The 12 best free things to do in Adelaide

It’s no wonder that the State Library of South Australia’s Mortlock Chamber is consistently voted as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world – it’s a bygone dream and you’d just about be mistaken with entering a restricted section of Hogwarts. The North Terrace Mortlock Chamber opened to the public in 1884 and remains a prime example of a late-Victorian library, looks-wise. The grand bibliotheca showcases yesteryear features, with the likes of a glass-domed lantern roof, wrought iron-balustraded balconies and a marvellous clock that ticks above the hall. The Mortlock Chamber is a glorious place for a spot of quiet time, a bit of photography practice or to embrace your inner wizard. It also plays host to pop-up bars and Christmas displays that’ll heal your psyche.

Get up close and personal to the sweet stuff at South Australia’s very own Haigh’s Chocolate Factory. Located on the city’s fringe, Haigh’s is Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate company with 1915 beginnings, and still operates from its original 1919 Parkside factory. Today, the chocolate oasis is run by fourth-generation Haigh's, and you can take a 30-minute, free guided tour around the factory to learn about its rich history and watch the magic in the making. Gaze upon the handcrafted techniques, be mesmerised by the liquid gold as it drapes over the confectionery like silk, and let your pure imagination run wild. Haigh’s Chocolate Factory tours operate during the store’s usual trading hours and booking is recommended. Make sure to grab a few of the famed bonbons on the way out.

It’s no secret that South Australia is home to many public parks that are crammed with flora and fauna from all walks of life – but one in particular never fails to reel in the crowds. Located smack-bang in the city centre, Adelaide Botanic Garden covers 51 hectares of diverse habitats, with both outdoor and indoor displays to marvel at. With such vast land to frolic, the gardens can easily meld into one big haze of green – that’s where a free guided walking tour comes in handy. Led by Friends of the Botanic Gardens, this excursion takes you through hidden nooks and passes on plenty of horticultural fun facts, as well as valuable insight into the history of the garden. Departing at 10.30am daily from the Schomburgk Pavilion, the guided journey spans an 1.5 hours and doesn’t require bookings unless you bring the whole crew (five or more people). Get your exploration boots on and hop to it.

A divine sunny day calls for a city stroll with the most – and by that, we mean a self-guided public art walk. The Adelaide City Council have put together a thorough map that dots the CBD’s and North Adelaide’s best historical and contemporary artworks, with the addition of the safest bike trail and free bus route. A mammoth 104 sites are named on the Public Art In The City map – from the iconic ‘Mall’s Balls’ and statues that often go unnoticed to hidden laneway gems and riverside creations. If you tend to get a kick out of visually appealing wonders, this art walk is one of the best free things to do in Adelaide.

Spanning 70 kilometres along Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline and the more-so rural Fleurieu Peninsula, the western Saint Vincent Gulf’s waters present pristine, swimmable beaches. From sandy shores to rocky coves, taking a salty dip in the sea is one of the best free things to do in Adelaide. Brighton, Glenelg and Henley Beach are the most popular inner-city foreshores, boasting walkable jetties, soft sandy flats to laze atop and main drags with plenty of refreshments. While further south lies less crowded and arguably more divine waters, namely Maslin, Sellicks and Port Willunga, where you’ll find remnants of the old jetty pylons which make for a sublime foreground to one of the best sunset spots in Australia. But don’t forget to slip, slop, slap (lather ya sunscreen on), and swim between the flags when they’re on show – safety first!

Here in our pretty little city, we’re fortunate enough to harbour a market with all the bells and whistles right in the middle of town – aptly named the Adelaide Central Market. Established in 1870, the indoor Market is home to more than 70 traders – from fresh produce stalls, health shops and bakeries to chocolatiers, artisanal delis and cafés dishing out comfort food from across the globe, it’s a foodie’s haven. The maze-like market thrives to this very day as Adelaide’s most-visited tourist attraction, and better yet, its redevelopment and expansion are underway, which is set to see the emporium double in size. Further, the Adelaide Central Market conveniently neighbours Chinatown too, where you can take your taste buds on an adventure and browse the Asian grocers’ wares. But if you’re looking for something a little more outdoorsy, and at first-light, take a wander around the Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market held every Sunday morning between 8:30am and 12:30pm.

It's a major win that entry to Australia's leading future-focused museum at the University of South Australia is completely free to explore. MOD’s exhibitions are designed for young scientists, with a mission to get them interested in science and technology, showcasing how research shapes both our understanding of the world and our futures. There are seven gallery spaces that host a new exhibition every six months, so make it a biannual day out. 

If combining exercise with leisure is your cup of tea, it doesn’t get much better than a peaceful bike ride along the River Torrens all the way to its West Beach mouth. Although the Linear Park Trail starts in the Athelstone foothills, we recommend commencing your expedition at Elder Park in Adelaide’s city centre, where hiring a set of wheels from nearby Bike About is as easy as putting one pedal in front of the other. From there, that trail will guide you along 13 kilometres, where gum tree-lined riverbanks are the norm, tranquil sights and sounds aid the mind, and sporadic grassy flats where teams of horses nibble the day away are a pleasant suburban surprise. The end is near once the sea breeze resists your velocipeding efforts, where the trail meets the Saint Vincent Gulf horizon between Henley Beach South and West Beach. A well-deserved dip looms large.

Did you know that the Adelaide Hills is home to Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement? Well, now you do! The heritage-listed town of Hahndorf came about in 1839 by Lutheran migrants who were seeking a slice of familiarity in South Australia. The seemingly out-of-place village lies a mere 25-minute drive up the South Eastern Freeway from the city centre and is a famed destination for its German-style architecture, tree-lined main street, speciality stores and artisan eateries, as well as hands-on farm and cellar door experiences. There’s no going past a fresh-made pretzel from one of the many bakeries or a stein ‘n’ gourmet sausage platter from a yesteryear pub. A peep into The German Village Christmas Shop is essential for nostalgia central, and old leatherworks and galleries will have you awe-inspired. 

Saying you’ve conquered the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty summit is kind of an Adelaidean rite of passage – and one, that will cost you zero cents. The path on this 7.8-kilometre return walk is sealed, but don’t let that trick you into thinking you're in for an easy ride. The very steep hike will have you breaking a sweat, but the (free) views at the top are worth it. It's not the city’s most popular hike for nothing.