Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills Family

Plan a hands-on day out, join a regular play or youth group, try a creative class, or connect with child and family support close to home. Across Mount Barker, Hahndorf, Woodside, Piccadilly and Stirling, families can find options for different ages, interests and circumstances.

🌟 Family activities and school-holiday adventures

Adelaide Hills Recreation Centre Holiday Programs

School holidays in Mount Barker can include gymnastics, basketball, badminton and squash clinics, as well as Mini Stars playgroup, teen gym and boxing. Children do not need previous experience. A parent or authorised adult must sign each child in and out. Bookings are non-refundable, although a date transfer for illness may be available with a medical certificate.

Woodhouse Adventure Park

At Piccadilly, families can choose a day adventure, camping or accommodation, while children aged 5–12 can attend school-holiday day camps. Children’s birthday parties are also available. Adventure activities are generally suited to ages 5–85, and children under five enter free. Enclosed shoes are required for activities, and the park closes on Catastrophic fire-danger days.

Hahndorf Farm Barn

Day visits feature interactive farm-animal experiences, including lamb feeding, cow-milking demonstrations and daily shows. Families can also consider an overnight farm stay or a birthday party with animal encounters. Check the official website before visiting for current opening and admission details.

Beerenberg Farm Strawberry Picking

Pick-your-own strawberries offer a seasonal family outing in Hahndorf, usually from November to April. The patch may close because of weather, fire warnings or fruit being picked out, so check its status on the day you plan to travel. Flat shoes, hats and sunscreen are recommended. Animals are not permitted, apart from service dogs.

🎨 Play, stories and creative learning

Hahndorf Academy Ceramics After School

Children and teenagers can build practical art skills through ceramics classes, including an after-school program for ages 7–16. The Academy also presents changing creative workshops and events, giving families further opportunities to make and learn together. Consult the current program for class information and booking arrangements.

Hills Minis

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers aged 0–4 can play alongside their caregivers at this free, unstructured term-time playgroup in Mount Barker. Adelaide Hills Salvos runs sessions on Wednesdays from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. Registration is available through the activity page.

Action Rhymes & Stories

Woodside Library hosts this free 30-minute session for children aged 18 months to three years. Stories, songs and movement give young children an active introduction to shared reading and language. No booking is required, but pram parking at the library is limited.

🎯 Youth connection and wellbeing

Hills Youth

Young people in Years 7–12 can join Friday evening activities in Mount Barker, including outings, games and small-group teaching. Run by Adelaide Hills Salvos, the group has a Christian faith focus. Registration is requested before attending.

headspace Mount Barker

Young people aged 12–25 and their families can access free, youth-friendly support spanning counselling, mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drugs, and youth programs. Counselling requires a referral, which may come from the young person or—with their consent—a family member, friend, school, GP or another organisation. A Mental Health Treatment Plan is not required to see its mental-health clinicians.

Talking Heads Counselling

Counselling is available for children, adolescents and young adults aged 5–25 in Stirling, at schools and through telehealth. Stirling appointments are listed for Tuesdays and Thursdays, with in-school appointments available on Thursdays. Enquiries for people outside the stated age range are considered individually.

🧩 Child development and family therapy

Time 2 Talk

Families can access speech pathology and occupational therapy supporting children’s communication and everyday skills. Speech pathology serves Mount Barker, Nairne, Littlehampton, Hahndorf and other listed townships, while occupational therapy is primarily delivered at the Mount Barker clinic. Depending on availability, appointments may also occur at home, early-learning services, kindergartens or schools.

Playing for Change Children’s Occupational Therapy

Individualised occupational therapy is available for children from birth to eight years and their families. Support may be provided at the Mount Barker clinic or in community settings. Families can begin through the online referral pathway; the clinic address is supplied on request.

Adelaide Hills Speech Pathology Services

Play-based, child-led speech pathology is offered at clinics in Woodside and Mount Barker, through mobile visits to homes and education settings, and by telehealth where suitable. Listed payment pathways include private payment, private health insurance, eligible Medicare referrals, DVA, and plan-managed or self-managed NDIS funding. Agency-managed NDIS participants are not accepted.

Adelaide Hills Play Therapy

Children from birth through their teenage years can access play therapy in Mount Barker. The practice works with parents and caregivers while supporting children’s social, emotional, cognitive and developmental needs.

Adelaide Paediatrics Mount Barker

Children and families can access paediatric and allied-health consultations, including paediatrics, educational assessments, occupational therapy and social work. The Mount Barker practice has onsite parking. Contact the practice directly to clarify referral and appointment requirements for the relevant service.

❤ Family, carer and practical support

BaptistCare SA Family Wellbeing Service

Eligible Mount Barker and Adelaide Hills families with children or young people aged 0–18 can receive free therapeutic support and psycho-education. Areas of support include wellbeing, emotional regulation, relationships, social challenges and family routines, with up to 15 sessions available. Referrals cannot be accepted when another mental-health service is already involved. Sessions may occur in offices, schools, selected community venues or, where possible, by video.

Summit Health CONNECTcare

Individuals, couples and families of all ages can access counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, wellbeing groups and psychosocial support in Mount Barker and across the Adelaide Hills. Private services are available, while CONNECTcare Access offers free counselling and mental-health support to eligible people experiencing hardship. On Catastrophic fire-danger days, Mount Barker-based services continue, but appointments elsewhere may be cancelled and rebooked.

Lutheran Care Financial Counselling and Homelessness Supports

Adelaide Hills residents can seek financial counselling or Toward Home homelessness support by appointment. The financial wellbeing service also includes emergency relief for eligible low-income households experiencing an unforeseen crisis. For Adelaide Hills financial counselling, call 08 7070 6717; the Toward Home intake number is 1800 809 273.

Carers SA Young Carers

Young carers aged 5–25 may be able to access one-to-one coaching, peer groups, social activities, regional breaks, a five-week school wellbeing program and six free counselling sessions. This is a regional South Australian service with pathways for Adelaide Hills families; contact Carers SA to discuss suitability and local access.

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers

Services Australia advisers help grandparents, foster carers, kinship carers and other formal or informal non-parent carers looking after children. The Australia-wide service is available to Adelaide Hills carers, including people who do not receive a Centrelink payment or service.

✅ Before you book or visit

• Confirm age ranges, supervision rules and whether a parent or caregiver must remain onsite.
• Check current bookings, fees, program dates and cancellation conditions directly with the provider.
• Ask about physical access, sensory needs and other adjustments before attending.
• For clinical or wellbeing support, clarify referrals, eligibility, funding and likely appointment location.
• On high fire-danger or severe-weather days, check for closures or changed arrangements before travelling.

📌 Family-focused businesses, services and community groups serving the Adelaide Hills are warmly invited to add a listing or submit updated program, eligibility and access details.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on adelaidehills.guide.