City Spotlight
Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide: a 20-minute city
Quick facts about Adelaide
- Name: Adelaide
- Founded: 1836
- Population: 1.7 million
- Area: 3,258 km²
- Known as: Capital of South Australia, 'City of churches'
Adelaide is a diverse cosmopolitan capital of South Australia. Its ring of parkland on the Torrens River is home to renowned museums such as South Australia’s Art Gallery, displaying large collections including well-known Indigenous art, and the South Australian Museum, dedicated to natural history. The Adelaide Festival in the city is an annual international arts festival that is filled with film and fringe activities and events.
In the very city center, there is Victoria Square and the lively Central Market, originating from the 19th century, main place to buy produce and experience Adelaide’s spirit. There are native dolphin and seal colonies in the Glenelg beach area on Holdfast Island, offering hiking and biking trails. Adelaide is also a popular base to explore the wine country of Barossa and Clare Valley, the Adelaide Hills, where the Mt. Lofty Summit overlooks the coast, and the wildlife and beaches of Kangaroo Island.
Main attractions
Adelaide Zoo. The Adelaide Zoo is just merely a 15-minute walk from the city center. It is a home to over 1,800 animals and over 300 species of exotic and indigenous mammals, birds, reptiles and fish exhibited in over eight hectares of stunning botanical environments. Adelaide Central Market. The Adelaide Central Market was founded in 1869 and has been a vibrant food and culture center for over 150 years. Adelaide Botanic Garden. An urban oasis of beautifully landscaped parks, magnificent avenues and breathtaking architecture in the cosmopolitan heart of the city. Opened in 1857, thus garden covers 50 hectares and features some of Australia’s finest collections of plants.
Mount Lofty. The peak, which rises over 710 meters above sea level, provides a picturesque panoramic view over the city skyline of Adelaide, as far as Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula on clear days. Offering biking and walking trails and a café. South Australian Museum. The museum houses the largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material in the world, with more than 3,000 artifacts on display, as well as the culturally significant Yuendumu Doors. Adelaide Oval. Prominently located as the hub of the revitalized riverbank precinct of Adelaide CBD, the Oval is host to the highest level of cricket, soccer, concerts, functions and major events.
Art Gallery of South Australia. This Art Gallery holds one of Australia’s largest art museum collections, with about 47,000 art works from Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia. It was founded in 1881. National Wine Centre. The Center offers a range of hospitality programs to inform local and international tourists about the wine industry in Australia. It includes guided tours, an immersive learning space known as the Wine Exploration Journey, and Australia’s largest wine degustation experience at the Wined Bar hub. Cleland Conservation Park. Beautiful park with scenic views. Offering hiking and walking trails and a unique experience to hold a koala.
Morialta Conservation Park. Preserved nature area with several waterfalls, gorges and woodland, offering hiking trails. Popular also with rock climbers. Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. The 97-hectare Adelaide Hills Garden is famous for its widespread gullies, offering surprises every season. Overlooking the picturesque Piccadilly Valley, cool-climate plant displays are flourishing on Mount Lofty’s eastern slopes. Victoria Square. Also known as Tarntanyangga or Tarndanyangga, this large, central public square features park, fountain and walking areas.
Belair National Park. Cast in beautiful natural bushland, with multiple picnic areas, tennis courts and a number of walking trails, Belair National Park is an ideal place for outdoor activities. Waterfall Gully. A lovely place for hiking, and just 10 minutes from town! It is situated in the Cleland National Park, at the foot of the Adelaide hills. There’s plenty to look at, from the protected natural landscape to the stunning waterfalls. d’Arenberg. The McLaren Vale d’Arenberg Cube is a multi-functional five-story building set among Mourvèdre vines. Offers wine tasting.
The Beachouse. Entertainment park including: indoor fully enclosed heated waterslides, the Dual Slide, Speed Slide and Raft Slide, Dodgem Cars, Bumper Boats, Play Castle, Carousel, Train, Mini Golf, Arcade Games and Prize & Ticket Games. Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door. The new Magill Estate Cellar Door offers amazing views of the iconic Penfolds vineyards, a perfect setting to immerse visitors in Penfolds history and spirit. Adelaide Casino. Located in the beautifully restored Adelaide Railway Station in the heart of the city, Adelaide Casino has some of the finest restaurants, bars and gaming facilities in the city.
Gorge Wildlife Park. Animals and birds on display in a wildlife park, including wombats, dingoes, echidnas and Tasmanian devils. Migration Museum. This museum aims to conserve and help visitors appreciate and experience the diverse cultures of South Australia. It is a place to discover many identities of the people of South Australia through the stories of the individuals and communities. Carrick Hill. The beautiful garden of Carrick Hill is as unique as its collection of art. The view across the gardens to Adelaide and the sea beyond is a spectacular highlight. Nestled in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, is just a 15-minute drive from Adelaide centre.
From other attractions in Adelaide we recommend: National Railway Museum, Glenelg Beach, Big Rocking Horse, Himeji Gardens, Botanic Park, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Adelaide Gaol, Adelaide Park Lands, Coriole Vineyards and many more.
Top things to do in Adelaide
Adelaide is a city with many attractions to offer. We listed about 30 of them above. As with many cities in Australia, many exciting attractions are located outside of cities, such as national parks and nature trails and wild life reservations.
If you are adventurous, we recommend to take one of those tours and explore surroundings of Adelaide.
For wine lovers, there are many wineries just few minutes drive outside of the city.
Enjoy!
Festivals and events
Adelaide is packed with festivals and events all year around and here are some of the top recommendations.
Adelaide Film Festival (October), Adelaide Fringe (February/March), Adelaide Marathon (May), Australia Day (January), Glendi Greek Festival (November), Royal Adelaide Show (August/September), Christmas events in December and many more.
Interesting facts about Adelaide
- Adelaide is the only city in Australia that was not set by convicts.
- It is nicknamed as ’20-minute city’, since it is quite small.
- It was the first city in Australia to give women access to vote, recognize aboriginal land rights, and to eliminate sexual and racial discrimination.
Best time to fly to Adelaide
The peak season for flights to Adelaide is July, November and December. The low season for purchasing tickets is May, June and August.
Adelaide is served by Adelaide Airport (ADL). Direct flights to Adelaide are offered by 8 airlines.
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Top hotels offers
Safe travels!
