Family Activities
For Kids & Parents
The best family activities in Onkaparinga
The horse-drawn tram at Victor Harbor, steam trains at Goolwa, calm bays for swimming, farm animal experiences and playgrounds - the Fleurieu is a family holiday legend.
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a brilliant place to travel with children, with a stack of things to do that work for all ages and most weather. The classic family day out is at Victor Harbor: ride the heritage horse-drawn tram across the causeway to Granite Island, then hop aboard the Cockle Train, a historic steam-and-heritage railway that runs along the coast to Goolwa.
There's plenty more to keep kids busy. Think mini golf and foreshore playgrounds, the trout farm at Tooperang where you can catch your own, wildlife parks, and gentle, swimmable beaches up and down the Gulf St Vincent coast. Markets, farm gates and pick-your-own orchards turn a simple drive into an adventure, and the region's many short, flat walks and rail trails are easy going for little legs and prams.
Rainy days are well covered too, with museums, galleries, indoor play and family-friendly cafés in the larger towns. Most attractions are close together and easy to string into a single outing, and lots of beaches, walks and parks are free. For the most popular activities and the Cockle Train, check seasonal timetables and book ahead during school holidays.
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4 places
Christies Beach
A long, sheltered family beach at the northern gateway to the Fleurieu, with a foreshore playground, boardwalk and a popular surf life saving club.
Moana Beach
A long, dog-friendly surf beach between Port Noarlunga and Maslin, one of only a few beaches in South Australia where you can legally drive on the sand.
Onkaparinga River Recreation Park
A 250-hectare estuarine recreation park where the Onkaparinga River meets the sea - distinct from the upstream Onkaparinga River National Park, with quiet walking trails and rich birdlife.
Port Noarlunga
One of the most iconic beaches on the Fleurieu - a long, sheltered bay framed by ochre cliffs, a 1921 timber jetty, and the Port Noarlunga Reef just offshore.