A free day out in Adelaide with kids
This is a free day in Adelaide with kids, and most of it is within 2 km of the centre. Adelaide Central Market is 0.3 km out, the Art Gallery of South Australia 0.9 km, Adelaide Botanic Garden 1.3 km and Botanic Park 1.8 km. The Vickers Vimy Exhibition is the outlier at 5.7 km, in the Adelaide Airport terminal. Every stop is free. It suits all ages, with the gallery and the exhibition aimed at school-age kids.
Start at the market, then the gallery, then spend the afternoon in the garden and park. The Vickers Vimy Exhibition is a short extra stop that needs a drive. Bring a hat and water, and money for food, as only entry is free. The market is closed Sunday and Monday, so this plan works Tuesday to Saturday.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: Adelaide Central Market
- Late morning: Art Gallery of South Australia
- Afternoon: Adelaide Botanic Garden
- Late afternoon: Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla
- Evening: Vickers Vimy Exhibition
Morning
Start at Adelaide Central Market
Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide · Markets & Family Outings · Ages 0-17 · Free · 4.6 stars (13542 reviews)
An undercover city produce market with over 70 traders, school holiday kids activities and a parents room. It is free to wander and sits 0.3 km from the centre. Go early for breakfast or a snack before the gallery.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Opens 7am on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and 9am on Wednesday and Thursday.
Late morning
Use the free Studio at the gallery
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide · Museum · Ages 5-15 · Free · 4.7 stars (4353 reviews)
A free state art gallery at 490 North Terrace with a free hands-on Studio for all ages. It is open daily 10am to 5pm. The Studio gives kids something to make, which helps with younger ones who tire of looking at paintings. Listed ages are 5 to 15.
Tip: The Studio is free. Check the listing for what is on.
Afternoon
Explore Adelaide Botanic Garden
Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide · Nature & Outdoors · Ages 0-17 · Free · 4.7 stars (10862 reviews)
A free 50-hectare city garden with glasshouses, the Rose Garden, wildlife and a free museum. It is open every day and suits ages 0 to 17. There is enough here to fill an afternoon without spending anything.
Tip: Open 7:15am to 6:30pm on weekdays and 9am to 6:30pm on weekends.
Late afternoon
Run around Botanic Park
Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla, Adelaide · Playgrounds & Parks · Ages 0-17 · Free · 4.7 stars (2074 reviews)
A free 34-hectare park and tree collection next to the Botanic Garden, open every day. It has a flying-fox colony and, on Mondays, free guided walks. It is a looser, more open space than the garden, so kids can move about.
Tip: Open 7:30am to 5:30pm on weekdays and 9am to 5:30pm on weekends.
Evening
Add the Vickers Vimy Exhibition
Vickers Vimy Exhibition · Museums & Science Centres · Ages 0-18 · Free · 4.8 stars (61 reviews)
A free exhibition of the restored 1919 Vickers Vimy aircraft inside the Adelaide Airport terminal, open 8am to 8pm daily. It is 5.7 km from the centre and listed for ages 0 to 18. It suits kids who like planes and works as a short stop.
Tip: Open daily, 8am to 8pm.
Before you go
- Adelaide Central Market is closed Sunday and Monday, so this plan works Tuesday to Saturday.
- Every stop is free to enter, and the market has a parents room.
- The Art Gallery of South Australia is open daily 10am to 5pm, with a free hands-on Studio.
- Botanic Park guided walks are free on Mondays only.
- The Vickers Vimy Exhibition is in the Adelaide Airport terminal, open 8am to 8pm daily.
Questions parents ask
What free things can you do in Adelaide with kids?
Adelaide Central Market, the Art Gallery of South Australia and its free hands-on Studio, Adelaide Botanic Garden and Botanic Park are all free. The Vickers Vimy Exhibition at Adelaide Airport is free as well.
Is Adelaide Botanic Garden free?
Yes. Adelaide Botanic Garden is a free 50-hectare garden with glasshouses, the Rose Garden, wildlife and a free museum. It is open every day, from 7:15am on weekdays and 9am on weekends, closing at 6:30pm.
Is there a free kids activity at Adelaide Art Gallery?
Yes. The Art Gallery of South Australia has a free hands-on Studio for all ages, and entry to the gallery is free. It is open daily 10am to 5pm at 490 North Terrace, 0.9 km from the centre.
More days in Adelaide with kids
- Your first day in Adelaide with kids - The places to start with when you have one day and want the best of the city.
- A rainy day in Adelaide with kids - Indoor stops close together, so a wet day still works.
- A beach day in Adelaide with kids - Patrolled beaches, calm water and what is near the sand.
- Adelaide with toddlers and under-5s - Short distances, space to run and places built for under-5s.
- Adelaide with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Adelaide with kids: all guides