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Places To Visit In Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and a fantastic spot to explore. Located on Gulf of St Vincent in the south-eastern corner of the state, there are many places to visit in Adelaide (just see below in this post). Fun facts include the city of Adelaide has a population of 1.4 million people, is the traditional home of the Kaurna indigenous people and is sometimes referred to as the “City of Churches”. Interestingly, Adelaide is the only Australian capital city founded as a free settlement. Convicts were never sent to South Australia, and Adelaide’s history as a planned community still shines through today, especially with all the parklands surrounding the city. Modern Adelaide is noted for its beachfront lifestyle, warm dry Adelaide weather, and excellent liveability.Â
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Getting to Adelaide
Getting to Adelaide is easy, thanks to Adelaide’s excellent airport. Daily flights are available to all major Australian cities, plus several locations across Asia, the Middle East, and New Zealand. Driving to Adelaide is also possible; it’s about 650km from Melbourne, 900km from Canberra, and 1100km from Sydney. There’s also train connections to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Darwin. Adelaide is also home to an excellent public transport system, with trains and buses covering much of the city. There’s also a well-known tram line that connects the city with beautiful Glenelg. There’s also several Adelaide hire car options, as all the major brands have a presence here.
If you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating city, read on for the best places to visit in Adelaide!Â
Things To Do In Adelaide
Adelaide is home to many fantastic attractions. One of the best things to do in Adelaide is to visit the beachfront suburb of Glenelg, a short tram ride from the Adelaide CBD. Sports lovers shouldn’t miss the Adelaide Oval, one of Australia’s best sporting venues. If you’ve got a sweet tooth then be sure to check out Haigh’s Chocolate Factory, while beer fans should definitely visit Coopers Brewery. There’s also an impressive number of museums and art galleries in Adelaide, along with beautiful gardens, striking colonial architecture, and the famous Adelaide Zoo. And of course, there’s plenty of opportunities for shopping!
Glenelg
One of the most fun things to do in Adelaide is a visit to Glenelg, the best-known Adelaide beach. Glenelg is about 10 kilometres south-west of the Adelaide CBD, just over 30 minutes by tram from Victoria Square. Fronting the placid waters of Gulf St Vincent, the long and wide beach is immensely popular, especially during Adelaide’s long and hot summers. The area also features plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. There’s also the Beachouse entertainment complex, one of the best things to do in Adelaide with kids. It features water slides, dodgem cars, mini golf, and Glenelg’s historic 120-year old Carousel.Â
Museums & Art Galleries
Adelaide features several fantastic museums and art galleries, which rank among the best free things to do in Adelaide. Be sure to check out the Art Gallery of South Australia (located on North Terrace), the adjacent South Australian Museum with its excellent collection of Aboriginal artefacts, and the Migration Museum. Further north in Port Adelaide, is the trio of the South Australian Maritime Museum, the National Railway Museum, and the South Australian Aviation Museum. And of course, art & culture lovers shouldn’t miss the Adelaide Fringe Festival in late Feb/early March, or WOMADelaide (World of Music Arts and Dance) music festival in March.Â
Gardens & Parklands
Adelaide’s CBD is surrounded by a green belt of beautiful parks, known as the parklands. The parklands are filled with great spots for relaxing, and exercising. In the North Terrace area, just beyond the CBD, is a fantastic collection of garden attractions. There’s the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Garden, and the nearby Bicentennial Conservatory with its enormous greenhouse and collection of tropical plants. Plus there’s the famous Adelaide Zoo, featuring lions and tigers, and Australia’s only giant pandas.
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is located just north of Adelaide CBD, in the parklands area along the Torrens River. Recently renovated in 2014 and considered one of the world’s most picturesque cricket grounds, the Oval hosts cricket during the summer months, and Adelaide Crows AFL matches during the winter (Port Adelaide too but they are important). Watching a match is highly recommended! Check out the official website for a full upcoming schedule. Behind the scenes, tours are also available, while braver souls can tackle the RoofClimb, a guided rooftop tour of the stadium with excellent views of the city.Â
Haigh's Chocolate Factory
Haigh’s is well-known as one of the best chocolate makers in Australia, and their factory in Parkside is a must-visit for any chocaholic. Free tours run several times daily Monday-Saturday, though bookings are essential. And yes, they do give out free samples! Also on site is the Visitor Centre, selling a vast range of Haigh’s Chocolates. If you’re on a tight budget, their “factory seconds” range of imperfectly-formed but still very tasty chocolate is an excellent option.
Coopers Brewery
Located in Regency Park in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, Coopers Brewery is the largest family-owned brewery in Australia. They’ve been brewing ales for over 150 years! Taking the 90-minute tour is highly recommended, as your guide takes you through every phase of brewing, bottling and packaging Coopers ales. The tour naturally finishes with a beer tasting! Tickets are $33, though all proceeds go to charity via the Coopers Foundation, and bookings are essential. Note that since the brewery is an active work site, you’ll need to wear fully enclosed shoes.
Shopping
All Australian cities have great shopping opportunities, and Adelaide is no different. Rundle Mall is the heart of Adelaide’s shopping experience, with a long pedestrian street featuring several side-streets and shopping arcades. Don’t miss the Adelaide Arcade, with its fascinating Victorian-era architecture and interesting boutiques. Another highlight is Adelaide Central Market, with an enormous collection of fresh produce and hawker stalls.Â
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Road Trips in Adelaide
The best option for a road trip in Adelaide is spending a day cruising along the coastline. Known by locals as the Seacliff to North Haven drive, it’s a great way to see some Adelaide beaches, and some of the best suburbs in Adelaide.
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Seacliff to North Haven Road Trip
Seacliff is a beachside suburb on Adelaide’s southern coast, about 17km south-east of the city centre. Start your day with a coffee and morning stroll along the esplanade, before heading north along the coastline. Follow the A15 route northwards through Brighton Beach, Somerton Park and Glenelg, before heading across to Seaview Road at West Beach. Check out the West Beach SLSC, then head north through the Adelaide suburbs to Henley Beach with its collection of cool cafes and restaurants. Follow the coast road north again at your leisure, through West Lakes, Semaphore Beach, and eventually North Haven. Grab a cold drink at the Sailmaster Tavern and watch the sunset!
Adelaide Accommodation
As a decently-sized city, there’s a huge number of Adelaide accommodation options. You’ll find everything from cheap & cheerful budget stays, through to high-end luxury properties, with a range of prices to suit every budget.
Hotels Adelaide
Many high-end luxury hotels in Adelaide are located in the central business district and include:
– Hilton AdelaideÂ
– Adina Grand Adelaide Treasury
– Peppers Waymouth Adelaide
– Quest on Franklin
– Stamford Plaza
– InterContinental Adelaide
– Mayfair
Mid-range hotels located near Rundle Mall include:
– ibis Adelaide
– Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre
Most of the budget and backpacker accommodation is located on Waymouth Street near the central bus station, such as:
– Adelaide YHA Â
– Tequila Sunrise Hostel
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Airbnbs Adelaide
There’s hundreds of Adelaide Airbnb options. For a luxury stay consider this Top Shelf Penthouse overlooking the Torrens River, or Darling’s Cottage in North Adelaide. A more affordable option might be this private ensuite room in central Adelaide.
Caravan Parks Adelaide
Adelaide has several caravan parks. In Hackney, just north of the city centre is the BIG4 Adelaide, with cabins, villas and powered sites. There’s another BIG4 at West Beach, not far from Glenelg, while Discovery Parks Adelaide Beachfront is located on the beach near Port Adelaide. Or for a more sedate and relaxing experience, consider Windsor Gardens Caravan Park in Windsor Gardens.
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Adelaide Restaurants
As a big city, there’s a fantastic collection of restaurants in Adelaide. And like all Australian cities, cuisine from many different cultures is available at an excellent standard. For Asian food, particularly Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese, check out the Gouger Street area around Chinatown and the Central Market. If you’d prefer Italian or Greek, head to Rundle Street and the East End. There’s several cool cafes along Waymouth Street west of King William Street, while there’s an interesting mix of cafes and small restaurants around Melbourne Street in North Adelaide. And finally, for a fancy meal head to Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant in the eastern suburbs. One of the best restaurants in Adelaide, with fine dining above the vineyards of the famous Penfolds winery!
Summary
Overall, there’s a lot of fantastic places to visit in Adelaide, and many fascinating things to do in Adelaide as well. As one of Australia’s most relaxed and diverse cities, it’s well worth a visit
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