Adelaide Hills - The Best Playgrounds and Things to do

Adelaide Playgrounds Near Coffee

Name a better combo than a ripping playground and a strong cup of coffee at a near by cafe. There is none. Sitting back with a quality coffee while the kids play at a fabulous playground, allowing you a moment to close your eyes and just recharge, is one of parenting’s great pleasures (That and getting kicked in the ribs at 3am by a restless toddler….isn’t that just so fun!) With that in mind coffee lovers, we have scoured our...

Best “Themed” Playgrounds in Adelaide

Adelaide is home to some amazing playgrounds, but sometimes, your kids may have a really intense love for a very specific theme. Most kids do at some point, whether it be dinosaurs, pirates, trains or just wanting to run around and get so damn dirty that you think you may get arrested for stealing sand. Whatever your kid is into, we have scoured the archives and compiled a list of some of Adelaide’s Best Themed Playgrounds for you to...

Mount Lofty Family Friendly Hike

Lets just be straight up here. Climbing Mt Lofty isn’t fun. It may have been sort of fun when you were 20, but now that you are old enough to injure yourself if you sneeze too hard, we need family orientated fitness that isn’t going to end up with some sort of surgery. Thankfully Mt Lofty-Lite is here, so you can get the fancy insta photo at the top with only half the exercise! Brilliant! Steub Trail (named after the Cleland...

Belair Adventure Playground

Find it at: Belair National Park, SA ** UPDATE JULY 2025 | A popular section of this playground in the park will be updated in the second half of 2025, with construction expecting to commence in October ** Get ready for a brand new playground adventure! The old metal-framed play equipment is making way for a fresh, fun-filled upgrade that’s all about better play, safer fun, and less maintenance. Think three epic slides, a climbing...

Archibald Reserve Playground Valley View

Find it at: Renfrew Drive, Hawthorndene Archibald Reserve is a hidden gem with plenty to offer kids of all ages. This upgraded playground sits within a quiet park surrounded by open space and sporting facilities. Key Features: Multi-level play structure with climbing walls and slides Flying fox Swings including an accessible seat Half basketball court and netball hoop nearby Small bike track adjacent to playground This reserve is ideal for...

Lobethal Bushland Park

Find it at: Kenton Valley Rd, Lobethal We love that this beautiful spot in the Adelaide Hills boasts some smaller equipment and sensory play for the little crew, plus of course the huge climbing tower and tube slide for the big kids. We raced down for a visit shortly after it opened in March 2022 and we have to say, it is an incredible facility but there are definitely a few things to look out for. Firstly, lets address the elephant in the...

Tanunda Recreation Park and Playground

Find it at: Bilyara Rd, Tanunda Tanunda Recreation Park received an upgrade with an inclusive playground in 2022 and it is fabulous! Features of the Inclusive Playground include a brilliant double flying fox which includes a seated option which is perfect for the little ones to be included. This was ideal for us as we raced the little kids vs the older kids to determine the family flying fox champion! You will also find in-ground trampolines,...

Oaktree Adventure Playground

Find it at: Minda Farm Reserve. Between Symon Crescent and Gartrell Boulevard Craigburn Farm Oak Tree Adventure Playground at Blackwood Park is part of a larger X-Terrain Park that includes an incredible running/walking/riding trail, creek, lake and the epic Blackwood Treetop Playground There are fitness circuits and exercise stations around the trail, but it’s nice just to relax in the beautiful landscape too! My kids were very excited...

Byethorne Park Nairne

Find it at: Woodside Road, Nairne yethorne Park is a beautiful Adelaide Hills playground located on Woodside Road in Nairne AND it’s had a great little upgrade in 2021 that includes a nature play area and a beautiful great big grassy kick around area. The nature play elements blend beautifully with the existing equipment that includes a climbing spiders web, flying fox, drums, bouncers and lots of interesting play equipment for the kids...

Woorabinda Bushland Reserve Playground, Stirling

Find it at: Woorabinda Dr, Stirling Just a small distance from the centre of Stirling is Woorabinda Lake, part of Woorabinda Bushland Reserves – a 34 hectare park with approximately 4 km of walking trails. Loved and appreciated by locals and those in the know, Woorabinda is a magical place to visit. Updated in 2024 with fabulous new boardwalks on the western side of the lake, perfect for prams and accessibility devices (which include raised...

Bridgewater Mill Playground

Find it at: Mount Barker Rd, Bridgewater This stunning playground is just about everything we love about a day out in our beautiful Adelaide Hills. Coffee, stunning scenery and a fab playground for all ages. Located just below the Bridgewater Mill, the playground is fenced along the road and edges but NOT on the creek bed, which in my opinion is great because it allows kids to take there shoes off and go for a good explore in the creek bed....

Balhannah Playground

Find it at: Onkaparinga Valley Road, Balhannah Balhannah Playground is located on Onkaparinga Valley Road, just outside of the main town. Look left as you go past the shops and you can’t miss it. Situated perfectly between the Balhannah Oval, Tennis Courts and BMX track, it’s the kind of spot you can bring the whole family to no matter what the ages. If you’re after a birthday party location a bit different to the standard...

Charleston Playground

Find it at: Newman Road, Charleston Adelaide Hills Council have put the finishing touches on this fabulous new playspace at gorgeous Charleston. Coming in at about $180 grand, this has plenty to offer all of your kids as they stop off to stretch the legs during your Sunday road trip. We love the 3 on 3 basketball court (plus adjacent tennis courts if that takes your fancy) as well as the little scooter track that travels around the playground....

Aurora Park Playground, Strathalbyn

Find it at: Elysium Boulevard, Strathalbyn A $2 million leading-edge playground opened in 2024, in the heart of Strathalbyn development, Aurora. The new playground, Aurora Park, is a great addition for families in the $180 million land development that will house more than 300 families when complete. Aurora Park covers more than 5400sqm with an adventure playground and spaces for ball sports, a picnic lawn and native garden with loop track for...

Alec Johnson Park Playground, Hahndorf

Find it at: Main St, Hahndorf Hahndorf is one of the best day trip locations in our fabulous state. Seriously nothing better than a walk along Main Street, popping into the little shops for a treat or an ice cream, then washing it all down with a litre of beer from a stein and a few kilos of meat (Hahndorf Inn you have my heart….but I digress) There has always been a couple of small playgrounds in Hahndorf but the recent...

Woodside Playground

Find it at: Main St, Woodside If you’re looking for a nice playground for school aged kids in the Adelaide Hills, with full facilities then this might be it! Woodside Playground is located right on the Main Street next to the Woodside Oval and sports complex. It has all the usual playground equipment – slides, a small ‘flying fox’, climbing frames and swings all within a fully fenced play area. In addition, it’s...

A. L. Vincent Playground Bridgewater

Find it at: Corner of Osterley and Oak Avenues, Bridgewater AL Vincent Playground in Vincent Reserve, Bridgewater is one of those hidden local gems that most people would never know about unless you lived nearby, but it’s a superb spot with a reasonable range of play equipment for toddlers to older kids. It’s well shaded by big gum trees for plenty of shelter on sunny days, fully fenced and bark chipped around all equipment for...

Hawthorndene Apex Park Playground

Find it at: Watahuna Avenue, Hawthorndene This park is a beautiful leafy, shady spot and great for kids of all ages really. Heaps of space to spread out, play ball games and run around AND it’s fully fenced! Yahoo! The playground features areas for the little people, and the bigger kids with swings, slides, firemans pole, monkey bars, flying fox, see saw and a cute little pretend ‘shop’ area where the kids made pretend...

The Glebe Playground, Littlehampton

Find it at: Princes Highway, Littlehampton Completed in 2024 and built to service new families moving into nearby developments, The Glebe is a beautiful open space with a minimalist nature playground, magnificent climbing tree, sand play and bike track. Its a dog exercise area too, so prepare for a number of dogs off lead, however the playground itself is free from dogs and is fully fenced. Plenty of nature, plenty of quiet and a lot of open...

Karoonda Playground

Find it at: Railway Terrace, Karoonda Part of the Mallee Playground Trail (A ripping local initiative linking 3 playgrounds at Karoonda, Wynarka and Wanbi), the space themed Karoonda Playground is an absolutely awesome attraction for the region, making it a must stop for Adelaide families out on a road trip. The star attraction is of course the 3-storey high tower, complete with double tube slide and observation deck area. The playground is...

Protea Reserve Playground, Crafers

Find it at: Protea Cres, Crafers One of our favourite little Adelaide Hills playgrounds has had an upgrade! The Protea Reserve Playground is hidden away at the end of Lesley Crescent in Crafers. It’s by no means the biggest park in Adelaide BUT it’s in such a gorgeous quiet location that it’s well worth a visit. ESPECIALLY in Autumn to see all the gorgeous trees in all their different colours. New equipment includes a new...

Keith Stephenson Park Playground, Mt Barker

Find it at: Adelaide Road, Mount Barker Keith Stephenson Park had been upgraded and re-opened in December 2023! Keith Stephenson Park is the premier district reserve for the Council area. It hosts major events such as carols by candlelight and is a meeting place for families across the district. It is located on the Laratinga Trail, a shared use path that is the spine of the open space network and links as far as Newnham Estate and the Summit...

Anembo Park Playground, Mt Barker

Find it at: North Terrace, Mt Barker If you’re looking for somewhere with space……LOTS of space…….Anembo Park is your answer. Anembo Park is located between Mount Barker and Littlehampton just after the Hahndorf turn off and after a recent upgrade this place is awesome! The park spans over 29 acres and include one fully fenced softball diamond, two Soccer ovals, a hockey pitch, six tennis courts you can hire, BMX...

Willunga BMX and Skate Park

Find it at: 2 Railway Terrace, Willunga Willunga Skatepark. A small, quiet and shady park. Younger kids would be happy here. Great spot to improve basic skills. Beginner to intermediate level street style skate park. The park includes a half pipe, pyramids, ledges and hips. There’s also a dirt BMX track with jumps.

Kersbrook Playground

Find it at: Glover St, Kersbrook Located behind the football oval, this fantastic facility opened in April 2021 and is yet another beautiful playground that has opened in the Adelaide Hills in 2021 (we really are building a great Hills Playground trail!). There are no toilets here that we could see, unless they were hidden behind the club rooms. The spacious playspace includes a huge flying fox, a cool sand play area, lots of nature play...