by Carla Caruso

Did you know that the Adelaide Park Lands Association is on TikTok?

You can find our account here and check out all the videos we’ve been posting about your Adelaide Park Lands.

The short vids cover activities such as picnicking and painting in Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21) and birdwatching in Rundle Park / Kadlitpina (Park 13).

University of South Australia marketing/comms student Danielle Yothathone recently came onboard to help create such content for us.

So, we thought we’d put the 23-year-old in the hot-seat to find out everything from what makes a good TikTok to the kinds of things that’d inspire more young people to visit your Adelaide Park Lands. Read on…

Hi, Danielle. Please tell us about what you do for APA and what inspired you to do this.

I’ve been involved with the Adelaide Park Lands Association since March this year.

My role involves making videos that highlight the beauty and various activities available within the Park Lands.

The values of environmentalism and community engagement of the Adelaide Park Lands Association really resonated with me and inspired me to work with the organisation.

What are your tips for making a good TikTok? And what equipment and programs do you use when creating content?

Creating a good TikTok video starts with a clear idea or concept. It’s important to understand that TikTok is different from other social media platforms—users appreciate authenticity.

You don’t need fancy equipment or expensive editing programs to make engaging content. I use both my phone and a professional camera, depending on the situation. But honestly, your phone is usually more than enough.

For editing, I love using CapCut on my phone because it’s free and user-friendly. For more advanced editing, I use Adobe Premiere Pro on my desktop. 

Early morning or late afternoon provides the best natural light for shooting, making your footage look great.

Shooting and editing can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day to do, depending on the complexity of the video! I typically shoot videos during weekends or whenever I have free time between my studies.

The key is to be yourself and have fun with it. Even if you feel like you don’t have the skills or equipment, you can still create content that resonates with people. Just start creating and learn as you go!

What keeps you busy when you’re not out filming?

When I’m not creating Park Lands videos, I’m busy with my marketing and communications studies at UniSA.

I also enjoy reading, photography, and recently, painting—which has been a fun adventure.

Do you have a favourite park in the Adelaide Park Lands? 

I love Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21)! It’s spacious with a creek running through it, and charming spots, like grottos and the sunken rose garden, make it really special.

What do you think would inspire more young people to explore the Adelaide Park Lands?

It’s important to highlight activities that appeal to teens and young adults, who value exciting experiences and spending time with friends. Many are unaware of the different opportunities beyond enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Using social media effectively can play a significant role here, given that young people spend a considerable amount of time online.

Promoting activities like picnics, fun crafting sessions, the skate park in Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25), and the BMX tracks and TreeClimb in Blue Gum Park / Kurangga (Park 20) are great ways to engage young people and encourage them to enjoy their Park Lands.

[More] organised events that incorporate food stalls, where people can grab a bite together—like they did at the Fringe this year—would be a big hit too!

Any local TikTokers you enjoy following? 

I really love @thediaryofjen, who has a great series called 20 Fun Things to Do in Adelaide.

@glamadelaide is also a great account for finding new experiences and eateries around Adelaide and South Australia.

Finally, why do you love TikTok as a medium?

TikTok is an amazing platform for me because its algorithm randomises the videos that appear on a person’s feed.

This levels the playing field and allows us to reach a wide audience to showcase the beauty and activities of your Park Lands.

Unlike Facebook and Instagram, which are great for our existing followers, TikTok opens doors to new audiences, giving us a chance to introduce the charm of your Adelaide Park Lands to people who may not be familiar with them yet.

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We share Danielle’s TikTok videos on our Instagram and Facebook feeds as well, to reach an even wider audience.

If you’d like to join Danielle, and help her by creating more short TikTok videos of your Park Lands (or help us out in other ways), just see our volunteer page.