Welcome to Adelaide

Adelaide is bursting with culture, flavours, events and entertainment. Taste your way through world-famous wine regions only minutes away from the city, soak up the sun at one of our picture-perfect metropolitan beaches, join the party at our immersive festivals and events, or spend the night exploring our thriving restaurant and bar scene. There’s a world of experiences right at your fingertips – experience it all in Adelaide.

Travel Tips from the Games athletes

Looking for something extra do you while your visiting South Australia? Some of the local athletes competing at the 2018 Special Olympics Australia National Games have shared their favourite destinations!

Peter Rabbit Cafe

Name: Kellie Martlew | Sport: Bowling | Home Town: Port Pirie

Hidden in Adelaide CBD is something really special, Peter Rabbit Cafe. As the name suggests, you’ll feel like you’re in Peter Rabbit's world, with watering cans, big green lawns, lemon trees, and if you head out the back you’ll even see an enclosure with a live rabbit! Whilst patting the rabbit is always the highlight, the food is delicious too. My favourite thing to order is the rabbit bowl. The garden is a perfect place to relax on a nice day, but in winter there’s a fireplace to help warm up with a hot chocolate in hand.

Adelaide Oval

Name: Amechai Bawden | Sport: Athletics | Home Town: Mt Gambier

As a sportsman, Adelaide Oval holds a special place in my heart. There’s nothing like it in Australia. Located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide it offers a unique sporting experience. A world-class venue with rich history, its home to major sporting events and entertainment. And although the stadium was redeveloped in 2014, it still holds a lot of history. The old scoreboard that has stood on the northern end of the oval for over 100 years is a must see for any cricket fan. The stadium’s museum houses the memorabilia collection of Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest batsman in cricket history. You can watch footage of him in the theatre, look at his trophies, and even test your own cricket skills in the interactive part of the museum. Don’t forget to do the Adelaide Oval Roof Climb - it’s a great way to take in all the sites (and heights!).

Adelaide Zoo

Name: Alex Hurley | Sport: Swimming | Home Town: Adelaide South

You can’t go to Adelaide without visiting Adelaide Zoo. If you want to try something new, The Wild Nights experience lets you spend the night inside the zoo. You get to go on a night safari, meet a zoo keeper, and after everyone has left for the night, you can fall asleep looking at the stars and listening to all the animals talk to each other. The experience is truly unique, leaving you feeling like it’s just you and the animals. If you only have time for a day trip, skip straight over to see Wang Wang and Fu Ni, the Giant Pandas! It’s the only place you can see Giant Pandas in the whole southern hemisphere.

Glenelg Beach

Name: Sheridan Durston | Sport: Athletics | Home Town: Elizabeth

The best thing about Australia is its beaches and one of the best, is located right here in Adelaide! Glenelg beach is only 20 minutes from the city and it’s impossible to get bored there. My favourite thing to do is to take a beach cricket set down to the shore and play a friendly game with whoever wants to join in and go for a swim of course! If you don’t like to swim, there’s still plenty of things to do. My family likes to pack a picnic and watch the sun set over the water. You can also hire bikes and ride up to get an ice-cream, there are plenty of shops to choose from, walk on the jetty, and in summer you might even find a bungee trampoline. The South Shores complex is only 10 minutes away and where a lot of the Games will be held this year. If you are feeling really adventurous and want to test your limits, give Mega Adventure Aerial Park a go!

Cleland Wildlife Park

Name: Mia Woods | Sport: Basketball | Home Town: Strathalbyn

The Cleland Wildlife Park is a must-see when visiting Adelaide. The park is different to most Zoo’s because there aren’t many animals in enclosures. It’s like an Australian safari with animals living in their natural habitat! It means you can get close enough to get a great photo, and even a pat too. Once you’re inside the park, you can buy a small bag of treats for the animals- this will allow you to get up close to your new furry friends! Make sure you pack a picnic too. Scattered through the park are picnic tables, here you can set-up for lunch and watch some the curious animals in action!

Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

Name: Kayla Houltham | Sport: Equestrian | Home Town: Mt Compass

There’s so much to do in Adelaide, but nothing beats the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in Autumn, but make sure you pack your walking boots! I love the outdoors, I always enjoy one of the longer walks through the Valley. However, If I’m going with my family, the Lakeside trail is my favourite. Although it’s only one kilometre long, there’s something special to see at every bend. If you walk the whole track around the lake, you’ll come across eight different pieces of art. Each one has a special message about plants, the environment or people. I won’t tell you what the messages are though, I’ll leave that as a surprise for you.

Second Valley

Name: Robbie Mastrogiocomo | Sport: Football | Home Town: Marion

Just over an hour drive from Adelaide, you’ll find South Australia’s best kept secret, a picture perfect coastal town, Second Valley. You’ll know you’re there as soon as you see the steep cliffs, rugged coast line, and crystal blue water. While the beach itself is quite small, it really is a hidden gem. The waters are protected, meaning it’s the best place to go scuba diving and snorkelling. If you decide to go on an underwater adventure, keep your eyes out for the leafy sea dragons, fur seals and even a shipwreck! Second Valley is also a half hour drive from Victor Harbour - a perfect place to grab some fish and chips and take a stroll to Granite Island.

Onkaparinga River National Park

Name: Peter Kerin | Sport: Tennis | Home Town: Golden Grove

Only a 40-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD you will find Onkaparinga River National Park. Here you will come across lots of native wildlife such as koalas, kangaroos and birds, many of which are rare. The park has many walking trails with magnificent views, perfect for a great photo backdrop. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try rock climbing, but it’s also fun to go down and watch others in their attempt! Be it a day trip or a weekend away, the tranquillity of the park will leave you feeling relaxed and at peace with nature.

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Award-winning restaurants and bustling bars

Our city streets are overflowing with boutique bars and world-class restaurants. Some of the best places to grab a bite can be found on Gouger Street, Rundle Street and King William Road. Leigh Street, Peel Street and Ebenezer Place are small bar hotspots, with some of our coolest places tucked away in basements, behind secret doors and down unmarked alleyways.

A Great Wine Capital of the World

Adelaide has been recognised as one of the Great Wine Capitals of the World – a network of nine major global cities that share a common feature: their internationally renowned wine regions. With 200 stunning cellar doors only a short drive away from the CBD and 18 world-renowned wine regions nearby, it's no surprise why.

Sun and surf at our city beaches

With so many exceptional beaches, so close to the city, Adelaide’s sand and surf are virtually inescapable. From Brighton’s meandering Esplanade to Glenelg’s beachside café culture, you’re never too far from our pristine coast. Jump in the car, chuck on your bathers and within the hour you’ll be sprawled on a towel in the sun at Semaphore or perfecting your freestyle at Henley.

Australia’s festival capital

In January, February and March, when nights are at their longest and balmiest, Adelaide enters party overdrive. In the space of a few months, our capital is host to the massive Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide Festival of Arts, WOMADelaide, Santos Tour Down Under and Clipsal 500 Adelaide. And it doesn’t stop there. The Cabaret Festival and Guitar Festival warm up the (very mild) winter months, while OzAsia, film festivals and Feast festival kick-off in spring. Our events, festivals and festivities run all year-round.

The Adelaide Hills – a picture-perfect escape

Put a day aside, leave your schedule behind and tour the Adelaide Hills. Wind your way down leafy lanes, stopping at villages dappled in light. Dine at restaurants serving some of South Australia’s best produce. Wineries beckon from leafy groves, eager for you to sample one of their cool-climate drops. The Adelaide Hills are home to Cleland and Gorge wildlife parks where you can get up-close and personal with our wildlife, only minutes away from the city.

From boutique to budget – accommodation in Adelaide

Adelaide is home to a wide range of hotels, motels and self-contained apartment accommodation. The Hilton Adelaide, Mayfair Hotel and Playford Hotel are top picks, with plenty of options in the city centre, as well as hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts in surrounding suburbs.

Adelaide is a one-stop destination for culture-rich city life, world-class wine and unbeatable gourmet produce. From the hills, to the city, to the sea, there’s so much, so close to Adelaide and it's all yours to enjoy.