Adelaide and its surrounds provide one of Australia’s most picturesque settings. Hills rise to the city’s east, bursting with vineyards and wineries, while the waters of Gulf St Vincent flank the...
Adelaide
Vibrant, easy to get around and welcoming: Adelaide is arguably Australia’s most elegant and civilised major city.
Set beside a river, surrounded by parklands and buzzing with life, this is a capital city that is clever, cultured and cool. Its events calendar is packed with everything from award-winning sport to world-class art, its enormous range of restaurants and cafes is famous, its cultural attractions are many and varied, and it’s known as the ’20 minute city’ because everything is so close and easy to get to. Sandy white beaches can be found just 20-minutes’ drive west of the CBD, while the beautiful Adelaide Hills (with vast expanses of untouched bush land) are 20-minutes’ drive to the east.
South Australia is renowned throughout the world for its award-winning wine. Adelaide is the gateway to famous wine regions such as Barossa, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale. Visit Penfolds Magill Estate, nestled in the foothills of Adelaide and only 15 minutes from the centre of the city. The winery is the spiritual home of Penfolds and the birthplace of Australia's most iconic wine, Grange.
Seriously good coffee and food are never far away – the city boasts several of the best café strips in Australia and long, lazy café brunches are part and parcel of the Adelaide lifestyle. You will also find plenty of pubs and a huge range of top restaurants without extravagant price tags. The Adelaide Central Markets on Gouger Street are the true heart of this food and wine obsessed city, offering fresh produce and gourmet food from many different cultures coupled with plenty of atmosphere. Mingle with thousands of shoppers in the southern hemisphere’s largest undercover produce market.
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Population
Approx 1.2 million
Languages
English (official)
Time Zone
GMT +9.5
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Area
870 km2
Electricity
220–240v 50Hz
Dining
South Australia’s world famous wineries have seen Adelaide grow a vibrant and celebrated dining culture – with a strong focus on al fresco dining.
Taste the southern states’ strong Italian influence at long acclaimed Italian restaurants, enoteca and Auge Ristorante. Favourites among locals and visitors alike, both restaurants complement traditional techniques with contemporary twists, making their menus both honest and creative.
Surrounded by some of Australia’s most fruitful fishing waters, Adelaide proves to a great place to tuck in to fresh seafood. Head to Line Bait Fishcafe in North Adelaide for the best fish and chips in town; or savour the freshest in local oysters, whiting, snapper, barramundi, lobster, squid and prawns at Blanc Bistro and Grill – voted South Australia’s best seafood restaurant, five years running.
Catering for all occasions, and most palates, restaurants like Cos and Hotel Richmond serve up an impressive array of modern Australian dishes. Sample multiculturalism at its best with dishes from around the world made from the finest in local and seasonal produce.
A trip to Adelaide is not complete without sampling some of the region’s finest drops. Swing by Apothecary 1878 – voted to have South Australia's Wine List of the Year in 2011 – Wine Lounge Bistro or Universal Wine Bar and enjoy a glass from the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, or from McLaren Vale or Coonawarra.
Shopping
Adelaide’s premier shopping hub, Rundle Mall has more than 600 retail stores, three major department stores and 15 arcades. Paved and pedestrian-friendly, the mall often hosts performances and events – everything from fashion parades to buskers – amid a vibrant café and dining culture.
East of Rundle Mall is Rundle Street; the perfect setting for the shopping connoisseur. Historic nineteenth century buildings house trendy boutiques, bookshops, cafés, restaurants and pubs, over two blocks of retail indulgence.
For the finer things in life, King William Road and Unley Road are must visits. Exclusive boutiques stocked with imported and locally made clothes, jewellery and accessories, sit side-by-side with premium coffee shops and gourmet restaurants.
For everything under one roof it’s hard to go past retail giant, Westfield. Iconically Australian, Westfield is a titan in the retail industry and has a big presence in Adelaide, with three suburban shopping centres, located at Marion, Tea Tree Plaza and West Lakes.
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