The South Australian capital's answer to a city-centre oasis of greenery comes courtesy of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens - an expansive display of floral beauty that features some truly rare and distinctive species of plant life nestled amongst perfectly-manicured lawns. While it's one of the city's most obvious destinations for those looking for a picnic or some simple outdoor relaxation, there's much more to the gardens than this; there's a heavy emphasis placed on not only showcasing the plants themselves, but providing additional context and curation to each. The gardens are divided up into several sections with different themes, each of which may appeal to some more than others; however the Amazon Water Lily pavilion with its huge lilies in particular is wonderful, and the turreted Palm House is a great architectural feature in its own right.
Free guided walking tours conducted by the volunteer Friends of the Botanic Garden are available for those wanting to spend more than a short stroll here, and there's also a nice restaurant at which dining can help extend a stay further. Lastly, the large amount of shaded space at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens make for an idyllic escape on one of those characteristically hot Adelaide days all easily accessible from the heart of the city.