Places to go
There are so many things to do in your own city when you start looking but then where do you start? Through adventures with our kids, we have found a selection of places and events that we can recommend to check out and you might even keep going back. Look out for specials, and event days which are always great fun for the whole family!
National Railway Museum
76 Lipson Street Port Adelaide SA 5015
http://www.natrailmuseum.org.au/
(08)8341 1690
The national railway museum is located in Port Adelaide and offers a huge warehouse showing dozens of different trains, carriages and several operational trains on tracks running around the outside of the museum. They have an annual Thomas the Tank engine event in the July school holidays every year and a rotation of different steam trains running throughout the year. Be prepared to pay an extra $3 per person, per ride on top of admission if you want to go on the trains (the kids sure will!) and it is good fun. Hopefully they’ll consider a package for admission and all rides at a discount but maybe this will be to come in future! Keep an eye out on group buying websites and shop-a-dockets for occasional discounts and offers. There are baby change facilities available, food and beverages for purchase.
South Australian Aviation Museum
66 Lipson Street Port Adelaide SA 5015
(08) 8240 1230
Located just down the road from the National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide, the South Australia Aviation Museum packs a whole lot of hands on fun into one aeroplane hangar. There are planes and helicopters to climb in, interactive displays and plenty of information to read. The museum is a not for profit so all admission and proceeds go back into keeping the space around for many to come ($9 adult admission, children under 16 $4.50). Keep an eye out on group buying websites and shop-a-dockets for occasional discounts and offers. No baby change facilities that we found.
Adelaide Zoo
Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5000
http://www.zoossa.com.au/adelaide-zoo/
(08) 8267 3255
This one is always a winner and a great place to spend a day for kids of all ages. There is plenty to see and do at the zoo with scheduled feedings every day and lots of animals to visit. The kids zoo is located at the rear of the zoo where they can come up close and pat kangaroos, quokkas, goats and deer in shared enclosures. There is a parents room, café, passouts available and plenty of places to sit, rest and space to play!.
Monarto Zoo
3401 Old Princes Highway, Monarto SA 5254
http://www.zoossa.com.au/monarto-zoo/
(08) 8534 4100
An hours’ short drive up the freeway, Monarto zoo is the world’s largest open plains zoo! It boasts a range of animals from all over the world with excellent viewing access on guided buses travelling through the enclosures or walking trails around the zoo. There are baby change facilities available and a café and as well as picnic areas for BYO food and drink.
Humbug Scrub Animal Park
Humbug Scrub Rd, One Tree Hill 5114
http://www.humbugscrubsanctuary.org.au/
(08) 8280 7246
Humbug scrub wildlife sanctuary was established in 1905 and remains operational today. The sanctuary is a home for native endangered and local injured animals who have been taken in for rehabilitation and provide education and preservation. The original cottage where the founder lived over 100 years ago still remains as a museum amongst the hillside animal pens! Facilities are limited – no baby change room and even running water is scarce but good fun to visit and very reasonably priced ($5 adults, $2 children or $10 family). Wouldn’t it be great to see it there for another 100 years!?
Popeye on the Torrens
Elder Park, Adelaide SA 5000
http://www.thepopeye.com.au/index2.html
(08) 8223 5863 or 0400 596 065
The Popeye has been around as a local icon for dozens of years and continues to provide a leisurely meander down the river between 2 docks at Elder Park and the Torrens Wier (opposite Adelaide Zoo old entrance on Frome Road). Boats pick up/drop off at each of the 2 locations every hour or half hour (depending on the day), 365 days a year and travellers can purchase a one way ticket or round trip. Pricing for adults varies between $4 and $12 depending on direction and distance travelled. Prams are welcome and staff are happy to help load and unload as it can be tricky up and down on to the boat. Both docks can be accessed by ramp but no other facilities available at docks.
Maggie Beers Farm Shop
10.30am – 5pm
50 Pheasant Farm Rd Nuriootpa SA 5355
(08) 8562 4477
Maggie Beers Farm Shop is a wonderfully tranquil place to spend some time. The farm house offers light meals and tasting plates to showcase Maggie beers culinary delights and everything from jams to wine and verjuice are available for tasting. The shop can get very busy and so many products on show means there is not a lot of space, so keep the little ones close and once they've delighted their taste buds, head outside to explore and enjoy a picnic! The shop and seating overlook a turquoise blue pond home to many resident turtles all too eager to lap up and crumbs that drop between the deck and are a delight for the kids to spot. Unfortunately there is no fence around the pond but there is a walking track around it and another out into the orchard that all are welcome to explore. Across the car park from the shop are the bird cages where many varieties of pheasant (Maggie's specialty), chickens and geese can be seen and heard. Just a short drive out of Nuriootpa with easy parking and plenty to see it’s must do SA icon and definitely something the little ones will enjoy. Make sure you stick around for the daily 2pm cooking demonstration!
Whistler Wines
Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga SA 5355
(08) 8562 4942
http://www.whistlerwines.com.au/
Whistler Wines provides a great cellar door and space for the family in the Barossa. Well catered for kids, they have a basket of toys inside the cellar door and even more out on the porch that the little ones are welcome to help themselves to while you look around or enjoy a tasting! There are mapped walks that you can take at your own pace around the property and winery dam but what the kids will love most is the kangaroo enclosure, in which you can walk around and mingle with the animals! There are other animal sculptures tucked away around the cellar door to spot and this is a place you’ll all happily spend a while.
Adelaide Tram Museum
St Kilda Road
(08) 8280 8188
http://www.trammuseumadelaide.com.au/
Much to many people’s surprise, Adelaide once had a vast tram network covering the city and surrounding suburbs! A group of enthusiasts have preserved the story and a good range of complete trams at the Adelaide Tram Museum, just up the road from St Kilda Playground. Admission ($10 adults, $7 kids over 4) gets you access to stay as long as you like and check out the 3 large sheds containing a variety of tram cars, trams and history as well as UNLIMITED tram rides between the museum and St Kilda Playground (Trams run every ½ hour)! Most of the trams are open to be looked in and walked through which will keep the little ones amply entertained. The Museum is open from 12 noon to 5pm on Sundays and public holidays and some Wednesdays in school holidays (check the website of call for more details on opening hours). Drinks available to purchase and seating in the entry building but not a lot of facilities otherwise..
