The Adelaide Botanic Garden is currently playing host to 15 large-scale glass sculptures created by famed artist Dale Chihuly. Adelaide is only the third city outside of the United States to have the privilege of having Chihuly’s creations on show and this easy access location makes it accessible to all.
Chihuly exhibition review Adelaide Botanic Garden
The Adelaide Botanic Garden is centrally located in the heart of Adelaide, offering an easily accessible and relaxing outdoor oasis to explore. Until 29 April there is an added bonus for visitors with Dale Chihuly’s glass creations dotted throughout the gardens for all to admire. Beautifully coordinated with their surroundings the sculptures enhance the already beautiful gardens.
I can’t imagine the logistics of not only shipping the intricate hand-blown glass works to Australia but also the coordination to place them in position without breaking anything. That’s definitely an art in itself.
We grabbed a map with the locations of the 15 sculptures and meandered around the lush gardens until we’d discovered them all. Each one was more inspiring than the next.
Accessibility around the Adelaide Botanic Garden is good with the majority of the paths level or gently sloping. Good signage is provided for accessible routes where there is an obstacle.
Surfaces around the sculptures varies with a mixture of bitumen, grass and compacted sand. Even if grass is directly surrounding the exhibit, we found that due to the large scale of the glass works the exhibits were still able to be viewed from the pathways in the majority of cases.
A Changing Places accessible bathroom facility with adult-size change table and hoist can be found at the Classgrounds bathroom block. Please note a MLAK key is needed to access the bathroom. Unisex accessible bathrooms are also located in various positions around the gardens (refer to a map for locations). If you don’t have a MLAK key, here’s the information you need to get your own key.
Life in Colour: Dale Chihuly exhibition in the Bicentennial Conservatory
Within the rainforest conservatory there is a ticketed exhibition which includes a smaller collection of Chihuly pieces. We did this as well as the free outdoor exhibition trail and although it was great to see personal photographs, videos and learn more about Chihuly’s life and artistic journey, I wouldn’t say this is a must-do. That’s not to say that the glasswork and placement of the pieces in the conservatory isn’t spectacular but if you are short on time or tight on budget, stick to the free outdoor exhibition.
The conservatory is step-free and easy to navigate with a wheelchair but it should be noted it is hot inside, particularly on a steamy day. Cool mists of water are sprayed periodically and fans work overtime but it is still a humid environment by nature.
So, if you live in Adelaide or if you are planning a visit to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, I suggest making it before 29 April so you can catch the captivating Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition. In the summer months or on days high temperatures are predicted I advise visiting early in the day.
We noticed children of all ages were having fun following the map to find the sculptures so it’s family-friendly too. We highly recommend a visit whether you are young, old or somewhere in between.
Access2Arts has put together an impressive accessibility guide for Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition which lists audio described tours, tactile tours, low sensory environments and general access information. It is the type of guide I’d love to see produced for all events and attractions so I urge you to check the guide before visiting if you have any concerns or questions. You can check the guide here.
Entry to the outdoor exhibition is free during the day but Chihuly Nights and the conservatory portion of the exhibition are both ticketed events.
If you are looking for another outdoor accessible activity while staying in Adelaide, why not take a drive to Henley Beach where the Surf Life Saving Club offers great beach access. You can read our review in this blog.
