Adelaide

Long overshadowed by its glitzier east coast neighbours, South Australia’s capital is now emerging from under the radar thanks to its rich cultural scene and rising restaurant kitchens overflowing with dazzlingly fresh produce and a distinctly relaxed pace of life. 

Finding your way around is easy thanks to a city centre laid out on a planned grid, and in half an hour you can be relaxing on a broad sandy beach or spotting koalas in the bushland of the nearby Adelaide Hills. Three renowned wine regions ring the city, supplying the city’s host of buzzy restaurants with plenty of luscious Barossa shiraz, aromatic McLaren Vale fiano and trendy natural wines. 

For those in search of the city’s edgier side, look beyond the grand sandstone institutions lining the cultural boulevard of North Terrace, and you’ll discover a hidden network of laneways filled with hip cocktail bars and colourful street art. 

When to go:

Adelaide’s low humidity and coastal location combine to create a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The end of summer in February and March coincides with the arrival of several festivals including the Adelaide Fringe, when more than 6000 actors, acrobats, comedians and drag queens descend on the city for a month-long party.

How to get around:

Adelaide’s only tramline and the designated City Connector buses are free within the city centre. A network of buses and trains connects the city to the suburbs, while ridesharing apps including Didi, Ola, Uber and the female-only Shebah are generally cheaper than private taxis. Consider hiring a car if you plan to explore the Adelaide Hills.