The Best Picnic Spots Adelaide Has to Offer

Picnic season is upon us! Easily one of the most versatile options when it comes to dining, the humble and wholesome picnic is perfect for any occasion, plus the easiest way to ensure you’ll never have to wait for a booking! Keep things simple with a fresh sando and coffee in the sun, or make it fancy with champagne, strawberries, freshly baked goods and a cheeseboard. You can ask everyone to bring a plate for an easy birthday party or celebration; all you need to bring is the picnic rug!

We’ve rounded up some of the best picnic spots in Adelaide that are the perfect alfresco pit-stop, or the ideal grassy patch to spend a splendid long and relaxing afternoon in the sun with friends.

Red Gum Park (Karrawirra)

This is the perfect park to pay a visit to if you want to host a post-work picnic. Red Gum Park (Karrawirra) isn't far from the city centre, so it's the go-to spot for anyone who works in the city and wants to catch up with friends after hours. And with the gorgeous views of the river, you'll feel as though you're miles away from Adelaide's CBD.

Sir Edwin Smith Ave & War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide

Continental Park

Take a short walk up from Port Elliot’s main street and you’ll find Continental Park’s gorgeous green space, which overlooks Lady Bay and Horseshoe Bay. This is the perfect place for picnicking if you want to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and the sea breeze, but don’t want to get sand in your sandwich from the bays below. The best part? Port Elliot Bakery's famous baked goodies are available to pick up just around the corner – what more could you need?

5A The Strand, Port Elliot

Belair National Park

Work up an appetite with a morning of mountain biking or hiking through the wonderful woodlands and lakes, or a fast-paced game of tennis just 25 minutes from Adelaide. Then, choose from one of the many picnic benches (or BBQ spots if you've prepared accordingly) and refuel on hearty picnic fare. Belair National Park is the birthplace of the National Parks system in South Australia with the oldest plant nursery in SA within, so why not take home a little piece of nature to top your day off?

Upper Sturt Road & Queens Jubilee Drive, Belair

Adelaide Botanic Garden

Located on the outskirts of the city and boasting a beautiful array of botanical plants, greenhouses, ponds, and quiet spots to sit with a book, Adelaide Botanic Garden never disappoints. When it comes to facilities, there are cafe stops if you fancy a cool or hot drink and toilet facilities, and easy walking paths to take you around the gardens. Take note of the garden’s regulations if you're planning a picnic though - rules prohibit bringing in booze.

North Terrace, Adelaide

Morialta Conservation Park

Morialta Conservation Park caters to all fitness levels. It has easy strolls, tougher terrain for seasoned hikers, climbing for experienced rock climbers and mountain biking paths for thrill seekers. Explore its dazzling waterfalls and lush green foliage before heading down to the BBQs and designated picnic areas if you prefer a more relaxed approach to the park. A must-see is the famous Giant’s Cave, a huge opening with impressive views across the park.

Morialta Falls Road, Woodforde

Port Willunga Beach

South Australia is home to a beautiful range of beaches perfect for a romantic picnic by the ocean. So why not go for the best of the best? Port Willunga Beach features fascinating caves originally carved out by fishermen to store boats in, plus remnants of the old Port Willunga Jetty. So whether you prefer a sunny picnic on the sand or want to retreat into the shade, the choice is yours! Set up a blanket, enjoy the shade from the sun and dry off after a nice dip in the sea.

Port Willunga Beach, Port Willunga

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a beautiful stretch of nature with long walks, a huge lake and amazing wildlife waiting to be discovered over 72 hectares of lush land. Refreshments available on site include an afternoon tea from Bracegirlde’s, which you can enjoy stretched out on your picnic rug under the sun. This oasis-like garden is a stone's throw away from the city, yet it feels like you're a million miles away. Talk about a blissful escape!

16 Lampert Road, Crafers

Himeji Garden

Neatly tucked away and hidden inside Adelaide’s Southern Park Lands with manicured greenery, ponds and beautiful botanicals, Himeji Gardens is a stunning little ‘pocket of Japan’. This tranquil paradise is an ideal option if you’re after a peaceful picnic away from life’s commotion, as you enjoy moments of peace and solitude.

South Terrace & Glen Osmond Road, Adelaide

Stangate House and Garden

This National Trust area is a special part of Adelaide history, landscaped with a unique sense of colour and composition by renowned designer Elsie Cornish. Open to the public on certain days, guests are more than welcome to bring along provisions and a blanket to bask in the bright blooms of spring and summer. Check out the National Trust website for information as to when the gardens of Stangate House are open as well as up-to-date pricing.

3 Edgeware Road, Aldgate

Carrick Hill

This 100-acre estate is a piece of history in the Adelaide foothills, spectacularly preserved for the public to continue to enjoy to this day. With breathtaking views out to the ocean, rolling lush green lawns to set up your picnic for the day, plus a historic mansion filled with artwork and displays, Carrick Hill is one of the best picnic spots in Adelaide. The manicured gardens are the perfect spot to meet with friends to be surrounded by colourful and blossoming blooms as you enjoy your snacks.

46 Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield

Rymill Park, East Terrace

An oasis in the East End, Rymill Park has everything one could need for an afternoon of laidback leisure. Walking trails, city views, lawn bowls, a lake, BBQ facilities, a kiosk, playground and even a rose garden that smells as delightful as you’d imagine. A short stroll from Rundle Street, you will find yourself on an expanse of soft green manicured lawn with plenty of room for everyone. If your picnic happens to continue into the night, you’re a hop skip and a jump away from some of the best bars in Adelaide!

East Terrace, Adelaide

Tusmore Park

Tusmore Park is a tranquil garden for the whole family to enjoy when the sun is shining. Perhaps the most popular features are the wading pool - which gets a lot of attention from tiny tots during the summer months - the five tennis courts, or the cute cobblestone bridges crossing over The First Creek – all making this one of the best picnic spots in Adelaide. There are plenty of paths and playgrounds, plus bathroom and BBQ facilities - so pack accordingly and you can spend hours in this beautiful suburban garden.

Stirling Street, Tusmore

Hastwell and Lightfoot

While the majority of this list is a DIY picnic vibe in public spaces, we can’t leave out the fact that many of Adelaide’s wineries offer picnics by the vines. For example - take a scenic drive 45 minutes out of the CBD to McLaren Vale and allow the friendly staff at Hastwell and Lightfoot to put together a fabulous lunch spread for you on their lawn. Your picnic experience will include everything required for a boho – and very aesthetic – picnic, plus lawn games, and perhaps the best part of all, the delicious wines to seal the deal. A stress-free way to spend an afternoon, and one of our personal favourite spots for a picnic with the girls.

301 Fogo Road, McLaren Vale

Wanting to explore more of the best ways to spend time outdoors in Adelaide? Why not check out the picture-perfect National Parks in South Australia, or our curated list of things to do on Kangaroo Island?