Detailed review by Caradawn
Caradawn
Adelaide, Australia98%
The Botanic Gardens is one of Adelaide's free and easily accessible attractions. It can be reached on foot from North Terrace in the city centre and there is paid parking on either Plane tree drive or off Hackney Road. Plane Tree Drive is the access and parking road for the zoo as well and sometimes, ususally on bank holidays, it can get very busy. So on these occasions if you don't find parking space on the neighbouring roads then you should still be able to find some on War Memorial Drive, which runs alongside the river. This will add a bit of a walk to your journey. Disabled visitors, however, need'nt worry about not finding parking space as I was pleasantly surprised to notice that there were quite a few disabled places and even on busy days they don't all get taken up.
I have visited the gardens on several occasions at different times of the year and there is always something to be seen. Naturally the plants come from all over the world and suit different climates, so those plants from the cooler European regions will, for example, be flowering in the autumn and winter, whilst the more local plants might be better seen in spring and summer.
When I think of a botanic garden I think unusual and exotic plants. With the access we have today to such a large range of more unusual plants I do wonder if it is getting harder for places like this to surprise us. However, despite having a lot of the plants and trees we are used to seeing, the Adelaide Botanic Garden still has some unusual gems in amongst them. In the spring we saw large colourful flowers the shape of birds' heads and banana trees in fruit. In autumn we discovered a plant with a flower cluster that my husband decided looked like a brain. I was in awe at a palm tree with a trunk which must have been over a metre in diameter; I do love big old trees! The attraction is not just visual either as different scents greet you on your journey through the various gardens, from African to Mediterranean.
Not surprisingly the atmosphere here is very peaceful. Even on busy days you can usually escape the bustle to some quiet area. It probably helps that Adelaide isn't the most populous of cities and you wouldn't get the crowds you would get in a city like London. My children aren't incredibly impressed by our trips here, but there are parts which do capture their interest. One trip my husband caught a young blue tongue lizard wandering across a path and it allowed them to pay it some attention. There is a structured stream and pool near the shop and cafe which children (and sometimes adults) enjoy paddling in on warm days. The pond has water birds and lots of carp which can be seen from a platform near the Simpson Kiosk and Botanic Garden Restaurant. The signs say you shouldn't feed them, but they come for the scraps of food which are thrown to them all the same.
Across Plane Tree drive is the Botanic Park which is a great area for picnics and letting the children charge around a bit. It has trees from around the world, but my children's favourites are the Morton Bay figs with their tall roots which they like to climb amongst. You can also picnic inside the garden on one of the various lawn areas. Alternatively, if you prefer there is a cafe, a kiosk and restaurant.
According to the Visitor Pocket Map there are 46 collections and main points of interest. These include some old buildings, such as the Dead House, which were associated with the former Adelaide Lunatic Asylum. Yes, there is morgue for lunatics in the picturesque garden! How's that for a little diversion? Among other points of interest is the Bicentennial Conservatory which is billed as being the largest conservatory in the southern hemisphere. It holds a display of rainforest plants and carries small entry fee. No other areas carry fees, so even the most strapped for cash can enter the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion and the Palm house or wander round the International Rose Garden and the Museum of Economic Botany.
There are toilets at four locations in the garden and a public payphone near the Kiosk. There is an information desk in the shop, where you can get maps of the garden and I found the assistants there very friendly and helpful. I noticed drinking water fountains dotted around the park, which I thought was a good idea. However, when my daughter decided to have a drink at one it didn't work. I can't say whether they were all switched off or we just happened to find a broken one. Water conservation is of high priority in South Australia and after the hot summer the streams in the garden had dried up.
This is an attraction large and diverse enough to keep you busy for a full day and a good place to unwind. Free entry of course makes it budget friendly and I suppose the conservatory entry fee isn't too unreasonable. Each season brings a new list of events and a leaflet for these can be obtained from the information desk. Guided tours are available daily in the morning and are free.
Adelaide Botanic Garden8
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Diversity of Vegetation
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