge. The State Library on North Terrace also offers its regular children's book corner, with no booking needed.

For outdoor types, Belair National Park remains a favourite for bushwalking and birdwatching. Entry is $12 per car. The park's Adventure Playground, near the main carpark, includes flying foxes and climbing nets, and is open from sunrise to sunset.

Most sessions and attractions have limited capacity, so families are advised to check websites or call ahead before heading out, especially on weekends when the July chill draws bigger crowds indoors.