Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens
| Location | Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Hills |
| Start/End Point | Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens |
| Distance | 1 km loop |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Difficulty | Very Easy |
| Activity | Walking |
| Region | Adelaide & Adelaide Hills |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Key Feature | Accessible art trail around Main Lake, braille and audio options |
Where Art Meets Nature at the Heart of the Gardens
Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens — nestled in the cool, moist hills above Adelaide — is one of the most beautiful cultivated landscapes in South Australia. The Lakeside Trail, officially opened in 2015, is a one-kilometre loop around the gardens’ Main Lake that was designed with a single guiding principle: that everyone should be able to experience the tranquil beauty of this place. Young families with prams, elderly visitors, people with disabilities, and visitors with limited English — the trail was built to welcome all, creating an inclusive outdoor experience that is as thoughtful in its design as it is beautiful in its setting.
Dotted along the trail are eight artworks, each conveying a different fundamental message about the relationship between people, plants, and the environment. The trail invites visitors to slow down, consider these themes, and engage with the natural world at a pace that allows genuine reflection. Every artwork includes a message translated into braille for visitors with vision impairments, and a complementary audio trail is available through the MyParx app, making this one of the most accessible nature trails in the state.
The Walk
The Eight Themes
Each artwork along the trail explores a different aspect of the human relationship with the natural world: the miracle of life, wood, water, natural habitats, beauty, the senses, the sun, and Planet Earth. These themes unfold as you walk around the lake, each artwork positioned in a location where its message resonates with the surrounding landscape — water themes beside the lake, habitat themes near the native plantings, beauty themes in the most visually striking sections of the gardens.
The Gardens
The Lakeside Trail passes through some of the finest plantings in Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, which specialise in cool-climate plants from around the world. The gardens’ collection includes rhododendrons, magnolias, Japanese maples, and native species arranged in a landscape that takes advantage of the natural gullies and ridges of the Adelaide Hills terrain. The Main Lake, which the trail circumnavigates, attracts waterbirds and provides a focal point that anchors the walking experience in water, reflection, and the quiet sounds of a garden in motion.
Planning Your Walk
Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is located in the Adelaide Hills, a short drive from the Adelaide CBD. Entry to the gardens is free. The Lakeside Trail’s very easy rating and accessible design make it suitable for visitors of all abilities — pram-friendly paths, gentle gradients, and rest points ensure everyone can complete the loop at their own pace. The audio trail available through the MyParx app adds an additional layer of interpretation. Autumn is a particularly spectacular time to visit, when the deciduous trees surrounding the lake transform into a display of red, gold, and amber.
The Lakeside Trail at Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is a walk that proves accessibility and beauty are not competing values. In just one kilometre, around a tranquil lake, through world-class plantings, past artworks that invite reflection on our relationship with the natural world, this trail delivers an experience that is as meaningful as it is gentle — and as welcoming as a garden should be.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Adelaide Hills Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.