Top Adelaide Photography Locations – Updated 2023

Discover the top places to take photos in Adelaide. Across the city, Adelaide has some incredibly scenic landscapes & cityscapes. Here are the most beautiful Adelaide photography locations.

The Green Adventurers acknowledge and pay respect to the Kaurna people as the custodians of the lands and waters of the Adelaide region. We pay respect to elders both past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge and respect the Kaurna people’s cultural, spiritual, physical and emotional connection with their land, waters and community.

Sugarloaf Boardwalk

Hallet Cove is one of my favourite spots to visit in Adelaide. This area is very significant for Geology and shows a history of 280 million years from when this area was covered in ice. There are informative signs around the reserve so you can learn about the history and geology of the area as you explore. 

The Geological formations, boardwalk and surrounding coastline make for great photos. 

Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

My favourite time to visit the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is in Autumn. The colours of the leaves are spectacular. 

There is plenty to see year-round, with a huge array of plants from around the world. One of my favourite areas is Fern Gully which is lush and green and makes me feel like I’m in Jurassic Park. 

The lake is a great place to see some Australian wetland birds. There are plenty of ducks, coots, water hens and black swans. Try a telephoto lens to catch all the details of your subject without needing to get too close to the wildlife. 

Mount Osmond

The Mount Osmond lookout is the best place in Adelaide to catch the sunset. The location looks over the city of Adelaide with views extending out to the coastline. There is a small parking area at the top of Hayward Drive which can fill up around sunset so make sure you arrive early. The lookout is an easy walk from a parking spot where you can enjoy magnificent views of the suburbs below. It gets very windy up here which can make photoshoots a bit tricky so aim for a still day if you are shooting portraits.

Rundle Mall

There is no shortage of great photography spots in the heart of Adelaide. Rundle Mall is home to the iconic Malls Balls which create awesome reflections that make for a striking photo. 

Adelaide Arcade, built-in 1885, is great for lovers of architecture and symmetry. You can take a self-guided audiovisual tour on your phone to learn about the history of this incredible building.

The Rundle Lantern on the corner of Rundle Mall & Pulteney street is a huge light display made of 748 panels that are programmed to show an array of colours which make up some eye-catching & vibrant patterns. Continue into Rundle Street for a great place to experiment with street photography.

At the opposite end of the mall on King William Street, you will find the Haigh’s Chocolate outlet in the historic Beehive Corner building. Try a wide-angle lens to capture architecture around the city. 

River Torrens

The Adelaide CBD is surrounded on all sides by beautiful parklands. The Torrens River winds its way past the city and offers spectacular views of the city. It is a great spot to visit at night and capture the reflections of the city lights on the water. 

Want to see more of South Australia? See the SA Travel Guide Here

Road to Rapid Bay
Fleurieu Peninsula
Purple & pastel pink sunset over river with reflection.
The Riverland
Things to do on Kangaroo Island - Stokes Bay
Kangaroo Island

Morialta Conservation Park

Nature enthusiasts will love a visit to the Morialta Conservation Park. This is the perfect place to spot Australian wildlife. From birds, reptiles, insects, kangaroos and koalas you are sure to see a few of the local residents in their natural habitat. 

Spring brings the bloom of beautiful wildflowers but anytime of the year is great to appreciate the views of the city, rock formations and waterfalls. There are many options of hikes to take. From a leisurely stroll in the shady gully to a 3.5 hour hike around the park you will find something to suit your fitness level. 

Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills are filled with charming villages.  My favourites are Stirling & Hanhdorf a historic German village. There are countless winding roads through the Hills so it’s the perfect place to explore by car. You can visit farms and wineries along the way and enjoy the rolling hills and spectacular views.

For panoramic views of the city check out the Mount Lofty lookout. It can be reached by road or you can hike to the summit from Waterfall Gully.

Jacaranda Trees

November is a colourful time in Adelaide when the Jacaranda trees begin to bloom. The purple flowers are a magnificent site and photo opportunity. Check out the full guide here to find out the best streets to visit.

Port Willunga 

Port Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula is home to the ruins of an old jetty which is now nothing more than a few remnants of wood poking out of the water. They make an awesome focal point for beach photography. This is a great place to try some long exposure shots. An ND filter can help you get the effect of a slow shutter in full daylight.

Also in the area is McLaren Vale home to some of South Australia’s best wines.

Port Noarlunga

The Onkaparinga River Mouth at Port Noarlunga is an absolutely spectacular spot and one of my favourites along the South Australian coast. The crashing waves, colourful rocks and angular lines of the boardwalk make for a fantastic place to relax, unwind and take great photos.

A short walk away is the Port Noarlunga jetty which leads out to the reef, a hotspot in summer for snorkelling. The reef is home to over 200 species of marine plants and animals and more than 50 species of fish. If you have a waterproof setup this would be a fantastic place to explore under the waves. If not the jetty and beach is photogenic from dry land too!

Deep Creek

Deep Creek Conservation Park is one and a half hours out of the Adelaide City Centre but it well worth the drive. The Park covers 18km of pristine coastline and includes Blowhole Beach a gorgeous sandy beach surrounded by jagged rocks and rolling green hills.

I have never seen as many Kangaroos in one place as I have at Deep Creek. There are also over 100 species of bird so keep your eyes peeled!

Deep Creek has 15 different walking trails with various lengths and difficulty levels. There are excellent camping facilities so consider staying a night or two and fully exploring this incredible landscape.

The entry fee to visit the park costs $11 per car and can be booked here: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park/Browse_by_region/Fleurieu_Peninsula/deep-creek-conservation-park/booking/vehicle-entry-fees

North Terrace

North Terrace is also home to some of Adelaide’s best architecture and is one of the best Adelaide photography locations. There are many striking buildings such as the new Sahmri & AHMS buildings in the West End.

For some more historical buildings, the University of Adelaide Precinct is home to the Art Gallery, The State Library & the Museum.

On the eastern end of North Terrace, you will find the entrance to the Botanic Garden which features an array of plants which makes it a perfect spot to try out some macro photography. 

Mt Barker Train Line

The train line between Mt Barker and Little Hampton in the Adelaide Hills is a great place to explore. The tunnel under the freeway is a great place to experiment with light and shade and silhouettes. To reach this place head to Cameron Road in Mt Barker and once you reach the train line follow the tracks towards Little Hampton. These tracks are no longer in use by the national rail system but are used by a Herigate SteamRanger on occasion to please take due take on the tracks.

Cactus Canyon

One of the most impressive parts of South Australia’s coastline is found south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Cactus Canyon features steep cliffs in impressive formations that drop to white sand beaches and turquoise waves. This is one not to be missed!

Autumn Leaves

The most colourful time of year in Adelaide is autumn when the trees turn every shade imaginable of yellow, orange and red. Autumn in Adelaide is in March, April & May but it really takes until early April for the colours to really start to show.

This guide will take you through all the best places in and around Adelaide to see the autumn colours.

Thank you!

Thank you for checking out the list of my favourite places around Adelaide. I will continue to update as I explore more places. Please get in touch if you have ideas for other places to include.