Sights in Adelaide
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Adelaide Botanic Garden
Stroll, jog or find yourself a grassy patch to read a book in the splendid, city-fringe Adelaide Botanic Garden. Highlights here include a unique prefabricated palm house (1877), the Museum of Economic Botany (check out its stencilled ceiling), and the 1988 Bicentennial Conservatory, which recreates a tropical rainforest environment. Free 1½-hour guided walks depart from the kiosk at 10:30.
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Migration Museum
The engaging Migration Museum tells the social history of the many migrants who have made SA their home. The museum has info on 100-plus nationalities in its database, along with some poignant personal stories.
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Bradman Collection
Cricket fans can pour over the personal items of cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman at the Bradman Collection. Simple timelines set out the story of the genius cricketer clearly and succinctly, and fans will fairly wet themselves over this collection of memorabilia donated by 'the Don' himself before he died. The exhibition is housed in the magnificent, historic 1861 South Australian Institute building, part of the State Library of SA precinct.
Continue the theme north of the Torrens River at the Adelaide Oval (King William Rd, North Adelaide), where a statue of the Don graces this most picturesque of Test cricket grounds.
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Holy Trinity Church
Adelaidians love to put the rather patronising moniker of 'the city of churches' into perspective by pointing out that pubs and clubs far outnumber churches. However, among the most impressive churches are the 1838 Holy Trinity Church, the first Anglican church in the state and the oldest surviving church in Adelaide; the 1869-76 St Peter's Cathedral; and the 1856 St Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Nearby on Victoria Sq, other important early buildings include the 1847-50 Magistrate's Court; the 1869 Supreme Court; and the 1839 Old Treasury Building.
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Art Gallery of South Australia
Spend a few hushed hours in the vaulted, parquetry-floored Art Gallery of South Australia, which represents the big names in Australian art. Permanent exhibitions include Australian, modern Australian, contemporary Aboriginal, Asian, Islamic and European art (with 20 bronze Rodins!). Temporary exhibitions occupy the basement. Free audio tours of the Australian collection are insightful, as are the free guided tours (11am and 2pm daily).
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Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
Tandanya offers an insight into the culture of the local Kaurna people, whose territory extends south to Cape Jervis and north to Port Wakefield. Inside the cultural institute there are interactive displays on living with the land, as well as galleries, gifts and a cafe. There are didgeridoo or Torres Strait Islander dance performances at noon from Tuesday to Sunday, plus Indigenous short film and documentary screenings in the theatre.
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South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum digs into Australia’s natural history, with special exhibits on whales and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, and an Aboriginal Cultures Gallery displaying artefacts of the Ngarrindjeri people of the Coorong and lower Murray. Free tours are run at 11am Monday to Friday and 2pm and 3pm Saturday and Sunday (don’t miss the giant squid!). There’s a cool cafe (mains $10 to $17; open for lunch) here too.
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National Wine Centre of Australia
Check out the self-guided, interactive ‘Wine Discovery Journey’ exhibition, paired with tastings of Australian wines, at the very sexy National Wine Centre of Australia. You’ll get an insight into the issues winemakers contend with, and even have your own virtual vintage rated. A heady range of wine appreciation courses (from $55) is also available, and there’s a cool cafe here too.
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Rodney Fox Shark Experience
Shark victim turned shark advocate Rodney Fox promotes understanding of the much-maligned creature and its position in the delicate ocean ecosystem at Rodney Fox Shark Experience. It offers a fascinating insight into the 'smoke and mirrors' of the filming of Jaws. Please note: this exhibition is currently housed at the S.A. Whale Centre, after its Glenelg Museum closed.
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St Francis Xavier Cathedral
St Francis Xavier Cathedral (1856) is counted as one of the most impressive churches in Adelaide, along with the Holy Trinity Church (1838), the first Anglican church in the state; and St Peter's Cathedral (1869-76).
Nearby on Victoria Sq, other important early buildings include the 1847-50 Magistrate's Court; the 1869 Supreme Court; and the 1839 Old Treasury Building.
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HM Adelaide Gaol Historic Site
Only decommissioned as a jail in 1988, the HM Adelaide Gaol Historic Site has a grim vibe, but its displays of homemade bongs, weapons and escape devices are amazing. Commentary tapes are available for self-guided tours; guided tours are offered on Sundays, at 11am, noon and 1pm. Ghost tours by appointment.
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Adelaide Zoo
Around 1800 exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles roar, growl and screech at Adelaide's wonderful zoo, which opened in 1883. There are free walking tours half-hourly (plus a slew of longer and overnight tours focussing on specific environments and species), feeding sessions and a children's zoo. Until Wang Wang and Funi – Australia's only Giant Pandas – arrived in 2009 (pandemonium!), the major drawcard was the Southeast Asian rainforest exhibit.
You can take a river cruise to the zoo from the Festival Centre on Pop-eye. Weekends only in winter.
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Bay Discovery Centre
The Bay Discovery Centre depicts the social history of Glenelg from colonisation to today, and addresses the plight of the local Kaurna people, who lost both their land and voice. Don’t miss the rusty relics dredged up from the original pier, and the spooky old sideshow machines.
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Ayers Historic House
Ayers Historic House (1845) is the elegant residence of early South Australian premier Sir Henry Ayers, after whom Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the Northern Territory (NT) was named, now features period furnishings and costume displays. It takes about an hour to have a good poke around.
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Maritime Museum
The salty Maritime Museum is the oldest of its kind in Australia. Highlights include the iconic Port Adelaide Lighthouse, busty figureheads made everywhere from Londonderry to Quebec, shipwreck and explorer displays, and a computer register of early migrants.
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Australian Museum of Childhood
The Australian Museum of Childhood is an overflowing toy box with toys from the 1890s through to Mouse Trap and today's faves. The best part? You can actually play with them.
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Bradman Collection Museum
At the Bradman Collection Museum at the Adelaide Oval, Don devotees can pore over personal items of the cricketing legend. Call or check the website for tour details.
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State Library of South Australia
The newspaper reading room in the State Library has publications from around the world - these come by surface mail, so don't expect yesterday's (or even last week's) editions.
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Seahorse Farm
Kids adore the Seahorse Farm, with an educational DVD and walls of aquaria full of the squiggly little critters.
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Mall’s Balls
For an insight into Adelaide’s public artworks – you can try the infamous Mall’s Balls.
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National Railway Museum
Trainspotters rejoice! The National Railway Museum has a hefty collection of railway memorabilia.
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Jam Factory Craft & Design Centre
Quality contemporary local arts and crafts, plus a hell-hot glass-blowing studio (watch from the balcony above).
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South Australian Aviation Museum
The South Australian Aviation Museum has an impressive collection of old birds.
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Experimental Art Foundation
A focus on innovation, with a bookshop specialising in film, architecture, culture and design.
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Adelaide Town Hall
The imposing 1863-66 Adelaide Town Hall, located between Flinders and Pirie Sts, was designed by Edmund Wright and built in 16th-century Renaissance style with the faces of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert carved into the façade. The main post office, diagonally opposite, commenced in 1867 and altered in 1891, is also a Wright building. For tours of the Town Hall at 10:00 on Monday, book at Adelaide City Council.
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