Flinders Uni’s ‘SpringFest’, plus walking trails – Review, October 2019
The southern suburbs uni recently opened its doors for a family-friendly event. But, as we discovered, the campus has even more to offer, including scenic walking trails.
by Carla Caruso
It’s been a while since I’ve been a uni student (scarily, almost two decades), so I haven’t had many excuses to wander around a campus … until recently.
Flinders University held its annual family event, SpringFest, at its main Bedford Park campus on October 19, and I discovered a few things.
Firstly, there are a lot of fab walking trails around the uni for those who live nearby. And, secondly, today’s students have it a lot better than I did! There are so many cool eateries on-site, from Subway to Kutchi Deli Parwana and Mr Wuhu Sushi. The uni’s Café Alere was even just named the nation’s best café, taking out the top dining gong at the 2019 Restaurant & Catering Awards. The nation’s! Food trucks also drop by ‘on the regular’.
Then there’s the specky redeveloped Plaza and Student Hub – all glass and steel and tech wizardry (check out some pics here) – plus the fact that the site’s close to the uber-modern Tonsley Innovation District. (The latter has fortnightly walking tours; bookings essential.)
But back to SpringFest… The university partnered with Nature Play SA to put together a packed program of free activities and experiences. There were stage shows, wildlife displays, geocaching, ‘ask a paleontologist’ sessions, SA Museum dig pits, and more. There was even a big-screen multimedia lounge, screening Inside Out and Zootopia, for those who wanted to rest their feet. ‘Spring fun, education and entertainment’ was, indeed, the name of the game. Parking was free too.
While there, I also just enjoyed getting back to nature with my boys, including taking in the sea views from the lofty height, wandering around the lake (known for its friendly ducks), and checking out the recently upgraded footbridge. There was so much flora, fauna and Instagrammable scenery to experience while strolling about.
Shared pedestrian and bike paths lead onto the campus, and there are also popular walking trails on-site. (Check out more on that here.) I could have hung out on campus all day; it’s enough to make me want to become a student again.
Hey, if Kim Kardashian can go back to hitting the books…
What we love about wandering around campus
- The amazing flora, fauna and scenery, right on our doorstep.
- The specky architecture.
- Did we mention the awe-inspiring sea views and duck-friendly lake?
- The plethora of eateries and facilities, open during student hours.
Things to consider
- Parking isn’t usually free – when SpringFest isn’t on, you need to download a CellOPark smartphone app to park on-site.
- The terrain can be quite hilly, so littlies and those pushing a pram may tire.
- Student hours can be super-busy, and parking difficult.
- You could get a tad lost without a campus map – the site sprawls!
Coffee and food options nearby
Flinders University has a jaw-dropping amount of eateries, as per this list.
Location:
Click here for all the Best Playgrounds for Toddlers
See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide here.
For more information on the event, please visit the website here.
What: Flinders University SpringFest, plus its walking trails
When: SpringFest (October 19) and its walking trails (anytime!)
Where: Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
Who: Everyone, including nature lovers, families, and fitness enthusiasts!
All photos by Carla Caruso for Play & Go Adelaide
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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