Welcome to Adelaide! This page is brought to you by Neil from Adelaide Walks, Talk and Drives. With years of experience in welcoming visitors and offering guided tours, I’m here to help you make the most of your time in Adelaide. Explore the tips and insights below to ensure your stay is truly memorable.
Here is a facebook group called Visiting Adelaide for Tourists. This community is designed for travelers heading to Adelaide, where you can ask questions, share tips, and discover the best hotels, accommodations, top restaurants, renowned wineries, and exceptional services to help you explore this beautiful city and the rest of South Australia."
1. The transport System:
Buses: Routes 97A, 97B, 97C, 98A, 98B, 98C, 99A, 99B, and 99C are free city loop buses, making it easy to explore central Adelaide.
Trams: Free within the city centre and along Jetty Road in Glenelg.
Trains: Check the latest train schedules at Adelaide Metro Train Timetables: www.adelaidemetro.com.au/timetables/trains
Airport Transfers: Find more information on airport transport services at Adelaide Metro Airport Services: https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/plan-a-trip/visiting-adelaide/adelaide-airport-bus. Neil also offers affordable airport pick-up services to take you directly to your accommodation.
Tickets: Each public transport ticket is valid for 2 hours. You can purchase tickets at any Adelaide Metro retailer. https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/using-adelaide-metro/retailers-and-facilities. If you are planning to use public during your visit to Adelaide, please take a look at at the web site: adelaidemetro.com.au, especially if you are an interstate senior as you can pre order your 2 week free travel pass on a concession metro card. Allow a minimum of 2 weeks for processing and postage. This will allow you to travel straight from the Airport. Link for price's/fares for public transport in Adelaide : Adelaide Metro fares - Adelaide Metro. (If you are a Senior from any country and have a Seniors Card, you can travel for free on public transport at anytime.)
Private Transport: For stylish and affordable travel around Adelaide, Neil offers chauffeur services. [Click here to book Neil's Chauffeur Service].
Recommended Tours and transfer companies:
- Walking Tours with Neil: Adelaide Tours
- Find joy in the journey, Need a tour? Need a transfer? We can help. See: Transfers and Tours
- All day Guided Driving Tours with Neil: Adelaide Tours
- Virtual tour of the Adelaide Town Hall: Virtual tour | Adelaide Town Hall
- Market Podcast: Journey through history and flavours, learning about the market's evolution and its significance in
South Australia's cultural tapestry. Adelaide Central Market Audio Tour - The Adelaide Central Market Audio Tour | Podcast on Spotify
Free City Connector bus service - (Loop buses: 98A, 99C, 99A, 99C)
Parking in the City & Accessible parking in the City of Adelaide
2. History of Adelaide
Colonel William Light, one of the city's founding figures, is credited with designing Adelaide. He chose its location near the River Torrens, on land originally inhabited by the Kaurna people. Light's city plan was revolutionary for its time, featuring a grid layout with wide boulevards, spacious public squares, and a surrounding belt of parklands, which remains a defining feature of the city. Light is buried in Light Square, one of the five central squares he designed.
Many of the streets in Adelaide’s city center are named after key figures involved in its founding. Notably, all these men were alive when the streets were named on 23 May 1837, with the exception of explorer Matthew Flinders, who had passed away in 1814.
Adelaide quickly gained a reputation for its commitment to religious freedom, political progressivism, and civil liberties. This led to its nickname, the “City of Churches,” although it is humorously noted that the city boasts more pubs than churches.
South Australia, with Adelaide as its capital, was officially proclaimed a British colony on 28 December 1836 at a ceremony held near the Old Gum Tree in what is now the suburb of Glenelg North. This momentous event is celebrated annually as Proclamation Day.
The above picture was taken from the facebook post below, and shows a map of the Adelaide square mile in the late 1940's. Can you spot any differences? <Facebook Post>
3. Other Information
This 11 minute video summarizes the following two private videos:
A 40 minute video called "Adelaide 101 - Travel Guide - Essential things to know when visiting Adelaide, South Australia."
A 39 minute video called "Adelaide 101 - Travel Guide - If a local has a visitor to Adelaide, South Australia, where could they take you".
To get access to the above two video, send Neil a message via Neil_Ann_de_Souza@bigpond.com
The website: www.adelaidecityexplorer.com.au is good to view as you walk around Adelaide.
(Did exist but did not exist on 11/9/24. Hope it comes back)
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is the fifth largest Australian capital city. As of 2021, South Australia had a population of over 1.78 million, with more than 75% of the population (around 1.387 million) residing in the metropolitan area of Adelaide. Geographically, Adelaide is flanked by the hills to the east and stretches along over 70 kilometers of coastline to the west.
– 2016 Census fact sheet on Adelaide can be accessed from Download PDF – ABS Adelaide – Fact Sheet 2016 (All 2016 Census summary data <click>). Historical Censuses (Pre 1996)
– 2021 Census face slides on South Australia can be accessed from ABS PowerPoint Presentation for South Australia 2021 and a video presentation on South Australia is in 2021 Census data seminar – South Australia – YouTube.
Adelaide is a coastal city situated on the eastern shores of Gulf St Vincent, on the Adelaide Plains, north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, between Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. The suburbs reach roughly 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills but sprawl 100 km (62 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south.
As the seat of government and the commercial hub of South Australia, Adelaide hosts many of the state’s key governmental and financial institutions. These are primarily concentrated in the city center along North Terrace, King William Street, and other districts throughout the metropolitan area.
Adelaide is renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, hosting numerous festivals and sporting events year-round. The city is also celebrated for its food and wine, particularly given its proximity to renowned wine regions like the Barossa Valley. Adelaide’s long stretches of beachfronts add to its appeal, making it a favorite for locals and visitors alike.
In addition to its cultural and culinary reputation, Adelaide is home to significant defence and manufacturing industries, contributing to the state’s economy. The city's consistently high rankings in global liveability indices underscore its appeal, with Adelaide frequently featuring in the Top 10 World’s Most Liveable Cities.
For an interesting way to virtually investigate Adelaide city see: Adelaide City Highlights | City of Adelaide
Free city wifi - simple choose "AdelaideFree" from the available network list.
Internet Access at Airport: Adelaide Airport provides free internet access throughout the terminal. Look in your wireless network settings or scan for wireless networks and select the network “Adelaide Airport Free Wi-Fi”. Open your web browser and the login page should appear. If not, when you navigate to a website, you’ll be automatically redirected to the login page. Enter your login details. You can now browse the Internet. Taken from: https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/explore/services-facilities/#internet-access
For some restaurants, cafes and other businesses offering special deals to visitors see: Useful Information <click>
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) | City of Adelaide & Electric mobility scooter or wheelchair battery RECHARGE finder
For more ideas and a map of Adelaide, see "things to do" tab above.