Climb or hang from a tree: strengthen your upper body and improve your balance by climbing or hanging from a tree.

Climbing trees or hanging from trees provides us with an opportunity to build different muscles in our body, learn about risk assessment, see the world from a different perspective, or simply feel different textures on our hands and feet.  

Did you know Australia’s tallest tree grows over 100 metres? Check out the list of or biggest trees.  

Boost your tree knowledge with checking out the top 10 trees you may encounter around Adelaide.  

Check out Kiddo Mag’s recommendations for the ultimate list of Adelaide’s best climbing trees and fallen logs to explore. 

Wander beneath tall trees at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens or The Waite Arboretum. 

Build a cubby: practice working in a team and sharing ideas with friends building a cubby or something else outdoors that suits your ability.

Spending time with friends and working on something together such as cubby has so many benefits.  From teamwork and cooperation to creativity and imagination it can help build important lifelong skills.  

At a basic level, all you need to build cubbies is sticks and time. To take your cubby to the next level try using rope (or the popular STICK-LETS®, sheets or a tarp and try to make something big enough to have a snack in!  

It’s very important not to build cubbies in sensitive areas, especially in National Parks. A great way to get started is collecting sticks from local reserves (especially after stormy weather) to build backyard cubbies. 

Nature Play SA offers some great school incursions and excursion programs (cubbies in Belair National Park is one of the most popular!) and often has events throughout the year. 

Go for a bushwalk: work on your perseverance and endurance by going on a bushwalk that challenges you.

South Australia has so many incredible bushwalks. The benefits of walking in nature include improved mental health and wellbeing, overall fitness, and greater connection to nature.

Some great resources for bushwalks include: 

• 10 Adelaide bushwalks for families (Nature Play SA) 
• 12 National Park trails near Adelaide that are accessible with wheelchairs (Good Living) 
• Walking SA  
• Find a National Park near you (National Parks and Wildlife Services SA) 
• 13 regional parks with accessible features (Good Living) 
• 20 things to notice in National Parks, botanic gardens & other natural spaces 

If you are into spotting local plants or wildlife on your walk check out these resources: 

• Where Birds Sing and Wildflowers Dance (an SA-written and illustrated book featuring close to 700 plants and animals) 
• Adelaide Hills Birds Poster (Green Adelaide) 
• Butterflies poster (Green Adelaide) 

Explore a local creek: test your balance and coordination at your local creek by exploring banks, bridges and logs or stick to the trails and find a place to listen to the sounds of a creek.

The smell and sound of creeks can be relaxing and calming for our minds. It can be exciting when we play and explore around them. Check out Nature Play SA’s list of 9 best creeks for families around Adelaide.

Creeks are also full of life; from frogs and fish to waterbirds and water rats. To help you learn more about the local plants and animals in your local creek check these resources out:  

• Where Birds Sing and Wildflowers Dance (an entire chapter on SA plants and wildlife in creeks and rivers) 
• SA Frogs ID chart (Green Adelaide) 
• Waterbugs ID chart (Green Adelaide) 
• SA Wetlands Bird ID chart (Green Adelaide) 

Try geocaching: combine technology with walking and exploring by geocaching with a friend.

Geocaching is a technological treasure hunt. It is easy to do and uses map coordinates to find a geocache in your community. They come in all shapes and sizes. All you need to do is download an app – you can read all about it at Geocaching Australia (and find geocaches near you!) 

Skim rocks: improve your balance and coordination at the beach or a lake by skimming rocks or seeing how far you can throw.

Skimming rocks is more than just seeing how far you can throw. It requires practice, persistence and patience. The first step to skimming a rock is finding a perfectly round rock that can easily fit in your palm. Then use your index finger on top, and your thumb on the bottom and do your best to throw it so the flat side skims on the water. Balance, good posture, and technique is the key!  

Explore the coast: improve your balance and agility by exploring rock pools or stick to the jetty and see what you or a friend can spot in the water.

The SA coastline is such a diverse environment with ancient rock formations, colourful shells, and incredible coast and marine life. Check out 8 rock pools to discover in South Australia (Good Living).  

Plants and animals that live in rock pools and along rocky shorelines are extremely resilient. To get an idea of the type of diverse life in these environments check out:  

• Weird and wonderful things to find on the shoreline (Nature Play SA blog) 
• Beachcombing ID Poster (Green Adelaide) 
• A beach explorers guide to plants and animals in South Australia (National Parks and Wildlife) 
• An underwater guide to plants and animals in South Australia (National Parks and Wildlife) 
• Where Birds Sing and Wildflowers Dance (an entire chapter on SA plants and animals in coastal environments) 

There are many great organisations that run events along the coast and surrounding areas including Green Adelaide’s Coastal Ambassadors (including a program for youth), Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, Reef Watch, Nature Play SA, Nature Festival (during October), and National Parks and Wildlife.  

Plant fruit trees or veggies: work on your upper body strength by preparing your garden or a pot for planting veggies or fruit trees.

Just as nothing beats the flavour of a vine-ripened tomato, warmed in the sun and grown in your own backyard, homegrown fruit is in a league of its own. South Australia has a great climate for growing stone fruits, apples, pears, figs, pomegranates and citrus. Unlike vegetables which can become productive within a few months, fruit trees will usually take a few years, but on the flip side, they can continue to fruit for the next twenty or thirty years.  

Here are some tried and tested fruit trees that can you can consider:  

• Apricot 
• Apple  
• Pear  
• Cherry  
• Nectarine 
• Peach 
• Plum 
• Fig 
• Lemon  
• Mandarin  
• Orange  

One of the great things about growing citrus is in the warmer months the fresh growth can attract caterpillars of the spectacular Dainty Swallowtail. These caterpillars look a lot like bird poo as it’s their way of camouflaging. Generally, these caterpillars won’t cause too much damage – it’s a great way to observe backyard nature.  

To help you tune in with your garden check out the month-by-month gardening guide from the Diggers Club.

Go camping: get your whole body moving in the wild by going camping or having a backyard camp out.

From windswept shores to ochre ranges, nothing beats immersing the family in South Australia’s wonderous National Parks where you’ll discover special charms like winter campfires, bushwalks, fascinating wildlife and blooming wildflowers. 

Camping is a great way to wind down and take time to connect with nature and each other. The great thing about camping is there are many options that suit your level of comfort – some opt for a cabin or caravan whilst others a camper trailer, tent or swag (or try a backyard campout!). 

When camping in SA it’s important you book ahead online.  

In SA we have some amazing spots, check out these resources for inspiration: 

• 9 camping spots in South Australia’s National Parks (Nature Play SA) 
• 7 campfire spots around Adelaide (Nature Play SA) 
• 8 best camping spots in South Australia (SouthAustralia.com) 
• Your guide South Australia’s coolest parks for camping in summer (Good Living) 
• Or search for a campground near you

If you’re into learning new skills try this book on 40 knots and how to tie them.  

Go snorkeling: activate different muscles by learning to snorkel or try other water activities that suit your ability.

Grab a buddy and jump in for an underwater adventure within South Australia’s world-class marine parks and beaches. 

Whether it’s your local coastline or something further afield, you can relax and explore the unique aquatic life of our beaches, rockpools, jetties, mangroves, and rivers. 

If you’re new to snorkelling or don’t own equipment, we recommend booking with a snorkel tour company or group like EMS Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries. Trained guides, shore support, and safety protocols ensure safety and comfort, while pool snorkel 101 classes teach the basics and build your family’s confidence before venturing into the ocean.   

When planning a snorkel, check weather and sea conditions, be sun smart, and pack ample water, snacks, and well-maintained snorkel gear. Wear a wetsuit, snorkel with a buddy, and let someone know your snorkel entry/exit point and when you plan to return. A dive flag on a float and a cutting tool is essential for safety, as is a first aid kit and charged mobile phone.  

For some inspiration on where to go:  

• Top 10 snorkel spots in SA (Nature Play SA) 
• Top spots to snorkel in SA (Good Living) 
• SA snorkel hot spots (Marine Parks) 

For some inspiration on what plants and animals you may encounter check out:  

• Beachcombing ID Poster (Green Adelaide) 
• A beach explorers guide to plants and animals in South Australia (National Parks and Wildlife) 
• An underwater guide to plants and animals in South Australia (National Parks and Wildlife) 
• Where Bird Sing and Wildflowers Dance (an entire chapter on SA plants and animals in coastal environments) 

There are many great organisations that run events that incorporate snorkeling including Green Adelaide’s Coastal Ambassadors (including a program for youth), Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, Nature Play SA, Nature Festival (during October).