Free Attractions Guide - Adelaide, South Australia

Gardens, Lookouts and Beaches

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

From the very beginning, there was a plan for botanic gardens as part of the city. The gardens were officially opened in 1857. A high point of the gardens is the Victorian-era Palm House, which currently houses flora from Madagascar. The Santos Museum of Economic Botany is dedicated to the collection and interpretation of 'useful' plants, and was established in 1879. The gardens aren't all about the past though; they are the first garden to build a Creek Wetland that will environmentally sustain itself and in turn provide the water supply for the rest of the gardens year round. The grounds are also home to three eateries and a garden shop for heirloom plants.

Address: North Terrace, Adelaide

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Black Hill Conservation Park

Black Hill Conservation Park lies within the Mount Lofty Range. It is the low she oaks which give Black Hill its name. This park is great for bird watching, bush walking and rock climbing. The surprise here is that this rugged landscape contains a wide variety of flora that offers a stunning display of native flowers in the spring. While you're visiting the park, take the opportunity to walk through the Wildflower Garden that dates back to the 1940s.

Address: 115 Maryvale Rd, Athelstone

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Glenelg Beach

Glenelg is the site of South Australia's original mainland settlement in 1836. Connected to the city by the Bay Tram, the only tram still operating in Adelaide, Glenelg Beach is the most popular of Adelaide's beaches. Check out Jetty Road, which is a long ribbon of shops and entertainment facilities. The Bay Discovery Centre, in Glenelg Town Hall, is a free museum about Glenelg's history. You can see wild dolphins and may even be able to swim with them. It's a must-do whilst in Adelaide.

Address: Glenelg

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Montefiore Hill Lookout

For a spectacular view of Adelaide, head to the Montefiore Hill Lookout. This lookout is also known as Light's Vision. Created in 1938, the lookout was built to commemorate Colonel William Light, Adelaide's founding father, with a life-size bronze statue. It is believed that Light stood at this spot and said “This is a place for a city”, and from here you can see the carefully laid out city which he planned. In front of the statue are parklands which include the Adelaide Oval and Memorial Drive.

Address: Montefiore Hill, North Adelaide

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Mt Lofty Summit

Surrounded by bushland, this lookout provides spectacular panoramic views across Adelaide's city skyline to the coast. This view is especially beautiful at night, with the lights of the city turning the night into a fairyland. The Summit complex includes a visitor's centre which features interactive touch screens to help you learn more about the Summit and surrounding tourist attractions. Adjacent to the visitor centre is the fully licensed Summit Restaurant and Café. From the summit, you can follow the popular walk down to Waterfall Gully or to Cleland Wildlife Park.

Address: Mount Lofty Summit Road, Mount Lofty

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Pioneer Women's Memorial Gardens

The design of the garden is a simple rectangle with a low decorative brick wall. At the centre of the garden is Ola Cohn's sculpture of a female figure, raised on a plinth. This is surrounded by green lawns, and four garden beds with ornamental trees and shrubs at the edges. The choice of plants was influenced by their symbolic meanings, selecting five Lombardy poplars to represent the five women of the Pioneer Women's Memorial Trust; holly oak and myrtle for protection and love; honeysuckle for love, generosity and devotion; and lilac to symbolize memory, protection, youth and tenderness. The main entrance is located on King William Street between Torrens Parade Grounds and the rear of Government House. The sloped path to the entrance is grass. The best place to park is at the Adelaide Festival Centre Car Park (which is opposite the park).

Address: King William Road, Adelaide

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St Kilda Adventure Playground

The historic seaside town of St Kilda is a 45 minute drive north of the Adelaide CBD. While in St Kilda, families should not miss the St Kilda Adventure Playground. This children's activity area has numerous swings, slides and flying foxes which will keep children amused for hours. There is specially-designed play equipment at both ends of the park, including a wooden fort with super-sized slides, a wooden ship overlooking the water and a wave slide starting at the top of a hill. Adults will be tempted to join their children in the fun and games.

Address: Fooks Terrace, St Kilda

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Markets, Shopping and Food

Adelaide Central Market

These markets have been in operation since 1870, so you know they must be good. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market, sample the culinary delights, meet the traders and share the history and the secrets of the market. The Adelaide Central Market is truly an amazing experience and you can add to that even more by taking part in a guided tour (must be pre-booked). Or, if you prefer, you can drop in on one of the tasting sessions held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Located in the heart of the CBD making it easily accessible from wherever you may be. Please note that the markets are closed on Sundays.

Address: Gouger Street, Adelaide

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Gouger St

One of Adelaide's premier eat streets features food from around the world. It is the gateway to the famed Adelaide Central Market and the exotic, bustling mall and food halls of Chinatown. Take a five-minute stroll down Gouger Street and you'll be embarking on a world tour of restaurants. Traditional Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Japanese, Asian fusion, noodle bars, regional Chinese and yum cha, French and Argentine cuisine, and a number of first-rate seafood restaurants. In Chinatown, you'll come across red lanterns, lion statues, pagoda-style roofs and Asian grocery stores. Surrounded by impressive court buildings and legal premises on the edge of Victoria Square, Gouger Street offers a striking contrast in culture.

Address: Gouger St, Adelaide

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Rundle Mall

Rundle Mall, in the centre of Adelaide, was Australia's first pedestrian mall opened in September 1976. It contains many boutiques, independent and retail stores. Throughout the mall you can enjoy meandering through a number of arcades and plazas containing smaller boutiques and eateries. There is more to Rundle Mall than just shopping, silver balls and bronze pigs. Take a journey with the Rundle Mall Discovery Trail to uncover the treasures which include Beehive Corner, the Rundle Mall Fountain, Rundle Lantern and much more.

Address: Rundle Mall, Adelaide

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Strathalbyn

Strathalbyn is a historic town just an hour's drive in your campervan from Adelaide City. Call in to the picturesque railway station that's become it's Visitor Information Centre and they will equip you with a guide map that takes you past the old gasworks (now a beautifully restored bed & breakfast) and the old court house and police station housing it's National Trust Museum. You'll soon discover their heritage pearls are cast on both sides of the River Angas. This heritage is supported by the town's famous antique stores. Take the tourist drive via Jupiter Creek and experience some beautiful countryside along the way.

Address: Strathalbyn, South Australia

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Museums and Cultural Hubs

South Australian Museum

This award-winning museum has a wide variety of permanent exhibits ranging from Indigenous cultures, Pacific cultures, fossils, megafauna, minerals, whales, dolphins and world mammals. The museum contains the largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artefacts in the world. The South Australian Museum's permanent galleries are packed with interesting objects drawn from the Museum's extensive collections. The Museum's permanent displays give visitors an opportunity to see examples of actual specimens from the collections; specimens that have been researched by Museum scientists.

Address: North Terrace, Adelaide +61 8 8207 7500

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The Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is one of three significant visual arts museums in the Australian state of South Australia. Founded in 1881, the gallery is home to one of Australia's great art collections, housed in one of Adelaide's most beautiful historic buildings. The AGSA is renowned for its collections of Australian art, notably Indigenous Australian and Colonial art as well as Japanese art and British art, including a large collection of Pre-Raphaelite works, by artists Edward Burne-Jones, William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Morris & Co.

Address: North Terrace, Adelaide

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Old Government House

Old Government House is a historic building located in Belair National Park. Fully restored during the 1970s and upgraded in 2001, the building stands as an excellent example of Victorian-style architecture and represents a significant period in the state of South Australia's history. It was constructed from local sandstone, with the red-brick for the quoins sourced from the Blackwood brickworks, and a native timber shingle roof. The residence's indoor plunge-pool was reportedly the first in the colony. Old Government House buildings are open from 1pm-4pm on Sunday and public holidays only.

Address: Belair National Park

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Adelaide Festival Centre

The arts hub of Adelaide, this is the place to see a wide variety of shows. From local gigs to international shows like Grease. Dance, theatre, opera and rotational exhibitions are also on offer among the 4 theatres, gallery and piano bar housed here.

Address: King William Rd, Adelaide

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Architecture

Holy Trinity Church

Adelaide is known as the City of Churches, and a visit would not be complete without seeing some of the fine examples. One of the oldest is Holy Trinity Church, also known as the Pioneer Church of South Australia. The church's clock is famous, having been made by the clockmaker to King Edward IV. Holy Trinity Anglican Church is historically significant in that it contains elements of the earliest surviving Anglican Church building in South Australia. Of special note is the William IV window that was brought to Adelaide in 1836.

Address: 87 North Terrace, Adelaide

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Adelaide Town Hall

The Adelaide Town Hall was hailed as 'the largest municipal building south of the Equator' when it opened in 1866. The plans were selected as part of a contest, the final prize being awarded to Edmund Wright, who had been Lord Mayor in 1859. Join a tour to find out about the Town Hall's interesting architecture and history. The hall is famous for an appearance by The Beatles on the balcony in 1964, which attracted an estimated 300,000 fans, their biggest crowd.

Address: King William Street, Adelaide

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Other

City Loop & Bee Bus Lines

Whether you want to travel down the street or across town, Adelaide offers two free city courtesy buses to make it simpler. The Adelaide free stops are clearly signposted so they're easy to identify. If you're unsure about your destination, ask your driver for assistance.

The Adelaide FREE 99C City Loop has over 30 convenient stops around the city with services travelling in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions and a ramp providing easy access for people using wheelchairs and prams. The 99B Bee Line bus runs continually along North Terrace and King William Street to Victoria Square. Both services make it easy for you to transfer to other Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams that can take you to the tourist destinations.

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