Adelaide is one of the best planned cities in Australia. The mountains along the inner boundary and the sea along the outer boundary define Adelaide. The beautiful Torrens River runs through the parklands in the city centre. Adelaide known as the city of churches and none more magnificent than St Peter's Cathedral. Standing atop Montefiore Hill is Colonel William Light, watches over the city he helped found.
Adelaide's population is around 1.1 million people but it is a city that is easy to get around and there are many transport options.
Going east along North Terrace, you enter an old world of architectural design. An incredibly stately sight with the South Australian Museum, State Library, Art Gallery and Ayers House – all in a line, one after another.Ayers house is the mansion built by state premier Sir Henry Ayers.
It was Sir Henry Ayers the famous 'Ayers' Rock is named after. Further, down North Terrace stop at the Royal Botanical Gardens, set in 16 ha, for a break. Take a look at the exotic plants grown in a 19th Century glasshouse.
Close to Adelaide are the Adelaide Hills with national parks and reserves one of the many regions to explore. To the west is Adelaide 's coastline with beaches and seaside suburbs. About one hour from Adelaide is the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions all listed on this Adelaide guide.
Adelaide is so close to the beach with a choice of Glenelg, Semaphore and Henley beaches only a few minutes from the heart of the city. The beach atmosphere is relaxed with wide beaches and white sands. And the little cafés along the beaches makes it a relaxing way to spend a Sunday – take the dog for a walk along the beach, stop for breakfast and watch the waves break onshore.
Adelaide has plenty of entertainment opportunities and if you happen to be in town for the annual Fringe Festival, you are in for a really good time.
There are many Adelaide tours that can be taken. One of the most popular is Kangaroo Island lying just over 110km southwest of Adelaide. Popular tours on the island include: Seal Bay, where rangers talk you through the habits of the enormous sea lions as you walk through the animals basking and playing in the sun; Flinders Chase National Park, with its massive rock formations, stunning eucalypt forests and wind swept lighthouse; Kelly Hill Caves with its subterranean maze of stalactites and stalagmites; and Emu Bay where native wildlife like can often be found playing behind the sand dunes. Oh – and don’t miss the fabulous Vivonne Bay, once voted the best beach in Australia!
Improve your wine tasting skills with one of the many vineyard tours offered in the famous Barossa Valley wine region. Complement the wine by sampling some of the region’s best gourmet produce – ranging from boutique chocolates to world class cheeses.
Cast off the anchor and climb aboard a Murray River expedition boat. These overnight tours will take you through the Outback in style, with resident experts on hand to explain the finer points of the area’s culture and environment. Venture inland during the day to explore the isolated wilderness with the experienced guides, then enjoy some Aussie tucker at night on the sandy banks of the Murray.
Be guided through significant Aboriginal sites in the Coorong National Park by the traditional owners, the Ngarrindjeri people. Learn some of the traditional arts like basket weaving and share the magic of traditional stories shared by the elders. Cruise the shallow lagoons with ease in flat bottomed boats or rent a kayak to see the multitude of birdlife who seek refuge in the area.
A taste of Europe in the heart of the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest German settlement. Sample the gourmet delights while strolling the tree lined streets, then visit the Hahndorf Academy, a regional centre for heritage and the arts. Explore the local galleries and cellar doors, then stop in at the Hahndorf Inn for a German pint to round out the day.
With 35ha of native grasslands and forest reserve, Cleland Wildlife Park offers a hands on approach to getting to know Australian wildlife. Roam around the open enclosure with the kangaroos, or get up close and personal with a cuddly koala. Be educated and entertained with the daily live animal feedings, including Tasmanian devils, dingos, pelicans and snakes. Stay late for the nocturnal tour, where you’ll see what the animals get up to when the sun goes down! Find and book cheap flights, hotels, vacations and rental cars with Expedia.
Award winning hotels line the city streets from where you can walk to the Casino housed in the restored old Adelaide Railway Station, and the magnificent Parliament House in North Terrace. You can review hotels in Adelaide here.
