Is the Adelaide Botanic Garden free?

Yes, the garden itself is free to enter. Some special exhibitions or events may cost extra, so check the listing for details.

Can we picnic at Botanic Park?

Yes, it is a popular spot for picnics. Bring a rug and your own food, and check the listing for any rules.

Can we visit the chocolate factories?

Haigh's and Melba's both offer experiences, but arrangements can change. The listing explains what is available and whether any bookings are needed.

What is there to do at JamFactory?

It is a creative studio and gallery, so it suits older children who are curious about making. Check the listing for what is open and what is on display.

Chilled days: gardens, parklands and picnics in Adelaide

Some days call for nothing more than a patch of shade and room to wander, and Adelaide is good at this. The Adelaide Botanic Garden sits at the edge of the city centre, with lawns, ponds and glasshouses that keep children interested for as long as the weather holds. Next door, Botanic Park gives families a wide, tree-lined expanse for picnics and ball games, and further out, the Michael Perry Botanic Reserve in Stonyfell offers a quieter, hillside alternative. Beyond the gardens, a few free creative spaces add variety: the JamFactory, Artspace at the Adelaide Festival Centre and the Pepper Street Arts Centre at Magill. Chocolate lovers will find that Haigh's and Melba's open their factories to visitors, so check the listing for what is available. The rhythm of a chilled day in Adelaide is gentle: a late start, a long picnic and a slow walk. Summer is best at the edges of the day, while winter and spring bring the garden to life with flowers and fresh green. A rug, a flask and a good book are all you need.

Our picks

Adelaide Botanic Garden Adelaide
Adelaide Botanic Garden is a free public garden covering 50 hectares in the east end of the city, open every day of the year.

★ 4.7 (10,862)
Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla Adelaide
Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla is a 34-hectare park and tree arboretum directly north of Adelaide Botanic Garden and south of Adelaide Zoo, run by the Botanic Gardens and…

★ 4.7 (2,074)
Michael Perry Botanic Reserve Stonyfell
Michael Perry Botanic Reserve at 6 Kurrajong Avenue, Stonyfell is a City of Burnside reserve with a walking trail along Second Creek, which the council says is well…

★ 4.7 (200)
JamFactory Adelaide
JamFactory is a craft and design organisation at 19 Morphett Street in Adelaide's West End, with working studios in glass, ceramics, furniture and jewellery and metal,…

★ 4.8 (336)
Haigh's Chocolates + Factory Tours
Haigh's free chocolate experience runs at the Haigh's Visitor Centre and original factory site at 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside, just south of the Adelaide city centre.

★ 4.6 (1,704)
Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery
Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery runs a chocolate and confectionery factory at 22 Henry Street, Woodside, in the Adelaide Hills.

★ 4.6 (743)

Before you go

Best for which ages

Gardens are good for all ages, from babies on a rug to children looking for frogs in the pond. Pre-schoolers love the open lawns, and older children like exploring paths and glasshouses. Teens may prefer the creative spaces, which add something to look at.

What to bring

A picnic rug, food and plenty of water. A hat and sunscreen in warmer months, and a jacket in winter. A ball or a book helps keep kids occupied, and a bag for any leaves or stones they decide to collect.

Parking and facilities

The Botanic Garden is close to public transport and has nearby parking, but spaces fill on busy weekends. Toilets and cafes are generally on site, but the listing explains details. Smaller reserves may have limited facilities. Visiting on a weekday morning usually means a quieter car park and shorter queues at the cafe.

Prams and accessibility

The main garden paths are flat and suited to prams, while hillside reserves like Michael Perry are steeper. The creative spaces are usually indoors and accessible. Check the listing if you need step-free access. Lawns beside the paths give prams room to roam, and most glasshouses have level entrances.

Best time of year

Spring is the showpiece, with blossoms and fresh green. Autumn brings gentle light and colour. Summer is best early in the morning or late afternoon. Winter is calm, with cooler days that suit longer walks. On hot days, the shade under the big trees makes the garden far more pleasant than the street.

Botanic gardens and big parklands

Open lawns, shaded paths and room to run, with toilets and a picnic spot close by.

Adelaide Botanic Garden Adelaide
Adelaide Botanic Garden is a free public garden covering 50 hectares in the east end of the city, open every day of the year.

★ 4.7 (10,862)
Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla Adelaide
Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla is a 34-hectare park and tree arboretum directly north of Adelaide Botanic Garden and south of Adelaide Zoo, run by the Botanic Gardens and…

★ 4.7 (2,074)
Michael Perry Botanic Reserve Stonyfell
Michael Perry Botanic Reserve at 6 Kurrajong Avenue, Stonyfell is a City of Burnside reserve with a walking trail along Second Creek, which the council says is well…

★ 4.7 (200)
Laratinga Wetlands Mount Barker
Award-winning wetlands off Bald Hills Road in Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, run by the District Council of Mount Barker as a water reclamation facility that…
Wittunga Botanic Garden Blackwood
A 13-hectare botanic garden in the hillside suburb of Blackwood with water-wise plants from Australia and South Africa, spring displays of ericas and proteas, and a…

Playground

All gardens and parklands in Adelaide, free and paid

More free days out

Community farms, wildlife spots and other places that cost nothing to get into.

JamFactory Adelaide
JamFactory is a craft and design organisation at 19 Morphett Street in Adelaide's West End, with working studios in glass, ceramics, furniture and jewellery and metal,…

★ 4.8 (336)
Haigh's Chocolates + Factory Tours
Haigh's free chocolate experience runs at the Haigh's Visitor Centre and original factory site at 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside, just south of the Adelaide city centre.

★ 4.6 (1,704)
Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery
Melba's Chocolates & Confectionery runs a chocolate and confectionery factory at 22 Henry Street, Woodside, in the Adelaide Hills.

★ 4.6 (743)
Pepper Street Arts Centre Magill
Pepper Street Arts Centre is a City of Burnside arts venue at 558 Magill Road, Magill, in the former Magill School.

★ 4.6 (32)
Denise Norton Park Tennis Courts North Adelaide
The City of Adelaide lists Denise Norton Park Tennis Courts among the free public tennis courts in the Adelaide Park Lands.

★ 4.5 (63)
Artspace, Adelaide Festival Centre Adelaide
Artspace is a gallery at Adelaide Festival Centre, located above the Dunstan Playhouse foyer.
Green Monkeys Play Cafe Seacombe Gardens
Green Monkeys is a play café run by volunteers from Portlife Church at its South Campus, 79 Seacombe Road, Seacombe Gardens.
Pull Pop Play! Adelaide
Pull Pop Play! is a free family program at the State Library of South Australia, run in the State Library Gallery (Spence Wing, ground floor) alongside the Pull Pop…

Questions parents ask

Is the Adelaide Botanic Garden free?: Yes, the garden itself is free to enter. Some special exhibitions or events may cost extra, so check the listing for details.
Can we picnic at Botanic Park?: Yes, it is a popular spot for picnics. Bring a rug and your own food, and check the listing for any rules.
Can we visit the chocolate factories?: Haigh's and Melba's both offer experiences, but arrangements can change. The listing explains what is available and whether any bookings are needed.
What is there to do at JamFactory?: It is a creative studio and gallery, so it suits older children who are curious about making. Check the listing for what is open and what is on display.