Adelaide Museums and Galleries To Explore

For a small city Adelaide has serious cultural clout.

Adelaide punches above its weight with an array of museums and galleries from cutting-edge space innovation to spooky cells. Along North Terrace is the perfect place to kickstart a day of arts experiences before continuing toward the West End for more museums.

Here’s a guide to a few of the must-visit Adelaide art galleries and museums to visit during your stay in the city of churches.

1. Art Gallery of South Australia

Just a 10-minute walk from the Botanic Gardens on North Terrace, the Art Gallery of South Australia showcases an exciting range of rotating visual arts exhibitions.

the front facade of the Art Gallery of South Australia — Pop into the Art Gallery of South Australia. (Image: Leo Hiraga)

Tarnanthi Festival of Indigenous Arts is a highlight in AGSA’s cultural calendar. AGSA is home to one of Australia’s largest collections comprising 47,000 works of art spanning 2000 years.

a look inside the Art Gallery of South Australia — AGSA features over 47,000 works of art. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

The immersive site-specific commission by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota weaves a spellbinding web for visitors so don’t miss a visit to the Melrose Wing. Join the Tuesday lunchtime talks where experts delve deeper into the current exhibitions. Time a visit on the first Friday of the month when AGSA opens late and you can welcome the weekend with live music and the local arts crowd.

people flock outside the light-filled Art Gallery of South Australia during the Tarnanthi Festival of Indigenous Arts — Tarnanthi Festival of Indigenous Arts is one of AGSA’s main drawcards. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Address: North Terrace, Adelaide

2. MOD Museum of Discovery

Further down North Terrace on Adelaide’s cultural corridor is MOD Museum of Discovery , a future-focused space at the intersection of science, art and innovation.

guests looking at an interactive future exhibition at MOD Museum of Discovery — MOD Museum of Discovery takes on a futuristic approach.

Ideal for older children 12+ and curious adults, MOD features interactive exhibitions on big topics from climate crisis to democracy inviting visitors to engage their imagination and critical thinking.

people exploring a planetarium inside the MOD Museum of Discovery — Play with your imagination at MOD Museum of Discovery.

Address: Kaurna Country, University of South Australia, North Tce adjacent to the Morphett St Bridge, Adelaide

3. Australian Space Discovery Centre

The small but mighty Australia Space Discovery Centre is found in Lot 14, Adelaide’s technology and innovation district next to the Botanic Gardens and Art Gallery of South Australia.

Talks from astronauts and space scientists will spark visitors’ curiosity, showing how much we rely on space in our day-to-day lives. Drive a Mars Rover simulator or track space junk with hands-on exhibits that combine technology and play. Visitors can also sneak a peek into the first publicly viewable Mission Control Centre in Australia.

Address: Lot Fourteen Ground floor, McEwin Building Cnr Frome Road and, North Terrace, Adelaide

4. Adelaide Gaol

For lovers of dark histories, the Adelaide Gaol built in 1881 is the perfect window into South Australia’s criminal past. An easy walk from Bonython Park tram stop, visitors can choose a self-guided experience or a tour.

the front facade of Adelaide Gaol — Adelaide Gaol is one of the country’s oldest prisons with the most horrifying history.

Are you brave enough for a night-time paranormal investigation? Or maybe an Escape Cell adventure, with three levels of difficulty on offer.

between the walls of the hanging tower at Adelaide Gaol — Glimpse into South Australia’s criminal past.

The new Mugshots exhibition will bring the ghosts to life with a moving insight into inmates’ lives.

the exterior of Adelaide Gaol — Explore the iconic Adelaide Gaol on a self-guided tour.

Address: 18 Gaol Rd, Adelaide

5. JamFactory

This contemporary art and design space has two galleries showcasing a revolving selection of artists from silversmiths to furniture makers.

ceramics on display at Jam Factory, Adelaide — JamFactory showcases high-quality ceramics in different patterns and designs.

Go during the week to see artists at work, including their impressive glassblowing or peruse the gift shop for exquisite designer objects. If you want to stretch your own creative muscles why not enrol in a workshop.

pottery making at Jam Factory, Adelaide — Get your hands dirty at the pottery wheel.

Opposite the Jamfactory is Nexus Art Gallery a multi-cultural visual arts and music space that is well worth exploring too.

a gallery inside JamFactory, Adelaide — This contemporary museum has two galleries worth exploring.

Address: 19 Morphett St, Adelaide

6. ILA | Immersive Light and Art

Immersive Light Adelaide , or ILA, fuses creativity and technology to create immersive experiences in gallery exhibitions that rotate throughout the year. Downstairs in the Lab, you might catch a live musician or late-night DJ, making ILA a truly multi-art form space.

The Aurora restaurant next door offers seasonal sharing plates in an elegant setting or for something more casual, drinks and snacks are available in the Lab Garden.

Address: 63 Light Square, Adelaide

Museums in Port Adelaide

Whether you’re curious about boats, trains or planes, Port Adelaide has something for everyone, with a range of museums within easy walking distance. A 30-minute train ride from the CBD makes Port Adelaide an accessible and inspiring day trip.

South Australia’s rich seafaring history is celebrated at the Maritime Museum situated in an 1850s bond store while the Railway Museum has over 100 exhibits and a ride-on train for kids, and big kids at heart. Aviation enthusiasts will love seeing a Spitfire up close while listening to passionate tour guides at the SA Aviation Museum. Discounts are available if you visit more than one museum within a month.

Maritime Museum

National Railway Museum

South Australian Aviation Museum

a statue of a seafarer in Maritime Museum, Adelaide — The Maritime Museum has historic seafarer collections. (Image: City of Port Adelaide Enfield)

Discover Adelaide accommodation for every budget.

Once a service town for gold miners, Healesville has evolved into a destination brimming with character.

If you trace your finger to the heart of the Yarra Valley on a map, you’ll land on Healesville – a charming little town framed by towering gums and rolling hills. Its main street is lined with cosy cafes, a bookshop, silversmiths, boutiques and a providore stacked with artisan breads and cured meats. In other words, all the essentials for a leisurely weekend. Just beyond the shops, parklands invite picnics, bush trails suggest a wander, along with an old tourist railway, distilleries and award-winning vineyards. Originally a service centre for the goldfields, the railway soon brought visitors seeking fresh mountain air. Today, it’s the kind of place that rewards a slow stroll.

Staying in Healesville

the lounge in one of the cosy villas at Healesvillas — Inside one of the cosy villas.

If sweeping mountain views are part of your accommodation prerequisite, Healesvillas are two architecturally designed villas sleeping six guests, complete with landscaped al fresco areas and a fire pit. Wander into town to visit Cheesemonger Sophie to help craft the perfect platter, and Barrique Wine Store for a local red, before returning to soak up the views.

Dining out in Healesville

small plates at No. 7 Healesville — No.7 offers small plates and tasting menus centred on seasonal produce. (Image: Ben Frazer)

For breakfast, head to My Little Kitchen Cafe , a cheerful spot on the main street known for its strong coffee and warm hospitality. Herd is a low-lit spot with serious style, serving up modern comfort food, or to sit beside wine barrels and underneath chandeliers head to No. 7 Healesville , a wine bar and restaurant in a converted warehouse.

Drinking in Healesville

a cocktail at Four Pillars Gin Distillery — Enjoy a cocktail at renowned Four Pillars Gin Distillery. (Image: LVDI)

Take a tour or sip your way through a tasting paddle at one of Australia’s most famous gin distilleries, Four Pillars Gin . If visiting a boutique winery is on the list, Boat O’Craigo wines has sweeping views over the vineyards to the hills beyond. The newest addition to the local drinking scene, Zoncello Yarra Valley serves a must-try Limoncello Spritz.

the Boat O’Craigo winery — Boutique winery Boat O’Craigo. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

Healesville highlights

If you’re after a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery, Silvermist Studio designs beautifully unique pieces. Lifestyle store Morris et al is filled with women’s fashion and homewares, and because everyone deserves a good book, Verso Books is a cosy independent bookshop with carefully chosen titles.

Head to Healesville Sanctuary to get up close to some of Australia’s wildlife. If the weather is on your side, pack a picnic and head to Maroondah Reservoir Park to climb the steep dam wall, where kids and adults alike can’t resist testing out the booming echo. And if you feel like stepping back in time, board a vintage train at the Yarra Valley Railway .

Step back in time at the Puffing Billy Railway. (Image: Visit Victoria)

A guide to the must-visit Adelaide art galleries and museums