Adelaide is broken up into suburbs and regions, many of which are home to tourist attractions and world class sites, beautiful natural scenery and landmarks. The following are the main regions that are of interest to people visiting the city of churches. From the lush Adelaide Hills region just outside of the city to the beachside suburbs, Adelaide is able to provide visitors with an enviable blend of experiences that few other cities can.
Adelaide Hills – Any holiday to Adelaide is incomplete without a sojourn into the Adelaide Hills. It is one of Australia’s premier wine growing regions and offers incredibly scenic panoramas and nature reserves. With temperatures cooler in the hills than in the city, this is a favourite weekend escape for Adelaide locals and it can easily be reached by freeway from Adelaide within 30 minutes.
There are various townships and areas of the hills that warrant a visit from tourists – the Barossa Valley is a must for wine lovers to go knocking on cellar doors to sample locally grown and produced Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon. Hahndorf in the hills offers a little taste of Europe with "German town" where the streets are lined with quaint Germanesque edifices and shops selling delicious German pastries and sausage. For a romantic trip away with your loved one, the Adelaide Hills cannot be beat.
Glenelg – Is the premier beach side resort area of Adelaide. Just 20 minutes from the city centre, you can easily reach this part of the city on the Glenelg tram service. Visitors and locals alike flock to this lively area for the vast strips of sandy beach and the calm waters suitable for bathing. There are boardwalks to stroll along and take in the fresh sea breeze and golden sunsets. There is plenty of beach side dining and shopping to be done when not frolicking on the nearby sands.
North Adelaide – North Adelaide is the destination of choice for coffee lovers in the city with loads of alfresco cafes on O’Connell Street and the surrounding blocks interspersed by boutique shops. This is a great place to head for a lazy breakfast or a casual lunch. Gourmands will also find that many of the city’s finest restaurants are also located within this area.
Norwood – Is located on the eastern side of the city and is best known for its restaurants and fashion boutiques. You can easily get to the area since it is only five minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Most of the cafes, restaurants and shopping are located on or around The Parade. Every year Norwood hosts the Natuzzi Food Wine and Music Festival with celebrity chefs, gourmet food and wine aplenty while being serenaded with the dulcet tones of jazz.
Marion – The highlights of visiting the Marion region of Adelaide are the Cleland Conservation Park and the Belair National Park. At the Cleland Conservation Park you can rub shoulders with the kangaroos, wallabies and koalas that call the park their home. There are also historical sites such as Old Government House that you can visit while strolling along the bay.
Inner City Adelaide – The inner city area of Adelaide is where the central business district is located. It is set out on a grid pattern, which makes finding your way around easy. This area has plenty of historical buildings, museums and galleries that are of interest to tourists.
