Ultimate travel guide to Adelaide on a budget

The capital of South Australia is a city with a great variety of culture and entertainment. Adelaide, in my opinion, is the most underrated city in Australia. It is the gateway to the heart of some of the best Australian wine regions. With award-winning restaurants and wines, it’s a food lover’s paradise. But Adelaide has a lot more than that to offer – for any traveller. Entertainment is never far away and readily supplied- performances sports entertainment, or just exploring some of the extraordinary nature parks not far out of the city. Don’t just stop at Adelaide, however. Make sure you explore the rest of this vast and stunning state. I can promise you that you will adore your time here. I’m sure my guide to Adelaide reflects this!

In this ultimate travel guide to Adelaide, South Australia, I will focus on the cheaper experiences that won’t break the budget for backpackers and low-budget travellers. However, I’ll make sure to give you the best possible experience.

Explore the extended and stunning Botanic Gardens.

Just a short walk from the city’s centre, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens is something every traveller must do when in Adelaide. With four entrances to the gardens, you cannot miss it. Admission is free, and maps are available at the North Terrace entrance. Additionally, there is a tram stop outside the North Terrace entrance named Botanic Gardens, so it’s relatively easy to get there. Weekday opening time is at 7:15 am and closing at either 7 pm or 9 pm, depending on the day. The weekend opening times vary depending on the season (check the website for the most up-to-date opening and closing times). There are also plenty of little cafes around to have a peaceful lunch or afternoon tea. As Yentl says in most of his blogs and vlogs, Botanic Gardens are the perfect first stop when exploring a new city!

The Morlock Library.

The State Library of South Australia is a great place to unwind or get some work done. However, it’s the Morlock Library that you need to see. It’s one of the most beautiful libraries in Australia, if not the world. The library, which connects to the State Library, is built in a late Victorian-era style and showcases some of the extensive histories of the state. The library wing is named after Mr John Andrew Tennant Mortlock. He posthumously (through his wife) donated Martindale Hall to the University of Adelaide and $1.8 million to the State Library.

You cannot go past visiting the beaches.

The beaches around Adelaide are exceptional. You can’t write a guide to Adelaide without including them. There is no better way to cool off in the hot South Australian heat. Moreover, you can find some awesome pop-ups in summer, including the Mosley Beach club at Glenelg Beach. The Moseley Beach Club is the first Australian beach club and operates from November to March. Rated by SA Tourism, the top 5 beaches in Adelaide are Glenelg, Brighton, Henley, Semaphore, Port Noarlunga, Christie’s Beach and Moana. However, the easiest to access the beach from the city is Glenelg – trams run right from the city’s centre to Glenelg.

Stop before the beach at Jetty Road.

Jetty Road is set just before Glenelg beach; you do not want to overlook this on your way for a swim. Bustling with restaurants, cafes, clothing stores and much more, you will find everything you need here. Get onto the Giant Ferris Wheel for the perfect Sunset view, which operates from November to April and overlooks the stunning beach.

The Adelaide Central Markets.

No trip to Adelaide is complete without stopping here. It has all your needs covered with local produce from all over the state, including fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread and much more. Moreover, the countless authentic Asian eateries will take you away with exceptional flavour, giving you another reason to visit.

Explore the richness of the Art Gallery’s and Museum.

Some say the best way to immerse yourself into a different culture is through art and history. I completely agree. Situated almost together along North Terrace, the four must-visits are housed here. Starting with the Art Gallery of South Australia, you will find yourself amongst some of Australia’s finest collections of art. You will find yourself next door in the South Australian Museum, renowned for its world-class natural history and cultural exhibitions. You will find the University of South Australia’s Samstag Museum of Art down the road. This museum has works from different South Australian artists dating from the 1970s. In addition, they also have an extensive collection of Aboriginal bark paintings. Finally, cross the road to the University of South Australia’s MOD – the innovative science and technology museum.

The MOD is perfect for taking children, as most exhibitions are interactive!

Head out for some hikes.

Going hiking is the best way to see and explore the state’s wildlife. Luckily for you, Adelaide has some beautiful surrounding nature parks and hikes. Further, most of them can be reached (or put you just a short walk away) via the bus routes. The parks closest to the city include Belair National Park, Mount Lofty, Morialta Conservation Park, and Black Hill Conservation Park. Mount Lofty is the place to go for the best look out over the city. There is also a small gift shop and cafe at the summit, making it even more worth the hike! Depending on your walk, you will start or finish near the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, which I highly recommend visiting! It is also easier to hike to the summit at this end as it is less steep.

Check out Adelaide Oval.

An unmissable sight, the oval is home to the state’s AFL teams and a hosting place for cricket. Walking around the outside and exploring the grounds around it is pretty awesome. However, the best way to experience it in its prime would be during a footy game! If you are feeling more adventurous, take a look at the rooftop climbs. However, this is for the more expensive travel budget, with a starting price of around $109.

Walk and play along the banks of the river.

The Torrens River or Karrawirra Parri, referred to by traditional owners of the Kaurna people, runs along the outskirts of Adelaide city and splits the city from North Adelaide. The river runs approximately 85 km from the Adelaide Hills, near Mt Pleasant. There are plenty of activities on the river. Most of these are in the vicinity of Torrens Lake, which spans from Weir to Frome Street bridge. Furthermore, tour operators operate out of this section of the river. Check it out if you are looking for an on-water experience. However, the best way to unwind after a long day and see more of the city is to walk along the river banks. Double-lane paths run on both sides of the river with multiple bridges that you can use to cross to either side.

You cannot swim in the river, and this guide to Adelaide does not recommend it.

Explore the city of churches.

Adelaide was the first Australian city to be founded, not by penal colonies but by ‘free men’. It is was nicknamed the City of Churches because of its religious tolerance and freedom. You can explore some of the many different churches and religious buildings around the city. One of the most impressive is St Peter’s Cathedral in North Adelaide, just opposite the Adelaide Oval.

National Wine Center of Australia.

Located just on the outskirts of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, this is a must-stop place for any wine lover and neatly ties together this guide to Adelaide. The centre showcases the Australian wine industry even has an interactive Wine Discovery Journey. You can experience the winemaking process – from vine to bottle. If you want to upscale your trip, taste the collection of over 120 wines at the Wined Bar. Just the building itself is fantastic to visit, in all honesty!

Adelaide Gaol.

Explore Adelaide’s history with a trip to the old Adelaide Gaol. You can explore either on your self-guided tour or in a tour group! Accessible to get to via either tram or bus from the city, you have no excuse not to go. It does have an entry fee of $15.50 for adults, but it is worth it. From learning about the lives of the inmates, seeing some of the mugshots of people who were executed to exploring the interactive museum, you will have a great time here.

Jail is spelt goal in Australia!

In for a party? Hit Hindley Street!

For any guide to Adelaide, you need to know where to party. Hindley Street is where you find most of the nightclubs in Adelaide. Spread out along the street, just opposite Rundle Mall; it’s easy to find. To ensure you don’t get hit with entry fees, check each club for their free entry period. Free entry is usually before 10 pm. A bonus of clubbing on Hindley – KFC and McDonald’s are close by, ready for those 3 am drunk cravings.

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