Righto Adelaide families, fuel up the car and pack all of the snacks because some days simply call for a little South Australian road trip into our regions to see some BIG THINGS with the kids! From Hay bales to suspension bridges, silo art to jaw dropping look outs, here’s a fun list to tick off with the kids of some of the best landmarks you can visit around our great city and state. Use our handy interactive playground map along the way and you are bound to have a fantastic adventure.
Whispering Wall
Less than an hours drive from Adelaide towards Williamstonw in the Barossa Valley, the kids will be fascinated with this place. Even lazy kids (mine) will love it because there is no significant hike or walk attached, you don’t need to read any thing and it will blow their little minds when they can hear each other whispering from one end of the wall all the way to to the other, spanning over 140 metres. It’s an impressive place and the damn and surrounds are truly unique. Throw in a picnic lunch stop at the Angaston Adventure Station and your day is sorted. What a great FREE landmark attraction.
Larry The Big Lobster
It is impossible to miss Larry, standing 17 meters high near the entrance to the town of Kingston in the states South East. This landmark attraction is about a three and a half hour drive from Adelaide, so throw it on your Robe / Kingstone Limestone Coast itinerary. It would be criminal not to stop the car and take a photo. Please keep the kids close as this is literally on the road side with out a fence (yeah WTF?) Also home to Janet’s Takeaway for lunch and dinner – although closed the last couple of times we have driven past. The Lobster is free to visit, stand under and photograph.
Water Tower Mural Trail
Following the 2019 bushfires, a beautiful trail of water tower / water tank mural art was born. Follow the 62-kilometre self-drive trail from Port Vincent to Stansbury, then onto Yorketown, before heading back to the coast to Edithburgh & Coobowie on the Yorke Peninsula to enjoy the magnificence of these regional South Australian art works.
The Sugarloaf
Located in the Hallett Cove Conservation Park, half an hour south of Adelaide City on our beautiful coastline. This area is well known for its bushwalks, wildlife and fascinating geological history. Fondly named ‘The Sugarloaf’ as the appearance resembles a mound of sugar, piled up for export. This site gives evidence of an Australian Ice Age, some 280 million years ago. and also has a rich first nations history.
Little Blue Lake
Sure Mt Gambiers Blue Lake is spectacular, but SNORE if you are a kid right? So check out Little Blue Lake and take a swim in in the clear volcanic sinkhole. The lake is seiously deep, so competent swimmers only please, or just pop by to watch others swim jump and dive! Its fascinating and we are all about places for a dip!
St Peter’s Cathedral
I mean we live in the City of Churches right, but how many of us have actually stepped inside some of the biggest and most beautiful houses of the big guy? It’s free to pop in here for a look or there are guided tours mid week. Usually opened daily from 10.30am – 3,30pm – unless its not. What can we say. He works in mysterious ways? Please ensure your kids understand that they need to be respectful and quiet in places of prayer and worship. Find St Peters Cathedral at 27 King William Road North Adelaide, with free and ticketed street parking nearby.
Climb the Port Adelaide Lighthouse
Did you know that you can climb the big red lighthouse at Port Adelaide. Yep. It will cost you something like a gold coin donation per person, or is included in the ticket price of the nearby Maritime Museum. Both excellent activities. The Port Adelaide Lighthouse now stands at the end of commercial road, Port Adelaide, as an exhibit of the South Australian Maritime Museum. This is, however, after almost 120 years serving South Australia’s coastlines. It was decommissioned in 1985 and acquired by the South Australian Maritime Museum, restored and reassembled on its present site on Black Diamond Square. Allow about twenty minutes to climb the narrow steep spiral stairs, say ahhhhhhh to all of the views at the top and return.
The Bunyip
If you find yourself longing for a trip to Murray Bridge, Sturt Reserve is brilliant and has had a bazillion* bucks spent on it in recent years. Adjacent the play space you’ll find the hideous mythical river creature called ‘The Bunyip”. It’s now free to see said bunyip emerge from the water and make its iconic (nightmare inducing?) gargling growl. Get around it, it’s also a right of passage type experience for all South Australian kids.
*there may be some disjoint between this figure and the council reported spend
Lake Bumbunga & The Loch-Eel Monster
If you are driving any where regionally, noth of Adelaide, Lake Bumbunga is a fun and completely free place to stop! Find it about a half hour further on from Port Wakefield on Augusta Highway. At certain times of the year it’s pink and at all times of the year the Loch-Eel Monster will delight the kids!
The Big Rocking Horse
Not only can you climb to the top of the worlds biggest rocking horse right here in the Adelaide Hills, it’s set on 7 acres of wildlife sanctuary and there is also a wooden style toy shop. Entry will only set you back about $4 per person (thats 1980’s prices yeah?) This Gumeracha landmark is one not to be missed.
Old Noarlunga Suspension Bridge
The Old Noarlunga Swing Bridge was smashed and swept away in storms in 2016, and some years later has been replaced with this new suspension bridge. Unlike a beam bridge which is generally flat nad firmly supported at both ends, a suspension bridge is a cable secured bridge and allows a little movement as you cross, moving up or down, side to side ever so slightly and just enough to make the kids legs wobbly! Definitel reccomend taking at least one kid who likes to jump around to add to the thrill. It’s a pretty spot and well worth a visit with beautiful views on the edge of Onkaparinga River National Park, with lots of walking tracks of levels nearby.
Iconic Stairs at Southport Port Noarlunga
Forget your 1990’s step aerobics class, get your lactic acid build up on this famous wood staircase! With particularly breathtaking views over St Vincent Gulf at sunset, you can also see the Onkaparinga River Mouth from this vantage point. It’s a gorgeous spot, often affectionately referred to as Portie’s Stairs or the Stairway to Heaven and surely the most photographed stairs in South Australia. Image credit to Stuart C Photography.
South Australian Silo Art
Say hello to South Australia’s LARGEST outdoor Art Galleries… the kids will love it… go selfie mad… and how many can you see in a year??! This one pictured is at Bute near the top of Yorke Peninsula and just a short fifteen minute detour if you are headed to the Copper Coast.
From the West Coast of SA to the South East and even up in the mid north! Where ever you are traveling or road tripping it’s definately worth reseaching silo art along the way!
Giant Wheel (Seasonal)
While its only with us for six or seven months of the year, the presence of the GIANT WHEEL at Glenelg is mighty and it’s return each year symbolises the start of summer and sunnier days. That makes us happy, so she’s made the list. Scrape up some lemonade bottle change, it’s about $10pp to ride, and take in the magnificent views of Adelaide’s coastline, St Vincent Gulf and the city and hills. Or you know, white knuckle it and hope you don’t spew. Memories to be made either way. We bloody love it.
Bluey & Bingo Hay Bales
Headings Cliff Lookout
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