11 fun experiences for kids in family friendly Naracoorte

Naracoorte is on Meintangk Country.

Is Naracoorte worth a visit?

Naracoorte is an excellent town to visit with kids and a great base for exploring more of the South East. The town is welcoming, friendly and safe with great playgrounds, walking trails and an excellent swimming lake. 

All of the places on this list are used and loved by locals, so you know they’re worth a visit!

Naracoorte Swimming Lake

Naracoorte Swimming Lake is THE spot to be during the warmer months in Naracoorte.

A huge, clear expanse of refreshing water and plenty of space for everyone – the lake has something for the whole family.

And it’s free!

When to visit

Usually open from late November until late March / early April (after the Easter weekend).

The Naracoorte Lucindale Council website or Facebook page is the best place to check for opening times as it varies each year.

Facilities and surrounds

The Naracoorte Swimming Lake is a large, chlorinated, outdoor swimming pool, fully lined and with a paved edge.

It’s surrounded by a pool fence with several self-closing gates to access the water on all sides.

The public toilet block has separate male and female changing rooms, showers, sinks and toilets.

Outside the fence, there’s plenty of green lawn to throw down a few towels or a picnic rug and beautiful large gum trees to provide shade.

The Swimming Lake sits next to the North Parklands scrub, which has a few different walking trails. If your kid has plenty of energy to burn, you might enjoy a bit of a hike followed by a refreshing swim at the lake.

Parking

There is a reasonably sized car park but during busier times this can fill up.

There are so many gates around the lake that it doesn’t really matter where you park and you won’t have too far to walk.

Local families and groups of children walk to the lake and a primary school is right next door. Watch out for pedestrians in the car park and on nearby roads.

No lifeguard

You’ll notice a lifeguarding tower, but there is no lifeguard at the Naracoorte Swimming Lake.

Supervise children carefully, in areas of the lake where you and your kids are confident in the water.

So many spots to choose from - the sandy bank, the square or the pontoon!

One edge of the Naracoorte Swimming Lake has a wonderful sand bank, just like being at the beach.

The water starts shallow all along the sand bank and gets deeper heading towards the middle of the lake. At one end of the sandy bank, there’s a shallow section covered with shade cloth.

The Square is much easier to supervise, with physical boundaries and a consistent water depth.

Children can play without worrying about the water getting deeper or moving from their supervising adult’s line of sight.

Confident swimmers will enjoy the pontoon out into the lake, easily accessed by a boardwalk from the side of the pool.

Jumping into the pool will keep some kids entertained for ages - walk the boardwalk, jump, climb the ladder, repeat!

Naracoorte North Nature Park

Looking for a peaceful spot to reconnect with nature?

Naracoorte’s North Nature Park has several well-defined trails to enjoy, whether you’re walking, running or riding.

Despite it’s prime location right next to the Swimming Lake, you’ll feel deep in the bush as you wander through the park.

Plenty of birds can be found in the nature park - it’s a lovely spot to get the kids to listen for how many bird calls they can hear.

During early morning and at sunset, it’s common to see kangaroos and wallabies in the scrub.

Lizards and snakes also live in the park and although sightings are more common on hot days, they can be present year round. Remember to stick to the paths.

The paths are mostly shaded, so this is still a nice option for a walk in the summer as long as you avoid the heat of the day.

Dogs are welcome on a leash, with doggie bags and bins provided to make it easier to pick up after your pet. It’s a perfect place for a good sniff around and with a variety of trails, you can choose the walk that best suits you and your pup.

The Canoe Tree

Following the central track from the swimming lake, you’ll come across a fenced area with a picnic table. Looking back along the path, you’ll spot a large gum tree with a scar in it’s bark. This is the ‘Canoe Tree’.

As part of a project with a local primary school, Aboriginal elder Major Sumner planned to create a canoe using the bark from the tree. Unfortunately, the bark broke as it was removed from the tree and no canoe was made.

The canoe scar is clearly visible and is a good example of what ‘scar trees’ from the traditional practice of canoe making look like.

Scar trees are an important part of Aboriginal heritage and are protected by law.

Many people pass through the park and never notice this incredible connection to local Aboriginal culture, so make sure you check it out!

Market Square Recreation Area

Market Square Recreation Area is an ideal spot for families!

The playground will appeal to toddlers and older kids alike, with plenty of space and equipment for however your child likes to play.

Most of the playground equipment is covered by large shades and the picnic tables in the centre of the playground are under a shelter.

The playground is fully-enclosed with a reasonably high fence and has self-closing gates with child-safe latches to make watching potential runners a little easier and safer.

Outside the playground, you’ll find the toilets, public barbecues and more picnic tables. It’s a common spot for birthday celebrations and family gatherings so the picnic spaces can fill up on weekends in warmer weather.

The Market Square Recreation Area also has a small skate park, which is well-visited and enjoyed by local kids.

The park is popular for kids on bikes, skateboard and scooters with smooth paths for inexperienced riders and a recently added skate bowl for kids looking for more challenge.

There’s also a half-court with a basketball ring for those keen to practise shooting some hoops.

Naracoorte has something for the furry members of your family too with an enclosed dog run, perfect to run off some energy off-leash.

Children under 12 will need to be accompanied into the area. Outside the designated area, dogs are welcome but need to be under control on a leash.

There’s a large carpark off MacDonald Street opposite the Naracoorte Market Square.

If you’re interested in checking out the markets, they’re held 8:00am to 11:30am, every month on the second Saturday.

Naracoorte Creek Walk

Naracoorte Creek Walk is a nice option for a family walk on a gravel track, suitable for prams and bikes.

With no defined start or finish points, you can join the trail wherever suits. The walk connects the town, swimming lake, caravan park and north parklands and can be walked in a 5km loop if you choose.

Most of the trail is a gravel path separate from roads, with a few road crossings. If you walk the largest possible loop out of the North Parklands, there’ll be a stretch to walk along the main highway.

The trail is prettiest during Spring as the creek fills with water during the wetter months. Ducklings and spring flowers make for quite a charming stroll. There’s a pond beside the Naracoorte Scout Hall which is a good spot to see the ducks.

The trail is a great option through Autumn and Winter too, with the cooler weather perfect for longer walks. The gravel trail stays firm underfoot, even after wet weather. Naracoorte does get quite cold, so if you’re visiting during cooler months be sure to pack warm layers to make the most of your stay.

During the summer, the walk is still pleasant but expect a dry creek. The shaded parts of the path are welcome in the warmer weather. There are a couple of small bridges to cross which kids will enjoy.

Most of the track is a fairly flat and easy walk. There are a few short but steep sections which can be trickier for little legs, bikes or pushing a heavy pram.

When walking from town towards the caravan park, the path down to the bridge is quite steep. Young children on bikes may be better walking and pushing their bike down the hill.

The trail enters the North Parklands and becomes a mixed trail of dirt, gravel and sand. Some of the sections of sand are difficult for bike riders and prams.

Watch out for snakes and ant mounds, particularly when walking through scrub areas. Staying on the path is the best option for avoiding encounters with creepy crawlies and protecting the vegetation. There are often magpies along the trail, but it’s quite rare that these birds swoop – I haven’t been swooped along this trail but there’s always a possibility during the Spring nesting season.

Naracoorte Library

The Naracoorte Library is located in the middle of town, with a cosy kids section overlooking the street and good selection of picture books. It’s a great rainy day spot and has a friendly, welcoming atmosphere from the moment you walk through the doors.

There is a parent room/toilet beside the children’s area in the library and it’s easily the best spot in town for a baby change. Unfortunately the toilets in the Main Street leave a lot to be desired. An access point with a ramp is located at the rear of the library and enters at the children’s section.

South Australia has a ONEcard system, meaning that you can borrow and return books from any library across the state with a South Australian library card. The staff will be happy to help out with any of your queries.

The library runs kids workshops through the school holidays, often with a craft focus, and is home to a kids Lego club.

Opening times

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5.30pm

Thursday 9am-8pm

Saturday 8.30am-noon

Sunday – closed.

Bool Lagoon Wetlands

I’ve included Bool Lagoon as it often appears on lists of ‘family friendly’ activities around Naracoorte and in the South East.

Whilst this would be a suitable adventure for some families, I wouldn’t say it’s ‘family friendly’.

Bool Lagoon is a seasonal wetland.

The beautiful photos of Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and its water birds are taken during years when the lagoon is full of water. The birds are migratory and don’t live at the wetland year round.

The rainfall around Naracoorte varies and year to year the amount of water at Bool Lagoon is different.

Visiting in a particular month, like August or September, isn’t a guarantee of plentiful water or birds in the park.

It’s best to check in with a Naracoorte local (perhaps at the Sheep’s Back Museum) about water levels before heading out to the game reserve.

Most of the year, the lagoon is dry. The reeds are long, golden brown and a haven for other animals, including snakes. The water birds have left the area, migrating to wetter habitats.

Adults and older teenagers can perhaps appreciate the beauty of Bool Lagoon year-round but most children are not going to enjoy a boardwalk stretching endlessly into a brown sea of dry grass.

If it’s been a particularly wet season, Bool Lagoon can be spectacular to visit.

Sunset over the water is beautiful - but this is a peak times for mosquitoes. If there’s water at Bool Lagoon, you’ll want to dress in light clothing that covers as much skin as possible and wear insect repellent.

Personally, I wouldn’t enjoy taking a toddler or young child to Bool Lagoon Game Reserve. None of the paths are entirely pram accessible and some are slippery when wet.

Bool Lagoon Game Reserve does not have entry fees for day visitors.

Camping is available, which will need to be booked and paid for online.

There’s limited mobile reception and no internet access at Bool Lagoon so you’ll need to pay before you visit. The cost is $18 per vehicle/per night.

Tips for visiting Bool Lagoon:

-Check with a local about whether there’s water in the lagoons

-Avoid in the summer months

-Cover skin and wear insect repellent

-Enclosed footwear for walking tracks

-Best suited for older kids

Naracoorte Heritage Trail

Naracoorte’s Heritage Trail is a nice option for a stroll in and around the centre of town.

For a more family friendly activity, I’d pair this with a walk to the Market Square Recreation Area, a treat at one of the cafes or a picnic lunch on the grass in the town square.

The informative signs are dotted around the outside of the Town Square. There are 10 information posts to look at, some with pictures of how the buildings used to look.

I think this the most interesting part of the walk and would choose to just stroll the square with a coffee rather than looking at all the buildings.

There are 18 sites to visit on the Naracoorte Heritage walk if you choose to do the full walk.

A brochure is available from the information centre at the Sheep’s Back Museum – which is a significant heritage spot in Naracoorte and worth a look. It’s also available from the Naracoorte Lucindale Council website.

Sheep’s Back Museum

Naracoorte’s Visitor Information Centre is found in a quirky little building from the 1860s that originally stood in the centre of town. Through the visitor centre, you can enter the Sheep’s Back Museum.

The galleries inside the old flour mill explain the important of wool to the area, the lifestyle of shearers and also the industries impact on the local environment.

Kids will enjoy thinking about how life was and seeing the old buildings and equipment makes it easier to imagine life for people many years ago.

It’s worth allowing an hour or so to take in all the information if you’d like to see everything in the museum.

If it’s a warm day, bring water, hat and sunscreen to make seeing the outside exhibits more enjoyable.

The volunteers in the centre are welcoming and knowledgeable – they’ll happily provide information to make the most of your visit to the museum and to Naracoorte itself.

There’s also a little gift shop with the usual Australian souvenirs along with some hand crafted items that would make a unique gift or memento of your time in Naracoorte.

Sheep’s Back Museum Ticket Prices

$10 Adult

$4 Children

$25 Family (2 adults, 2 kids or 1 adult, 3 kids)

$8 concession

Sheep’s Back Museum Opening Hours

Monday to Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Weekends and Public Holidays, 10:00AM – 4:00PM

Memorial Oval and Playground

Memorial Playground is a small but rather lovely ‘nature play’ style playground.

The water and sand play section is a hit with toddlers and preschoolers, with the pump at an easier height for younger kids to reach.

The playground also has climbing equipment, a slide and a large round net swing which are better suited to slightly older kids (4 years+).

Whilst there is a fence between the playground and the carpark, the playground isn’t fully enclosed. If you’re after an enclosed playground, the Market Square Recreation Area is a better choice with a fence surrounding the playground space.

Memorial Oval has two large grassed areas. There’s a gravel walking trail that loops past the playground, then through a small section of wetland and around the baseball pitch. It’s a nice walk to do with a pram or for kids to ride on their bikes.

During late winter and early spring, the wetland has two large pools of water and it’s common to see water birds and ducklings enjoying a temporary home.

In the summer the area is dry, although it’s often still muddy so watch out for little explorers running too far off the path.

Memorial Oval is the beginning of a walking and riding trail connection the town to the Naracoorte Caves National Park.

Both the Naracoorte Caves trail and the Memorial Oval walking trail are popular with bike riders but look out for swooping magpies along the paths in early spring (usually from the end of August through September). In general, the magpies along the oval only swoop bike riders – so people walking, running and pushing prams are not usually targets.

Memorial Oval is a great spot for a picnic!

There are barbecues available, with modern wooden shelters and picnic tables. The shelters have lights, so this is a fabulous option for warm summer evenings spent soaking up the sunset and enjoying a barbecue as the kids play and run around until they’re tired. Perfect!

Large shady trees surround the walking trail and are a great spot to lay out a blanket or rug, enjoy a packed lunch and gaze up though the branches. Babies especially love looking up through the trees and it’s a great way to create a few peaceful moments whilst nature entertains your little one.

A new toilet block was built in mid-2022 and there’s a drinking water station for filling water bottles and a lower tap for dog bowls.

There’s a small carpark off Price Avenue.

Naracoorte South conservation park

Naracoorte’s South Conservation Park has several walking trails (1.5km total) and is home to kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and plenty of bird life. It’s a quiet spot for a walk and another nice option for exercising dogs on a leash.

Challenge kids to a nature hunt as you walk – what evidence can they find of the animals that live in the park? Can they hear the birds? See their nest? Any burrows or ant mounds? Turning the experience into a game can help kids walk a little further and focus on their surroundings.

There are no facilities at the Naracoorte Conservation Park. Toilets, playground and drinking fountain can be found at Memorial Oval.

Naracoorte Caves National Park

Naracoorte Caves National Park is a must-see when visiting the area, just 10 minutes drive from town.

It’s South Australia’s only World Heritage Listed site and a great place to take the kids.

As well as tours of the amazing Naracoorte Caves, there’s an interactive fossil centre, cafe and a great nature play space.

I have a full post on making the most of your day at the Naracoorte Caves with detailed information and tips for a fantastic family day out!

Looking for more Limestone Coast inspiration?

We acknowledge over 65,000 years of continuous care and custodianship of the Meintangk people over these lands and waters. Their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and the Meintangk people as the traditional and rightful owners of this Country.