Things to Do in Adelaide City
Things to see and do in Adelaide City, Adelaide City highlights, Adelaide City activities and attractions, and points of interest in Adelaide City - the ALL NEW Jasons Adelaide City Things to Do Guide is your complete guide to sightseeing in Adelaide City.
- North Terrace
The city’s boulevard of galleries and museums includes the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, historic Ayers House (now a museum and restaurant), Mortlock Library and the Tate Museum which houses memorabilia from the Antarctic exeditions of Sir Douglas Mawson.
- Migration and Settlement Museum
Originally the state’s Destitute Asylum located behind the State Library, it reflects the cultural diversity of South Australian society.
- Adelaide Zoo
Located a few minutes walk from the city centre, this is one of Australia’s best zoos with moated enclosures, walk-through aviaries and a splendid reptile house.
- The Botanic Gardens
Established in 1855 these peaceful gardens are a 20ha centerpiece of the CBD. They feature artificial lakes, the oldest glasshouse in an Australian botanic garden and the Bicentennial Conservatory, which contains a complete rainforest with boardwalks for viewing.
- Adelaide Festival Centre
In a picturesque riverside setting, it is home to the biennial Adelaide Festival of Arts and the State Theatre of SA, incorporating a concert hall and lyric theatre, drama and non-conventional theatre and an open-air amphitheatre.
- Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
Aboriginal cultural institute featuring indigenous art galleries, workshops and daily didgeridoo performances.
- Central markets
Operating on the same spot in Gouger Street since 1869, this is one of Adelaide’s icons, famous for its dazzling array of fresh produce and international foods, plus entertainment and other merchandise and second-hand stalls. The market operates Tuesdays 7am to 5.30pm, Thursdays 11am to 5.30pm, Fridays 7am to 9pm and Saturdays 7am to 3pm.
- Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre
Located on the corner of North Terrace and Morphett Street.
- Adelaide Casino
Housed in the restored 1820s Adelaide Railway Station, SKYCITY offers gaming, bars and restaurants and live entertainment in a palatial setting.
- Glenelg
Take a ride on an original 1929 tram to Adelaide’s favourite beachside suburb with its landmark jetty, the new Holdfast Shores Marina Precinct, restaurants and shops.
- Day trips
The Adelaide Hills, the Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island are all easy day trips but better enjoyed by taking a few days to properly explore these special regions with their huge variety of attractions.
Arts and Entertainment
The Adelaide Festival Centre is the city’s heart of the arts. This city venue is a multi-use complex of concert halls, drama and non-conventional theatres and an open-air amphitheatre. The Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Hindmarsh attracts major national and international acts. The Art Gallery of South Australia in North Terrace is noted for its outstanding Aboriginal art collection, 18th century Australian paintings and 16th century British art. The adjacent
South Australian Museum has an international reputation for its Aboriginal Cultures Gallery. There is the award winning
National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills, and a focus on settler culture at the Migration Museum. The Adelaide Casino is Australia’s most elegant gaming facility, set in the restored and very grand 1920s Adelaide Railway Station.
Shopping and dining out
There is a variety of character shopping districts in Adelaide, with the city's Rundle Mall boasting Australia’s most concentrated collection of department stores, boutiques and specialty shops, all offering seven day trading. In the suburbs, shopping opportunities include the modern Burnside Village complex, the specialist areas of King William Road, Magill Road and Jetty Road, the seconds shops and factory outlets of Glen Osmond Road and Port Adelaide’s fascinating heritage area for antiques and bric-a-brac. Adelaide is proud of its epicurean tradition, claiming to be the food and wine capital of Australia with more restaurants per head than anywhere else. Popular dining strips include Hindley Street (seafood, Lebanese and Italian), Rundle Street (home of Adelaide’s Fringe Festival), O’Connell Street (alfresco dining), Melbourne Street (traditional meeting place with an array of restaurants) and Gouger Street (close to the fresh produce outlet of Central Market). The National Wine Centre in North Adelaide provides a special wine experience at a spectacular site surrounded by gardens and vineyards.
Out and About
There are numerous swimming and surfing beaches, sailing at North Haven and Largs Bay, the underwater trails at Port Noarlunga, the Greenfields Wetlands and the Tjilbruke walking trail. Glenelg, traditionally Adelaide’s holiday playground and most visited beach, is at the terminus of the city’s only remaining tram line. The Adelaide Hills form the eastern boundary of the Adelaide plain, and feature the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, with their extensive range of native and deciduous trees, Cleland Wildlife Park and several wineries. The River Torrens also flows through this area and through the spectacular Torrens Gorge.
The Adelaide Botanic Gardens in North Adelaide were started in 1855 and feature the oldest glasshouse (built in 1877) in an Australian botanic garden. The adjacent Bicentennial Conservatory contains a complete rainforest with boardwalks throughout. Adelaide’s coastline offers many kilometres of recreational activities, maritime history and ecological wonders.