The Barossa region in South Australia is home to two notable arboretums and botanic gardens: Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Barossa Bush Gardens. Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is located in the Adelaide Hills, overlooking the picturesque Piccadilly Valley. The garden spans 97 hectares and is known for its cool-climate plants that thrive on the eastern slopes of Mount Lofty. Some highlights of the garden include stunning mass displays of magnolias, rhododendrons, and camellias in spring, autumn foliage transforming the garden's leaves into a panorama of scarlets, yellows, and bronzes, Fern Gully - one of the richest fern collections in Australia, and a range of walking trails of varying difficulty, such as the Nature Trail and the Lakeside Trail.
These regional gardens showcase native flora, with over 100 of Barossa's 400 species represented in display gardens. The gardens are open to visitors all year round, from dawn until dusk, and entry is by gold coin donation. Both gardens offer visitors a delightful opportunity to explore and appreciate the diverse flora of South Australia's Barossa region. With their unique features and picturesque settings, these arboretums and botanic gardens are perfect for a relaxing day out in nature.