Virtual Tour of Adelaide

Take a virtual journey around South Australia’s capital city to appreciate the diverse history of Adelaide and the surrounding hills.

Situated on the River Torrens, Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and gateway to amazing destinations including Kangaroo Island, the Barossa Valley, Flinders Ranges and Eyre Peninsula. To the Kaurna people originally inhabited the area, it was known as Tarndanyangga meaning ‘place of the red kangaroo’, before it was settled by Europeans in 1836. Named after Queen Adelaide, the city was settled as a free colony without the use of convicts.

1.3 million habitants now call the city home, which has become a vibrant, cosmopolitan centre, well known for its regional food and wine, European architecture and eclectic festival calendar. So grab yourself a glass of Barossa shiraz and virtually wander Adelaide’s street via your screen to feel like you are really here.

• China Town

  Located along Moonta Street in the south east end of the Adelaide CBD, Chinatown offers an eclectic multicultural mix of restaurants and food stores close to the Adelaide Central Market. With large paifang (Chinese gates) marking the entrances at Gouger and Grote Streets, pagoda style roofs and red lanterns, the vibrant Chinese decorations create an exotic atmosphere all year round. While Chinese restaurants dominate the street, the diverse mix of cultures represented in the food stalls includes Nepali, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, and more. Whether you are after traditional street food or a fine dining experience, Chinatown has a range of options for eating out to suit all tastes.

• Adelaide Central Market

  Just next to Chinatown is one of Adelaide’s most popular attractions, the Adelaide Central Market. The historical food market is over 140 years old and welcomes over 9 million visitors a year in search of fresh, local produce and specialty foods. Close to 80 traders are hosted in the market, offering everything from freshly baked breads and pastries, locally made cheeses and small goods, to regional specialties like Barossa Valley Wine and Kangaroo Island oysters. Wander the stalls to savour the sights and smells of the delectable delights for sale, enjoy a chat with a local merchant or sit down for a snack at one of the cafes.

• Adelaide Oval & Donald Bradman Statue

  Located in the picturesque parklands on the Torrens River, Adelaide Oval is the city’s premier sporting and entertainment stadium and a must visit attraction for any sport fan. Mostly used for cricket and Australia Rules Football games, the Oval also hosts other major sporting events and music concerts. It holds a maximum of 53,583 spectators for sporting events, but welcomed a record 70,000 fans through its gates for an Adele concert in 2017.

  Opened in 1873, the Adelaide Oval underwent an extensive redevelopment in 2014 to increase capacity and modernise the facilities. Much of the quaint old-world charm of the original oval was retained in the renovation, including the original 1911 scoreboard in Edwardian architectural style. Due to its scenic location and charming historical features, it is widely considered one of the most attractive sporting stadiums in the world.

  Outside the Adelaide Oval is a monument to one of Australia’s, and the world’s, greatest sporting heroes, Donald Bradman. With an impressive batting average of 99.94, Donald Bradman is considered the greatest batsman of all time and was immortalised in this statue by local artist Robert Hannaford. Standing 2.5 metres tall and costing $115,000 the statue was unveiled in 2002, just a year after the cricketer’s death.

• Parliament House

  The Parliament House of South Australia is housed in the impressive Greek Revival style building on the corner of North Terrace and King William Streets. The building was commissioned after the parliament outgrew the original building, now known as Old Parliament House, when the population of South Australia grew, and the number of parliamentary representatives increased. Work began on the building in 1874, but it wasn’t until 65 years later in 1939 when it was finally completed.

  Local architect Edmund Wright and his partner Lloyd Taylor won the commission for the building in an architectural competition for the design. Work began on the building but was delayed due to a lack of funds and the outbreak of World War One. The original design also had to be altered, removing a dome and towers, due to budget restraints. Once the construction was finally completed, the British Parliament celebrated by sending a stone lion that formed part of the coat of arms at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, which is now installed close to the main steps.

• Hahndorf

  Just half an hour’s drive from Adelaide is the charming town of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Established in 1839 by Lutheran settlers from Prussia, the town remains proud of its German ancestry which is visible in the fachwerk architecture of the original buildings, German style pubs and local shops selling traditional small goods, cuckoo clocks and wooden crafts. The town is a popular spot for travellers and locals, who enjoy meandering the quaint tree-lined streets and browsing the small shops selling local products including chocolates, gins, soaps and candles.

• Mount Lofty

  For the best views of Adelaide, head to the highest point in the Lofty Ranges, Mount Lofty. Just 20 minutes from the city, the Mount Lofty summit offers panoramic views over Adelaide to the west as far as Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island on a clear day. With walking and bike trails through the surrounding bush, the trek to the summit is popular with hikers and cyclists, and kangaroos can often be spotted on the journey to the top. 710 metres above sea level at its peak, Mount Lofty even receives occasional light snow falls in the winter.

We hope this virtual tour of Adelaide has given you a taste of what this amazing city has to offer, and we look forward to welcoming you in real life soon!

Related article: How many days should you stay in Adelaide?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.