About Adelaide

Adelaide – enjoy the buzz, culture and good living

If you're looking for a vibrant, accessible and welcoming city, look no further than Adelaide.

Buzzing with life, this is a capital city that is clever, cultured and classy. Adelaide's events calendar is packed with everything from award-winning sporting events to world-class art festivals, and the city is famous for fantastic restaurants and cafes, cultural attractions, and fun.

As the wine and restaurant capital of Australia, Adelaide boasts some of the nation's most diverse and affordable dining experiences. Whether it's eating alfresco, overlooking the city, or out to sea, location is everything and Adelaide has it all. For a casual night out and a great feed, enjoy Adelaide's eat streets, including Rundle and Gouger Streets in the city; Melbourne Street in North Adelaide; The Parade at Norwood; or King William Road, Hyde Park. All offer a variety of trendy cafes, pubs and restaurants, with a vast range of cuisines also on offer.

Most of the nightspots in Adelaide focus around Hindley Street in the west end of the city or Rundle Street in the east. You'll find nightclubs, discos, restaurants and coffee lounges, many of which are open until the small hours. Skycity Casino is in the heart of it all on North Terrace and nestles into the classic sandstone railway station building that blends elegance, history and tradition.

Throughout the greater Adelaide region, hundreds of pubs and clubs host musicians, bands, comedians and dance bands during the week, including great laid-back sessions on weekend afternoons.

Renowned as the festival city, Adelaide has also carved out a niche as Australia's cultural capital. The biennial Adelaide Festival has long been rated as one of the top three festivals in the world (alongside Avignon and Edinburgh) and today is enhanced by globally-renowned events including the Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Ideas and Tasting Australia.

The CBD itself is conveniently located close to some of the state's best beaches. A tram ride to the seaside suburb of Glenelg, just 20 minutes from the city, is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Have lunch at Holdfast Shores overlooking the Marina or the ocean, followed by a walk along the beach, watching the sunset. Alternatively, take a stroll down Jetty Road, Glenelg's main shopping and dining strip and soak up the up-tempo village atmosphere.

While you are here, why not experience some of the best wine in the country? Adelaide is perfectly located close to the renowned wine regions of the Barossa in the north, McLaren Vale in the south and the Adelaide Hills in the east. And that's not forgetting the Clare Valley and Limestone Coast, which are best experienced when you have a few days' free.

Adelaide offers a brilliant blend of attractions, experiences and things to see and do. It is a place to enjoy the buzz, culture, and convenience of a big city without the frustrations.

THE BEST OF ADELAIDE

Adelaide has a range of experiences to suit people from all walks of life – from jet boats, to art galleries, to exceptional shopping and food markets, to swimming with dolphins. So if you've got some spare time why don't you make the most of the day and visit any of these world-class attractions.

Rundle Mall

Rundle Mall is the shopping heart of Adelaide, with more than 600 retail stores and 13 elegant arcades open every day of the week. This dedicated retail precinct is closed to traffic, and filled with colourful flower stalls, fruit carts and buskers to entertain you as you amble between shops.

Hel-a-va Jet Boat

Carve up the waters in one Hel-a-va Jet Boat. The twin 5.9 litre turbo-charged engines are capable of pushing out more than 1,200 litres of water per second, enough to fill the average swimming pool in under a minute. Which means 'fast'. And it's enclosed. Which means dry. www.helava.com.au

Adelaide Central Market

Join thousands of people buying, selling and tasting the best of South Australia at the Adelaide Central Market, established in 1869 and now the largest undercover market in the southern hemisphere. Nearby China Town is great for local produce and authentic Chinese food. Take a tour. Market days are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Ultimate cricket experience

Experience a world-class exhibition dedicated to an Adelaide legend and international cricketing hero, Sir Donald Bradman at the State Library on North Terrace. And don't just enjoy Adelaide Oval during the Rugby. You can also book a behind-the-scenes tour of Adelaide Oval, widely regarded as the most picturesque cricket ground in the world.

Fine (affordable) dining

Indulge your tastebuds at one of the many restaurant strips dotted throughout the city; each a mix of cafés, pubs and restaurants, but with quite distinct personalities. Stylish Rundle Street East offers alfresco dining; Gouger Street hosts great seafood and Asian restaurants and at O'Connell and Melbourne Streets in North Adelaide you'll find fine dining and café society side-by-side.

Haigh's Chocolates

Visit the Haigh's Chocolates Visitor Centre, home of Australia's oldest surviving chocolate-making company and one of only a handful world-wide still making chocolate directly from cocoa beans. Take a free, 20-minute factory tour and check out the heritage displays before getting down to business in the tasting room.

The home of Grange

Taste Grange at Penfolds Magill Estate winery after taking a guided tour of the cellars in which it's been stored since Max Schubert started the legend in the 1950s. The 50-minute tour is followed by a tutored wine tasting of Penfolds' premium wines.

Take the tram to the beach

Ride Adelaide's tram from the city to Glenelg. Discover South Australia's settlement history at the Bay Discovery Centre. You'll also find a great beach and jetty, and the lively shops and cafes of Jetty Road.

Temptation Sailing

Take a dip with dolphins just 20 minutes from the city centre on a Temptation Sailing cruise. The 17-metre catamaran, based at Holdfast Shores Marina in Glenelg, is perfect for cruising beside Adelaide's endless sandy shoreline, whether you choose to swim or just sit back and watch the dolphins play. www.dolphinboat.com.au

North Terrace

Discover South Australia's cultural institutions on leafy North Terrace. The State Library, Museum, Art Gallery and Migration Museum are there, plus Parliament House, the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Garden and the National Wine Centre of Australia. Whether you want to soak up some local history, experience famous artworks or take a stroll through a tranquil garden, there's something for you on North Terrace.

For more information on anything mentioned above or the other wonderful experiences South Australia has to offer, visit www.southaustralia.com