Some of the best dates I know cost nothing. Here are three free sunset spots around Adelaide: two foothills lookouts where you can watch the city lights come on, and one long southern beach where the sun sinks into the gulf. Bring a jumper, because it gets cool fast once the sun’s gone.
Mount Osmond
- Area: Mount Osmond, eastern foothills
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 60–90 minutes
- Best time: Sunset
- Official link: Dept for Environment and Water – Mount Osmond Reserve
It’s close to the city and looks straight out over Adelaide. Cars can’t drive into the reserve, so park in a marked area or on the street, and never in front of a reserve gate. The walking trails here are Grade 3, steep and rocky in places, so for a sunset sit just stay near the top. Dogs on a lead are fine. There are no bins, so take your rubbish home.
Check the night closures. The reserve closes at night for feral deer control: 12–16 October from 8pm, 2–6 and 9–13 November from 8:30pm, and 30 November–4 December and 7–11 December from 9pm. On those nights, watch the sunset and then head straight off. The Parks SA closures page has the full list.
Windy Point, Belair Road
- Area: Belair, Mitcham Hills
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 20–40 minutes
- Best time: Sunset into dusk, when the city lights come on
- Official link: Windy Point – location and car park
The classic Adelaide lookout, with the plains, the city and the gulf all in one view. The car park entrance is where Kalyra Road meets Belair Road (339 Belair Road). The restaurant on site is open Thursday to Saturday evenings from 5:30pm if you want to make a night of it, but the view is free. I couldn’t find an official council page listing gate hours or toilets, so check before you go.
Sellicks Beach
- Area: Sellicks Beach, Fleurieu
- Cost: Free on foot ($12 ramp fee only if you drive onto the sand while the ramps are staffed, December–March)
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Best time: Late afternoon into sunset
- Official links: South Australia – Sellicks Beach and City of Onkaparinga – beach access rules
This is where the Hills finally run into the sea: a long sweep of sand backed by steep cliffs, about 50 minutes south of the city. It faces west, so you get the whole sunset over the water. You can drive on the beach between 5:30am and 11:59pm at 10 km/h. Stay on the hard sand and watch the tide, or just park up top and walk down. During daylight saving, dogs must be on a lead from 10am to 8pm. Keep well back from the cliffs.
Pairs with: Windy Point is a few minutes from Banana Boogie Bakery, which is one of my Adelaide Hills bakery and lookout pairings. Sellicks is an easy detour home after strawberry picking near Adelaide at Mount Compass. Want to stretch your legs first? One of these easy coastal walks in Adelaide makes a good warm-up before the sun goes down.
Top photo: Serge Doublet, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Opening hours, prices and closures were checked against each official page on 10 October 2026; please check again before you go.