Adelaide

Australia’s city in the south, Adelaide is known for its church spires, elegant buildings and proximity to one of South Australia’s most popular attractions – its wine growing regions. Adelaide has all the charms of a country town and all the sophistication of a major cosmopolitan city.

Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate is one of its biggest draw cards, and may well be the source of the city’s laid back atmosphere. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool and mild. These conditions are perfect for growing grapes and other local produce, and there’s no end to indulgent delicacies around the city. It’s also great for beach visits during summer, and the white sands of its coastline are only a short distance from the city centre.

Australia’s first fully planned city centres around a one mile square grid of wide streets surrounded by parklands that separate the metropolitan area from the suburbs. Adelaide’s heritage is preserved in its colonial style buildings that sit alongside modern architecture that has been specifically designed to blend with the old.

The relatively small population of around 1.2 million enjoys a combination of low living costs and high living standards. While most Australian cities have a strong convict background Adelaide was founded on an interest in the wool, copper and wheat industries, and much of the current citizenship are descended from these early investors. Typical of an Australian city, much of its population has come from overseas giving Adelaide a cosmopolitan nature.

Adelaide is the birthplace of modern Australian cuisine, with restaurants that provide innovative and appetising menus. They’re everywhere in the city, and each has its own character. Some are fast paced, noisy establishments while others provide a quieter and more traditional setting. The thing they have in common is great food, followed by the fine wine South Australia is famous for. The arts are often part of a fine dining experience, with restaurants displaying the works of local artists on their walls.

The people here love to put on a celebration, and Adelaide is often referred to as ‘The Festival City’. Almost every weekend you’ll find some special event happening in the city, showcasing anything from arts to food and wine to children’s interests. The city has a vibrant nightlife despite its reputation, and Hindley Street is the place to be for a night out.

Shopping in Adelaide is a joy, with Rundle Mall containing over eight hundred individual stores. It’s the biggest pedestrian shopping mall in the Southern Hemisphere, and with heaps of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as live street performers its lively atmosphere should be enough to convince anyone that Adelaide is not as boring as people say!

Getting around Adelaide is no problem, with a free bus servicing the central city. Public transport runs out into the suburbs, with a central city station in the north of the metro area. When driving, it should be noted that the streets are pretty much empty and as such Adelaide drivers have a reputation as being a bit unaware of other vehicles. Adelaide is small enough to walk or bike around, and many city streets have a special bicycle lane.

With an easy going vibe and just enough entertaining distractions to keep it lively on the weekends, Adelaide is the perfect place to kick back, relax and live the good life.