My oh my, how is it April already?! This year is flying by in a jiffy, we’re officially a quarter of the way through (how?!), the cooler nights and change in leaves reminds us that Autumn is well and truly here… and with that the Easter School Holidays are just. around. the. corner!
We know we know, that can sometimes spark instant fear because what do we do with the kids in the holidays?! Plus, Easter Holidays mean there’s an extra sugar high thanks to our old friend, The Easter Bunny, therefore even more energy to burn. Alas, before you shriek with horror at the thought of two weeks of a broken record consisting of ‘I’m bored’ and ‘What are we doing today’… take a deep breath, take a sip of coffee and relax though because we have got you covered.
We have compiled the ultimate list of 32 fun things to do in Adelaide, with kids, these Easter school holidays (and surprisingly, they don’t all include eating chocolate!), there is a great mix of chocolatey Easter fun included, but also outdoor activities, nature play, workshops, arts and crafts, educational activities and things to do in Adelaide that are fun for the whole family!
Oh and don’t forget to check out our ultimate school holiday guide here (which we update as every school term draws to a close) as there’s loads on there too!
1. KIDZ GIGANTIC DAY OUT
Wondering what to do in Adelaide over the holidays? Well, look no further – and don’t miss out on Adelaide’s biggest, most exciting kids event is here over the Easter Long Weekend and we can’t hardly wait! Offering fun for the whole family with hours of entertainment from toddlers to teens, Kidz Gigantic Day Out has four interactive zones (play, learn, build and discover), attractions, an inflatable obstacle course, a PJ Masks live stage show, a native animal stage show, science and nature play, messy play, lego, plus – real life fire engines and army tanks to discover. So cool, huh! And when you, I mean the kids, need some downtime, there’s a recharge station and there’s also a Lollipop Pop-up market to peruse. Seriously, they weren’t kidding when they named it ‘Kidz Gigantic Day Out’, it’s of epic proportions!
WHEN: Easter Long Weekend
WHERE: Convention Centre, North Terrace
INFO: kidzdayout.com.au
2. HAHNDORF FARM BARN
Baby animals are cute, fact. Our little kiddos are even cuter, fact. It’s impossible to find something cuter than kiddos with baby farm animals, fact. So, for all this aforementioned cuteness, you need to get yourself, with your kiddos in tow down to the Hahndorf Farm Barn these Easter School Holidays. Your kiddos can see cows, sheep, kangaroos, ponies, rabbits and deer – just to name a few. It’s a fun (and did we mention, cute?!) family day out, and when you’re done there are so many amazing eateries in Hahndorf which is probably one of Adelaide’s cutest towns. So, for all this cuteness and more – have this at the top of your what to do these school holidayslist!
WHEN: 10am-4pm, 7 days a week
WHERE: 2282 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf
INFO: farmbarn.com.au
3. EASTER EGG HUNT @ BOB AND OLIVES
Where oh where has the Easter Bunny hidden all those yummy eggs? We have a hint… at The Parkside Hotel. Tell your kiddos to grab their baskets and get their egg-hunting on for Bob & Olive’s Easter egg Hunt Extravaganza! Whilst adults have to sit out this search for chocolate, it’s the perfect excuse for some time out and a cheeky mimosa or three… and once the kids are hyped up on chocolate and can’t possibly fit anymore in… you’ll get the leftovers, it’s a win win for everyone!
WHEN: April 14th, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Parkside Hotel
INFO: parksidehotel.com.au
4. LITTLE PICASSO’S SCHOOL HOLIDAY & ART CAMP
Here at KIDDO Mag, we are obsessed with Little Picasso’s, and equally obsessed with their holiday art camps! It’s a great way for children to still learn and stimulate their brain during the holiday, all whilst being creative, learning new skills and letting their imagination take over in a beautiful environment with incredible teachers. Workshops range from an hour or two to full day sessions and are available for children from 2-16 years of age. We highly recommend!
WHEN: Check website for dates and times.
WHERE: Hyde Park, Glenelg, Woodcroft (check the site for info about your closest studio)
INFO: littlepicassos.com.au
5. ZOOCATION SCHOOL HOLIDAY CARE
Adelaide Zoo’s ‘Zoocation’ is a special school holiday program specifically for 5-12 year olds. It’s an unforgettable experience where your child will get to spend the day with a qualified Conservation Educator exploring all that the Adelaide Zoo has to offer. An incredible opportunity to learn and get insight into the animals and goings on of day to day life at The Zoo, all whilst having a fun adventure and meeting new friends.
WHEN: 15th-26th April, 9am -4pm
WHERE: Adelaide Zoo
INFO: adelaidezoo.com.au
6. TREE CLIMB ADELAIDE
Tree Climb is taking Adelaide by storm since its arrival to the CBD and for very good reason, hello… an adventure park, obstacle courses and walkway above the treetops… is there anything cooler?! Get your little Tarzan away from the screen and out into nature exerting some of that excess energy and *ahem* sugar high from all the chocolate the Easter Bunny delivers! There are over 70 obstacles spread amongst the 7 courses and options for all ages and abilities so it really is fun for the whole family. This is a must on the ‘what to do during the Easter School Holidays list’, get your kiddos out into nature, soaking up some vitamin D and adventuring until their little hearts content.
WHEN: Mon – Sun 9.00am to 4.00pm
WHERE: Cnr Greenhill Road + Unley Road, Adelaide SA 5000
INFO: treeclimb.com.au
7. CLELAND WILDLIFE PARK
We are so lucky in Australia to have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most famous wildlife on the planet and Cleland is somewhere that facilitates this to perfection. When wondering what to do with the kids these school holidays, look no further than our very own Cleland Wildlife Park. Just 20 minutes away from the CBD, it’s a short drive to get amongst nature, have a picnic, explore and get face to face with the cutest little creatures including kangaroos, koalas, wombats and different species of beautiful birds. There’s the opportunity to hand feed some of the animals too! They have amazing school holiday activities scheduled too – including Wildification (a wild day out for kids only!), check their website for info and details.
WHERE: 365 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Cleland, SA, 5152
INFO: clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/Home
8. PREGNANCY, BABIES AND CHILDREN EXPO
Adelaide Showground knows how to do expos right, and the Pregnancy Babies and Children Expo is no exception. Whether you’re a first time or fully fledged mama, there’s something for you here. Not only is it an amazing opportunity to meet and connect with other new and seasoned parents, but it is literally jam packed with amazing exhibitors featuring all the new and latest innovative products, expert advice for pregnancy and the first few years of parenting, talks and classes, and the opportunity to see, touch, trust and buy the products and services you need! And if you’re attending with tots-in-tow, you’ll be pleased to know there is a baby and toddler Imagination play space for them to explore!
WHEN: 13th-14th April, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Adelaide Showground, Wayville
INFO: Pbcexpo.com.au
9. PLAY AT THE BAY
Play At The Bay is a concept initiated by Holdfast City Council whereby they have an incredible lineup of activities and workshops for children of all ages throughout the school holidays to encourage them to develop skills, meet new friends, be creative, be active, explore and adventure. From chocolate classes to lego workshops to recording music to animation and pizza classes; there are a host of workshops, classes, sessions and activities on offer in a variety of genres, so head to the website to find the perfect fit for your little one.
WHEN: April school holidays
WHERE: Glenelg
INFO: holdfast.sa.gov.au/playatthebay
10. NATURE PLAY SA – FOREST FESTIVAL
Nature Play Forest Festival is the most beautiful festival that really needs to be experienced, to be believed. Returning this year to the mystical Kuitpo Forest, this is the place to be if you want to get your children outdoors, amongst nature, running, jumping, creating, climbing and exploring. Whilst older children are more than welcome, it’s been specifically designed for 0-12 year olds and features the most amazing activities and schedule including story time and family reading, wild cubby building in the Eucalyptus Forest, low ropes adventure course, Autumn mask making, busy stick xylophone jam sessions, natural play and nature potion and tinkering sessions. See, incredible. It’s like WOMAD just for under 12’s and the kids really do relish and get so much from the festival. Plus, there’s an amazing line up of food trucks to fill those hungry bellies after all that exploring and playing!
WHEN: April 16-17
WHERE: Kuitpo Forest
INFO: natureplaysa.org.au
11. OAKBANK
Oakbank is an Easter Monday tradition for so many Adelaide families and for good reason – a fun day out for all ages, in the beautiful fresh Oakbank air, with plenty to keep the kids occupied. Bring a picnic or bbq, or eat there, meet up with friends or make new ones! The cars fill up on the grass, marquees and tents go up and the deck chairs come out. There are rides, attractions, face painting, entertainment and even an animal petting zoo for the kids, and it goes without saying that it’s a fun day out for mum and dad too. It’s a guaranteed fun family day at the races!
WHEN: Easter Monday, 2nd April, 11.00-5.00pm
WHERE: Oakbank racecourse
INFO: theracessa.com.au
12. CIRKIDZ
Here at KIDDO, we are obsessed with Cirkidz. And every school holidays, the SA Circus Centre, the home of Cirkidz, runs holiday programs that are built with kids in mind, we’re talking a focus on friendship, mindfulness, safe risk taking, inclusion and social interaction in addition to creative and strategic learning and thinking skills, this isn’t just fun but also educational – but shhhhh, the kids won’t realise they’re ‘learning’ during the school holidays! Programs range from 5 to 12 years old, check it out on their website and book in early to avoid missing out!
WHEN: April school holidays (split into two weeks)
WHERE: 27 Fifth St, Bowden
INFO: cirkidz.org.au/participate/holiday-programs
13. THE JUNGLE BOOK IN SAND
Ok, so who doesn’t love The Jungle Book – no one’s denying it is an absolute classic that both kids and adults enjoy, and who doesn’t love the beach?! Well, these Easter School Holidays, the two are getting combined when Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide is putting on a multi-generational experience like no other. From the 13th to 28th of April you will be able to see everyones favourites from The Jungle Book brought to life in 450 tonne of sand. It is going to be phenomenal and a ‘not to be missed’ event these school holidays. Plus, they’re having a food truck village to fill those tummies before the drive home. Winner winner!!
WHEN: 13th – 28th April
WHERE: Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide
INFO: sandstormevents.com/sandstorm-junglebook-event/
14. NIGHT AT THE MUSEM
Since the movie of the same name, hasn’t every kiddo and adult alike wanted to spend a night at the museum? Well, SA Museum are making our dreams a reality with a sleepover on Saturday, April 13th. Find out if the museum really does come to life, after dark, as you explore by torchlight (how cool, right!). There will be a world-renowned palaeontologist on hand for all that fossil talk, a movie screening in the company of artefacts and plenty of fun, and late night giggles, to be had all round. Don’t worry about food either, you won’t go hungry or need to pack snacks – a delicious dinner and continental breakfast are also included!
WHEN: Saturday 13th April, 5.30pm
WHERE: South Australian Museum
INFO: samuseum.sa.gov.au/
15. CIRCUS RIO
Roll up, roll up, the circus is coming to town and we for one are so excited to feel that Carnival atmosphere under the Big Top and see the amazing, talented performers! Circus Rio features a tribe of Samba Dancers, Aerialists who dangle and fly from the roof of the Big Top, FMX Bikes that soar through the air, Ballet Dancers, Tightrope Walkers and so much more, it truly is a delight for the whole family and will create school holiday memories that will last a lifetime… and we’re pretty sure your kiddos will want to become circus folk after attending so see our earlier post (#10) for Cirkidz 
WHEN: 5th April – 12th May
WHERE: Bonython Park
INFO: circusrio.com
16. NUTELLAPALOOZA
Nutellapalooza is basically Coachella, for sugar fiends… and let’s be honest, who’s not partial to a spoonful (or tubful!) of Nutella?! This festival is all about… you, you guessed it… NUTELLA! With over 50 food trucks and vendors, Nutellapalooza will dish out over 1000 variations of everyones favourite spread! Nutella desserts, waffles, pizzas and shakes aplenty, there’s something for every sweet tooth in Adelaide. Apart from Nutella (did we need anything else?!) there will be a sideshow alley, a chill out zone and rides aplenty. There will also be an epic Easter egg hunt for the kiddos too! And this festival isn’t just a sugar high for kids, there are Nutella cocktails and even a specially brewed Nutella beer for the mamas and the papas! And don’t worry, it’s on the Easter Long Weekend which means chocolate is guilt-free, right?! We can taste that smooth, chocolatey-hazelnut deliciousness already!!
WHEN: Saturday 20th April
WHERE: Morphettville Racecourse
INFO: nutella-palooza.com
17. DREAMBIG FESTIVAL
I mean, the name says it all, DREAMBIG, but this truly is an incredibly beautiful festival designed around kids to remind them to dream big, believe in themselves, be creative, compassionate, clever and curious. It boasts an amazing lineup of thought provoking, inspiring, incredible artists, exhibitions, live performances and activities. And, incase it couldn’t be more beautiful, the theme this year is People Together; because for humanity to thrive we need to respect and enjoy our similarities and differences. There are shows for babies and toddlers through to teenagers and beyond. Wow, just wow. It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce children of all ages to the arts, but most importantly, inspire them to dream – something that is invaluable to install in our offspring from a young age.
WHEN: 22nd May – 1 June
WHERE: Adelaide Festival Centre + other venues across the CBD
INFO: dreambigfestival.com.au
18. LEGO MOVIE SCREENING
For a gold coin donation, these school holidays you and your kiddos can have a movie date to see the new LEGO film! We can tell you firsthand that the kids will love the LEGO movie… and there are plenty of hidden references to keep the adults entertained too (our favourite – keep an eye out for a Bruce Willis Die Hard cameo!)
And, just to keep the kids extra entertained, they can enjoy free lego play after the movie.
WHEN: Wednesday 24th April, 10am
WHERE: Town of Walkerville Civic and Community Centre
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/movie-matinee-the-lego-movie-tickets.
Bookings essential online or at 8342 7100.
19. DONUT DECORATING
Do nut worry these school holidays when the kids are bored and you’re wondering what to do! Head along to the Prospect Public Library for some hole-some fun. Kids can get creative till their hearts content with this donut decorating workshop… and then eat their creations after!
WHEN: April 17th, 2.30-4pm
WHERE: Prospect Public Library
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/donut-decorating-tickets
20. KIDS SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN WORKSHOP
Kids + School Holiday Fun + Workshop, are there any words more pleasing to a parents ear during school holidays? Enter ABC Kids Play Zone and Russian Community Centre where there is fun, action, entertainment and learning all to be had under the one roof; from balloon twisting to kinder gym to plaster painting, to craft areas to kinder gym for the littlies… these workshops have it all and the kids are bound to have a ball. Plus, there is a surprise visit from none other than the man of the moment himself… EASTER BUNNY!! Check out the website below for more info and there’s also a direct link to prchase tickets.
WHEN: Mon 15th – Wed 17th April – 10.00am – 11.00am / 11.30am – 12.30pm / 1.00pm – 2.00pm
WHERE: Russian Community Centre
COST: $10 per child. Adults Free entry. Parents are welcome to participate in all activities during the session.
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/kids-school-holiday-fun-balloon-twisting-kindergym-craft-tickets
21. POM POM PETS WORKSHOP
Burnside Council are putting on school holiday activities for all those little kiddos around Adelaide, including this fantastic Pom Pom Pets Workshop – a morning of art and craft delight, and we’re here for it. Your tots will have their imagination, creativity and art skills stimulated as they learn how to make pom pom pets to take home! A really cute activity that stops them going stir crazy indoors these school holidays, and may inspire them to want to do a few more DIY activities at home afterwards!
WHEN: Tuesday April 16th, 10.00-11.30am
WHERE: Pepper Street Arts Centre, Magill
INFO: burnside.sa.gov.au/Whats-On/Pepper-Street-Events/Pepper-St-Art-Classes/School-Holiday-Program-Pom-Pom-Pets-5-13-years
22. MELBA’S CHOCOLATE FACTORY TOUR
It’s the Easter School Holidays which means one thing… chocolate! And what better activity to delight the kids with than a *free* chocolate factory tour!! It’s like Willy Wonka, in real life!! Your kiddos will get to see how the Easter Bilby, freckled eggs and this years new additions; honeycomb egg and creme egg get made. How cool is that! Plus, there’s plenty of chocolate available for purchase… sorry, not sorry!
Find out more at the link below.
WHEN: 9.00-4.30pm, daily
WHERE: 22 Henry St, Woodside
INFO: melbaschocolates.com.au/factory/
23. ALADDIN THE MUSICAL
A whole new world awaits for your little ones these school holidays when Aladdin the Musical comes to Adelaide! From the producer of Mary Poppins and The Lion King, Disney’s latest spectacular Aladdin is arriving in Adelaide! Watch with delight as kiddos, and adults alike, are transported from real life to a play of fairytale, imagination and wonder with this incredible stage show, breathtaking sets and special effect that will blow your little ones minds – and yours too. Featuring all the classic songs that everyone loves, just be prepared and have the soundtrack downloaded to play on repeat after the show!
WHEN: April 6th – May 12th
WHERE: Adelaide Festival Centre
INFO: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/events/aladdin/
24. FEED THE LEMURS AT ADELAIDE ZOO
Get up close and personal with those cute (but cheeky!) little lemurs at Adelaide Zoo! Watch what they get up to when you enter with a zoo keeper and get to feed them! It’s not often you can get this close and this hands on with incredible animals like Lemurs, so this is an opportunity not to be missed! It will certainly make for a great talking point at show and tell once Term 2 begins!
WHEN: 11.30am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday
WHERE: Adelaide Zoo
INFO: adelaidezoo.com.au/animal-experiences/lemur-encounter/
25. EASTER YARN EGG WORKSHOP
As much as we all associate the Easter School Holidays with chocolate and as a result, sugar highs! It’s important to note that not all Easter eggs are made of chocolate and there’s wholesome fun to be had, sans sugar. This Easter, children can learn to make eggs out of colorful yarn, which will be used to decorate the Celebration Tree on Mary P Harris Reserve (opposite Walkerville Terrace) as well as one to take home and proudly display. Garlands of yarn eggs will be on display for everyone to enjoy, and to be sure to grab the Easter Bunny’s attention!
WHEN: Monday 15th April, 10.00 – 11.30am
WHERE: Town of Walkerville Civic and Community Centre
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/easter-yarn-eggs-tickets
26. FIRST SENSES SLIME WORKS
Ok, tell us a kid that doesn’t love slime!! These school holidays, First Senses are delighting our slime-loving-tots again with their awesome slime making workshop, perfect for slime fanatics all over Adelaide! This is like a real life YouTube tutorial where kids will get to make their very own batches, with all the colours, sparkles and secret ingredients to make the slime of their dreams… and the best part, there’s no mess for mum and dad to clean up at home after. Winning!
WHEN: Thursday 18 April 2019, 10-11am
WHERE: Twelve25Salisbury Youth Enterprise Centre
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/slime-workshop-2019-school-holiday-program-tickets
27. ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL
For many families in Adelaide, this is an annual Easter School Holiday tradition! The sky comes alive annually on this amazing weekend when kites from all over the world float loud and proud above the foreshore. This free event truly belongs in the ‘not to be missed’ category and if you haven’t checked it out yet, we’re pretty sure once you go along this year, you will return for years to come because it really is a colourful spectacular in the sky that adults enjoy just as much as the kiddos! Tip: The Semaphore Jetty is the best vantage point to see these kites in flight!
WHEN: April 21-22
WHERE: Semaphore Beach Foreshore
INFO: akfa.info/
28. LEARN TO DRAW DINOSAURS
If your kiddos are as into dinosaurs as the rest of the kiddos around Adelaide, look no further because we have found the perfect school holiday activity for your T-Rex loving tot, these Easter holidays! The incredible Paul Rutter is running a drawing workshop where kids will learn how to structure, shape and design their very own dinosaurs, plus each child gets a free activity book to continue drawing at home… and provide you with less of the ‘Mum, I’m bored!’ School holiday broken record.
WHEN: Mon 15th April
WHERE: The Joinery, Franklin Street
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/learn-to-draw-dinosaurs-school-holiday-workshop-tickets
29. SUCCULENT PLANTERS
How cool is this! In the current issue of Kiddo Mag, we talk to the uber talented Emma Sadie Thomson about how to foster your children green thumbs… and these school holidays we have found the perfect activity to do that! The Hut Community Centre in Aldgate is running a workshop on planting, and caring for, succulents – and the best part is, your kiddos will get to take their succulent home to look after!
WHEN: Wed Apr 17th
WHERE: The Hut Community Centre, Aldgate
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/succulent-planters-kids-school-holiday-activity-tickets
30. MEET THE BUGS
When wondering what to do during the school holidays, we’re always on the lookout for educational activities that keep our kiddos learning, even when they’re not at school. Enter: Meet The Bugs. A beautiful session where kids will learn about bugs, and why these little creatures are so important in the eco-system and vital to the survival of life on earth. It is interactive and they get up close and personal with living bugs! And it’s so fun… they won’t even realise they’re actually ‘learning’. Plus, because it’s the Easter School Holidays, the session will be followed by an Easter egg Hunt in the community garden – so get your little bunnies ready and hop to it.
WHEN: April 18th, 10am-12noon
WHERE: Cooinda Neighbourhood Centre, Sturt
INFO: For more information about this session contact Glandore Community Centre on 7420 6400 and check out bugsnslugs.com.au/
31. HOLIDAY BEE SCHOOL
We recently learnt about the importance of bees in Kiddo Mag (INSERT LINK HERE) and so you can imagine our delight when we heard there is a ‘holiday bee school’ in Adelaide these school holidays! An opportunity to go along and learn about the bees in an interactive, hands on way, your kiddos will get to see where the bees live, what their routine is and even get to open a hive with Mademoiselle bee herself! Plus, there’s also wax melting and honey tasting fun to be had!
WHEN: Wednesday 17th of April
WHERE: 15 Minutes away from CBD (Address to be confirmed upon purchase of a ticket)
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/holidays-bee-school-tickets
32. KIDS ART WORKSHOP WITH BLIP ART SCHOOL
It’s no secret that here at Kiddo we are huge fans of BLIP Art School and it’s no secret that kids in Adelaide LOVE making BLIP Art School’s DIY projects featured in every issue of KIDDO Mag. So, you’ll be pleased to know that when they kids are nagging you and you’re wondering what to do in the holidays, you can have this up your sleeve to delight and surprise them with. BLIP are running a kids art workshop during the Easter School Holidays on Friday 26th April where your tots will learn how to create their own beautiful woven wall hanging!
WHEN: Friday 26th April, 2.30-4.00pm
WHERE: Prospect Library
INFO: eventbrite.com.au/e/kids-art-workshop-with-blip-art-school-tickets
