Presented in association with Botanic Gardens & State Herbarium. 2 Jul 2025
Winters nights are when we should hibernate in our heated homes with a hearty meal and a Netflix binge, right? Wrong! Night Visions, created and curated especially for Adelaide’s wonderful annual Illuminate Adelaide, is an excellent reason to rug up and walk the paths of our stunning Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
I arrived promptly for the preview on Tuesday July 2nd at 6:50 for a 7:00 start and, greeted by friendly gatekeeping staff, wandered with eager anticipation along the main concourse with the rest of the well spread-out crowd toward the entrance to sheer wonder.
Rounding the corner, I was taken aback by an enormous, bearded face peering down at me with what appeared to be great benevolence. The first of Craig Walsh’s monumental projections anthropomorphizing ancient trees and embodying the spirit of First Nations people, this was an extraordinary introduction to a mesmerizing light show! A series of similarly remarkable renderings, including some featuring the gardens main pond, Kainka Wirra, dating back to 1868, led us along the dark path.
An intriguing tunnel opened into an extravaganza of haze and otherworldly lights and sounds juxtaposed with an elegant Edwardian fountain evoking, for me, an interstellar rave! I was transfixed as sheets of coloured light lit the haze and stood immersed in the experience for about ten minutes!
After a brief stroll I found myself on Murdoch Avenue, that wonderful boulevard of Moreton Bay Figs that has been there forever! Already imbued with mysticism, these ancient trees have been transformed into an even more whimsical, ethereal place, the lights and sound all the more extraordinary with aromas of botanical life all around- it’s easy to lose oneself.
Passing through a tunnel of light, the Schomburgk Pavillion and Café Fibonacci came into view, well placed on the route with donuts, coffee, pizzas, alcoholic beverages, fries with an array of condiments and other delights, a welcome sight on a cold night.
Fuelled by delicious fries with parmesan and chilli oil, I headed for the magnificent Bicentennial Conservatory- arguably the most breathtaking installation of all. I simply had to keep stopping to take it all in and couldn’t understand the rush of some to get through! The moments in the Conservatory must be savoured! My senses utterly satiated, I wandered out and found myself observing an extraordinary phenomenon like a primeval sunrise accompanied by music that could have been a soundtrack for entering Valhalla!
Unfortunately, a young guy with an American accent couldn’t seem to resist commenting loudly and cynically about every change of state. Resisting the urge to “clock him one” as my dear departed granddad would have said, I shifted vantage points to take it all in- a real treat toward the end of the journey.
Kudos to Night Visions Creative Directors Rachael Azzopardi & Lee Cumberlidge, Associate Creative Director Chris Petridis, the extraordinarily talented artists Robin Fox, Craig Walsh, Amelia Kosminsky, Jayden Sutherland and Elisha Umuhuri who created this immersive light and soundscape. Jethro Woodward, Composer & Sound Designer, you are a superstar!
A treat for the senses, Night Visions is an enchanting, immersive experience for everyone! However, given the cost-of-living crisis, $45.00 per ticket and $14.00 for fries is likely to preclude many young families attending, a great shame as everyone should have access to this magical experience! Perhaps the State Government could pitch in! Getting to Adelaide Oval on regular Adelaide Metro and Footy Express bus, train and tram services are FREE throughout the 2025 footy season. Surely entrance to Night Visions could be subsidized in a similar way!
Night Visions Go, see it!
John Doherty
When: 2 to 20 Jul
Where: Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Bookings: illuminateadelaide.com
