Rich in arts and culture, Adelaide oozes with charm
9am
Start the morning by wandering around Adelaide’s Central Market (adelaidecentralmarket.com.au). Boasting some of the best local and fresh food with over 80 restaurants and stalls, the market is a great place to get a feel for Adelaide. Make sure to stop by Big Table for one of their famous breakfasts. Serving traditional cooked breakfasts alongside healthier options such as natural yogurt with pistachios, honey, and bananas, Big Table is a firm favourite with the locals.
10.30am
Hop into a taxi for the Botanic Gardens. The 16-hectare historical garden features a collection of plants both exotic and native to Australia. To get the best of the gardens, head to the visitors’ centre first for information on which gardens are looking their best. One highlight is the Victorian Palm House, a glasshouse imported from Bremen, Germany in 1875.
11.30am
Within the grounds of the botanic gardens is Adelaide Zoo (adelaidezoo.com.au), home to over 2,500 animals. Get up close to the natives including kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils and wombats. Also at the zoo are Wang Wang and Funi, two giant pandas on a 10-year loan from China.
1.30pm
A 20-minute walk through the grounds of Government House, the Stamford Plaza Adelaide (stamford.com.au) is the best place to enjoy high tea. It serves English high tea with a modern twist, including quiches, sandwiches and curry puffs alongside sweet treats such as scones, waffles and pastries. If you’re feeling indulgent, order a glass of champagne.
2.30pm
A five-minute walk along North Terrace, the South Australia Museum (samuseum.sa.gov.au) is home to the largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artefacts. With over 3,000 artefacts on display including books, spears and arrows, the museum is a great place to learn about Australia’s Aboriginal history. The Pacific Cultures Gallery is also well worth a visit.
4pm
Walk along King William Street to Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au). Considered one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world, the Adelaide Oval hosts some of the biggest events on the cricketing calendar, including the Ashes tournament. Take one of the Oval’s tours and be shown around by an expert guide recounting the venue’s history. The most recent addition to the Oval’s collection is the Bradman collection featuring objects and photographs from the private archives of Sir Donald Bradman, one of Australia’s most famous cricketers.
5pm
Head back onto King William Street and catch the 263 bus from the east side of the street to Glenelg, a seaside town just 20 minutes from the city centre. With white sandy beaches and a jetty, Glenelg is the perfect place to wind down after a busy day exploring the city. There are also some great shopping opportunities on Jetty Road – the famous Haigh’s Chocolates has a store that you won’t be able to stay away from.
7pm
Try the finest seafood at The Wharf (thewharf.com.au) in Glenelg. Renowned for its brilliant service, The Wharf serves popular dishes such as seafood chowder and Atlantic salmon. Make sure to ask what the special of the day is.
9pm
Finish off the day by visiting a typical Australian pub. Situated right on the beachfront in Glenelg, The Grand Bar (thegrandbar.com.au) is your typical Australian pub serving beers and wines with a friendly smile. The glass-fronted windows look out onto the beach with great ocean views.
