Visiting Adelaide on a budget

Going on holiday need not cost an arm and a leg; we’ve compiled some of the best things you can do in Adelaide on a budget.

• Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

  Tandanya is Australia’s oldest Aboriginal-owned and managed multi-arts centre. The centre is a place for people of all backgrounds to experience traditional and contemporary Indigenous  cultural arts. Tandanya is the national leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Cultural organisation. Entry to the institute is free and they welcome donations.

• MOD.

  MOD. is a futurist museum of discovery aimed at 16 to 25-year-old visitors. Their exhibits find the intersection of science and art and encourage viewers to engage with the works. Bringing in exhibits from both local and internationally awarded artists, MOD.’s ever-changing exhibits are sure to excite. Entry to MOD. is free. A small charge may apply to visit travelling exhibitions.

• Adelaide Gaol

  Closed in 1988, the Adelaide Gaol was in operation for almost 150 years. It served as one of Australia’s longest operating prisons. Today it is open to the public for viewing. Walk the hallways and enter the cells of South Australia’s first inmates and learn what life in prison was like. If you’re looking for a thrill, join a gaol ghost tour and try to spot one of the spirits that haunt the halls. Entry starts from $15.

• Botanic Gardens

  The beautiful Adelaide Botanic Gardens boast 50 hectares of garden space. Open every day of the year, the gardens are beautiful to stroll through no matter what time of year you visit. Visit the Palm House and view the Victorian glasshouse imported from Germany in 1875. Or, walk through the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion to see their 3m wide leaves. Join one of the free daily guided tours to visit the highlights and learn more about the stunning plants on display. The gardens are open 365 days a year and entry is free.

• Adelaide Oval

  Within the Adelaide CBD, the Adelaide Oval is one of the most picturesque sporting grounds in the world. Home to some of the city’s biggest events, locals and visitors adore the complex. Join a Stadium Tour and go behind the scenes to areas usually inaccessible to the public. These tours are perfect for any sport or history lover. Bookings are essential and prices start from $25.

• Z Ward

  For almost 90 years the ‘criminally insane’ resided in Z Ward. Here the patients who toed the line of criminality and mental illness were kept away from the rest of society. Completed in 1885, celebrated local architect EJ Woods included a distinctive ‘ha-ha wall’; a wall designed to appear less prison-like while still keeping all patients securely inside the building. You can join guided tours, ghost tours, or night-time history tours through the ward and learn about the sombre history of the building. Adult entry tickets start from $15.

These are just a handful of the many budget-friendly experiences available in Adelaide. No matter if you want to splash the cash or keep your budget low there is always something for you to do in this fantastic city.

Related article: Where to eat 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.