This city may be known by many as the city of churches, libertarian, cultured and beautifully laid-out, but visitors arriving on cheap flights to Adelaide will discover not just the spires, altars and pews, but the world-class museums, festivals and sporting events. Throw in the magnificent Australian wines (the McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley wine regions are just an hour away), the fine, locally produced food and the fantastic laidback and livable vibe of Adelaide and tourists may be considering a return trip before they depart the brand, spanking new airport.
Adelaide's beaches are legendary, the best known are Glenelg (the site of South Australia's original mainland settlement in 1836) and Henley Beach, just a 20-minute drive west of the city. The Adelaide Hills, studded with national parks and reserves are close to the city too.
Adelaide is also the gateway to the Flinders Ranges and Outback, the heart of Australia. It's also the starting point for a quaint little town that evokes 19th-century Germany. Hahndorf, which was settled in 1839 by Prussian Lutherans escaping religious persecution in Europe, is South Australia's number one tourist attraction.
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Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate. Summer temperatures average 29 degrees and winter temps average about half that - 15 degrees. Rainfall is sparse.
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Adelaide is a year-round destination and the time of your visit will depend on what you want to do when you get there.
Peak Season:
January and February are predictably busy - school holidays. February and March are popular festival months when most visitors take cheap flights to Adelaide.If you're fishing barramundi, February-April is high season. For whale watching, June to October is high season on the Eyre and Fleurieu Peninsulas.
Off Season:
There's not really an off season, although winter temps can veer towards chilly.
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There are several car-rental desks at the airport, including Hertz and Budget. Taxis are available at the airport; the average fare to the city is $20. Skylink Shuttle links the airport, city and Adelaide Parklands Rail Terminal (Keswick). The average fare is $7.50 one-way.
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Walking is the best way to explore this beautifully laid-out city and get close to those magnificent Victorian buildings.
Public transport is reliable and fairly cheap. Buses, trains, a tramline to Glenelg, and the O-Bahn busway all help to keep Adelaide moving. The O-Bahn is a guided busway, travelling from the city to Tea Tree Plaza, a suburban shopping centre.
The Adelaide Free bus (the 99C) offers complementary travel within the city centre. The tram between South Terrace and North Terrace is also free.
Taxis are freely available, either from city taxi stands, hailing them on the street or ordering them by phone.
The Adelaide City Bikes operates a daily bike hire program that is ... free. Hire a bike between 9am and 4.30pm from Bicycle SA or other outlets by depositing your passport or driver's license.
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- Free, free free: get to the North Terrace for some culture and history, gratis. The Art Gallery, SA Museum and Migration Museum all offer free entry.
- Bring an empty bag on those cheap flights to Adelaide, there are lots of specialties you won't be able to resist, such as a piece of jewellery with South Australian opals, a box or two of Haigh’s chocolates and a dozen or so Chocolate Frogs.
- Magill Road is the must-go street for antiques and design classic items.The historic Maylands Tram Barn is located on Magill Road too. After a wander along Magill Road, and, perhaps a sit-down in Richards Park, turn onto St Morris, an organic precinct.
- Australia's largest museum is the National Railway Museum. It boasts more than 100 exhibits from State, Commonwealth and private railway operators.
- A trip on the Semaphore to Fort Glanville steam railway, Steam locomotive No.6 "Bill" to be precise, will cost $6.
- Gilles St Market is held on the third Sunday of every month at Gilles Street Primary School in the city. Fashionistas congregate here for the designer samples and up-and-coming designers' fashions, clearance stock, vintage wear, jewellery and accessories.
- The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is a little-known gem that extends 118 sq km from the Port Adelaide River to North Haven, through North Arm and Barker Inlet, into Gulf St Vincent to Pt Gawler Conservation Park. It's possible to take a kayaking tour through these wonderful wetlands.
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