Adelaide Botanic Garden with kids

Adelaide Botanic Garden is one of the city's great free spaces. The gardens describe it as 50 hectares of maintained gardens and architecture in the heart of the city, with plant collections from across Australia and around the world. For families, it's a place to wander, picnic, spot wildlife and explore extraordinary buildings, all without spending a cent on entry.

This guide covers the practical details and some ideas for keeping children interested. Information comes from the Botanic Gardens' own visitor pages. Check them before you go, as hours and events change.

The essentials

• Entry: free during the day. The Museum of Economic Botany inside the garden is free too. Some events, often in the Bicentennial Conservatory or after dark, are ticketed.
• Open: every day of the year, including public holidays.
• Hours from October to March (daylight saving): 7.15am to 6.30pm on weekdays; 9am to 6.30pm on weekends and public holidays.
• Hours from April to September: 7.15am to 5.30pm on weekdays; 9am to 5.30pm on weekends and public holidays.
• Visitor Information Centre: staffed by volunteers from 10am to 4pm daily, inside the garden shop.

Getting there

The garden is at the east end of North Terrace and has six entrances. The main gate is on North Terrace.

• Tram: the Botanic Gardens tram stop is about 100 metres from the main gate, and the gardens note that tram travel in the city centre is free.
• Bus: a free city connector bus stops on North Terrace and East Terrace near the main gate.
• Car: ticketed parking is on Plane Tree Drive and Hackney Road. The gardens say fees apply from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, parking is free on Sundays and public holidays, and the machines are card only.
• Bikes and scooters: welcome for getting there, but not allowed inside. Use the racks at the entrances.

See getting around with kids for more on Adelaide Metro.

Facilities for families

The gardens say there are toilets in five locations, all with accessible toilets and baby change tables, plus a Changing Places facility (MLAK key required). Most paths are paved or bitumen and fairly flat, though some areas have gravel or sawdust paths, and a few paths to the Sunken Garden and Threatened Seed Orchard are steep. The garden is wheelchair accessible from every gate except the Hackney Gate. Food options range from takeaway coffee to restaurants, and there's free wi-fi in one area of the garden.

The rules, and why they matter

The gardens explain that botanic gardens are living museums, with plant collections of conservation value, so some activities that are fine in a park aren't allowed. Inside the garden, you must not:

• ride bikes, scooters, skateboards or skates;
• bring dogs or other pets (assistance dogs are welcome);
• play ball or throwing games;
• climb trees;
• enter garden beds or damage plants;
• swim in or enter lakes, ponds or waterways;
• use barbecues or portable gas cookers;
• fly drones.

Explaining the "why" helps children understand: these plants are special, some are rare, and they need protecting. Neighbouring Botanic Park has more open space for running around and picnics.

Things to see and do with kids

• The Bicentennial Conservatory. This striking curved glass building houses a tropical environment. The gardens say it has a ground-level path and a raised boardwalk through the canopy. Check whether it's open on the day, as it occasionally closes for events.
• The Museum of Economic Botany. A beautiful, quiet building about the role of plants in human life. Free entry.
• Wildlife spotting. The gardens note birds, turtles and lizards among the residents. Bring a list and tick them off.
• Collections to explore. From the Garden of Health and Mediterranean Garden to the Rose Garden, there's a lot to discover. Pick one or two to focus on.
• Free guided walks and school holiday activities. The gardens mention daily free guided walks and children's school holiday activities. Check the What's On page.

Ideas to keep children engaged

1. Colour hunt: find a flower or leaf for every colour of the rainbow (look, don't pick).
2. Leaf detectives: compare the biggest and smallest leaves you can find.
3. Sound map: sit quietly for two minutes and list every sound.
4. Texture hunt: find the smoothest and the roughest bark beside the paths, and feel it gently.
5. Sketch walk: draw one plant from each area you visit.

Sun and shade

The garden has plenty of shade, but you'll still be outdoors for much of your visit. Cancer Council Australia recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above, and notes that UV can be high even on cool, cloudy days. Hats, sunscreen and water bottles are a must. See sun safety for kids.

Make a day of it

The garden is a short walk from the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace. A museum morning and a garden picnic make a classic Adelaide family day. See free days out.

Visiting with toddlers and babies

The garden is one of the easiest outings in Adelaide with very young children. Most paths are paved or bitumen and fairly flat, so prams roll easily, and every toilet block has a baby change table. Shade is plentiful, and there's space to stop for a feed or a nap in the pram.

A few tips for little ones:

• Follow their pace. A toddler might spend twenty minutes watching ducks or turtles. That's a success.
• Bring a ball for Botanic Park, not the garden itself, where ball games aren't allowed.
• Keep close near water. The garden has lakes and ponds, and the gardens say people must not enter them.
• Pack a snack and a drink, and know where the nearest café and toilets are on the map.

Visiting with older children and teens

Older children often enjoy the garden more when they have a purpose. Try a photography challenge (the best close-up, the strangest plant, the most interesting shadow), a guided walk, or a visit to the Museum of Economic Botany, which looks at how people use plants for food, medicine and materials. School holiday programs can also appeal; check the What's On page.

Teens studying science, art or design may find the collections and buildings genuinely useful for school projects, and the garden's free wi-fi zone near the Kitchen Garden can help with research on the spot.

Planning around the seasons

Because the garden's hours change with daylight saving, a summer visit can stretch into the early evening, when it's cooler. In winter, the garden closes at 5.30pm, so plan an earlier start. Spring and autumn are often the most comfortable seasons for a long visit, and the garden changes noticeably through the year, which gives families a reason to come back.

Before you go

Check the gardens' website for any closures, such as the conservatory closing for an event, and for ticketed events that might affect access to some areas. Bring your card if you plan to park, since the gardens say the machines are cashless.

Key points

• Entry is free during the day, and the garden is open every day of the year.
• Hours change with daylight saving: closing is 6.30pm from October to March and 5.30pm from April to September.
• All five toilet blocks have accessible toilets and baby change tables.
• No bikes, scooters, ball games, tree climbing or pets inside the garden.
• Parking is free on Sundays and public holidays; the tram stop is about 100 metres from the main gate.