 Adelaide, Australia
City Guide
Introduction |
Attractions |
Tourist Information Offices |
Entertainment & Eating Out |
Shopping |
Cyber Adelaide |
Getting from A to B |
Tours |
Events
Introduction
Adelaide is situated along the southern coast of Australia. It is the state
capital of South Australia and has a population of 1 million.
When the British arrived in 1836, Colonel William Light selected a scenic
location for the future city and planned its attractive and navigable
layout. Adelaide today is ringed with botanic parklands and is graced
with tree-lined avenues and many classic Edwardian and Victorian buildings.
German and Italian migrants have brought much of the European flavour
that adds to its ambience.
Although there's not a lot going on in Adelaide most of the time, it does know how to put on a show and is regarded as the nation's 'Festival City'. Barossa Valley nearby is one of the world's
leading wine-growing areas with its wines winning many top prizes.
The annual calendar boasts events from the internationally acclaimed arts
and fringe festivals.
Although there are few attractions as such, visiting Adelaide is a pleasure. It is the gateway to South Australia's dramatic geographical landscapes and intriguing flora and fauna. Adelaide provides the perfect springboard for exploring natural wonders such as Flinders Ranges, the Murray River and Kangaroo Island.
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Attractions
The Festival Centre is the focal point of much of South Australia's entertainment and arts and is the venue of the famous Adelaide Arts Festival. The lively complex includes theatres, galleries and concert halls. The odd rock concert is held in the amphitheatre along the scenic riverbank.
Australia's largest Aboriginal history and arts collection is displayed at the South Australian Museum. The fine museum, which also exhibits natural history, is worth seeing. Another highly recommended museum is the Migration Museum, which chronicles the social history of the state. It explores the history of migration and settlement in the area since the first colonists of 1836.
Adelaide is also known as The City of Churches - there are 32 churches listed in and around the city. The most historic is the Holy Trinity Church, which goes back to 1838.
The state capital is a green city surrounded by relaxing parklands. For those interested in local birds there are guided bird walks along the river and parklands conducted by an Adelaide University biologist. Binoculars are provided.
The Adelaide Zoo provides landscaped rainforests and swamps for its endangered animals. The award-winning zoo has guided tours, activities for kids, walk-through aviaries and makes a fine day out for the family.
Within the subtropical botanic gardens is the largest greenhouse in the Southern Hemisphere, the Bicentennial Conservatory. The rainforest is impressively recreated with rare tropical plants and computer-generated mists and clouds.
Just 11km from the city centre is Adelaide's top beach destination, Glenelg. The lively beach has a good assortment of places to eat and drink. The calm waters are popular with both swimmers and windsurfers.
Adelaide is close to a string of good beaches. The better ones lie south towards the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula O'Sullivan Beach, Christies Beach and Seaford are good spots close to the city. Henley to the North isn't bad and the mangroves at St Kilda will be of interest to ecologists.
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Tourist Information Offices
The South Australian Tourist
Association information centre is on the corner of King William Street and
North Terrace. Rundle Mall has a useful information booth.
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Entertainment
and Eating Out
Adelaide offers some
superb food and fine wine and pushes itself as Australia's
culinary capital. It has more restaurants per head than anywhere else in
the country and a broad selection of cuisine and good prices. Many fine
restaurants allow patrons to bring their own bottle. The casual and urbane
caf scene is part of Adelaide's laid back appeal.
The East End is the best place to relax on the sidewalk with a good coffee.
There's also Italian, Greek, Chinese, Thai and vegetarian food available
particularly around Rundle Street. The Universal Wine Bar at 285
Rundle Street is an excellent place to just put your feet up and watch
the world go by.
Around the Central Market there are many affordable places to
eat. Asian takeaways are available in the International Food Market in
the Central Market Arcade or Hawker's Corner on West Terrace. Gouger Street
in the town centre incorporates the Chinatown district and offers
more great bites. If you enjoy Thai there's "Nu's", and for
a casual Malay dinner there is "A Taste of Spice". The Hilton
International has its own fine dining restaurant in The Grange, where
Chef Cheong Liew, creates his mouth-watering east-west dishes. It's recommended
to book in advance for this restaurant is very much in demand.
O'Connell
Street in North Adelaide has plenty of casual alfresco dining and
40 odd restaurants, cafes, wine bars and century-old elegant dining rooms.
A good spot to dine out and hang out is along trendy Melbourne Street.
A restaurant which
is so successful that it hasn't changed in 18 years is The Alphutte,
in Pulleney Street. The cuisine is international but leans more towards
traditional and Swiss food.
The Bridgewater
Mill in the Adelaide Hills serves only lunch and is a wonderful venue
for a leisurely outing with friends. The Mill's main feature is its waterwheel
and the wine list consists of Petaluma wines only.
When Adelaide folk aren't drinking wine they're drinking beer and there's
no shortage of pubs and bars in the city. Some pubs offer
genteel dining but there are more boisterous watering holes for those
looking for drunken revelry. Hindley Street has the lion's share
of the nightlife.
For a bit of a flutter, the Adelaide Casino on North Terrace provides
all the gambling and gaming facilities required.
Adelaide has plenty of facilities catering for just about every popular
sport. The barton has indoor ice skating rinks and an artificial ski
slope. Glenelg Beach is a good place to arrange watersporting
activities. Scuba divers off Kangaroo Island frequently encounter seals
and dolphins in the cool waters.
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Shopping
South Australia is the
world's leading producer of opals and Adelaide provides a massive
choice of these semi-precious gems. As in any Australian city, souvenirs
and Aboriginal arts and crafts are widely available.
More than 750 shops and stores are found in Adelaide's top shopping area,
the Rundle Street Mall. The open-air precinct has everything from
big stores to street markets, designer boutiques, jewellery shops, and
heaps more. Buskers and performers entertain passers by.
Adelaide Arcade revels in its classic Victorian past and offers
over 70 of Adelaide's finest retailers. The traditional Adelaide Hatters,
the tempting Haigh's with its enticing chocolates and old-fashioned cobblers
all offer welcome shopping alternatives.
The old Jam Factory is now a contemporary craft and design studio for Australian craftsmen with glass, furniture, metal and ceramics studios.
The new age Orange Lane Market sells all manner of hippy accessories
and interesting clutter. Open-air massage and palm reading sessions give
this weekend market a lively alternative edge.
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Cyber
Adelaide
Despite its many
cafes Adelaide doesn't have much of an internet scene. Tilt on Hindley
Street is one choice and close by is Talking Cents. If stuck try the better
hotels to get online.
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Getting
From A to B
Adelaide is
relatively small and well-planned. Getting around on the local public transport system
is straightforward and prices are fair. Day trip tickets can be purchased
for travel by bus, tram or train.
A Cityfree bus service links the train and tram terminals, running
along King William Street and through the CBD. Other buses run regularly
to the surrounding areas. The historic 1929 Bay Tram connects Victoria
Square in the city centre to Glenelg Beach.
Taxis are easily hired from taxi ranks or hailed in the street. There
are many car hire companies in Adelaide, good for those seeking to get off
the beaten track and into the surrounding areas.
Adelaide has many good cycle tracks and bicycle lanes. It is easily
and safely navigated on two wheels.
Interstate or country buses arrive and depart from the
Central Bus Station on Franklin Street. Services run to regional towns
and all major cities.
Trains to the suburbs and surrounding region leave from North
Terrace. Interstate trains from major Australian cities pull up at Keswick
Station to the west of the city. The famous Ghan leaves Adelaide
on a one-day hike north for Alice Springs.
Major international airlines and Australian domestic airlines fly into
Adelaide Airport 8km west of the city. The Transit Airport City
Bus services both the international and domestic terminals daily, linking
to major destinations and hotels in the city.
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Tours
Perhaps Adelaide's greatest attractions are the significant wine
producing areas. To the north are the Clare and Barossa Valleys, famous
for their white Reisling and red Shiraz respectively. South of the city
is the McLaren Vale, which produces Pinot Noir and Grenache, and further
south still is the Coonawarra region, world famous for its red wines.
The Adelaide Hills,
in the suburbs of Adelaide produces wonderful cool whites, perfect on
a hot summer's day. The variety is growing, with many of the old and favoured
varieties being joined with the more trendy and avant garde wines such
as Zinfandel. If you're visiting Adelaide, a tour of the vineyards is something
not to be missed whether you enjoy a glass or not.
The historic German village of Hahndorf is a popular spot for
visitors. Hillstowe Winery offers tastings of classic whites and traditional
German cuisine is available in the many bakeries and cafes that line the
picturesque avenues. The main street has a string of touristy arts and
crafts shops, galleries and museums.
Australia's best-known vineyards are found an hour northeast of the city
in Barossa Valley. It has over 50 wineries and almost all are open
to the public offering free wine tasting sessions. The German influence
is still evident and there are regular festivals and regattas throughout
the year.
The Fleurieu Peninsula offers more great wineries particularly
around Mclaren Vale. Victor Harbour features various historical and marine
interests including a penguin rookery. There are some good beaches on
the Gulf St Vincent flank of the peninsula - the Southern Ocean tends
to be too rough.
A major draw for nature lovers is Kangaroo Island, Australia's
third largest island. It provides sanctuary for much of Australia's threatened
fauna. Sea lions, koalas, kangaroos and platypuses can all be seen in
the conservation and national parks.
Beyond lies the rest of the truly vast and sparsely populated South Australia.
Tours lasting several days head out for the Great Ocean Road, the
Murray River and Flinders Ranges. Possibilities for bushwalking
in the outback are almost endless.
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Events
The Adelaide Arts
Festival is a top national event falling around the beginning of March
in even-numbered years. Drama, dance, music, poetry readings, literature
and art exhibitions take centre stage as artsy types from all over the world
descend on the 3-week cultural celebration.
The other massive event in Adelaide is the Fringe Festival occurring
at the same time. Contemporary music, mime, stand-up comedy and fire-eaters
provide an entertaining alternative to the festival proper.
Womadelaide is a 3-day outdoor music festival, taking place each
February in odd-numbered years. A full spectrum of sounds and rhythms
from around the world fills Botanic Park.
Borassa Valley holds the biennial Barossa Vintage Festival in
odd-numbered years, starting on Easter Monday and lasting a week. Wine
contests and tastings are the focus of the world's largest wine festival.
Every October the International Barossa Music Festival bursts into
life featuring rock, pop, jazz and classical performances for a fortnight.
Note: Adelaide no longer hosts the Australian Grand Prix.
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