Adelaide Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Adelaide

Adelaide is an enchanting destination to explore. The wide sweeping streets, city squares and lush green boundaries make for an experience in themselves. You only need scratch the surface to tap into its hedonistic side. This adventure playground boasts major cultural, artistic, pleasure-seeking, gastronomic and sports events. The city also offers a wealth of cuisines and magnificent wines through to the live music and bar scene. During the innovative Adelaide Fringe Festival, the artistic flair of this progressive city shine through. The traditional owners of the Adelaide area are the Kaurna people, whose territory extends south towards Cape Jervis and north towards Port Wakefield. Early European colonists (free settlers) began to arrive in 1836, creating a lush, European-style capital, while successive waves of settlers have added to the cosmopolitan mix.

Adelaide's Central Market is the destination for 'foodies'. Among the noisy, colourful atmosphere and wondrous smells are fruit and vegetable stores and a large selection of meat and fish along with gourmet specialities introduced by the waves of immigrants who call Adelaide their home.

Also popular with visitors is the Adelaide Zoo and Cleland Wildlife Park, which features local birds and animals including koalas and kangaroos. Locality: On the flat Adelaide Plain, bounded by the Gulf to the W and the low, rolling Adelaide Hills, part of the Mt Lofty Ranges to the E. Near the coast of South Australia, on the Gulf of St Vincent. 400 mls NW of Melbourne (1 hr by air). City centre 4m ls E of airport.

Adelaide suits all types of tourist but especially a more mature, quieter clientele who appreciate Victorian architecture and a refined, genteel atmosphere. The city does, however, have a livelier aspect, making it appealing to a younger crowd.

A dozen or more beaches spread along the 20 mls of coast nearest the city, boasting stretches of golden sand are also a fabulous attraction to this city. Glenelg is probably the best known and most developed with safe swimming, a variety of water sports and a water park.

There are Plenty of shops, befitting the capital of the state of South Australia. Rundle Mall is a pedestrian street in the NE of the city with department stores and lots of shops. Its continuation, Rundle Street, is full of boutiques. Central and East End Markets plus another in the suburbs at Tea Tree Plaza. In North Adelaide, Melbourne Street and O'Connell Street meet shoppers' needs. Opals are promoted as a good buy.

There is plenty do in Adelaide, examples of which include: the botanic gardens housing rainforest in a glasshouse, Japanese gardens, various parks, a zoo, museum, large aquatic centre with extensive indoor swimming pools, cricket and Australian rules football at Adelaide Oval, horse and greyhound racing, Australian Grand Prix motor race, held on the streets of the city, street entertainers.

By night there is the Festival Theatre for shows, plays and concerts, cinemas, casino, pubs, clubs and discos, with the best selection on Hindley Street, in the NW corner of the city centre, which also boasts a few adult entertainment venues.

Those looking for a place to eat will not be disappointed, Adelaide is said to have more restaurants per head of population than any other Australian city, with many oriental, Italian, Greek and native restaurants; local fish is a favourite and even legal "Aussie tucker" like kangaroo-tail soup can be found. Head for Melbourne and O'Connell Streets in North Adelaide or Rundle and Hindley Streets in the city centre.

Local excursions to Barossa and Clare Valley wineries; Kangaroo Island; boat trip along River Murray are also popular options for tourists.

Suggest a change to the Adelaide Things to do section (click to dropdown)

Population: 20.090.400
Languages: English 79%, native and other languages
Currency: Australian dollar
Currency code: AUD
Local Times:
Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney

Australia - Tasmania - Hobart

Australia - Western Australia - Perth

Country Dialling Code: +61
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

The moment Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770, it was clear that Australia was never going to be kept much of a secret for future generations. The country has ever since been a magnet for explorers and backpacking adventurers and has a great deal to offer tourists and holidaymakers looking for something a little more organised. Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the smallest of the World's continents).

The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 1,245 mi (2,000 km), lies along the northeast coast. The island of Tasmania (26,178 sq mi; 67,800 sq km) is off the southeast coast. It may be one of the world's most ancient lands with its mystical red centre and brooding rock formations, but Australia is also characterised by its youthful energy, its freshness and its 'no worries' philosophy.

Most of the population lives within a few miles of the beach and with the working day beginning and ending early, it's not uncommon to see city slickers out of their suits and into the surf come 4.30pm.

In high summer many families will enjoy a simple backyard barbecue several times a week.

The 22-hour journey means most European people visit for at least a couple of weeks, allowing time for all that the country has to offer, including its chic cities, terracotta desert, lush bush and magical ocean reefs.

But the sheer size of Australia means that one visit is unlikely to be enough.

The most popular attractions are undoubtedly Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there are now more subtle incentives for a visit.

The wonderful fusion cuisine, the café society, the burgeoning art, culture and fashion scene, and the very real possibility of being the only person for miles around all conspire to make it a wholly alluring experience.

From the dazzling kaleidoscope of colours and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the intridue of the outback, the bustling cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches on the planet, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia really set up the scene for any tourist to find a myriad of fantastic experiences. With more than 2,000 national parks, 14 World Heritage-listed areas, 7000 beaches and a wealth of man made attractions, Australia is certainly a destination for anybody.

Australia is full of culture and character too, with diverse cultures and traditions. For more than 50,000 years the Aboriginal people lived and thrived in the continent's unique environment and nowadays consciuos government efforts and initiatives are placing ever greater importance on them retaining their heritage and culture. Any tourist to Australia will no doubt experience the new world and maybe a glimpse of the aboriginal old Australia too.

Adelaide Travel Guide

Adelaide Suitability Profile