South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The South Australian Museum has been committed to making Australia’s natural and cultural heritage accessible, engaging and fun for over 150 years. It is a place where families can learn and grow together. Today the Museum is one of the most visited museums in Australia and holds collections of national and international significance, including the world's most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material. It is a leader in remote and regional community engagement, and in Australian Aboriginal heritage and scientific research.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- KBofLBLittleborough, United Kingdom583 contributionsThe squid is the starThis museum is situated next door to the Art Gallery of South Australia and can be visited sequentially with it. As the State has been in existence for less than two hundred years its collection has its limitations. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of exhibits about the natural history of the area together with a large section based on local earlier aboriginal settlements. The star exhibit is a giant squid which can be viewed from galleries on separate floors. Highly recommended.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 March 2024
- avrilritchieDundee, United Kingdom303 contributionsInteresting and well curatedBeautiful museum housed in a beautiful building in a historic area of Adelaide. A lot to see within - well curated with a real variety of exhibits. As others have noted displays can be rather dark and explanations difficult to read but this didn’t really spoil our enjoyment. A nice little shop too! Recommended for everyone.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 April 2024
- akitong91London, United Kingdom126 contributionsExcellent Floor PlanGreat for the kids. There's a large collection from Australia and the world. I particularly enjoyed the Biodiversity Gallery. Note that access to the higher levels are through one (large) elevator. So be prepared to wait if you enter at a busy time.Visited January 2025Travelled soloWritten 6 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,454 reviews
Excellent
786
Very good
533
Average
114
Poor
13
Terrible
8
Madeline H
Cairns Region, Australia137 contributions
Aug 2022
Had a great time exploring the Adelaide Museum. The only downsides were that (like most things in Adelaid) it opened at 10am & we spent the entire time trying to dodge a very loud boys school group (very dissappointing, considering we were visiting Adelaide 1st time from interstate). Luckily, the exhibits made up for that & were amazing with all 3 floors full of items. My favourite was the giant squid, which spanned 3 floors. I think it was great value considereing it was free & you can spend as long as you like (easily the whole day). It's also a great place to come with kids.
There is also a cafe & gift shop onsite.
There is also a cafe & gift shop onsite.
Written 26 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York5,375 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I recommend a visit to the South Australia Museum. It has five floors of exhibits, with two floors devoted to Australian Aboriginal Cultures. That is the most interesting section, though there are other exhibits on Natural History and South Pacific Cultures.
One highlight of the Aboriginal cultures exhibit is the Yuendumu School doors, painted in 1983 to explain the local Tjukurrpa (dreaming). It was the first time the Warlpiri elders decided to explain their Tjukurrpa to the world beyond their desert home.
One highlight of the Aboriginal cultures exhibit is the Yuendumu School doors, painted in 1983 to explain the local Tjukurrpa (dreaming). It was the first time the Warlpiri elders decided to explain their Tjukurrpa to the world beyond their desert home.
Written 9 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Global-Villagerr
Denver, CO357 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We spent a couple of hours in this wide ranging museum. The breadth of art and antiquities is instructive, as it covers such a long period of time. Of particular note is the beautiful collection of Aboriginal art in the special galleries. These we lovely, and the accompanying narratives especially interesting.
Written 12 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron M
Menasha, WI602 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
My wife and I visited this museum during a recent stay in Adelaide. We enjoy reading and learning this history of places we visit and while this museum has a LOT to offer...they've done so at the expense of making the written information readable. Much of it was in font too small to see or placed flat in a glass case; with no lighting in the case and/or light reflecting on the glass it rendered the information difficult or impossible to read. I recommend a complete renovation, focusing on offering less material (if needed) and focusing on larger, better lit displays. The facility was clean and the staff was nice.
Written 8 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walk & Talk Tours Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia7 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We enjoyed our visit in the SA Musuem. The building is situated within a beautiful historial precinct in the north side of Adelaide. The outside cafe and sitting areas are beautiful and pleasantly inviting on a good weather day.
There are plenty of varied exhibits for all intersts and ages. We particularly enjoyed the Antarctic display for Douglas Mawson and the Gem, Opals and Meteorites on display.
The younger visitors certainly seem to enjoy the animal hall on the first level and the Egyption room! The giant squid is also something unique, which is displayed over 3 levels!
We were entertained and happy with our visit!
There are plenty of varied exhibits for all intersts and ages. We particularly enjoyed the Antarctic display for Douglas Mawson and the Gem, Opals and Meteorites on display.
The younger visitors certainly seem to enjoy the animal hall on the first level and the Egyption room! The giant squid is also something unique, which is displayed over 3 levels!
We were entertained and happy with our visit!
Written 13 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HilaryW971
Norwich, UK300 contributions
Apr 2023
This was a great place to visit with the family. The section on Antarctic exploration was of particular interest especially seeing Mawson’s sledge and hut. The explanations are clear and the museum is well laid out.The section in indigenous peoples is well worth visiting. The cafe is good too!
Written 29 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Наталья Ж
Moscow, Russia16 contributions
July 2023
Great place to visit in Adelaide! All you want to know in one spot! Lots of exhibitions to all tastes! It is really so much to learn, if I stayed longer, I could visit it every day during a week. Packed with info starting from mullions of years ago (dinos, stones, shells, bones) to animals, explorers, minerals and aborigines.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teacake_Taster
Chesterfield, UK1,213 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The museum is set out to be accessible and the displays all look as though they have been carefully curated with the visitor in mind. Lots of old skeletons and stuffed animals. Interesting displays on aboriginal history, pacific countries eg: Papua New Guinea, really old fossils and rocks. Friendly relaxed cafe. Nice shop.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,292 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
The Art Gallery of SA, State Museum and Sate Library are all beside each other in North terrace. Unlike Melbourne's Museum where you pay $15-00 (was free in the old Museum which was better) this museum is free. It is a Natural History Museum founded in 1856
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C M
Auckland Central, New Zealand858 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a pretty good museum, right next to the amazing art gallery so easy to make it a day of 'culture'. We loved the exhibition on Pacific culture upstairs in the Building but the natural history displays throughout are very well done too and definitely worth seeing. There is a cafe too if you need some rest after exploring and a funky gift shop too.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were not charged any admission fee on the day we visited this museum.
The admission to this beautiful and interesting museum is FREE!
Written 12 December 2018
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