top of page
Adl city banner.jpg

ADELAIDE

Adelaide is bursting with culture, flavours, events and entertainment. Taste the world-famous wine regions only minutes from the city or indulge in award-winning restaurants in the heart of Adelaide. Adelaide is known as the "City of Churches" so if you love gothic architecture, be sure to visit some of these churches.

 

Join the party at our immersive festivals and events or spend the night exploring Adelaide attractions and a thriving restaurant and bar scene.

 

Adelaide is a gateway to some of Australia’s best wine country and is home to Australia's official best restaurant, hotel, wine, gin and beach, Adelaide punches well above its weight when it comes to dishing up the best but don't take our word for it, see it for yourself!

Source

SAMRHI web 2.jpg

BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE

Adelaide

If you love architecture, be sure to check out the following:

  • SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)

  • St Peter's Cathedral

  • Adelaide Convention Centre

  • Adelaide Railway Station

  • Adelaide Festival Centre

  • South Australian Art Gallery

  • State Library of South Australia

  • University of Adelaide

  • Palm House and Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens

  • Thorngrove Manor

  • The Playford Hotel (Art Nouveau building style)

  • Adelaide SkyCity

  • Ayers House

Rundle Mall web.jpg

RUNDLE MALL

Adelaide

With global brands and local favourites, Rundle Mall is the heart of shopping, dining and entertainment in Adelaide.

Rundle Mall is the longest and one of the busiest malls in Australia. More than 400,000 locals and tourists visit the Mall each week to enjoy the shopping, dining and entertainment from over 700 retailers and 300 services. Young and old, familiar faces and day-trippers, our audience of over 22 million people every year is as diverse as our offering.

Rundle Mall is the centre of culture for all South Australians. Seven days a week, nearly every day of the year, Rundle Mall is a bustling hub of activity and entertainment. Walk down the Mall and watch one of the buskers juggling, singing and dancing. Get lost exploring the 15 arcades and centres within the Precinct. Join a tour and learn about the history of Rundle Mall, or take yourself on a self-guided tour of the numerous art pieces scattered throughout the Mall.

Situated between the city's buzzing east end and vibrant west end, Rundle Mall lies in close proximity to Adelaide's best food and nightlife precincts, hotels and city businesses, with cultural highlights such as Adelaide Oval, The Adelaide Central Markets and numerous galleries and museums only a short walk away.

Expect it all on your next trip to Rundle Mall. We'll see you there!

SAmuseum_dinosaur (1).jpg

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM

Adelaide

The South Australian Museum is renowned for its world-class natural history and cultural collections.

The Museum is home to the world's largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material, with over 3,000 artefacts on display, and the culturally significant Yuendumu Doors. The South Australian Biodiversity Gallery brings into sharp focus the land and marine wildlife of South Australia, with touch screens, interactive elements and a wealth of information.

Other galleries include the Pacific Cultures, Megafauna, Opalised Fossils, Polar, Ediacaran, Minerals and the Ancient Egyptian Room. The ever-popular Discovery Centre on level one contains a wealth of information and direct access to the collections, with staff available for identification of objects and assistance with research.

A vibrant program of temporary exhibitions includes the prestigious annual Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, the stunning Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition and annual summer blockbuster events that are always a big hit.

adelaide-zoo-primates-mates.jpg

ADELAIDE ZOO

Adelaide

Tucked in the heart of Adelaide lies a lush oasis home to exotic animals from all corners of the globe as well as Australia’s most iconic species.

 

With more than 2,500 animals and 250 different species to discover including the only pair of Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, Adelaide Zoo is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Adelaide. Hand feed giraffe, feel the wind from the wings of Blue and Gold Macaws on your face as they fly overhead, watch the pandas at bath time and learn about your favourite animals from the passionate keepers. You can feel good about your visit too; the zoo is a conservation charity, with your ticket helping their important work to protect species.

 

The second oldest zoo in Australia, opening in 1883, Adelaide Zoo It’s If you’ve got time, Monarto Safari Park, is just a 50 drive away and here you can watch lions, cheetahs and zebras roam over a 1,500 hectare open-range sanctuary.

adelaide-central-market-mural.jpg

ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKETS

Adelaide

For a quintessential Adelaide experience, step into a thriving hub of food and culture at the Adelaide Central Market.

 

A favourite spot with the locals, here, countless authentic eateries offer a gastronomic gateway to Asia, while produce from all over South Australia including fruits, vegetables, cheeses, small goods, chocolate, honey and breads pack stalls manned by local producers.

 

Grab breakfast, then embark on a guided tour, taking you through the market’s rich history, much-loved characters and tastes from all corners of the globe.

MOD.jpeg

MOD.

Adelaide

MOD. at the University of South Australia is a futuristic museum of discovery, a place to be and be inspired.

With dynamic, changing exhibition programs, MOD. inspires young adults aged 15+ about science and technology, showcasing how research shapes our understanding of the world to inform the future.

For visitors, MOD. is a free science experience like no other. A tourist icon bringing together the general public, researchers, students and industry to interact, learn and be inspired – MOD. is Australia’s boldest, and South Australia’s only, interactive public science and creativity space.

MOD. offers seven purpose-built gallery areas over two floors, a cafe, shop, and lecture theatre, housed within the University’s new Health Innovation Building on Adelaide’s cultural boulevard on North Terrace. It features Australia’s first Science on a Sphere, a room-sized display that shows planetary data on a sphere surrounded by touchscreens.

Japanese garden web.jpg

JAPANESE HIMEJI GARDEN

Adelaide

The Adelaide-Himeji Garden contains features which are of profound religious significance to the Japanese people. It contains features designed to recall the beauty of nature.

The Garden blends two classic styles. The first is the 'senzui' (lake and mountain garden), where water and the imagination create images of vastness and grandeur. The second is the 'kare senzui' (dry garden), where rocks and sand evoke the presence of water, even the sea itself.

To book a guided tour, please contact the Park Lands Ranger.

Glenelg web.jpg

BEACHES

Adelaide Coastline

With so many exceptional beaches so close to the city centre, Adelaide's sand and surf are virtually inescapable.

 

Chuck on your bathers and jump on a tram just 20 minutes to Adelaide’s favourite city beach, Glenelg.

 

Walk along the foreshore and grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants dotting Jetty Road, take a twilight cruiseswim with dolphins then kick your shoes off and pull up a seat at the bar without even taking your toes out the sand.

 

Or head to Henley Beach to soak up the sun at the water’s edge or over dinner and drinks as the sun sets beyond the horizon.

 

Surrounded by a range of high-end seafood restaurants and centering around a bustling grassed square, Henley is a must-visit whether you’re after a quality dinner, a quality swim, or a bit of both.

 

For more spots to sprawl out on the sand and soak up the sun, check out our guide to the best beaches near Adelaide and where to find the best beach bars.

morialta_waterfall_falls_south_australia.jpg

MORIALTA FALLS

Morialta Conservation Park

For over 100 years, the gorges, waterfalls and woodlands of Morialta have provided a recreational escape for walkers and rock climbers just 10km from the city of Adelaide.

Enjoy the rugged ridges, gully scenery and seasonal waterfalls that make up Morialta Conservation Park. The three waterfalls along Fourth Creek are popular features of the park and are linked by an extensive network of walking trails. The views from the rock climbing zone also provide opportunities to admire Morialta Gorge and the nearby Adelaide plains.

The first two falls are the grandest, each cascading over sheer quartzite cliffs after rain. To see the falls at their best, visit the park during spring or winter when the water flow is strongest. For wildlife lovers, the park's rock pools and creeks provide habitat for small reptiles, frogs and birds. Watch out for honeyeaters and thornbills among the woodlands that cover the hills.

Adelaide’s biggest playground 'Mukanthi' can be found in the Stradbroke Road picnic area. There are five play areas to explore: Frog Island, Eagle’s Perch, Great Snake, Bird Nests, climbing boulders, paths and climbing trees. The playspace has a focus on natural materials and experiences to challenge a range of ages.

mayflower-seafood-platter-adelaide-1000x667.jpg

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Adelaide

Our city streets are literally teeming with award-winning restaurants dishing up unique, mouth-watering flavours. Pull up a seat in a chic North African diner in the middle of Adelaide where Johannesburg-born chef Duncan Welgemoed dishes up a bold taste of Africa from chicken skin sandwiches, to woodfired cauliflower and fermented flatbreads at Africola.

 

A fiery authentic yakitori fest? Reserve a table at Leigh Street institution Shōbōsho where smoky flavours are complemented with raw, cured, pickled and fermented dishes and are best served with a side of sashimi, noodles, yakitori, dumplings and bao. Even the humble pizza is elevated in Adelaide.

 

At Madre, sea water from the oceans of Puglia, Tipo 00 flour sourced straight from Italy and a little bit of science are the secrets behind Adelaide’s best traditional Napoli-style pizza. And speaking of Italian, you won’t find better pasta than that rolled at Nido by Masterchef’s Laura Sharrad.

 

Taste test your way around the city's best places to eat and drink on a gastronomic safari with our guide to Adelaide's best restaurants, impress your herbivore friends with the best vegan restaurants in Adelaide or satisfy your sweet tooth at one of the best dessert bars.

In Adelaide, streets lined with quirky, speakeasy bars run through the city like a lifeblood for thirsty revellers. You’ll find boutique tucked under the streets, swanky watering holes perched above the city skyline, laneways packed with cocktail lounges and unique bars hidden behind unassuming walls, Adelaide's bar scene is booming.

 

Sip your way around the laneways of Leigh St, Peel St and Gilbert Place or drink in the boozy goodness of Adelaide's east end. Our top spots for a tipple or two include Pink Moon Saloon, Leigh St Wine Room, Maybe MaeUdaberriBRKLYN or Bar Peripheral.

 

For more bar inspiration, check out our guide to the best hidden bars in Adelaide.

Art gallery web.jpg

ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide

Set within jewel-like 19th and 20th century buildings in the heart of the city’s cultural precinct the Art Gallery of South Australia boasts one of the largest art museum collections in Australia, with approximately 47,000 works of art from Australia, Europe, North America and Asia.

Carefully curated exhibitions and displays provide a unique experience, taking you through the history of art, up to present day in surprising and unexpected ways. As you wander from one gallery to the next, you’ll find works of art presented in ways that give new insights, culturally and thematically.

Take a tour with an experienced guide, attend an artist talk or plot your own course.

State Library web.jpg

STATE LIBRARY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide

The State Library is the information heart of South Australia, located in the North Terrace Cultural Precinct and open seven days a week (excluding public holidays). Explore all three buildings: the award-winning contemporary Catherine Helen Spence Wing with its iconic glass foyer, the Mortlock Wing with its 19th century Victorian splendour, and the 1861 heritage listed Institute Building.

Enjoy free tours weekdays at 11am and 2pm. See items from the State Library's collections showcased in exhibition bays lining our magnificent heritage-listed Mortlock Chamber and the stunning Treasures Wall in the contemporary Spence Wing.

You can also read the latest international newspapers and magazines, browse travel guides, and have our friendly librarians help you to find information on almost any topic. Take advantage of free email, internet and word processing or use the self-service photocopiers and printers. Enquire at the Information Desk for colour copying, imaging and fax services.

Palm house web.jpg

ADELAIDE BOTANICAL GARDENS & NATIONAL WINE CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA

Adelaide

Step off the city streets and into a veritable garden of Eden home to blooming rose gardens, tropical sanctuaries, rambling yet manicured gardens and lush lawns perfect for picnicking. 

 

Adelaide Botanic Garden spans 50 hectares, featuring stunning architecture, majestic avenues of ancient trees and, of course, the famous wisteria arbour.

 

Explore the garden then stop for lunch at the multi-award-winning Botanic Gardens Restaurant, where you’ll dine on produce sourced from the surrounding gardens, under a heritage rotunda, overlooking ponds and lush greenery.

 

Thirsty? Next door, you’ll find the National Wine Centre of Australia, home to more than 120 wines.

Adl Oval Roof Walk web.jpg

ROOF CLIMB

Adelaide Oval

Arguably the best sports stadium in Australia, nothing compares to the thrill of watching a game at Adelaide Oval. And the excitement doesn’t end when the siren sounds. After the game, reach new heights on the Roof Climb Adelaide Oval at night.

 

One of Australia’s most iconic stadiums, clamber over billowing rooftops and historic grandstands by sunset on a spectacular twilight tour. Snag the bests seats in the house and see the sun set from the best vantage point in Adelaide.

 

Or keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and learn more about this iconic stadium on a behind-the-scenes tour. Go behind closed doors as you are told captivating stories, shown hidden secrets and relive celebrated moments. Stand inside the historic century-old scoreboard, explore the museum and enjoy a birds-eye view of the impressive Adelaide city landscape.

Mt Lofty Obelisk.jpg

MOUNT LOFTY OBELISK

Mount Lofty

Mount Lofty Summit is located in the Adelaide Hills, 15km or a 20 minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD.

Rising over 710m above sea level, the summit provides a picturesque panoramic view over Adelaide’s city skyline, as far as Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula on clear days.

The gift shop displays a range of Australian giftware and local goods, and also provides tourist information, local maps, brochures and regional visitor guides.

A popular place to watch the sunset, the summit is also place for walkers to rest after hiking on one of the many trails before descending the hill.

*Please note during extreme weather events the park may be closed for guests safety. Visit our website for further details.

Penfolds Magill web.jpg

PENFOLD'S MAGILL ESTATE

Magill

When you mention great Australian wine, Penfolds always comes to the tip of the tongue. Just 15 minutes away from the CBD in Adelaide’s beautiful foothills, you can sip and savour their best drops then indulge in a fine-dining feast at Penfolds Magill Estate.

 

With breathtaking views over the historic Penfolds vineyards and Adelaide city, the multi award-winning restaurant is one of our favourite spots to settle in for a decadent dinner with head chef Scott Huggins taking inspiration from seasonal produce and Penfold’s wine in his fine-dining restaurant menu.

 

For casual dining, Magill Estate Kitchen is the perfect spot for a long lunch. Magill Estate is the birthplace of Australia's most prized wine, Penfolds Grange, so you’re guaranteed a great drop to compliment your feast. Afterwards, explore a labyrinth of underground tunnels and bluestone cellars, and learn about the iconic vineyard’s rich wine-making history dating back to 1844.

Waterfall Gully web.jpg

WATERFALL GULLY

Adelaide

Located in Cleland Conservation Park, Waterfall Gully is home to the largest of seven waterfalls that exist in the park.

The popular and strenuous walking trail to Mt Lofty Summit starts at the Waterfall Gully car park and climbs through the park's steep hills, native vegetation and stringybark forest, providing spectacular views over Adelaide.

Sugarloaf hill web.jpg

SUGARLOAF HILL

Hallett Cove Conservation Park

Come and discover one of Australia's most outstanding geological and archaeological sites at the Hallett Cove Conservation Park, where more than 1,700 Aboriginal artefacts have been found.

An interpretative walking trail describes the park's cultural and geological heritage, including evidence of an Australian ice age some 280 million years ago.

 

The outstanding glacial pavements along the northern cliff tops are recognised as the best record of Permian glaciation in Australia and have international significance.

 

This park's beach is also popular for swimming.

bottom of page