Adelaide's Precincts

Adelaide is a friendly city that's easy to explore. Discover these districts for yourself:

North Terrace, city centre
South Australia's history lives on North Terrace. Not just in museums and the South Australian Art Gallery, but in memorials, statues, plaques - and the bricks and mortar of many splendid historic buildings. Beginning at the western end, is the University of South Australia's Hawke Building featuring the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art and the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery. Across the road from the University of South Australia campus, you'll find the City Sk8 Park. Watch spectacular feats performed on skateboards, roller blades or bikes. Opposite, there's the Lion Arts Centre and JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design and it studios and galleries.

The stone church just past the Morphett Street Bridge - the Anglican Holy Trinity Church - is Adelaide's oldest, built in 1838. Opposite is Adelaide's Convention Centre and Exhibition Hall, surrounded by some of Australia's best hotels. SkyCity Adelaide casino is set inside the grand Adelaide Railway Station and provides ultramodern gaming facilities, dining and entertainment.

Parliament House stands on the corner of North Terrace and King William Street, while at the other side of this central intersection in front of the Governor's residence, stands the impressive Boer War statue. Further along, explore the State Library or the South Australian Museum is home of the world's finest Australian Aboriginal collection. And the Art Gallery of South Australia boasts the best display of Australian colonial art in the country amongst its collections.

On the opposite side of North Terrace is the beginning of the city retail heart, with department stores Myer and David Jones fronting both North Terrace and Rundle Mall. Relax under the shade of old Moreton Bay fig trees at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, at the eastern end of North Terrace. Dine at the restaurant, or enjoy a snack while watching the ducks. Or taste some wines and wander through the National Wine Centre of Australia, the showcase for Australia's wine industry. It's just beyond the entrance to the Botanic Garden along North Terrace.

Take a tour of nearby Adelaide Oval, renowned as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. It's also home to the Bradman Collection, a tribute to the world's greatest batsman and containing much of his personal collection.

Rundle Mall and the East End
Rundle Mall is home to Australia's most concentrated collection of department stores, boutiques and specialty shops - matched with free live entertainment and an excellent range of food courts and dining venues. Designer label creations, unique gifts, flower stalls, and some of the best duty free deals anywhere are poured into a layered shopping strip just over 500 metres long.

The eastern extension of Rundle Street lives and breathes historic charm with modern sophistication. The epitome of contemporary city living ideals, Adelaide's East End features original 19th century architecture contrasting with ultramodern interiors. Relish the range of design shops, cafes, wine bars, welcoming pubs and arthouse cinemas screening the latest release films. Be sure to allow time to explore the galleries and shop at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Every Sunday, between 10am and 4pm, the street is given over to the Rundle Street Market.

Adelaide Central Market, Gouger Street and Chinatown
Buzzing with sounds, colours and wonderful aromas, Adelaide Central Market is truly a gourmet heaven. In the market proper, there's more than 80 traders selling fresh produce like fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as seafood, meat and poultry. It's easy to explore on your own - it's even more rewarding to take a tour and meet the traders and do tastings. Around the market, in arcades, plazas and laneways you'll find more shops and stalls: specialty chocolate makers, bookshops, vintage clothes, souvenirs, jewellery, Asian groceries, gift shops and myriad places to eat.

Gouger Street is Adelaide's key 'eat street' where cultural diversity is delicious. It is the gateway to the market and the exotic, bustling mall and foodhalls of Chinatown. Take a five-minute stroll and you'll be embarking on a world tour of restaurants. Traditional Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Japanese, Asian fusion, noodle bars, regional Chinese and yum cha, French and Argentine cuisine, and a number of first-rate seafood restaurants.

Norwood
The locals in Norwood, to the east of Adelaide, are intensely proud of the quirky character and history of their region. On The Parade, cafés with outdoor tables and a crowd of regular patrons seem to hold sway. Two much loved events are the food, wine and music fair in February and the open-to-everyone Christmas Pageant in late November. At the top of The Parade, Magill Road is highly regarded for its antique and design stores.

Unley
Rich in history and character, Unley is a cosmopolitan hub famed for food, fashion and fun. It has a remarkable visual record of heritage buildings, from the grand mansions of Victoria Avenue to the village-like atmosphere of Highgate - all framed by the beauty of green leafy streets. Adelaide's premier shopping destination, King William Road at Hyde Park, is home to big name boutiques and smaller fashion houses. Or stroll down Unley Road for more food and fashion.

Port Adelaide
The Port, as it's often called, is a seaport city and the historic maritime heart of South Australia, with some of the finest collection of colonial and Victorian buildings in Australia. The best way to experience the area is to take a walk along the docks and through the old heart of the Port. Self-guided tours are available or a local volunteer can be booked through the Port Walks program. Port Adelaide is affectionately known by some as the 'museum capital of Australia', boasting the Maritime Museum, National Railway Museum and Aviation Museum, all open seven days a week. The Sunday market next to Port's icon, the lighthouse, is also popular with those hunting antiques, books and bric-a-brac. Down next to Torrens Island, local fishermen and market gardeners sell their fresh produce every Sunday morning.

Glenelg and the Bay
Glenelg and the City of Holdfast Bay are synonymous with festivals, sandy beaches, stunning sunsets, seven-day shopping, great restaurants and cafés, plus fascinating museums, galleries and attractions. You can be here in just five minutes from the airport, or take a trip on a moving  icon - the City to Bay tram. With its excellent accommodation and facilities, plus easy accessibility to both the airport and Adelaide city centre, Glenelg is a year-round coastal holiday.

The Bay Discovery Centre tracks the history of Holdfast Bay. Nearby is the Beachouse amusement park, while further along the foreshore the new Holdfast Shores marina and complex provides stylish dining and shopping at the water's edge. Temptation Sailing's dolphin cruises operate from the marina. Jetty Road is Glenelg's main street and an attraction by itself, always buzzing with people browsing through hundreds of shops or dining at sidewalk cafés.

Brighton and Kingston Park
South along the esplanade is the seaside hamlet of Brighton, then Kingston Park with its spectacular views back across the coast. Jetty Road, Brighton is a quaint village comprising shops, arts and crafts, plus plenty of alfresco dining. At tranquil Kingston Park, don't miss historic Kingston House, built in 1840, and make sure you visit the idyllic Kingston Park Coastal Reserve.

Marion
Marion's coastline provides a stark contrast to the sandy beaches further north. At various points, a coastal walking trail takes hikers along rugged cliff-tops, through small coves and past important geological sites, including the world-renowned  Hallett Cove Conservation Park and Marino Conservation Park. This coastline features prominently in the Tjilbruke legend of the Kaurna people. To discover this ancient Kaurna Aboriginal story, go inland to the peaceful Warriparinga Reserve, where a self-guided tour meanders past the tranquil wetlands, and symbolic art gives rise to the Dreamtime character, Tjilbruke and the area's cultural significance. The Kaurna Living Cultural centre in the reserve shares the stories. For many people a visit to Marion means Marion Shopping Centre, South Australia's largest shopping centre.

West Torrens
Stretching from the border of Adelaide's parklands to the sea, West Torrens includes some of our oldest buildings and settled areas, and its rich multicultural population is reflected in the shopping along such streets as Henley Beach Road. Stroll around Thebarton and discover heritage pubs, cottage architecture and fascinating public artwork. Listen to live local music, with local pubs featuring up-and-coming bands and the big names appearing at Thebarton Theatre. This is the part of Henley Beach Road to search for quirky gifts, clothes and a cornucopia of food stores - Asian, African, Mediterranean and Indian.