Kids & Coffee Open the app

Glenelg and the Adelaide beaches with kids

Adelaide's beaches are calm, shallow and face west, which means warm water and sunsets you can actually watch with children rather than sunrises you cannot get them up for. Glenelg is the one most visitors do, and the reason is the tram: it runs from Victoria Square in the city centre to the beach in about half an hour, so you need no car at all.

Henley and Semaphore are quieter if you have a day to spare and transport.

Glenelg, and the tram that gets you there

The tram drops you at Moseley Square, metres from the sand and the jetty. Wigley Reserve is the big beachfront playspace on the foreshore, with a kiosk sitting inside the reserve itself so coffee is about thirty seconds away from wherever you are standing.

πŸŽ„ Glenelg Christmas Pageant on Jetty Road, plus Santa and family fun
Glenelg Β· Sun 22 Nov. Pageant 10:30am to 11:30am on Jetty Rd, then free family fun at Moseley Square and Jimmy Melrose Park 11am to 3pm Β· Free. Santa visit at the Bay Discovery Centre is free but needs a booked session
Freeβ˜• 30m to coffee
⭐ Glenelg Wheel: giant Ferris wheel on Moseley Square
Glenelg Β· Daily 10am to 9:30pm until 9 May 2027 (closed Christmas Day, weather permitting) Β· Adults $16, kids 2 to 11 $10, under 2 free, family (2+2) $50; 10% off online
β˜• 30m to coffee
πŸ› Wigley Reserve Playspace
Glenelg Β· Open all day Β· Free
FreeShadeParkingβ˜• 30m to coffee
β˜• Little Eatery
Glenelg North Β· Kiosk at Wigley Reserve, open daily 7:30am to 2pm, weather permitting Β· Kiosk prices, coffee and light meals
ParkingPram accessNear a playgroundβ˜• 50m to coffee

The quieter beaches

Henley Square is smaller and more local, with cafes facing the water. Semaphore has a long jetty, a foreshore playground and an old-fashioned carousel in summer.

🎨 Music for Fun on Mondays (Semaphore Uniting Church)
Exeter Β· Mondays 10 to 11am during school terms, bookings essential (Judy 0457 592 405) Β· Gold coin donation
ToiletsParkingPram accessβ˜• 100m to coffee
🧸 Grange Baptist Playgroup
Grange Β· Wednesdays 9:30 to 11:30am, school terms Β· $3 per family per week, barista coffee by gold coin
ToiletsParkingPram accessβ˜• 460m to coffee
🎨 Boba globe and pet rock making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Mon 11 Jan 2027, 12pm to 2pm Β· See booking page; optional lunch pack
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas Around the World: German paper chain craft, Henley Beach
Henley Beach Β· Thu 3 Dec, 2:30pm to 4:30pm Β· Free, register online
Freeβ˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas biscuit making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Tue 15 Dec, 12pm to 2pm Β· $48.96 per child on Eventbrite. Lunch packs extra
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas decoration making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Thu 17 Dec, 12pm to 2pm Β· $48.96 per child on Eventbrite. Lunch packs extra
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas lolly wreath making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Wed 16 Dec, 12pm to 2pm Β· $48.96 per child on Eventbrite. Lunch packs extra
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas snow globe and magnet making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Fri 18 Dec, 11am to 1pm Β· $48.96 per child on Eventbrite. Lunch packs extra
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Christmas stocking and card making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Mon 14 Dec, 12pm to 2pm Β· $48.96 per child on Eventbrite. Lunch packs extra
β˜• 240m to coffee
β˜• Henley Breeze Cafe
Henley Beach Β· All day breakfast, 6am to 2pm, closed Tuesdays Β· Cafe prices, kids menu available
Kids menuPram accessNear a playgroundβ˜• 0m to coffee
🎨 Paint-a-pot and shell creations for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Wed 13 Jan 2027, 12pm to 2pm Β· See booking page
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Pizza making and French knitting for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Tue 12 Jan 2027, 12pm to 2pm Β· See booking page
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Pom-pom animals and wind chimes for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Thu 14 Jan 2027, 12pm to 2pm Β· See booking page
β˜• 240m to coffee
🎨 Tote bag painting and magnet making for kids, Henley Beach (drop off)
Henley Beach Β· Fri 15 Jan 2027, 11am to 1pm Β· See booking page; optional lunch pack
β˜• 240m to coffee
🍦 Ice Cream Bowl Playground
Largs Bay Β· Open daily Β· Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingCoffee nearbyβ˜• 810m to coffee
πŸŽͺ Ray White Semaphore Street Fair 2026
Semaphore Β· Sun 29 Nov 2026, 10am to 5pm, Semaphore Road (Esplanade to Swan Tce) and the foreshore Β· Free
FreeCoffee nearbyβ˜• 320m to coffee
πŸ“š Toddler Time at Semaphore Library
Semaphore Β· Fridays 10:30 to 11am, for 18 months to 3 years, no booking needed Β· Free
FreeToiletsCoffee nearbyβ˜• 60m to coffee
🎨 Christmas wreath workshop for all ages, Semaphore Park
Semaphore Park Β· Fri 18 Dec 2026, 10:30am to 12pm Β· $30 per person making a wreath, parents watching free
β˜• 630m to coffee
β˜• Shelly's Semaphore
Semaphore South Β· Beachfront kiosk cafe, open 7 days, 7am to 3pm Β· Cafe prices, beachside breakfast
ParkingPram accessNear a playgroundβ˜• 370m to coffee
πŸ› Modern Shaded Playground
West Beach Β· Open daily Β· Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingCoffee nearbyBBQβ˜• 30m to coffee
πŸ› SA Police Road Safety Centre
West Beach Β· Weekends, weekdays 8 to 10am and after 3pm Β· Free
Freeβ˜• 200m to coffee
🧩 SAPOL Road Safety Centre holiday program, ages 5 to 8 (Mon 4 Jan)
West Beach Β· Mon 4 Jan 2027, 10am to 12pm (more sessions through January, see booking page) Β· Free, booking required
Freeβ˜• 510m to coffee
🧩 SAPOL Road Safety Centre holiday program, ages 9 to 12 (Fri 8 Jan)
West Beach Β· Fri 8 Jan 2027, 10am to 12pm (more sessions through January, see booking page) Β· Free, booking required
Freeβ˜• 510m to coffee
πŸ› Shaded Community Playground
West Beach Β· Open daily during daylight hours Β· Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingCoffee nearbyβ˜• 800m to coffee
🎨 The Beach Studio Kids' Art Classes
West Beach Β· Saturdays 10am, 45 minute classes for ages 5 to 12 Β· Around $19 per ticket including booking fees
Coffee nearbyβ˜• 310m to coffee

Common questions

How do you get from Adelaide to Glenelg with kids?
The tram runs from Victoria Square and along King William Street in the city centre straight to Moseley Square at Glenelg, taking about thirty minutes. Prams go on without folding.
Which Adelaide beach is best for young children?
Glenelg and Henley both shelve gently and stay shallow a long way out, which suits small children. Glenelg has the most beside it, including a large foreshore playspace.
Is there a playground at Glenelg beach?
Yes. Wigley Reserve sits on the foreshore a short walk from Moseley Square, with a kiosk inside the reserve.

More guides

πŸ—ΊοΈ Adelaide with kids
A practical guide to Adelaide with children. What is worth the ticket, what is free, where…
πŸ› City playgrounds
The Adelaide park lands playgrounds compared: which are fenced, which have toilets, which …
🌧️ Rainy day
Where to take children in Adelaide when it rains, or when it is too hot to be outside. Fre…
⛰️ Adelaide Hills
A day in the Adelaide Hills with children. Cleland Wildlife Park, Hahndorf, nature play an…