With the summer holidays well and truly here it can be difficult to find ways to keep the kids entertained. Lucky for you we have created a list of easy and fun things to do that are right in your backyard!
Fruit Picking in the Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills is home to some of South Australia’s most delicious orchards. Just a short car ride from Newenham, you’ll find all the ingredients for a delicious homemade fruit salad. From apples to strawberries to figs and cherries, you’ll love exploring the different orchards our region has to offer.
Although picking season varies depending on the fruit, Summer is the perfect time to take your family to the local cherry and strawberry orchards. Below are some of the best places to go to.
Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf
Picking season: November – April.
For an adventure in one of South Australia’s biggest strawberry patches, head to Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf, open from November to April each year. Their big, juicy strawberries are the perfect sweet treat in warm weather and the kids will love discovering the different sizes and shapes of each individual fruit.
Start at the farmshop to collect a punnet for your picking and to pay for your entry, which is $5 per person, with kids 12 and under free! Be sure to browse and taste the incredible array of sauces, relishes and dressings while you’re there. Pick to your heart’s content and pay $11.95 per kilogram for the bounty you harvest. Remember to always check Beerenberg’s website before your visit to see if the strawberry patch is open. To top off your picking adventure, be sure to try the Berryberg Swirl – a silky blend of Golden North Vanilla ice cream mixed with frozen farm fresh berries.
Green Valley Strawberries
If you’re not up for a day of picking but are keen to get a taste of the region’s fresh strawberries visit the Green Valley Strawberries, located between Nairne and Woodside, for sales of strawberries and other fresh local fruit – open every Wednesday through to Sunday whilst in season. They also have a great little café with plenty of strawberry themed drinks and dishes. If you’re lucky enough to attend on a weekend, try the pancakes and waffles, which of course include a side of their deliciously fresh strawberries.
Marble Hill Cherries
Picking season: From early December till fully picked.
It’s not a true Aussie summer if you don’t indulge in a bunch of freshly picked cherries. Only a half an hour drive from Newenham, Marble Hill Cherries, is a specialist ‘pick-your-own’ cherry orchard giving you the opportunity to bring home as many fresh, big and most importantly delicious cherries. Pay an entry fee of $10 if you’re in between the ages of 13-70, or $5 if you’re over 70 – children 5 and under are free!
Taste their juicy cherries whilst you pick or try their very own special Marble Hill Cherry Ice-cream made by the team at Gelista, for the perfect summer treat.
Bookings are essential, and it is advised to bring your own buckets, water bottle and sunscreen. Card payments are also preferred.
Build a Cubby House
Summer holidays is the perfect time to participate in a DIY project that includes the whole family. Building a cubby house is one of the most classic DIY projects for the whole family to enjoy and not only is it fun for the kiddies, but also provides them with lots of learning opportunities.
The beauty of building a cubby house in your backyard is that you can design it however you like. Make it big or small and add some personalised touches or a pop of colour to create a theme your family will enjoy. Mitre 10 has made building a cubby house at home easier, by creating an easy-to-follow guide to make your building journey a breeze. To achieve the ultimate cubby house, don’t forget to add your family name at the top of the entrance!
Enjoy Newenham’s Linear Park
Located right in Newenham’s backyard, our Linear Park makes for the perfect outdoor adventure. The shared walk and bike path is a relaxing 2-kilometre walk, ride or run into the town centre of Mount Barker providing safe and easy access to the retail and dining heart of the town.
The pathway is ideal for taking in the beautiful, natural environment of Newenham, which includes a range of native vegetation and local birdlife. The linear park also includes a bio-diversity corridor, native vegetation, wetlands and a viewing platform, which is perfect for the whole family to explore together.
Whether you want to have an enjoyable family stroll, go for a relaxing bike ride, or simply take in the natural beauty of the area, a trip down the Linear Trail is the perfect way to soak up the summer sun.
Experience Wildlife at Monarto Zoo
Experience an African safari only a half an hour’s drive from Newenham by visiting the Monarto Safari Park. It is the largest open-range zoo in the world and is home to more than 500 animals and 50 exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles.
Monarto offers a range of exciting activities suited for ages, that allow you to get up close and personal with the wildlife. It is a sure way to make you feel as if you’re in the heart of Africa!
Hop on the Zu-loop bus and travel around the open plains of the safari park to see a range of animals in their natural environment including meerkats, white rhinos, lions, cheetahs, chimpanzees and many more.
If you’re brave enough, take your adventure to the next level and have a more intimate experience with Australia’s only 360-degree lion encounter. Get up close and personal with the Kings of the Jungle in a secure enclosed cage, where you can also have the opportunity to feed them and gain an insight into the world of these famous predators.
With many more experiences available including the Giraffe Safari, Rhino Experience and spending the day behind the scenes learning what it takes to be a Zoo Keeper there is definitely something for everyone.
Visit the Hahndorf Farm Barn
For another unforgettable animal experience that feels closer to home, The Hahndorf Farm Barn is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. Located within 15 minutes drive of Newenham, The Hahndorf Farm barn is a mix between a children’s farmyard and a wildlife park where you are able to experience true farm life and hold, touch and feed some of the adorable farm animals. From cuddling baby rabbits, to milking cows and bottle-feeding baby lambs, children will be delighted with the range of farm activities and responsibilities they are able to participate in.
Pony rides are also available on weekends from 11:30am – 2:30pm for children aged between 2 and 12. They are fully supervised and led by trained staff and cost only $5 per ride!
Make a family fun day out and explore the other activities you can enjoy within the area by checking out this blog of 10 Amazing Things to explore in Mount Barker and The Adelaide Hills.
Horse riding – Four Oaks Farm
Horse riding is a great way to immerse yourself in nature and potentially step out of your comfort zone. Four Oaks Farm offers a stunning scenic farmhouse in the Adelaide Hills where you can feed the farm animals, see some kangaroos and have a go at spotting their resident peacock. The main attraction is the horse and pony riding trails. The trails go through the blissful Adelaide Hills with a view of Mt Lofty on the horizon. No experience is needed and all safety equipment is provided.
Woodhouse Activity Centre – Tube Slide
Fast becoming one of South Australia’s most popular attractions in the Adelaide Hills, take the kids to try the Tube Slide at Woodhouse Activity Centre a 100m water-less slide. You can expect lots of fun as you slide down the synthetic slopes in a big rubber tube that turns, accelerates, bends and stops on its own. Fast, furious and fabulously fun! Open every weekend from 9:30am – 1pm (weather permitting) it’s sure to put a smile on the dial of any kid … big or small!
If you’re the adventurous type and always keen on chasing some adrenaline, check out our Top 10 Outdoor Adventures blog to find more exhilarating activities to experience in the Adelaide Hills.
Giant Rocking Horse
A visit to The Big Rocking Horse is always a fun thing to do. If the kids want to climb to the very top of this Australian icon, they’ll receive their very own certificate (and an incredible view). You’ll also find an animal park with everything from peacocks to alpacas, as well as a working toy factory and toy shop. This truly is kid heaven. You can also pack a lunch and enjoy a break at the scenic lakeside picnic area.
SteamRanger Heritage Railway
This iconic South Australian train is a rich part of our heritage and can be enjoyed by all ages. The 2.5-hour train ride journeys around the Southern coast and takes you back into our earliest history. Travel past abandoned train stations, crisscrossing creeks and rivers that were vital to colonial South Australia. Depending on where passengers embark from, you can expect to travel through the Mount Lofty Ranges, Strathalbyn, Port Elliot and experience a beautiful and nostalgic way to see the Fleurieu Peninsula whilst educating children on the history of transportation. The chugging of wheels over rutted tracks and the unique ‘railroad’ smell of steam and oil creates an experience that can’t be replicated.
For weekly updates on train times and the services currently available, check out the SteamRanger Facebook page.
Southern Beaches (Fleurieu Peninsula)
For more Fleurieu fun, be sure to grab your family and friends and make a weekend out of exploring the amazing Southern coastlines of South Australia in summer. Take a scenic drive through the Adelaide Hills and watch how the landscape changes as you travel closer to the coast. From Southport Beach to Second Valley and Port Elliot you’ll be mesmerised by the crystal clear waters and impressive cliff-hanging views. And if you’re tired from all the water activity, be sure to stay on lookout for the Australian wildlife both in and out of the water.
Find out more about these beautiful beaches here.
If you’d like to know more about joining our vibrant community or to secure your future at Newenham, email sales@newenham.com.au or contact the Sales Team on 0429 107 497.
Come and experience this beautiful pocket of the Adelaide Hills for yourself and see why so many people are choosing to live at Newenham – awarded Best Residential Development at the UDIA SA 2020 Awards for Excellence.
The Sales and Information Centre is located at 164 Flaxley Road, Mount Barker (check the website for open hours) or you can book by appointment for a personal tour at a time that suits you.
Come and see for yourself why you and your family will love living at Newenham.
