Things to do with kids in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs
At Cobbler Creek, the Kites and Kestrels playground has climbing towers built like the nests of birds of prey, with a flying fox and a bike pump track beside them. Out at St Kilda, kids can ride old trams from around the country at the Tramway Museum, and there's a big adventure playground just down the road.
In the hills, emus wander through the picnic grounds at Para Wirra and will try to steal your lunch, so keep it close. The short walk around the lake is good for little legs. At Anstey Hill, look for kangaroos and koalas on the wide tracks to an old nursery ruin.
Kids who love machines have two good choices. On Sundays, the Military Vehicle Museum at Edinburgh shows tanks and trucks, and up to three kids come free with an adult. At Parafield, volunteers at the Classic Jet Fighter Museum are happy to talk while they rebuild old planes.
64 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Elizabeth. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
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Top things to do in Adelaide's North
Ride a vintage tram at St Kilda
The Tramway Museum lets visitors ride historic trams from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Ballarat. It is on St Kilda Road, about 45 minutes' drive north of the city. The St Kilda Adventure Playground is about 1.5 km down the road.
about 15 min
Museum · Adelaide Tramway Museum
Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Climb the raptor nests at Cobbler Creek
The Kites and Kestrels adventure playground in Cobbler Creek Recreation Park has climbing towers built like raptors' nests, sandpits and a flying fox. Barbecues, picnic shelters, toilets and a bike pump track sit beside it. The main gate at Bridge and Smith Roads, Salisbury East, opens daily from 6.30am.
about 10 min
Walk · Cobbler Creek Recreation Park
Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep your lunch from the Para Wirra emus
Emus wander through Para Wirra's picnic grounds and will try to steal food, so keep lunches close and don't feed them. The short Lake Discovery Walk circles the lake, with waterbirds and bush birds along the way. Swimming in the lake is unsafe because of submerged objects.
about 20 min
Walk · Para Wirra Lake Discovery Walk
Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0
See the tanks at the Military Vehicle Museum
Volunteers show off their military vehicles in a group of WW2-era buildings at Edinburgh Parks. The museum opens every Sunday, 10am to 4pm, unless the forecast is over 38 degrees. Adults pay $10, and up to three children under 15 come free with an adult.
about 5 min
Museum · National Military Vehicle Museum
Photo: Starfirefv603, CC BY-SA 3.0
Look for koalas at Anstey Hill
Western grey kangaroos and koalas live in Anstey Hill Recreation Park, about 16km north-east of Adelaide. The popular Yellow-tail Loop follows wide fire tracks to the ruins of Newman's Nursery, one of the area's first commercial nurseries. Visit in spring, when some of the nursery's original plantings flower.
about 20 min
Walk · Anstey Hill Recreation Park
Photo: Hterrin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Step inside Gawler's 1860 telegraph station
Gawler's local history fills this two-storey stone building, first used as a telegraph office in 1861. It opens Tuesday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm, but stays shut on days over 35 degrees. Children get in free with an adult.
about 20 min
Museum · Gawler Old Telegraph Museum-National Trust
Photo: User:Orderinchaos, CC BY-SA 3.0
See a Corsair rebuilt at Parafield
Volunteers restore old aircraft at the Classic Jets Fighter Museum in Hangar 107, Parafield Airport, and visitors can talk to them as they work. Their F4U-1 Corsair was recovered from a lagoon in Vanuatu after a 1944 forced landing. The hangar opens Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.
about 10 min
Museum · Classic Jet Fighter Museum
Photo: Alec Wilson from Khon Kaen, Thailand, CC BY-SA 2.0
Watch the blacksmith at Highercombe
The 1854 Highercombe Hotel is now the Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum. It opens on the third Sunday of each month, 11am to 4pm, with outdoor pavilions and a working blacksmith. It closes over December and January, and children get in free.
about 20 min
Museum · Old Highercombe Hotel And Folk Museum National Trust
Photo: South Australian History Network, CC0
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Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.