Avoid the last-minute rush by pre-booking your Santa photos early this year – if you can. Bookings will be essential at most of the popular venues and we’d hate for you to miss out! Find the best places to see Santa in 2026, including free Santa photos, shopping centres, Santa’s Wonderland, pet photos and sensory-friendly sessions.
We’ve rounded up the best places to see Santa and take your Christmas photos in Adelaide, including locations, dates, booking information and prices where available. Some sessions book out quickly, so we recommend checking the details and booking ahead where required.
Santas Wonderland
Where: Adelaide Showground, Wayville
When: 4–24 December 2026
Cost: From $39.95 for the Elf Photo Pack (plus event entry)
Includes: Prints + digital image
Booking: Pre-book recommended
If you’re visiting Santa’s Wonderland this year, (and if you’re not you should be!) before you go jump onto their website and pre book your Santa photos.
Choose from a range of professional Santa photo packages and if you pre-purchase a photo pack online when you buy your entry ticket you will guarantee an appointment time with Santa. You can upgrade to premium packs or purchase additional photo products on the day of your visit.
Click here for more info about Santa photos at Santa’s Wonderland
FREE Santa Photos at Melba’s Chocolates
Where: Melba’s Chocolates Woodside or Angaston
When: 2026 dates TBC
Cost: Free
Includes: TBC
Booking: Not required
Special extended Christmas trading hours where you can join in their family fun festivities, including FREE Family Fun Entertainment, Food Trucks, and of course, you can visit Father Christmas and have a photo with him for FREE!
FREE Santa Photos at the Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market
Where: Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market
When: 13 December 2026
Cost: Free
Includes: Photo on your phone
Booking: Not required
Santa will be heading to the market! The perfect chance to capture a holiday memory with your family, friends, or even your pet (as long as they meet market entry requirements).
Bring your device and Santa’s Market Helpers will happily take the photo for you. Enjoy live entertainment from the SA Youth Guitar Ensemble, a face painter (small fee applies), and come-and-try sessions with the Lolly Jar Circus. Don’t forget to grab a sausage at their fundraising barbecue while you’re here. A joyful community morning not to be missed and best of all, market entry is free!
FREE Santa Photos at Adelady Christmas Markets
Where: Adelady Christmas Market, Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga
When: December 11 & 12
Cost: Free
Includes: Photo on your phone
Booking: Not required
Get down to the FREE Kids Zone at Adelady’s Christmas Village to meet Mr and Mrs Claus, and get beautiful photos with the big guy himself. All for FREE.
There’ll also be letter writing to Santa — so after the kids have had their photo taken, they can also put their Christmas wish list down on paper and pop it in the post box that goes straight to the North Pole.
You’ll also be able to enjoy FREE face painting, a spinning photo booth, fun and playful decorations, roaming cheeky elves, plush Betty’s Burgers toys, and more. The kids will go nuts!
FREE Santa Photos at your local Bunnings
Where: Your local Bunnings
When: Typically held on Thursday evenings in December. Check your local store for dates and times
Cost: Free
Includes: Take your own selfie with santa
Booking: Not required
Bring the family along to your local Bunnings to take a FREE photo with Santa!
Please note this is a festive set up to take your own photos with Santa – there will not be a professional photographer or photo printing on site.
Bookings are required
Santaland at Myer Adelaide
Where: Myer Adelaide, Rundle Mall
When: 2026 dates TBC
Cost: Visiting Santa is expected to be free, with photo packages available to purchase
Includes: Meet Santa and enjoy the festive Santaland experience; photo packages available separately
Booking: Pre-paid bookings essential. 2026 bookings will open through Myer when available.
Please note: The Santaland Express train is only available at the Adelaide CDB store. Each 10 minute Santaland booking includes a personal one on one experience for you and your family. Meet Santa and his Elves, and get your Christmas photos taken. They also have special photography sessions for pets and Baby’s First Christmas.
David Jones Magic Cave
Santa returns to the Magic Cave for 2026!
Where: David Jones Adelaide Central Plaza, Rundle Mall
When: 2026 dates TBC
Cost: 2026 photo package prices TBC
Includes: Santa photo package, with packages and inclusions varying.
Booking: Bookings are essential. 2026 bookings will open through David Jones when available.
From early November until Christmas Eve the 2nd floor of David Jones at Adelaide Central Plaza will be home to this beloved SA icon, The Magic Cave. The funhouse mirrors have been polished and the carousel lights are twinkling, ready for excited visitors who will descend on David Jones for this cherished South Australian tradition. The Magic Cave will feature the enchantment of years gone by with old favourites such as the vintage carousel and displays to delight everyone.
Santa PAWtraits sessions make a return as one of the multiple package options available for the ultimate festive experience, which also includes Sensitive Santa, and standard sessions.Find out more about the Magic Cave
Westfield Santa Photography
Santa and his elves work hard to make sure the Westfield photography sets are always magical and 2024 will be no different. Bookings are essential.
Westfield are also offering Sensitive Santa, Auslan Santa sessions and Pet photography sessions.
Marion – Click here
Tea Tree Plaza – Click here
West Lakes – Click here
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SCREAMING. SCARED. SENSORY OVERLOAD. All these things shouldn't be associated with Santa but sometimes they are for sensitive little souls. The music is too loud, the crowds to noisy, the lines too long, the lights too bright and then the Santa experience turns into meltdown and the magic experience is gone.... sound familiar? Thanks to several organisations Sensory Santa is becoming a great choice from 9-5 Santa and allowing the magic to happen when it needs a little help. Kids in Adelaide have done the work to provide you updates on where Sensory Santa's will be and when! Check out this page for continuous updates as we find them. You can stop by the Christmas Wonderland at the Westfield Centres before surrounding stores open, so everyone can enjoy their special moment with Santa in a comfortable and calm environment. Book your Santa photo time slot online and skip the queue. Children that meet Santa and have a photo taken with him will receive a wearable gift, either a cute reindeer or elf headband.
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