Adelaide Parks and Gardens

(Adelaide, South Australia - SA, Australia)

Central Adelaide is unusually entirely encircled with important green spaces and recreational areas. These include Bonyton Park, the Princess Elizabeth Playground, the Adelaide Oval, the Pennington Gardens, the Veale Gardens and the Victoria Park Racecourse, as well as the city's popular golf club, the Christian Brothers College Oval and the university's sports ground.

Lying on the eastern side of the city centre and alongside the hospital, the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium serve as a major tourist attraction. Visitors will find a number of landscaped areas, important collections of exotic plants from around the world and a spectacular Victorian palm house. The site also features a striking contemporary glasshouse known as the 'Bicentennial Conservatory'.

Adelaide's summers can be extremely hot and dry, and yet the parks usually manage to stay pleasantly green and lush. This is thanks to an extensive irrigation system connected to the 'nearby' River Murray.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium

Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8222 9311
Situated in the heart of the city centre, the glorious Botanic Gardens provide the perfect place to escape busy city life. Attractions include secluded seating, mature trees and shrubs, colourful flower borders, walking trails and guided walks. There are also a range of activities for children, such as regular face painting sessions, as well as 'Moonlight Cinema' on the Plane Tree Drive.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Adelaide Parklands

Address: West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5000, Australia
Tel: +1 300 655 276
These glorious parklands are a green oasis in the city centre and provide an important, central recreation space, divided into separate areas. Visitors will find playing fields and plenty of benches, which are ideal for picnics. There are also various pathways suitable for walking, jogging and cycling, along with colourful flower borders, three separate public golf courses and a series of seasonal events, such as horse trials and equestrian displays.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park

Address: Dover Street, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5173, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8278 5477
Located in the southerly suburb of Glenelg and within the Willunga sub-basin, the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park is a natural spot, rich in local flora and fauna. Highlights include walking trails, areas suitable for picnics, many ancient eucalyptus trees and a backdrop provided by sand dunes. As you explore the site, keep an eye out for the wild orchids, the brush-tailed possums and the geckos living here.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Belair National Park

Address: Upper Sturt Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5052, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8278 5477
Established in 1891 and covering an enormous expanse of more than 2,000 acres / 810 hectares, the Belair National Park is filled with indigenous trees and shrubs. Situated in the scenic south-easterly Adelaide Hills area, Belair is actually the oldest park in the whole of South Australia and boasts a large lake, nature trails, hilltop views, playing fields, some sports facilities and plenty of picnicking opportunities. Popular walking trails include the Lorikeet Loop, the Microcarpa, the Valley Loop, the Waterfall Hike, the Wood Duck Dawdle and the Yurrebilla Trail, the latter of which is roughly 5 km / 3 miles in length.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Black Hill Conservation Park

Address: Maryvale Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5076, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8336 0901
The Black Hill Conservation Park, on the eastern side of the city, is an attractive beauty spot, full of native wildlife. Notable points of interest here include hill climbs with panoramic views, nature trails and quiet picnic spots.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Bonython Park

Address: Port Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5006, Australia
Tel: +1 300 655 276
Lying in northern Adelaide, Bonython Park is a large public parkland with scenic views of the nearby River Torrens. Popular with families, Bonython features a playground area, a small lake, picnic spots and numerous pathways.
Open hours: daily - 07:30 to dusk
Admission: free

Botanic Park (Tainmundilla)

Address: Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8228 2311
The centrally located Botanic Park is situated alongside Adelaide Zoo and is home to many open expanses of grassland, as well as lawns suitable for sports and playing. Covering just over 80 acres / 32 hectares in total, the park features its very own 'Speaker's Corner', where anyone can come and freely talk about topical subjects. Various historical events have taken place here over the years, with the Australasian Salvation Army meeting here for the very first time in 1880. Frequent open-air concerts and celebrations are now staged at the Botanic Park today, including the annual music and dance extravaganza that is WOMADelaide, held each March.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Brownhill Creek Recreation Park

Address: Brownhill Creek Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5062, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8278 5477
The Brownhill Creek Recreation Park, in the southern suburbs, is a large parkland with areas of natural bushland and mature eucalyptus trees. Highlights include walking trails, native wildlife and secluded areas, with the nearby caravan park and golf course often being busy.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Elder Park

Address: King William Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5000, Australia
Tel: +1 300 655 276
Elder Park provides an important green haven away from the city centre. With many peaceful and private areas, other attractions here include large expanses of open grassland, benches, walking trails, a famous Rotunda gazebo, views of the nearby Torrens Lake, picnic spots and frequent premier city events, such as 'Symphony under the Stars'. The Riverbank Promenade offers additional interest.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Hazelwood Park

Address: Howard Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5066, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8366 4265
Hazelwood Park is no more than a 15-minute drive to the east and is a popular place for families, particularly when the sun is shining down. Dating back to the 1960s, the onsite Burnside Swimming Centre comes with a large lap pool, a separate kids pool and a further wading pool (shaded with large canopies), meaning that all ages are well catered for here. There are also a couple of playgrounds, as well as a kiosk selling ice creams and drinks.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Kingston Park

Address: Cameron Avenue, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5049, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8229 9980
Based within Glenelg and roughly 30 minutes to the south, Kingston Park is close to the coastline. With mature landscaping, vantage points overlooking the seafront, plenty of places to sit down, quiet picnic spots and flower borders, this is a popular area for relaxing. Visitors may like to enjoy a barbecue or a game of tennis, while families will no doubt spend time exploring the rock pools on the neighbouring beachfront. A walk along the 'Trail of the Creator Hero' is recommended if you have time and starts at a sacred Aboriginal spring, leading all the way to Jervis Bay and offering views of the gulf of St. Vincent along the way.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

McElligots Reserve

Address: Carrick Hill Drive, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5062, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8272 8888
Situated within the southerly suburb of Mitcham and alongside the Brown Hill Creek Recreation Reserve, the McElligots Reserve is home to large areas of open grassland, impressive city views, excellent picnic areas, seating, tables and good barbecue facilities. The reserve also has a small playground to keep youngsters fully occupied.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Mitcham Reserve

Address: Old Belair Road / Drummonds Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5062, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8272 8888
The Mitcham Reserve lies on the eastern side of the city, next to the suburb of Rostrevor. This is a vast area of natural beauty and features a small river, mature trees, pathways, picnic spots and a playground area designed for young children. The reserve is easy to reach by road and is connected by daily buses.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden

Address: Summit Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5152, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8222 9311
Located in the Adelaide Hills region, the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is home to spreading grounds filled with mature landscaped areas, impressive exotic plant specimens and native specimen eucalyptus trees, all of which cover some 240 acres / 97 hectares on the easterly slopes of Mount Lofty. The temperate climate means that many plants favouring cooler conditions are able to thrive here, such as magnolias and rhododendrons.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Morialta Conservation Park

Address: Morialta Falls Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5073, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8336 0901
Lying approximately 12 km / 7 miles to the north-east of the city centre and a part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Morialta Conservation Park is a huge public reserve, spread over some 1,300 acres / 525 hectares and incorporating rugged bushland, waterfalls and steep cliffs. Both bushwalks and rock climbing have become popular activities here, with visitors often heading to see the First Falls, the Giant's Cave and the Morialta Gorge.
Open hours: hours vary
Admission: free

River Torrens Linear Park

Address: King William Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5000, Australia
Tel: +1 300 655 276
The River Torrens Linear Park is edged by the river itself and its central situation means that it is regularly frequented by locals, with many people coming here to eat their lunchtime sandwiches. There are areas of wild bush and scrubland, native wildlife and trails suitable for walking, jogging and cycling, as well as playgrounds, picnic and barbecue facilities and shaded benches alongside the river.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Scott Creek Conservation Park

Address: Scott Creek Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5157, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8278 5477
Roughly 30 km / 19 miles to the south of the city and rich in native wildlife, the Scott Creek Conservation Park is home to a particularly high concentration of colourful birds, animals and ancient trees, whilst also boasting some magnificent views of the surrounding hills. This location was once Peramangk Aboriginal territory, with copper and silver mines arriving in the mid-19th century. Those with an interest in the past may like to pay a visit to the Almanda Mine ruins, with interpretive trails being popular and starting from the Dorset Vale Road, alongside the car park.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Shepherds Hill Recreation Park

Address: Shepherds Hill Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5050, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8278 5477
Close to Bellevue Heights and the Flinders University of South Australia, the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park is to be found on the southerly outskirts of Adelaide. This enormous and diverse natural parkland has numerous walking trails, breathtaking scenery, picnic spots and open areas of traditional Aussie bushland.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Twentieth Century Rose Garden

Address: Waite Campus, Fullarton Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5064, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8303 7405
The fragrant Twentieth Century Rose Garden resides within the grounds of Urrbrae House, close to the Waite Arboretum. Dedicated to historic and important rose varieties from the last century, the site is a blaze of colour during the summer months, when the roses and other flowers are in full bloom.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Waite Arboretum

Address: Fullarton Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5064, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8303 7405
The Waite Arboretum lies on the south-eastern side of the city, where it is home to an enormous and important collection of trees, including varieties from all over Australia and the world. Founded in the 1920s, the arboretum has many mature tree specimens, all of which are clearly labelled, mapped and growing close to pathways. Collections of particular interest include eucalypts, pears, banksias and oaks, while regular displays are held at the Arboretum Exhibition Room in Urrbrae House.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Wittunga Botanic Gardens

Address: Shepherds Hill Road, Adelaide, South Australia (SA), 5051, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 8222 9311
Located roughly 25 minutes to the south of the city centre, the Wittunga Botanic Gardens feature mature planting, landscaped areas and a large, reflective central lake. With impressive plant specimens, open expanses of grassy areas, colourful flowers from many different countries, secluded seating, numerous spots suitable for picnics, guided tours and walking trails, the Wittunga Botanic Gardens are well worth a visit, particularly if you are a keen gardener.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free