Visiting Adelaide
Adelaide City, South Australia
Perhaps a bit overlooked in the shadow of Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide is a wonderful smaller city that definitely deserves attention in any tour of Australia. At 1.1 million people, Adelaide is the largest city in South Australia, and a great place to spend a week on vacation. Between culture, sport, and outdoor activities, you’ll have a busy stay regardless of where your interests lie. So where should you start your Adelaide vacation? You’ll be rearing to go after checking into your accommodation, so here are some ideas for creating a unique Adelaide stay that you won’t soon forget.
One of Adelaide’s most appealing features is its compact nature. Virtually everything you want to see in the city is within walking distance; if not, it’s probably just a short bus ride away. All of this makes Adelaide eminently strollable, a great quality for any tourist destination. Indeed, there are attractions right in the heart of the city that you would never expect to find! A perfect example is the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Spread over 30 hectares, the Botanic Garden presents a number of unique plants in a gorgeous rainforest environment. The extra greenery cools down the entire space, making this a great place to spend a hot Adelaide afternoon. There is also an impressive display of Aboriginal artifacts, with helpful and interesting information provided as well.
The Garden probably isn’t the best option for a rainy day, so if the weather heads south, amble on over to the South Australian Museum. Over 3000 items are displayed on six floors, which translates to a full afternoon of fun and learning. A sampling of the permanent exhibitions include Adelaide astronaut Andy Thomas’ space suit, pieces from ancient Egypt, and an impressive collection of prehistoric fossils. Best of all, admission to the museum is free, so you won’t feel guilty spending as much (or as little) time as you want wandering through the halls.
The best time to visit the city is during one of the many festivals that occur throughout the year. The most famous example is the Adelaide Festival of the Arts. Though it is only put on once every two years, it’s still regarded as one of the pre-eminent art festivals in all of Australia. It’s usually held in late February or early March, and is well worth the wait if you’re a serious art fan.
While Adelaide proper certainly has its fair share of attractions, many visitors head outside of the city to check out the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Just outside of the city, the Murray River offers any number of activities, from a gentle day of fishing to an exhilarating ride in a bouncing jetboat.
Adelaide (and the rest of South Australia!) makes for a great vacation spot for the whole family. A little quieter and without all the tourists of larger cities like Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide offers a bit of a slower pace- perfect for spending quality time with those you care about the most in some fantastic Adelaide accommodation.
