The best picnic spots in the Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills were made for eating outdoors. The region's farm gates, bakeries and cheesemakers handle the provisioning; what is left is choosing the spot - and here the Hills are absurdly oversupplied, with botanic lawns, forest clearings, lakesides and lookouts all within a few minutes of a good loaf.
The classics earn their reputations: the lawns of the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden under autumn colour are as good as picnicking gets in this state. But the list below ranges wider - to a steam-era lake behind Stirling, the pine shade of Kuitpo Forest, and a reservoir shoreline that was locked to the public for over a century. All are free or close to it; most have tables, but the rug is the better technology.
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1
StirlingMount Lofty Botanic Garden
Lawns, lakes and the best autumn colour in South Australia - the undisputed champion.
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2Stirling
Woorabinda Bushland Reserves
A hidden lake five minutes' walk from Stirling, with a bird hide thrown in.
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3
MylorKuitpo Forest Reserve
Pine-scented clearings, picnic tables and room for the most chaotic family cricket.
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4
CrafersBelair National Park
SA's first national park does lawns, lakes and adventure playground at scale.
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5
MylorIf retained, should likely be just "Mylor Oval"
Gum-shaded lawns by the Onkaparinga - the village picnic done perfectly.
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6
Mount BarkerLaratinga Wetlands
Boardwalks, birdlife and picnic lawns on the edge of Mount Barker.
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7
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8Lobethal
Lobethal Bushland Park
A bushland amphitheatre with barbecues, lawns and easy walks.
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9Aldgate
Stangate House and Garden
Camellias and heritage garden beds for a more genteel spread.
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10
GumerachaSouth Para Reservoir Reserve
Shoreline benches on water the public couldn't touch for a century.
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Provisions are the other half of the job: a loaf from Lobethal, cheese from Woodside, strawberries from Beerenberg in season. Check fire bans before lighting anything, and leave each spot as photogenic as you found it.
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Image credits
- Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Crafers 20250919-134207.jpg by RegionVisitor90 , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons