Planning a trip to Adelaide?

This is a bustling city full of sophistication, culture, fine art & cuisine, though with just as many natural wonders to explore. It’s a hub of city life and cultural activity, though with it’s close proximity to the sea, and beautiful natural surrounds, there are multiple options for the great outdoors.

It’s quirky, and has quickly become the lifestyle capital of Australia. Regardless of your interests, Adelaide has something incredible in store.

We’ve put together the following guide to make your time in Adelaide easy and amazing.

How to Plan an Easy & Amazing Trip to Adelaide

How to Get Around

The first thing to think about when planning your trip is how you’ll get around. There’s a lot to see and do in Adelaide, and many incredible regions in its surrounds, so we highly recommend renting a car.

Tour companies are okay, but the expense of organized tours adds up quite quickly, and nothing beats the flexibility that comes with having your own vehicle. So, make it a priority to find an inexpensive car rental in Adelaide airport.

If you’re looking for ways to save on your trip, consider doing some research online to find a car hire company that offers competitive rates to visitors for all-day car rentals.

Steer clear of car hire companies that charge hidden fees, and choose one that provides airport transfers so you can save even more. Some cars even come with a GPS, which makes finding your way around Adelaide a breeze.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Australia can get quite pricey. So, look for inexpensive but quality hotels like the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, which has rooms that come with free unlimited Wi-fi, a full mini-bar, to name a few.

Another way to save is to cook your own meals. While there are many excellent places to eat, you don’t have to eat out every meal. Even if you pay a little more per night for accommodation with kitchen facilities, this could be outweighed by the savings on food.

Just visit the nearest grocery and stock up on bread, sausages, or whatever food you fancy. Woolworths and Coles are the to main grocery stores in Australia.

Where to Go and What to Do

For the Wine Lover

If you’re a wine lover, you’re in luck in Adelaide! This is wine country, and you’ll find plenty of wine regions to choose from, such as McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley, just to name a few.

A friendly reminder, don’t drink and drive. If you’re going to drink, have a designated driver.

For the Art Connoisseur

Want to see some fine art? Then head over to the Art Gallery of South Australia. You’ll find a wide variety of drawings, as well as displays of Southeast Asian ceramics, among others. The best bit is the free admission.

If that’s not enough, you can also visit other places like the Migration Museum (82 Kintore Avenue), the South Australian Museum, the Telecommunications Museum, as well as the Old Parliament House.

For the Family

As a treat for your young ones, bring them to the Adelaide Zoo, located very close to the city center on the banks of the Torrens River.

The zoo is home to roughly 1,500 native and exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds. It is also well-known for its Australian Wetlands Exhibit, a recreation of Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, and a walk through Australian Rainforest Exhibit.

Aside from the beach, you can also find a mix of sidewalk cafes, boutique hotels, and an exciting amusement park, where your children will surely have loads of fun.

For the Adventure Lover

Other exciting activities you can do is to go ballooning in Barossa Valley. Nothing beats the experience of getting a bird’s eye view of quaint villages, spectacular hills, and the gorgeous vineyards of Barossa.

You can’t compare the exhilarating experience of feeling the fresh air and height above the ground.

For the Beach Bum / Watersports

One more place you can visit is Glenelg Beach, a seaside resort initially known as Holdfast Bay but was subsequently renamed in 1837 after Lord Glenelg, the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

It’s just a quick drive from Addy, and it is the perfect place for you to relax and breathe in the salty sea air. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can swim with dolphins as well as a range of other fun water activities.

Please Contribute!

Which place would you like to visit in Adelaide? Have some fantastic spots or handy tips you’d like to share? Sound off in the comments below. We’d love to hear them and will update this guide as you contribute.

Car Rental & Accommodation

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

If you enjoy getting social, you can follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Featured image (beach boardwalk) by Les Haines. Adelaide waterfront by Marek. GPO, Adelaide City by StephenMitchell. Seppeltsfield Winery by Chris Fithall. Aussie Surfboards by Les Haines. Pinterest images by Marek / StephenMitchell / Les Haines.