Brrrrr… baby it’s cold outside! But that doesn’t mean there aren’t HEAPS of different ways you can have fun with your kids in Adelaide. There’s roughly 13 weeks of Winter for us to enjoy and below are plenty of indoor play ideas, winter events and warm spots to hide from the weather. Head to a museum such as MOD., find out what is happening during the Illuminate Adelaide event this year, or visit one of our favourite indoor play centres.
Indoor Play in Adelaide
When the weather turns chilly, Adelaide’s indoor play spots become every parent’s secret weapon. From giant playgrounds and ninja courses to cosy cafés with toddler zones and all-weather adventures, there are so many fun ways to keep the kids entertained without braving the cold. Our Indoor Play Guide has you covered with the best indoor play centres, trampoline parks, museums, sensory play spaces and more across Adelaide.
Illuminate Adelaide
One of our absolute favourite things to do in winter with the kids is rug up and head into the city for Illuminate Adelaide.
From 1 – 19 July, Adelaide transforms into a glowing wonderland filled with light installations, music, and creative tech from all over the world. There’s something truly magical about seeing the kids’ faces light up (literally!) as they explore the streets after dark. With a mix of free and ticketed events, it’s a brilliant way to shake off the winter chill and make some unforgettable family memories.
Winter Whalefest at Victor Harbor
Winter Whalefest is a month-long celebration of the annual whale migration to the Fleurieu Peninsula. Perfect for the whole family! At the heart of this year’s festivities is the ancient story of Kondoli – the whale from Ngarrindjeri Dreaming who gave fire to the people. This powerful narrative, shared by Ngarrindjeri Elders, speaks to the profound and enduring connections between land, waters, and culture, inspiring every aspect of the 2026 program.
BRIXPO
BRIXPO® 2026 is back and bigger than ever at St Clair Recreation Centre!
Adelaide’s fan-built LEGO® exhibition returns across six championship basketball courts packed with incredible original LEGO® creations, plus a brand-new community-built mosaic where visitors can jump in and help create a giant display. A must for LEGO® fans big and small. This is a super popular events so book your tickets early.
Winter Craft at Home
Stay cosy at home and create some Winter craft! We’ve added a few ideas for you to try here
Winter at Woodhouse
There are only two types of days that aren’t fun at Woodhouse – when it is 40 degrees in summer or when it is torrential rain in winter. Every other day is 10/10 fun for the whole family! Thankfully, the days of torrential rain are far & few between, making Woodhouse Adventure Park the perfect place to visit over the cooler months. The kids won’t be complaining they are cold for long, once they are having a blast on the tube slides or climbing, crawling and navigating their way around Challenge Hill!
And if they are still cold, have a campfire in one of their firepits! Even better if you choose to camp the night and do it all again the next day!
Disney On Ice presents Magic in the Stars
Disney On Ice is coming back to Adelaide this winter, bringing a brand-new show full of Disney magic on ice.
Expect all your favourite characters, incredible skating, acrobatics, special effects and a whole lot of wow moments as the stories come to life right in front of you.
It’s on June 19–21 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Perfect winter fun for the whole fam!
SA Museum
The South Australian Museum is a wonderful place for kids (and adults) of any age to visit. There’s so much to explore, learn and discover and the exhibitions are always informative, often interactive and sometimes we feel the need to visit the same exhibition more than once because they are THAT good! Keep an eye on our Kids in Adelaide website, and the museum’s website, for upcoming exhibitions. It is definitely a huge place, and once you have visited once or twice, you’ll get to know specifically what your kids would like to go back and see next time because its absolutely a place you could go every school holidays and see something new – FREE.
Check out all the museum info here.
Visit your Local Library
When did libraries get so cool?
Libraries have seriously stepped up their game at the hub of all things community and have moved way beyond just books and encyclopedias!
Libraries aren’t just bricks and books anymore. They are community hubs, they are a place to escape, a place for fun, a place to learn, a place to sit quietly and a place to sit not so quietly. There’s libraries with virtual reality, libraries with baby rhyme time, story telling, classes, school holiday programs, book clubs and SO MUCH MORE
For more library info check them out here.
Mt Lofty to see snow
Snow in Mt Lofty? It happens. All. The. Time.
If you aren’t from the hills, you may not realise that the little patch of SA around Mt Lofty, Crafers and Stirling is cold. So cold. So next time you are listening to the weather report in the middle of winter, keep on ear out for the temp around those spots and if it gets low enough, race the kids up to the Lofty summit and they might be lucky enough to see some white powdery fun!
Make sure you rug up though!
See a Movie
The smell of hot popcorn, the crunch of a cold choc top… Is there anything better than the movies? Perfect for the cold weather (and hot weather for that matter) the KiA team love a trip to the movies. If you are looking for some movie suggestions KiA Dad, Tim, does some ripper movie reviews which you can find here.
(Do) Go Chasing Waterfalls
Winter = Rain
Rain = Waterfalls
Waterfalls = some great family friendly hikes and wonderment!
It’s incredible how many waterfalls there are close to Adelaide – you don’t have to drive too far or hike for too long to find some great waterfalls that really put on a show after a bit of rain. The kids will LOVE seeing them in full flow.
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