Autumn is pretty much the perfect season. It’s still warm enough to be out & about & sometimes still warm enough to visit all of the pools & water play spots we talked about in our Summer In Adelaide post! But as the leaves change colour, it does start to cool down which makes it the perfect time for some family adventures! Have a look at the list below & start planning your Autumn in Adelaide days out!

Visit Mt Lofty Botanic Garden
Instagram feeds are full of Mt Lofty in Autumn, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s an ocean of colour. Red, Yellow, Green, Brown, Purple. You’d be hard up trying to find a better spot for Autumn selfies than Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens! See what we love about it.

Spend the day in Stirling
It’s just so pretty! Stirling definitely deserves a stop during a day out in the Adelaide Hills.
And it’s also where you’ll find what we think is the best Autumn view playground in Adelaide…Stirling Steamroller Park. It’s fenced, it has a train you can climb on, it’s great for little ones and older kids and there’s multiple coffee options within walking distance. Winner winner Autumn dinner.

Go for a Bike Ride
Autumn is a great time to hit the tracks and take the family on a bike ride. Use our Bike track, trails and path guide to find a spot near you or pack up the car and head out on a real adventure somewhere you’ve never been. Don’t forget the helmets!

Ghost Mushrooms
Forestry SA opens Ghost Mushroom Lane in Mt Gambier to visitors during May and June every year, and you’ll need to purchase an access pass to visit. We’ve also seen them in Nangawooka Flora Reserve near Victor Harbor or Para Wirra Conservation Park if a drive to Mt Gambier is a bit far.
Image credit: James Sexton

Monarto Safari Park
Monarto is best when it’s not too hot & not too cold (just like Goldilock’s & her porridge!). Which makes Autumn the perfect time to head out of town & see some animals up close, learn about their conservation efforts or book a close encounter such as giraffe feeding or the Lions 360 experience. They just opened their new Visitor Centre which is well worth a visit! Read all about Monarto here.

Find a Skate Park
If your child got a new skateboard, bike or scooter for Christmas & it’s been too hot over summer to use it, NOW IS THE TIME! We are spoilt for choice with skate parks in Adelaide & many of them are next to great playgrounds so it’s a lovely Autumn day out for the whole family. Click here to find one near you.

Take a Drive to Hahndorf
Another Adelaide Hills gem. Take a stroll down the main street of Hahndorf and you can enjoy the Autumn colours, do a spot of shopping, pop into the Hahndorf Fairy Garden and stop for lunch at one of the many great cafes in the area. (or a sneaky beverage at the pub!). End the day with a play at the Alec Johnson Playground.

Go to a Family- Friendly Winery
Autumn is a great time to spend at a winery – vintage is usually wrapping up, the vines turn all kinds of beautiful colours, plus the weather cooling off is a great excuse for us adults to have a glass of wine while the kids play! We are lucky to have so many kid friendly wineries & cellar doors across SA. We love Lazy Ballerina, Barristers Block & McCarthys Orchard to name a few!

Westival
A new community festival is coming to western Adelaide in April with a fun-filled program of free family entertainment over 2 weekends. Get amongst the foodie fun, kids entertainment & outdoor cinema. Check out the program.

Bridgewater Playground
Our 2nd choice for the prettiest Autumn playground would be Bridgewater. The trees have turned a beautiful shade of yellow and the playground itself is always a winner with our kids. It has a flying fox! Do I need to say more? Find out what we love about it.

Go to the Adelaide Fringe
Mad March mean Adelaide Fringe time! There are so many kids shows to choose from or quirky venues to visit. Stay in the city or head regional – the choice is yours! Find our Kids Fringe Picks here.

Carrick Hill
If you want to picnic among the Autumn leaves you can’t go past Carrick Hill. The gardens are free to roam and don’t forget to check out the Storybook Trail while you’re there. It’s actually worth visiting Carrick Hill in each season to see how the gardens change!

Autumn Craft
Get creative! Don’t forget to bring home a little bag of Autumn leaves from wherever you visit so you can get stuck into one of our Autumn craft ideas.

Get amongst NATURE
Whether you want a nature playground, a bushwalk, a beach to explore or some bike trails, you’ll find them all in our Nature Play category. How many can you get through before the last Autumn leaf falls?