Give back to the local community through the 10 best volunteering opportunities in Adelaide
- Tourist Spots Offering Volunteerism Opportunities
- Adelaide Gaol
- Adelaide Botanic Gardens
- Murray River Natural Park (Campground Hosts Program)
- Cleland Wildlife Park
- Volunteer Groups
- Adelaide Bushwalkers
- Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries Inc.
- Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
- Walking SA
- Wombats SA / Natural History Society of South Australia
- OzHarvest
Beyond the churches, the wines, and the stunning outdoor spots, the true essence of Adelaide lies in its people. We Adelaideans believe that building a strong community requires everyone to play their part!
What better way to contribute than by volunteering? From environmental cleanups to medical assistance, there are countless ways you can make a difference, even as a visitor!
Tourist Spots Offering Volunteerism Opportunities
Adelaide Gaol
Photo by adelaidewriter
Website: https://www.adelaidegaol.sa.gov.au/
Address: 18 Gaol Rd
Contact details: +61 8 8231 4062
Operating hours: Daily: 10 AM-4 PM
The current operations in Adelaide Gaol are a wonderful showcase of the spirit of volunteerism. What once was a grisly fortress that held the city’s most notorious convicts was transformed into an educational display of Adelaide’s colonial past—all through volunteers’ work!
As a volunteer, you can play a key role in running historical tours, guiding visitors through original rooms that evoke a chill.
You can also contribute to essential maintenance, research, and cleanup efforts to help preserve this important piece of history.
Pro tips:
- Adelaide Gaol’s peak visitor times are during Halloween when they conduct Ghost Tours. This is the perfect time for you to visit and volunteer.
- Those with maintenance and cleaning backgrounds are especially needed here.
Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Photo by botanicgardenssa
Website: https://www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/support-us/volunteering/
Address: North Terrace
Contact details: +61 8 8222 9311
Operating hours:
- Monday-Friday: 7:15 AM-5:30 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 9 AM-5:30 PM
Green thumbs unite and thrive at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, a 50-hectare haven of global flora and fauna. Activities range from hands-on garden maintenance to educational tours for children.
The real reward is the stunning view. Watching plant life flourish from your efforts is a joy like no other! Plus, being outdoors, feeling the breeze, and sharing smiles with fellow plant enthusiasts adds to the delight.
Pro tips:
- Garden maintenance involves mulching, weeding, and pruning—all activities where you’ll be exposed to sunlight. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
- Volunteers can also participate in Mount Lofty Botanic Garden where the volunteer activities are similar.
Murray River Natural Park (Campground Hosts Program)
Photo by abcadelaide
Website: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/volunteer/campground-hosts-program
Address: Katarapko
Contact details: +61 8 8595 2111
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
The Campground Hosts program offers a chance to volunteer in South Australia’s natural parks, with the historic Murray River being a favorite spot. If you enjoy camping, guiding guests through local flora and fauna, and assisting rangers, this is ideal for you.
Every host will have the opportunity to meet numerous guests, ensuring their stay is both comfortable and enjoyable. In doing so, you’ll highlight the area’s natural beauty while supporting local tourism.
Pro tips:
- Don’t worry about having to keep unruly guests in check! That’s the ranger’s job, and you’re mainly there to provide info and welcome guests.
- First aid training is essential because you never know what accidents guests might face.
Cleland Wildlife Park
Photo by ClelandWildlifePark
Website: https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/get-involved/volunteering
Address: 365 Mount Lofty Summit Rd, Crafers
Contact details: +61 8 8339 2444
Operating hours: Daily: 9:30 AM-5 PM
Cleland Wildlife Park offers a wonderful way to volunteer while connecting with Australia’s natural wildlife. Whether you’re planting gum trees for koalas or tidying up kangaroo paddocks, there are countless opportunities to roll up your sleeves and help!
Think of Cleland as the wilder, more adventurous cousin of the Adelaide Zoo. With its sprawling open spaces and up-close encounters, it’s the perfect spot for anyone eager to experience wildlife in a more immersive, safari-like setting.
Pro tips:
- For a one-time volunteering experience, attend the Cleland Blitz where families (including children) can help with simple tasks like mulching, cleaning, and more.
- It’s usually hot at the park (around 36°C to 38°C). Wear comfortable and light clothes.
Volunteer Groups
Adelaide Bushwalkers
Photo by adelaidebushwalkers
Website: https://www.adelaidebushwalkers.org/
Address: Community Centre, 176 Tynte St, North Adelaide
Contact details: +61 457 339 383
Operating hours: Wednesday: 7:30-9 PM
Adelaide Bushwalkers have spent 75 years mastering the art of adventurous hikes, camping trips, and extended walks across South Australia.
They strike a perfect balance between leisure and stewardship, ensuring the trails are pristine and visitors are well-guided. Their initiatives include building water tanks for hikers, restoring paths, updating signage, and more.
Traveling with the group for hours is also a brilliant chance to connect with locals and dive into their culture.
Pro tips:
- Their meetings are every first Wednesday of the month (except January). Attend one so you can get up to speed with their activities.
- First-time hiking? Consult with them to know what items you must pack.
Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries Inc.
Photo by sam.m.mullins
Website: https://emsau.org/
Contact details: +61 466 278 187
Operating hours: All week: 8 AM-5 PM
Experience Marine Sanctuaries is a fantastic choice if you have experience snorkeling and want to explore South Australia’s best snorkeling spots—all while helping conserve the natural beauty.
Here, you can guide first-time snorkelers to properly use equipment, provide shore and kayak support, and assist in special events that orient guests about marine conservation.
It’s even better if you’re planning to become a marine biologist, as you get hands-on experience using snorkeling equipment, mapping diving spots, and encountering marine wildlife.
Pro tips:
- The waters may not always be conducive for snorkeling. In such cases, a text or email will be sent to volunteers hours in advance.
- Those aged 13–17 can volunteer but only with parental supervision.
Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
Photo by atzimm72
Website: https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/
Contact details: [email protected]
Are you in Adelaide for its diverse birdlife? The Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary are your pals in the area.
They mainly patrol the 60 km coastline from Parham to Barker Inlet, which is what 20,000 migratory shorebirds use as terminal feeding and roosting grounds.
The volunteering group participates in rubbish removal, maintaining trails, monitoring birdlife, and more. In addition, you’ll get lots of opportunities for birdwatching and photography here.
Pro tips:
- Rubbish cleanup around bird lands almost always results in wet and muddy clothes. Be sure to bring a change of clothes and boots with you.
- Wear neutral colors like brown, grays, and greens to avoid scaring away the birds.
Walking SA
Photo by walkingsa_au
Website: https://www.walkingsa.org.au/
Address: Level 1/155-159 Hutt St
Contact details: +61 457 006 620
Operating hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 9 AM-3 PM
While Adelaide Bushwalkers can go hardcore with their adventures, Walking SA’s trips are more relaxed and calm. Together, they participate in walks, cleanup drives, and maintenance of walking paths along forests, national parks, and reserves.
Often, their walks are held in partnership with other volunteer groups such as Heart Foundation Walking, Big Heart Adventures, and Pioneer Women’s Trail. By participating in walks along them, you can contribute to multiple causes through one activity.
Pro tips:
- Their website is a great help for first-timers, as they provide in-depth info about over 800 walking trails. Check them out here.
- Their social media pages are also a fantastic source for the latest updates about walking trails that are temporarily closed.
Wombats SA / Natural History Society of South Australia
Photo by wombats_sa
Website: https://wombatssa.org.au/
Contact details: [email protected]
Though primarily focused on the charming marsupials they’re named after, Wombats SA is equally committed to safeguarding South Australia’s diverse flora and fauna, working to preserve the region’s natural ecosystems and habitats for future generations.
Specifically, they protect Moorunde, Nardoo, Malurus, Cullen, and Lake Short Conservation Reserve.
Their activities are wide-ranging—taking care of vegetation, research projects, population monitoring, and more. Nature enthusiasts and wildlife scientists are especially invited to join the group!
Pro tips:
- Those who don’t want to go outdoors for long periods but want to help the cause can purchase wombat-themed garden art on their website.
- Wombats define their territories by leaving droppings and scent trails. To avoid disturbing their space, it’s best to steer clear of their burrows.
OzHarvest
Photo by ozharvestsa
Website: https://www.ozharvest.org/
Address: 25 Manton St, Hindmarsh
Contact details: +61 8 7007 0080
OzHarvest is one of the fiercest advocates of food safety all over Australia. Founded in 2004, they address the oversupply of food and help in its distribution for the poor, saving it from its usual fate of ending in landfills.
They have delivered a whopping total of 250 million meals through the help of volunteers. They can use some helping hands for conducting feeding, food education, and advocacy programs.
Volunteers can purchase and distribute the eye-catching “Use It Up” tape, designed to label food close to expiration. With its bold colors and standout design, it makes raising awareness and tackling food waste both doable and effective.
Pro tips:
- Don’t worry if you have a tight schedule, as they have a flexible digital calendar for volunteers where it’s easy to plot out specific days and times you can participate.
- They also encourage group volunteers. It’s a perfect opportunity if your office is looking for ways to help the local community.
