Located on a flat plain between the white sandy beaches of Gulf St Vincent to the east of Cape Jervis and the Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia.

Visitors to Adelaide by air will find Adelaide (ADL) Airport located just 6 km / 4 miles west of central Adelaide.

Adelaide is a really charming and relaxed city with a good choice of accommodation and restaurants, and which is compact enough to explore on foot but large enough to be engaging. Although Adelaide is proud of its history, make no mistake, it is a vibrant and modern city.

A grid system has been incorporated in Adelaide making it relatively easy to get around. Besides being surrounded by parkland the city has many pretty little gardens and squares to explore all over the city. Adelaide’s wealth was mainly founded on industry, particularly the manufacture of cars and household goods and even today many technology industries are based here. To the south and east of Adelaide is the great Murray River, Australia’s largest, and the extensive hills of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Victoria Square
At the heart Adelaide this lovely square has a fountain at its heart designed by sculptor John Dowie in 1968. The theme of the fountain is based on the three river that feeds Adelaide city the Murray, the Torrens and the Onkaparinga. During colonial days many 19th century buildings were erected around Victoria Square, which were originally used as government offices and still stand today as a reminder of a bygone era.

Adelaide Town Hall
Designed by Edmund Wright and built in 1866 in the Italian Style, Adelaide Town Hall is the most prominent building on William Street and is used today to host concerts and civic receptions.

Edmund Wright House
Built for the Bank of South Australia in 1878, it was due to be demolished in 1971, but has now been restored to its former glory and is managed by the History Trust of South Australia.

South African War Memorial
Situated on King William Street, this is one of Adelaide’s best statues. It is in memoriam of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Boer War and shows a “spirited horse and his stalwart rider”.

Central Market
Between Gouger and Grote streets, a bit to the west of Victoria Street is Adelaide’s Central Market.
This is a great place to find local cuisine as there are many cafés and restaurants around the Central Market area.

Tandanya
Tandanya is a very good Aboriginal culture institute with workshops, performance areas and art galleries. Tandanya is by the way, the Aboriginal name for the Adelaide area. There is a gift shop selling Aboriginal crafts and a café.

Migration and Settlement Museum
Located at the back of the State Library, the Migration and Settlement Museum building once housed Adelaide’s Destitute Asylum. By telling the stories of settlers from all over the world, the Migration and Settlement Museum tries to reflect the social diversity of the South Australian population.

The South Australian Museum
The entryway to The South Australian Museum is framed by large whale skeletons. There are lots of natural history exhibitions and an Egyptian room. The most important display in The South Australian Museum however is that of Aboriginal artefacts of which there are more than 37,000.

Rundle Mall
Rundle Mall is Adelaide’s main shopping area with both large department stores and small boutiques.

Ayers House
From 1855 to 1897 Ayres House in Adelaide was the home of Sir Henry Ayers the former Premier of South Australia.
Now run by the National Trust this beautifully stylish mansion is open to the public and has fine displays of Victorian furniture, art and memorabilia. Click here for tourist information.