What to do in Adelaide

Advice on what to do in Adelaide, including culture, relaxation, nightlife, sport and food.

Cultural attractions in Adelaide
As well as plenty of churches dotted across the city, Adelaide has a number of good museums.

Aboriginal art, relics from ancient Egypt and fossils fill the South Australian Museum's six floors.

The Art Gallery of South Australia has regular exhibitions of local artists, as well as picking up the bigger touring shows from Europe.

For some historical perspective on South Australia you can visit The Migration Museum or head to the Maritime Museum.

Relaxation in Adelaide
Adelaide is sometimes referred to as a 'city within a park', thanks to its ring of 29 parks around the edge of the city. There are different parks for different activities – for a quiet stroll you can visit formal rose gardens, head to the sports fields for cricket or archery, or get hiking along one of the park trails.

You can discover more about Australia's vast range of native plant life at Adelaide Botanical Gardens, which also features Victorian-style conservatories growing lush tropical plants and trees from wetter and more tropical climes.

The city's two zoos are run by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, and offer very different experiences for visitors. The leafy grounds of Adelaide Zoo has 250 native and exotic species including orangutans, tigers, macaws, and primates.

Monarto Zoological Park is large open-range animal sanctuary which contrasts with the enclosures of Adelaide Zoo. The sanctuary has a drive through cheetah habitat, white rhinoceros habitat and Australia's largest giraffe herd.

Nightlife in Adelaide
Most of the Adelaide's clubs and bars are located around Rundle Street in the east of the city and Hindley Street and Light Square in the west.

The Crown & Sceptre Hotel (sometimes just called Sceptre), attracts hipsters with a taste for cocktails and good wines, looking to party to resident DJs playing the latest electro-disco-pop sounds, as well as a lot of international touring acts.

The Earth venue also has an eclectic mix of club beats, international electronica acts and bands on tour.

For beer, pop hits and alternative music you can head to Shotz, much less sophisticated but just as much fun.

Or if your wallet's feeling a bit fatter, try your luck at the Skycity's casino, which also doubles up as bar, gig venue and restaurant, built into Adelaide's historic railway station.

Sport in Adelaide
Adelaide has a range of sports taking place in the city, not least cricket.

International cricket games take place at the Adelaide Oval, which will host the second test of the 2006 Ashes from December 1st to 5th.

The ground is also home to the local team, the West End Redbacks, which boasts stars such as Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie.

Aussie Rules Football is also popular, with Port Adelaide the team to watch.

In January, Australia's answer to the Tour de France , Tour Down Under, races through Adelaide and other locations in south Australia, attracting close to half a million roadside spectators.

Recommended restaurants in Adelaide
With more restaurants per person than any other city in Australia, Adelaide has plenty of eateries to choose from. If you head to the Central Market area you can find a range of food from all over Asia. Try Genki on Field Street for good value Japanese food or the small Ying Chow restaurant on Gouger Street.

If you are looking to spend a bit more, then one of the city's most highly rated Indian restaurants is Jasmin Indian in Hindmarsh Square.

And if money is no object, you can find top quality wine and gourmet food at Penfolds Magill Estate, a 15-minute taxi ride from the city centre, in one of the closest vineyards to Adelaide.