Family Activities
Big things, mazes and farm fun
The best family activities in Adelaide Hills
Climb a giant rocking horse, get lost in a hedge maze, ride a heritage steam train and feed the animals on a day made for kids.
The Adelaide Hills is made for family days out, with wildlife encounters, big open spaces and quirky landmarks all packed into an easy drive from the city. Kids can get nose-to-nose with native animals, climb a giant rocking horse, ride a steam train and burn off energy on nature playgrounds and gentle trails.
Top of the list is Cleland Wildlife Park, where children can hand-feed free-roaming kangaroos and meet koalas, while the towering Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha pairs a climb with a free wildlife park and toy factory. Morialta Conservation Park has a justly popular nature playground beneath its waterfalls, and the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden offers space to roam.
For a change of pace, the National Motor Museum at Birdwood and volunteer-run heritage railways add a dose of history, and the region's farm shops and pick-your-own orchards turn a snack stop into an adventure.
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South Para Reservoir Reserve
A once-locked reservoir near Kersbrook now open for kayaking, shoreline fishing and almost nine kilometres of peninsula trails.
SteamRanger Heritage Railway
$$Heritage steam journeys from Mount Barker
A volunteer-run heritage railway running restored steam and diesel services from Mount Barker station on select days, including scenic Hills runs.
Stirling Market
Long-running monthly market under the Stirling oaks
A long-running monthly market held under the oaks at Druid Avenue in Stirling, gathering local makers, growers, plants, crafts and food in the leafy heart of the village.
The Big Rocking Horse
$Climb one of Australia's great Big Things
A towering 18-metre rocking horse you can climb, beside a toy factory and a free-roaming wildlife park - a classic Hills family stop.
The Hills Cider Company
$$Apple and pear cider pressed in the heart of orchard country
A flagship Hills cidery at Lobethal Road, pressing apple and pear cider from local orchards and pouring it in a buzzy cellar door with food trucks and lawns.
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
$$A fenced sanctuary near Mylor where platypus, bettongs and bandicoots have been brought back from the brink.
Wotton Park / Stirling Gardens
$Stirling's avenue of autumn colour
The leafy public gardens and exotic plantings around Stirling, celebrated for their spectacular autumn colour each April and May.
Family Activities in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What is the Adelaide Hills known for when it comes to family activities?
The Hills is known for native wildlife encounters and quirky big-scale landmarks, all within an easy half-hour drive of Adelaide. The signature day out combines Cleland Wildlife Park near Crafers, where you can feed roaming kangaroos and meet koalas, with The Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha, the giant climbable horse that towers about 18 metres over its toy factory and free-roaming animal park.
Where can you get up close to native animals and hold a koala in the Adelaide Hills?
Cleland Wildlife Park at Crafers is one of the few places where you can hold a koala (an extra paid experience) and wander among free-roaming kangaroos, emus and wallabies with a bag of feed. For more options, Gorge Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek runs daily koala holding sessions, while Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary at Mylor is the only place on mainland South Australia where you can spot wild platypus on a guided tour.
Are there hedge mazes and outdoor play spaces for kids in the Adelaide Hills?
Yes. Woodhouse Adventure Park at Piccadilly is the standout, with a giant split-level Labyrinth maze and the Challenge Hill obstacle course set across a large bushland site. The Hills also has plenty of nature playgrounds and gentle trails, including the walking tracks and waterfall lookouts at Morialta Conservation Park.
Do you need to book Adelaide Hills family attractions in advance, and are they open every day?
Many of the big draws like Cleland Wildlife Park, Gorge Wildlife Park and Woodhouse Adventure Park are open daily and you can usually just turn up, though paid extras such as koala holding are best pre-booked. The SteamRanger heritage steam trains from Mount Barker run only on selected days rather than daily, so always check the current timetable and book ahead before you go.
When is the best time of year for a family day out in the Adelaide Hills?
Spring and autumn bring mild weather that is ideal for wildlife parks, mazes and bushwalks, while the school holidays are when SteamRanger and the wildlife sanctuaries tend to add extra tours and activities. If your kids love picking fruit, time a visit for the strawberry season at Beerenberg Family Farm in Hahndorf, where pick-your-own usually runs from around November to April.