Adelaide is a city made for events, with a year-round festive spirit. A charming capital, with an energy unlike that of its bigger counterparts, Adelaide knows how to put on a show. Experience a warm welcome, a calm pace and all the cosmopolitan conveniences. With the airport, accommodation and attractions all within easy reach, it’s easy to see why Adelaide is Australia’s convention city. Adelaide is a boutique city with big city infrastructure.

Adelaide is also home to several innovation districts where global industry and academic leaders collaborate on Earth observation (EO) research, policy and technology. The districts include Lot Fourteen, home of the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC, Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre, and more - all within walking distance of the Adelaide Convention Centre. South Australia’s strong industrial base and EO capability is captured through the South Australian Space Industry Directory.

Getting around

If you’re flying to Adelaide from interstate or overseas, enjoy the convenience of arriving at your hotel minutes after you leave the airport. As a walkable city, you have little need for transportation once you’ve arrived – all destinations can be reached easily on-foot, or take advantage of Adelaide’s extensive public transport network, including free tram travel within the city centre.

You’ll be delighted by the convenience from the airport to the city. Adelaide Airport is a short 15-minute drive into the city centre, and services direct national and international flights daily.

The Adelaide City Connector bus service and city trams and are free for all passengers within the city limits. The two-overlapping tram lines run the length of North Terrace and King William Street, giving visitors easy access to the business events, cultural, shopping and entertainment precincts; universities; hospital; and a range of local attractions. The Connector bus service runs on two loops – an inner-city loop and an extended loop around North Adelaide providing a link to popular city attractions and shopping, dining and services destinations. The trams and busses are air conditioned and wheel-chair friendly.

Two e-scooter share programs currently operate in the city’s central business district and North Adelaide, providing a fun and convenient way to move about the city. The e-scooters are unlocked using a smartphone app and are fitted with GPS tracking so that users and the operator can find them.

There are a range of chauffeur, taxi and ride-share options readily available in Adelaide. For passengers with a disability, Suburban Access Taxis have vehicles fitted with hydraulic lifts, allowing those in wheelchairs and scooters to be transported securely and respectfully.

Attractions

Adelaide Central Market
The Adelaide Central Market has been a thriving hub of food and culture for more than 150 years. Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the largest undercover fresh produce market in the Southern Hemisphere. Visit stallholders, enjoy tastings and multicultural cuisine, and experience the exciting buzz of the Market. The market has over 70 stalls and is South Australia’s most visited tourist attraction and remains Adelaide’s premier food destination of multicultural cuisine and fresh produce. The Adelaide Central Market is still a traditional fresh produce market, offering a wide variety of artisan products, fruit and vegetables, smallgoods, eateries and is navigated by colourful avenues and roadways. Take yourself on a self-guided tour designed for interstate visitors taking advantage of the special offers and discounts.

National Wine Centre
Situated on the edge of Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens, at the east end of North Terrace, is a unique opportunity to explore all of Australia’s 65 wine regions. The National Wine Centre offers a range of tours and cellar experiences for visitors with any level of wine knowledge. The Wine Discovery Journey is a state-of-the-art interactive wine experience that explains the challenges of wine making, the role it has played in the nation’s history, and the relationship between food and wine. Visitors can finish their experience in the largest tasting room in Australia, where they can taste 120 different wines dispensed from state-of the-art Enomatic servers. The Wined Bar at the Centre provides a unique dining experience that highlights fresh local produce, and where knowledgeable staff can assist with wine matching.

Adelaide Oval
Since its inception in 1871, Adelaide Oval has been widely regarded as one of the most picturesque sporting grounds in the world and attacts thousands of visitors each year. Long regarded as the spiritual home of cricket, the Oval hosts Aussie Rules Football (AFL) games. concerts, and major events. Visitors can experience Adelaide Oval in a wide variety of ways – whether it’s going behind the scenes on a Stadium Tour, visiting the Sir Donald Bradman Collection, having a night away at the Oval Hotel, dining at the iconic Five Regions restaurant, or soaking up spectacular views of the city on a thrilling RoofClimb adventure - there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia houses one of Australia’s most stunning art collections with more than 45,000 works of art from Australia, Europe, North America and Asia. Entry to the Art Gallery is free, and free tours are offered twice daily. The carefully curated exhibitions and displays showcase art from throughout history and today.

South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is renowned for its world-class natural history and cultural collections. Located on North Terrace, the South Australian Museum has five floors and endless wonders to discover. From the first signs of early complex life to the most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material in the world, there is something for everyone at the Museum. General admission is free, although costs apply for some exhibitions and events.

Adelaide Laneways
In Adelaide, streets are lined with quirky, speakeasy bars and laneways packed with cocktail lounges and unique bars. Sip your way around the laneways of Leigh St, Peel St and Gilbert Place and Adelaide’s east end. Top spots include Pink Moon Saloon, Leigh St Wine Room, Maybe Mae, Udaberri, East End Cellars and Hains & Co.

Adelaide Park Lands
The Adelaide Park Lands are the largest inner urban park system in Australia. Nationally Heritage listed for their unique design, which encircle the city and create the Australia’s only “city in a Park”, they span more than 760 hectares. The Park Lands are designated into 29 Parks and 6 city squares, all with an array of different features, facilities and biodiverse ecosystems including formal sporting fields, walking and bike paths, golf links, and formal gardens like the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The Park Lands are the perfect opportunity to freely explore the city; meander along the River Torrens, explore the diverse plants in the Botanic Garden, or run a loop around the city through eucalypts and Morton Bay Figs.

Adelaide Zoo
Tucked in the heart of Adelaide lies a lush oasis home to exotic animals from all corners of the globe as well as Australia’s most iconic species. With more than 2,500 animals and 250 different species to discover including the only pair of Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, Adelaide Zoo is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Adelaide. Hand feed giraffe, feel the wind from the wings of Blue and Gold Macaws on your face as they fly overhead, watch the pandas at bath time and learn about your favourite animals from the passionate keepers. You can feel good about your visit too; the zoo is a conservation charity, with your ticket helping their important work to protect species. If you’ve got time, Monarto Safari Park, is just a 70km drive away and here you can watch lions, cheetahs and zebras roam over a 1,500-hectare open-range sanctuary.

Beaches
South Australia has more than 5,000 kilometres of coastline, so it is no wonder the locals love going to the beach! There are plenty of popular metropolitan beaches to choose from, each with their own laid-back vibe. An easy 30-minute tram ride from the city will bring visitors to the heart of the hustle and bustle of Glenelg, one of the most popular ocean-side locations. Glenelg is renowned for its wide beach, stunning sunsets, sidewalk cafes, charming hotels, and loads of entertainment. It is a great place to take a dip or stroll along the jetty with some ice cream (or gelati) to cool down after a long day. Or head to Henley Beach surrounded by a range of high-end seafood restaurants and centring around a bustling grassed square. Henley is a must-visit whether you’re after a quality dinner, a quality swim, or a bit of both.

Penfolds Magill Estate
Just a short, 15-minute drive east of the city, Penfolds Magill Estate is nestled in the foothills overlooking Adelaide. One of the world’s few urban single vineyards, the Magill Estate is the spiritual birthplace for some of Australia’s most famous winemaking stories. It has a luxurious cellar door, a fine dining restaurant, and kitchen, which all overlook the vineyard.