Due to the extreme heat forecast for Thursday 8 January, the Bicentennial Conservatory, where Wildlife Photographer of the Year is held, will CLOSE at 2pm.
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is in the Adelaide Hills.
There are two entrances to the Garden:
Upper entrance: Mount Lofty Summit Rd, Crafers, South Australia 5152.
Lower entrance: Lampert Rd, off Piccadilly Rd, Crafers, South Australia 5152.
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is open every day of the year, including public holidays.
Opening hours change with the seasons and daylight hours.
(non-daylight savings hours)
Every day: 8:30am - 4.00pm
(during daylight savings)
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 4.00pm
Weekends and public holidays: 8:30am - 6.00pm
For the safety of visitors and staff, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is closed on days when the fire danger rating is extreme or catastrophic. Please check the ratings via the Bureau of Meterology prior to visiting during the fire season.
Please check Adelaide Metro for bus services to Crafers.
From Adelaide, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is approximately a 25-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD, following the Princes Highway and National Highway M1, taking the Crafers exit.
From there, either following Summit Road to reach the Upper Carpark, or Piccadilly Road/Lampert Road for the Lower Carpark.
The Garden has an upper car park and a lower car park.
Ticketed car parking is available in both car parks using ticket machines. These machines accept credit and debit card payments only, and do not accept cash.
There are accessible car parks in both car parks (four in the lower car park and three in the upper car park).
Funds collected from ticketed parking directly support the garden’s world-class botanical collections, and education and conservation programs.
Rate (Mon-Sat)
$2.50 per hour or $6.50 flat fee for the day
Sundays & Public Holidays
Free
Rate (Mon-Sat)
$2.50 per hour or $6.50 flat fee for the day
Sundays & Public Holidays
Free
Find out more about parking here.
Please note:
All large coaches can only access Mount Lofty Botanic Garden via the Lower Car Park off Lampert Road.
Visitors are advised that the garden is very hilly in some parts, particularly the gullies.
Steep inclines and descents make it challenging for people using wheelchairs or prams/strollers.
The Lakeside Trail is a scenic, flat, bitumen pathway with sculptures at various locations around the trail. Each piece of the interpretation has been translated and embossed in braille. This trail is accessed via the lower car park.
There are accessible toilets at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in the upper car park and lower car park.
Assistance dogs are welcome in the Garden.
Botanic gardens are different from public parks in that they're living museums, filled with plant collections with conservation value.
For this reason some activities are not permitted as they have the potential to damage or destroy plants.
Botanic Gardens are also places for visitors to find peace and tranquility, so activities that negatively affect this are not permitted.
You must not:
• ride bikes / bicycles, scooters, skateboards or use rollerskates/blades
• bring dogs or other pets or animals into the Garden
• fly drones in or above the Garden or Botanic Park (Learn more at our Filming and Photography page)
• bring alcohol into the Garden
• use BBQs and portable gas cookers in the Garden
• smoke or vape in the Garden
• drive vehicles into the Garden
• damage or remove plants/trees or enter garden beds
• play ball or throwing games
• climb trees, as the botanical collection has conservation value.
• swim in or enter lakes, ponds or any waterways.
You can find a full list of our regulations here.
You can find the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Act 1978 here.
