By MEGAN HOLBECK
1. ADELAIDE DOLPHIN SANCTUARY
Just the name of this marine park should be enough to excite the kids! Only 20 minutes from Adelaide, this area is home to more than 40 wild bottlenose dolphins, with another 300 regularly visiting. Adventure Kayaking SA offers three-hour kayak tours for kids four and over, exploring the shoreline, mangroves and shipwrecks dotting the area, with plenty of dolphin spotting along the way. Add in a visit to nearby St Kilda to refuel at the cafes and restaurants, burn energy at the adventure playground or follow the boardwalk around the mangroves.
2. MORIALTA CONSERVATION PARK
The rugged ridges, gullies, cliffs and waterfalls of Morialta Conservation Park are only 10km from the city, with walks from 30 minutes to full-on, full-day trips. There’s also plenty of wildlife, with a healthy population of koalas (look up!), and the chance to see echidnas and kangaroos, as well as plenty of native birds and sunning lizards. Let your kids loose in the amazing nature playground, or watch the rock climbers take on their more vertical version in the gorge.
3. ADELAIDE PARK LANDS
The Adelaide Park Lands are home to TreeClimb, Australia’s first inner-city aerial adventure park. With more than 70 obstacles over eight different routes, there’s enough to challenge both little kids and parents: from low-level courses allowing ground level coaching, to tree top ziplines. (The outdoor café is a welcome pit stop.) The nearby BMX course has been recently upgraded, and there are sporting fields and playgrounds aplenty.
