25 Things to do in Adelaide during Autumn by Nature Play SA
March, April and May usually have warm days and cool nights, so it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the stunning colours nature provides us with, along with some glorious weather too.
The team at Nature Play SA have put together a list of 25 family friendly ideas and activities to do throughout Autumn.
Most of the ideas below are completely free, and just click on the links for some Play & Go recommendations on places to go. There are things to do in the backyard or your local park and some great day trip options only a short drive away. Plan some outdoor activities during Easter and the April school holidays or simply make the most of family time on the weekends.
25 Things to do in Autumn
1/ Collect coloured autumn leaves and thread them on string to make a necklace, garland or decoration.
2/ Visit a pine forest and look for weird and wonderful fungi as it grows on old stumps, trees and from the ground.
3/ Go for a neighbourhood walk in the soft autumn rain. Take in the smells, and examine what lichen and moss have come to life on tree trunks.
4/ Wander through a Botanic Garden and take time to learn about the plants or ask questions about their size, age, or where they may have come from, like Wittunga Botanic Garden (pictured below) or Mount Lofty Botanic Garden.
5/ Learn who your local Aboriginal group is and what plants, traditions or places are special in Autumn.
6/ Head to a National Park or caravan park and spend a few days camping – toast marshmallows, make damper and share stories around a campfire (check local fire ban guidelines). See our Melrose review here for a fun family camping trip.
7/ Autumn is the perfect time to start a nature journal – sketch or paint fallen leaves, fungi or other Autumn finds.
8/ Find a place to sit in the warm autumn sunshine and read poetry, a storybook or write something of your own.
9/ Visit your local orchard and pick seasonal fruit such as apples and figs – such as Glen Ewin Estate (image below), @Lenswood or Harrisville Orchards.
10/ Choose a new hike in a National Park that you’ve never visited – see Walking SA’s 50 Great Walks and Hikes for Kids & Families in South Australia here.
11/ Head to the coast and watch the waves crash or, if it’s calm, search the shoreline for washed up treasure – visit Port Elliot or Victor Harbor
12/ Go on a backyard creature hunt – peek under rocks and logs for slaters, earwigs and millipedes. Examine leaves and other plants for native bees, caterpillars and ants.
13/ Make a ‘campsite’ in your backyard with a cubby (try and make it waterproof) and pretend campfire
14/ Start a nature collection of rocks, feathers, leaves and other unique things (store them in a box, tray, container or on a nature table).
15/ Prepare a veggie patch in the backyard ready to plant seeds/seedlings such as spinach, lettuce, beetroot, and carrots.
16/ Spend a sunny autumn afternoon painting or drawing outside – think of what makes autumn different from the other seasons.
17/ Experiment with textures – crush autumn leaves and herbs, mix mud, break up bark and pick backyard flowers – create something beautiful.
18/ Create a living tepee using sticks or bamboo fastened together and plant a native or edible climber such as peas or beans.
19/ With gloves, spend a morning picking up rubbish along your local beach or park (avoid anything sharp).
20/ Find a place with trees that you can wander through, climb and search for signs of life such as tree hollows and scratches from koalas or possums – such as Morialta Conservation Park.
21/ Venture to trails that meander along coastal cliffs, take in the views, breathe the wild air and fill your lungs with the salty smell of the ocean – like a visit to Granite Island,
22/ Explore a creek for signs of tadpoles, yabbies or float leaves or sticks downstream. Check out our creeks to explore here.
23/ Cook together with seasonal produce such as pumpkins, figs, apples and leafy greens.
24/ After the rain has fallen head to a local waterfall and notice the changes that are happening – like at Waterfall Gully.
25/ Go on a walk in your backyard, neighbourhood or National Park and photograph anything that interests you. Use the photos to make a collage or print to put into a nature journal.
Have fun during Autumn! Let us know about any other things you like to do by commenting below.
You can download the list from Nature Play SA here.
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
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