News

Looking to get out into nature this long weekend? With daylight savings on the horizon, visitors to Adelaide’s three botanic gardens will have more time to enjoy beautiful flora and enchanting landscapes through extended opening hours.

For the next two months, the iconic Adelaide Botanic Garden will remain open until 7pm from Thursday to Sunday. Come summer, it will be open until 9pm from Thursday to Sunday.

Mount Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens will both open their gates every day from 8.30am, and keep them open until 7pm on weekends and public holidays from October to March.

Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Director, Michael Harvey, said the extended opening hours will give visitors more opportunities to experience and relax in their botanic gardens.

“Last year we trialled extended opening hours at Adelaide and Wittunga botanic gardens and it was evident people enjoyed that extra opportunity, particularly in the early evenings,” Mr Harvey said.

“We’re trialling new times again, and encourage people to make the most of the longer daylight hours by immersing themselves in these much-loved nature hubs.

“Over the warmer months, people can come to a botanic garden later in the day for all sorts of reasons – a picnic and show on a balmy night, a play in Wittunga’s nature playspace, an after-work jog or taking photographs in those magical twilight hours”.

Adelaide Botanic Garden has been open to visitors on special nights for sold out events like Light Cycles, and popular activities on the Botanica Lumina program. An upcoming October production of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare SA is an additional after-hours activation.

“With extended hours in all three gardens, there is more time for the community to connect with nature. Whatever your reason for visiting, we encourage you to be here,” Mr Harvey said.

Opening hours are set in line with dusk, with a full list of hours on the website for each garden. Visit www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au to find out more.