Spring is upon us and South Australia is gearing up for an exciting celebration of nature. From the 1st to the 15th of October, Nature Festival 2023 will unfold, offering an impressive lineup of over 300 events, with many being absolutely free! Timed perfectly with the school holidays, this festival is set to create cherished memories for families seeking to reconnect with nature together.
In an era of climate change, bushfires, and global pandemics, our connection to nature has never been more crucial. It forms the cornerstone of our collective identity and underpins all efforts to safeguard and nurture our environment. Beyond its undeniable ecological significance, immersing oneself in nature holds profound benefits for personal wellbeing. It’s a truth acknowledged by Aboriginal culture for generations, and now, validated by modern science.
We believe this symbiotic relationship between humans and nature is worth celebrating, and we invite you to be a part of it. With a multitude of family-friendly events on offer, Nature Festival 2023 promises an opportunity to revel in the beauty of South Australia’s natural wonders, fostering a deeper appreciation for the world around us. Don’t forget to book early as events do book out!
Our favourite family friend events for Nature Festival 2023:
Festival Opening Picnic
Step into creativity, adventure and culture for a memorable experience and have a sneak peak into the enriching festival program ahead.
Opening with a Welcome to Country by Ngangki Warra, meet artists and enjoy free sample events and workshops by Nature Festival hosts, including weaving with Kaurna Elder Elaine Magias.
Delight your senses with live music from Kaurna Cronin, Naomi Keyte, Maryam Rahmani and other local talents, and of course, indulge a little with tasty culinary treats from Fork on the Road and the Carrick Hill Cafe.
Pack your picnic blanket and have some springtime bliss.
Free – registration is essential
Carrick Hill- 46 Carrick Hill Dr, Springfield
Nature’s Playground: Rock Climb, Zipline, Mega Swing At Mt Lofty
Welcome to Mount Lofty Adventure Hub’s Rock Climb, Zipline and Mega Swing Experience, featuring a unique 3-person Mega Swing!
Open every weekend and most days during the school holidays, the experience involves the 15-metre rock climbing and abseiling Adventure Tower, the 324m forest zipline (SA’s longest!) and the all NEW unique 3-person Mega Swing! Sessions run for approximately 90 minutes and guarantee each participant a minimum of one try of each activity.
The Mount Lofty Adventure Hub is located amidst the beautiful forests of Woodhouse Activity Centre. Surrounded by and incorporating the natural forest and streams, it is one of the most beautiful Adventure Parks in Australia.
No experience necessary – Their guides are there to help you with instruction and technical expertise and encouragement.
Tickets from $60
Mount Lofty Adventure Hub – 37 Spring Gully Rd, Piccadilly
Children’s Workshop – Seed Planting with Charlie Zammit
Let your kids dive into the world of gardening as they plant their own seasonal Charlie’s Patch seeds.
They’ll enjoy selecting their favourite plant varieties from a selected range of seeds from Charlie’s Patch, learn how to nurture their seasonal produce, and unleash their creativity by designing personalised seed packets to pack and take home!
Led by Charlie, an experienced educator and avid gardener, this workshop is designed to inspire children to cultivate their own plants with joy and knowledge to take home and share with their family.
Tickets $25
Carrick Hill – 46 Carrick Hill Dr, Springfield
The Great White Expedition: Discovering Habitats and Hidden Treasures
Only during the Nature Festival will young adventurers have the special opportunity to embark on The Great White Expedition Scavenger Hunt exploring the fascinating world of sharks and their underwater homes at the Rodney Fox Shark Museum.
Through a series of engaging clues and challenges, kids will dive into the deep blue to uncover the mysteries of these majestic creatures and the unique habitats they call home. It’s an educational and thrilling adventure that will spark their curiosity about marine life and the importance of preserving these underwater homes for generations to come.
After completing the scavenger hunt, explorers will receive a free shark poster and stickers to bring the thrill of the shark habitat into their home.
Tickets $20
Rodney Fox Shark Museum & Learning Centre – 107 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End
Nature and art at the Marine Discovery Centre
Join the team at the Marine Discovery Centre for a morning of marine-based interactive fun, art and craft activites and a beach marine trail on Henley Beach.
During the session, children will have access to a variety of interactive discovery stations including Kaurna learning, sea aquariums, virtual reality headsets, hands-on games, and nature and recycled craft activities.
Tickets $15
Marine Discovery Centre – Marlborough St & Seaview Rd, Henley Beach
KID-O Orienteering Fun in the Parklands
Come along and have a go at KID-O! A game-based orienteering activity for children aged 0-8.
Orienteering is a running/navigating sport and KID-O helps young children with the basics of map reading, following a course and punching controls. It also helps children begin a life-long love of the outdoors and nature.
For Nature Festival, they will be offering a number of different game stations for children to rotate around. These stations will focus on gross and fine motor skills as well as sensory skills. Children (with guidance from their parents) will have the opportunity to go on string courses, make contour mountains with playdough and even create their own orienteering map. There will even be orienteering activities for pre-walkers with mat games.
Free
South-East Parklands – Beaumont Rd, Adelaide
Park Lands Biofair
Presented by the City of Adelaide this free event will offer you a closer look of our Park Lands biodiversity.
Learn about waterbirds and their ecology. Explore where the first Chequered Copper Butterfly was originally discovered. Smell, touch and appreciate our different species of native trees. Learn about how you can contribute to our biodiversity knowledge by joining our free guided tours.
The program includes hollow carving demonstrations, theatrical plays, kids’ activities, give away plants, free coffee and much more!!
Free
Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) – Wakefield Rd, Adelaide
On Country. Kids. Connect.
On Country. Kids. Connect is all about celebrating, learning and experiencing first hand our Indigenous culture on the banks of Kenton Creek, a tributary of Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).
Each presenter will provide an opportunity for kids (of all ages) to immerse themselves in the experience of ancient and cultural ceremonies including:
- Making music with clapsticks and singing ancient story lines
- Participating in bush therapy and Ngardi Guwanda (deep listening)
- Learning through art about storylines and painting on boomerangs
- Choose and prepare your own Bushtucker, and seedlings to take home and plant in your garden
First Nations Elders, Aunty Angelina Harradine-Buckskin from Claptsticks for Creation, Bianca Stawiarski from Warida Wholistic Wellness and Corey Turner from Southern Cultural Immersion will join together for this unique event in Gumeracha.
Tickets $25
Federation Park – 32 Albert St, Gumeracha
Children’s Workshop – Make Your Own Pressed Flower Lantern
Join Nature Creative for a 1-hour workshop making a beautiful, pressed flower lantern to take home. Suitable for primary school aged children 5 – 11 years old. Using recycled glass jars and the preserved beauty of pressed spring flowers, create a magical land, lit up with imagination.
Nature Creative will connect children to nature using ecofriendly and sustainable, creative art processes. Tanya is an Art Therapist who also teaches Art Classes from her nature surrounded studio near Belair National Park. She strongly believes that Nature is our best teacher and by connecting to nature we are connecting to our most balanced, innate self.
Carrick Hill – 46 Carrick Hill Dr, Springfield
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