Updated in October 2026, this Mount Lofty Botanic Garden guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a 97-hectare cool-climate garden on the eastern slopes of Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Parking costs $2.50 per hour or $6.50 for the day from Monday to Saturday, and it is free on Sundays and public holidays. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current parking rates, which are higher than the $2 daily fee in older guides.
Quick facts: the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8.30am to 4.00pm on weekdays all year. Weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 6.00pm in daylight saving, and to 4.00pm from May to September. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry ($0). Car parks: $2.50 per hour or $6.50 per day, Monday to Saturday. |
| Address | Upper entrance: Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers SA 5152. Lower entrance: Lampert Road, off Piccadilly Road, Crafers SA 5152. |
| Nearest transport or parking | Upper and lower car parks. Bus stop 30E on Piccadilly Road is about 1 km from the lower entrance. |
| Typical time needed | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden opening hours
The garden is open every day of the year, including public holidays. Opening hours change with the seasons and daylight hours.
- October to March (daylight saving): 8.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 6.00pm.
- April (autumn colour hours): 8.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 5.00pm.
- May to September: 8.30am to 4.00pm every day.
The garden is closed on days when the fire danger rating is extreme or catastrophic. Check the fire danger rating before a visit in the fire season.
Five great things to do while you’re in Adelaide
- Kayak with dolphins – at the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
- Take wildlife-packed day tour to Kangaroo Island.
- Combine an Adelaide Hills tour with a lunch cruise on the Murray River.
- Enjoy a tasting tour of four Barossa Valley wineries – with a gourmet lunch.
- See incredible sunsets on a twilight cruise from Glenelg.
The Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ticket prices
Entry to the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is free. The only charge is for parking from Monday to Saturday.
- General entry: free.
- Parking, Monday to Saturday: $2.50 per hour or a $6.50 flat fee for the day. The rate is the same in both car parks.
- Parking on Sundays and public holidays: free.
- Guided walks: free. They leave from the lower car park every Thursday at 10.30am.
- Payment: the ticket machines accept credit and debit cards only. They do not accept cash.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
The garden is about a 25-minute drive from Adelaide city centre. Follow the Princes Highway and National Highway M1, then take the Crafers exit.
- To the upper car park: follow Mount Lofty Summit Road. The upper car park is reached via Mawson Drive.
- To the lower car park: follow Piccadilly Road and Lampert Road. The Main Lake and the flat lakeside trail are easiest to reach from the lower entrance.
- By bus: public transport does not currently serve the garden directly. Bus stop 30E on Piccadilly Road is about 1 km from the lower entrance. Check Adelaide Metro for services.
- By coach: all large coaches must use the lower car park off Lampert Road.
Parking at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
The garden has an upper car park and a lower car park. Both charge $2.50 per hour or $6.50 for the day from Monday to Saturday. Parking is free on Sundays and public holidays.
Both car parks have accessible parking. The lower car park has four accessible spaces and the upper car park has three.
The garden is very popular in autumn, particularly at weekends, so parking can be hard to find at busy times. The upper car park often has more spaces, but the walk down into the garden is steep. The garden is quieter earlier in the day.
How long to spend at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Plan about 1.5 to 2 hours for a first visit. This covers the lakeside loop and one of the longer trails.
The garden has six marked loops and trails:
- Lakeside Loop: 1 km with minimal inclines.
- Lower Loop: 3 km with minimal inclines.
- Central Loop: 2 km with medium inclines.
- Boundary Loop: 3 km with medium to steep inclines.
- Rhododendron Trail: 700 m one way with medium to steep inclines.
- Heysen Trail: 2 km each way with medium to steep inclines.
Accessibility at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
The garden is very hilly in some parts, particularly the gullies. Steep inclines and descents make some areas hard for wheelchairs and prams.
The Lakeside Trail is a flat bitumen path with sculptures along it. It is the only loop suited to prams and most wheelchairs. Each artwork has braille interpretation. Access the trail from the lower car park.
Accessible toilets are in the upper and lower car parks. Assistance dogs are welcome.
What to see at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
The garden grows cool-climate plants from South America, China, East Africa, New Zealand, South East Asia and North America. It also shows native plants of the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Themed gullies include the East African, Fern, Magnolia, New Zealand, Rhododendron, South American, South East Asian and Western Asian Gullies. A Woodland Garden, a Herbaceous Perennial Rock Garden and the Heritage Rose Garden are also on the map.
Spring brings rhododendrons and magnolias. Magnolia Gully has 36 magnolia species. Autumn brings strong leaf colour, and April has special opening hours for it.
The Main Lake is the central feature, with the lakeside loop around it. Eight plant-themed artworks with braille interpretation stand along the loop. Themed sculptures and shelters are also scattered through the garden.
Wildlife includes kangaroos, bandicoots and koalas.
A section of the Heysen Trail passes through the garden. It is one of the oldest sections of the 1,200 km long-distance trail.
Free guided walks run every Thursday at 10.30am from the lower car park. They are led by Friends of the Botanic Gardens guides. They do not run on days forecast to reach 36 degrees or more, or on Christmas Day.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The gates open at 8.30am, and the garden is quieter earlier in the day. |
| Crowds | Autumn weekends are the busiest time. The upper car park often has more spaces, but it has a steep walk down. |
| Layout | Two entrances serve the garden. The lower entrance is the best start for the lake and the flat trail. |
| Entry process | No ticket is needed for entry. Pay for parking by card at the ticket machines. |
| On-site logistics | Stay out of garden beds and do not climb trees, play ball games or swim in the lakes. There is no permanent café. Bring a picnic. Bracegirdle’s food bus is at the lower car park on weekends and public holidays in spring to autumn. |
Frequently asked questions about the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden free to enter? | Yes. Entry is free. Parking costs $2.50 per hour or $6.50 per day from Monday to Saturday. |
| Is the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden suitable for children? | Yes. The flat lakeside loop suits prams. Other trails are hilly. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden? | No. No booking is needed for entry or the free Thursday guided walks. |
| Is the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden open on Sundays? | Yes. It is open every day, and parking is free on Sundays. |
| Are dogs allowed at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden? | No. Dogs and other pets are not allowed. Bikes, scooters, drones, alcohol and barbecues are also banned. Assistance dogs are welcome. |
Things to do near the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
- Mount Lofty Summit: a lookout and visitor complex about 1.3 km from the garden, with views over Adelaide to the coast, a gift shop and a café.
- Cleland Wildlife Park: a wildlife park on Mount Lofty Summit Road, linked to the summit by the 3.5 km Steub Trail.
- Waterfall Gully: the start of a 4.5 km hike to Mount Lofty Summit.
- Cleland National Park: a bushland park about 22 km south-east of Adelaide city centre, with walking and cycling trails.
- Heysen Trail: a long-distance walking trail that passes through the garden and the summit area.
Alternative attractions
- Adelaide Botanic Garden: a 50-hectare historic garden on North Terrace in the city centre, with a tram stop at the main gate.
- Wittunga Botanic Garden: a 13-hectare garden in Blackwood, 14 km south of the city centre, with Australian and South African plants.
- Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla: parkland in the city next to the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
- Himeji Garden: a Japanese garden on East Terrace in the Adelaide city centre.
- Barossa Bushgardens: a native plant garden in Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley, a little over an hour’s drive from Adelaide.
More Adelaide travel
Other Adelaide travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Complete guide to visiting the South Australian Museum.
- Art Gallery of South Australia visitor guide: Including opening hours, free entry and what to see.
- Plan your visit to Adelaide Gaol.
- What to expect at the Gorge Wildlife Park.
- Mount Lofty Summit visitor guide: With parking prices, opening hours, how to get there and what to see.
- Learn the secrets of Penfolds Grange at the Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide.
