If you have a sports mad kid in your house, then the Adelaide Oval Interactive Kids Trail is a must-do!
This thrilling behind-the-scenes tour immerses participants in the history and glory of one of the most iconic sporting facilities in Australia, Adelaide Oval.
Review by Jo Parkinson
Beginning at the Southern entrance of the oval, the 90-minute interactive tour is led by a knowledgeable guide who takes the group on one full lap of the oval, stopping at areas of interest while keeping visitors entertained and informed with fun facts and stories along the way.
Our first stop was the historic scoreboard. First built in 1911, this heritage-listed masterpiece has barely changed over the years and is still in use today. We learn about how to read the information on it and the techniques used to change the scores and names. The most exciting part though? Getting up inside it! It was super special to be able to have a look inside one of Adelaide’s most iconic sporting structures and see exactly how it works.
A helpful hint: make sure the kids pay attention to the information given at the start, because if they answer questions correctly, they might get a turn at changing the score later on!
Next up, we moved to a lawned area, and the kids had the chance to run around and practice their kicking and marking skills. They loved the opportunity to get their bodies moving and it provided a fun interval after standing quietly inside the scoreboard.
Cricket fans will go mad for the next part of the tour, The Sheffield Shield Room. This is where historic memorabilia and trophies are kept, along with loads of information about the history of South Australian Cricket. The group is told the interesting story of how the Sheffield Shield came about. This is also the time to admire photos, bats, trophies, old blazers and check out the names of some of the greatest cricketers on the Honour Rolls for Test Centuries for Australia and Best Test Bowling in an innings at Adelaide Oval.
The next part of the tour was our favourite part. Imagine the excitement and adrenaline walking out of the tunnel onto the oval before the game, while thousands of fans are cheering… well, you get to do just that! (minus the real-life fans!) Our guide got us ready in the tunnel, pushed a magic button to start the cheering and out we went!
Kids (and adults!) will go wild for this, and it will be an experience they will never forget. It feels surreal to stand on the grass and look up at the stadium from that perspective. You can sit on the benches and take it all in, and don’t forget to take a quick photo from that side of the fence.
Budding sports stars will enjoy the press conference room. Here, kids get the opportunity to take to the mic in a mock interview and answer questions from the rest of the group. It was great for the kids to see what it would be like for the real sports stars, and entertaining hearing some of their answers!
As the tour neared its end, we were able to see another incredible view of the stadium, from where the print and media journalists sit. This room can fit 120 journalists who come from all around the world. The panoramic windows open right up, so they can still experience the atmosphere. We were also informed that after a music concert, the entire oval of grass is ripped up and replaced at a cost of $1.4 million dollars!
Our tour came to an end with a short movie played on a big screen, showing some of the amazing highlights from Adelaide Oval over the years including AFL, cricket and music concerts. Kids can also have a look at an interactive model of what goes on beneath the grass as well as check out a detailed 3D printed image of the stadium. As a bonus, each child chooses a small cricket ball or football and an activity booklet as a keepsake from the tour.
We highly recommend the Adelaide Oval Kids Trail for sport loving children aged 5-15. It would make a great birthday or Christmas gift, or a fun activity to get them out of the house in the school holidays. It truly is an unforgettable experience!
Things to consider:
- There are several sets of stairs to climb, so those with prams or mobility issues may have to use alternative routes.
- The tour moves along quite quickly, so make sure you have a toilet stop prior to commencement as there isn’t any time during the tour.
- Remember a drink bottle, all that walking can make you thirsty! There is a spot to fill up along the way.
- If the weather forecast is above 35 degrees, you won’t be able to go inside the scoreboard.
- This tour is designed for kids aged 5-15 years with an accompanying adult. Children under 5 are free of charge.
Discover how to book your Adelaide Oval Stadium Tours 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.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post. The Play & Go team review via media accreditation and when kindly invited.
Image Source: Play and Go Adelaide
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