Visitor Information

COVID-19 update

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is currently open.

We believe that coming to a botanic garden and connecting with nature can have a calming effect in times of difficulty, and we hope the gardens will provide some respite for visitors.

However, in response to COVID-19 and in line with health and safety, all visitors must abide by all Government requirements. Please keep at least a 1.5 metre distance from all other visitors and staff, practice safe hygiene, and if you are feeling unwell, please stay home and visit us another day.

For information on the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium's response to COVID-19, please see our latest news.

Hours

Fire Danger

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is closed on days when the fire danger rating is severe, extreme or catastrophic. Please check the ratings prior to visiting during the fire season.

Admission

Free

Location and Map

There are two entrances to the garden:

Upper entrance and car park: Mount Lofty Summit Rd, Crafers

Lower entrance and car park: Lampert Rd, off Piccadilly Rd, Crafers. The Main Lake is most easily accessed from this entrance.

South Australia, 5152, Australia.

Download the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden map.

Getting there

From Adelaide, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is barely 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.

Check Adelaide Metro for public transport services into the Garden.

Parking

There are 150 spaces in the upper car park and 150 spaces in the lower car park. 

Following the re-opening of the garden on 15 May 2020, the garden has been very busy and both car parks have filled to capacity before 11am. 

If the car parks are full, we encourage visitors to consider moving on to an alternative nature spot, and returning to the garden another day.

Ticketed car parking is available via Mawson Drive or Lampert Rd using coin-operated vending machines.

 Find out more about parking.

Please note that all large coaches can only access Mount Lofty Botanic Garden via the Lower Car Park off Lampert Road.

Accessibility

There are disabled facilities at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and the Lakeside Trail offers universal access. This scenic sculpture-dotted route is accessible to everyone, including the disabled. Each piece of the interpretation has been translated and embossed in braille for people with vision impairments, and an audio trail has also been developed to complement the trail (available through the MyParx app).

Refreshments

From Saturday 26 September until 29 November, local chocolatier Bracegirdle’s will park their refreshment bus in the lower car park at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden every weekend and public holiday from 10am - 3pm.

Bracegirdle’s will be offering their full drinks menu along with some delicious sweet and savoury offerings specifically designed for Mount Lofty Botanic Garden visitors. 

Make a day of it! Bring a picnic rug and relax on the lawns with a tasty morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea from the Bracegirdle’s bus. Find out more.

Regulations

Botanic gardens are different from public parks in that they're living museums, filled with valuable living collections. For this reason some activities - such as allowing dogs to roam the Garden - have the potential to damage or destroy valuable plants.

Botanic Gardens are also internationally-regarded as places for visitors to seek peace beauty and tranquillity, so activities that impede this (such as the use of drones) are also discouraged. You must not:

• Bring dogs or other pets into the Garden
• Fly drones in or above the Garden (under CASA guidelines. Learn more at our Filming and Photography page)
• Ride bikes / bicycles, scooters, skateboards or rollerblades
• Drive vehicles into the Garden
• Damage or remove plants
• Enter garden beds
• Bring alcohol into the Garden
• Play ball or throwing games
• Bring BBQs into the Garden

Wildlife

The Botanic Gardens of South Australia are home to a huge variety of bird and animal life that are attracted to the Gardens’ flora. We do, however, ask that you do not feed the wildlife. Find out more about animal welfare and the Botanic Gardens of South Australia.