Adelaide’s tourist potential isn’t huge, but there are a couple of interesting things to see. However, there’s no need to plan a long stay: one or two days will be more than enough.
Initially, Adelaide was not at all on the program for this trip. But when I booked my plane ticket, I found a very attractive rate provided I could extend my trip by a few days, and Adelaide was the most practical destination to fit into my itinerary between Sydney and Melbourne, given that I had already visited Brisbane the previous year.
You’ll find a summary of articles about this holiday in Australia at the bottom of the page.
- North Terrace
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- South Australian Museum
- The Migration Museum
- National war memorial
- The central market
- Victorial Square
- Himeji Garden
- Saint Peter’s Cathedral
- Adelaide’s streets
- Adelaide Parklands
- Bottom line
- The articles about this trip to Australia
North Terrace
It’s a wide avenue that runs alongside the river and forms a sort of border between the (small) city center and the park.
This is where you’ll find most of the city’s most beautiful buildings and museums, and in fact, once you’ve done the rounds you’ll have seen 75% of what there is to see.
In fact, this is where the Intercontinental Adelaide is located, where I was staying for convenience.
Art Gallery of South Australia
The museum is best known for its collection of Australian art, and also boasts a European and Asian collection.
Interesting without being impressive either, it can be visited fairly quickly.
South Australian Museum
It’s a natural history museum, with a focus on Australian, Aboriginal and Pacific Rim cultures.
Interesting when you’re sensitive to these subjects, which isn’t really my case.
The Migration Museum
It’s a museum dedicated to the people who emigrated to southern Australia over the last few centuries.
Interesting, but don’t expect miracles: it’s not Elis Island in New York, and it’s not even as rich as Sydney’s barracks or Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, which we’ll talk about in due course.
National war memorial
A monument to Australian soldiers who died in the First World War.
The central market
A lively place, with a varied, high-quality food court.
Victorial Square
A large esplanade that is also a gathering place and hosts numerous events. A pleasant place to take a break during the day.
Himeji Garden
A pretty little Japanese garden on the edge of the town center. It takes its name from the Japanese city with which Adelaide is twinned, and which gifted it in 1982.
A pretty and pleasant place to relax and take a break during the day.
Definitely my favorite part of the visit.
Saint Peter’s Cathedral
It’s a late 19th-century neo-Gothic Anglican church.
An interesting building, even if it’s certainly not the most beautiful church you’ll ever see.
The ladies at reception were really lovely, and were delighted to point out that I was the 4th French person they’d seen all day, and that they were very proud that we’d made such a long journey to visit their city.
Given the heat, they even offered me cold water!
Adelaide’s streets
Adelaide’s city center is compact and small, making it very pleasant to walk around. Shopping streets, often pedestrianized, also feature terraces. Very pleasant.
Adelaide Parklands
A group of parks with a river running through them, on the edge of the city center, with a total surface area of 900 ha. It’s a great place for strolling and boating, and hosts numerous events and concerts.
Bottom line
Adelaide is a nice city to discover, but its charms are limited. Since I was there, I might as well visit, but I won’t say that its tourist potential is worth putting on your itinerary at all costs, especially if your time is limited.
That’s not to say it’s not interesting, but what makes it so interesting is that it’s pleasant to live in, soothing, and simply a pleasure to be in and stroll around.