Adelaide School Holiday Guide | Top Things to do with Kids During the Holidays
Summer School Holiday Guide for Kids in South Australia
Find the best activities, events and experiences for kids and families during the summer school holidays in our Adelaide School Holiday Guide. Go on an exciting family adventure, get creative at a school holiday program or try a new sport. This is your handy guide to keeping the kids busy and having some family fun during the school holidays.
South Australian Term 4 School Holidays: Saturday 12 December 2026 – Tuesday 26 January 2027
Check out our Ultimate Adelaide School Holiday Guide below, featuring some of the most popular, and some not-so-well-known activities on offer. Find workshops, programs, fun things to do, shows to see, and places to visit around Adelaide.
Most programs are open to school-age children 5 years and older but there are some cater for younger kids too. Remember to book in early if your child is interested in participating as sessions can fill quickly.
When making a booking be sure to tell them you heard about them through Play & Go!
We’re constantly adding lots of kids’ activities, programs and events to our guide, so keep checking back for more fun school holiday ideas!
ADELAIDE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN
For some outdoor school holiday inspiration check out these places around Adelaide for endless family fun. There’s something for everyone – active adventures, climbing fun, sports to play and much more!
NOVA Giant Ferris Wheel | Glenelg | Open Daily Oct – May
ADELAIDE SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS
There are some fabulous school holiday programs and workshops on offer throughout December and January for kids in Adelaide. They can develop their skills or learn new things, and have fun at the same time. These are great for kids to do with family friends or friends from school, or go along and meet some new ones.
VACSWIM SA | Summer Holiday Programs – Enrolments Now Open | Dec 2026/Jan 2027
ADELAIDE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – INDOOR FAMILY FUN
For loads of ideas for school holiday indoor family fun around Adelaide, check out all these fabulous options below. There’s something for every age group – play spaces to discover, museums to explore, shopping centres to roam and much more!
We also have an extensive list of individual posts listing special events, entertainment, shows and much more in our SUMMER 2026/27 School Holidays category.
FREE THINGS TO DO & SEE DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Looking for FREE things to do during the school holidays? You don’t have to spend money every day to keep the kids entertained. Pack some snacks or a picnic and head out for the day – there are plenty of great places around Adelaide to explore for free.
Here’s some ideas to get you started:
♥ Head to the beach – take buckets and spades, explore the rock pools, walk along a jetty or simply let the kids run around on the sand. See our guide to the best beaches around Adelaide
♥ Enjoy fun in the sun at the pool – drag your floaties out of the garage and meet your friends at your local pool. See our guide to Adelaide’s outdoor pools here
♥ Take in the views along a scenic coastal walk. We can recommend the Coastal Walkway Bridges at Hallett Cove or walking the Witton Bluff Base Trail at Noarlunga
♥ Visit the Australian Space Discovery Centre – head into the city for free space-themed school holiday activities and explore the Discovery Centre’s interactive displays while you’re there. Bookings are required for some sessions. See the school holiday program
♥ Follow the Storybook Trail at Carrick Hill – wander through the beautiful grounds and discover play spaces inspired by classic children’s stories, including The Magic Faraway Tree, Charlotte’s Web and The Hobbit. Explore the Carrick Hill Storybook Trail
♥ See the Rhododendron Gully at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden – spring is one of the best times to visit, with rhododendrons and azaleas bringing plenty of colour to the garden. Pack a picnic and explore some of the walking trails while you’re there. See our Mount Lofty Botanic Garden guide
♥ Walk to First Falls at Morialta – this family-friendly 1.6km return walk is particularly beautiful in spring when there’s plenty of water around. The wide trail to the falls is also suitable for prams. See our Morialta First Falls review. Stop for a play at Morialta Nature Playground.
♥ Spend a few hours at St Kilda Adventure Playground – tackle the giant slides, flying foxes, castle, pirate ship, wooden forts and more at one of Adelaide’s most iconic free adventure playgrounds. See our St Kilda Adventure Playground review
♥ Walk through the St Kilda mangroves – follow the boardwalk through the mangrove forest and tidal salt marshes to the lookout over Barker Inlet. It’s an easy extra adventure to add to a St Kilda playground day. See our St Kilda Mangrove Trail review
♥ Visit the State Library – explore the spectacular Mortlock Wing, check out the exhibitions and take younger children into the colourful Little Library for books, games and imaginative play. See our review of Little Library and Push Pop Pull Exhibition
♥ Drop into the Art Gallery of South Australia – general admission is free, and families can visit The Studio for free hands-on art activities inspired by the Gallery’s collection. Find out what’s on at the Art Gallery of SA here
♥ Explore MOD. – a great free option for older kids and teenagers, with interactive exhibitions exploring science, technology and ideas about the future. Read our review here
♥ Choose a playground you’ve never visited before – make it a challenge to try somewhere completely new these holidays, whether it’s a huge adventure playground, nature playspace or one by the beach. See our guide to Adelaide’s top playgrounds
♥ Pack a picnic and go for a family hike – waterfalls, bush trails, coastal walks and easy family-friendly tracks are all within reach of Adelaide. See 50 Great Walks & Hikes for Families
And if you feel like heading a little further from home, make a day of it and explore the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley or Fleurieu Peninsula – pack your own lunch, choose a playground, walking trail or beach and you’ve got an easy low-cost family day out.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FREE SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS
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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