Four days in Adelaide: Where to go, what to do and eat

Straits Times

8 hours ago

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Adelaide is often described as the "20-minute city", as many major attractions as easily accessible by foot or road from the city.
ADELAIDE, Australia – Ask a local what Adelaide is best known for and, chances are, he or she will mention its '20-minute city' reputation.
Thanks to the city's tidy grid layout and light traffic, most attractions are a short drive away. The airport, beach and picturesque Adelaide Hills wine region are all accessible in about 20 minutes by road.
Within the city, many major attractions – the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide Central Market and Adelaide Zoo – are close enough to reach on foot.
In recent years, Adelaide has sought to make the city more appealing to international travellers. It has held major global events, such as the LIV Golf tournament, for which it is Australia's exclusive host until 2031. In 2026, it will host the Australian Tourism Exchange – an international travel trade event expected to draw visitors from around the world.
With growing awareness of what the city has to offer, more Singaporeans are now visiting Adelaide, using it as a base to explore South Australia's small towns, wine valleys and wildlife attractions.
Based on the International Market Update 2024 by the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), Singapore is South Australia's most mature travel market – comprising seasoned travellers who make travel plans independently and often – in Asia and its eighth-largest inbound market globally.
A spokesperson for SATC says: 'The Singaporean market has become much more adventurous over the years. It was a market that used to keep to Adelaide city hotels as a base, with day trips into our regions. Now, we are seeing many more Singaporean travellers hire cars and have extended holidays into regional South Australia.'
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In June, I make my third visit to Adelaide in the past decade, finding that the city – more quaint and relaxed than bustling Melbourne and Sydney – has grown more vibrant over the years.
Restaurants and bars open till late, and the city hosts myriad festivals such as food fiesta Tasting Australia and arts event Adelaide Festival that celebrate South Australian culture and heritage.
Here is a four-day itinerary to explore the city's highlights.
Day 1: Check into the newly opened Monarto Safari Resort
Monarto Safari Resort has 78 rooms and suites, with some overlooking a watering hole where animals from Monarto Safari Park stop to graze.
PHOTO: JOURNEY BEYOND
Check into Monarto Safari Resort (
monartosafariresort.com ), which opened in May and is located within Monarto Safari Park. The park, which measures around 1,500ha, is the largest open-range wildlife park outside Africa, with more than 500 animals from Australia and around the world.
The property is managed and operated by Journey Beyond, an Australian experiential tourism group based in Adelaide, and has 78 rooms and suites ranging in size from 32 to 80 sq m. Nightly rates for its entry-level Savannah King room – which has a king-size bed and a balcony – start at A$285 (S$240).
Rooms at Monarto Safari Resort range in size from 32 to 80 sq m.
PHOTO: JOURNEY BEYOND
The drive from the airport to Monarto Safari Resort is around an hour. While you can try requesting an earlier check-in time, the resort's standard timing is 3pm.
Once you have settled in, visit the nearby Murray Bridge town – around a 10-minute drive from the resort. Murray Bridge Marketplace mall typically opens till around 5.30pm and makes for a convenient place to shop and have a meal.
The resort has one restaurant – Kutjera Restaurant and Bar, which highlights native ingredients in its dishes. All its local produce is grown north of Adelaide, and its cheeses are crafted by artisan cheesemakers in Adelaide and Adelaide Hills.
The pan-fried barramundi comes with a tasty, grey leaf ash sauce.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Try the 100 day dry-aged prime sirloin and pan-fried barramundi – which sits in a deliciously savoury grey leaf ash sauce that belies its unappetising hue.
Schedule a treatment at the resort's Marula Day Spa – rates start at A$165 for a 60-minute massage – or spend the evening by the outdoor pools, where you might spot an antelope galloping by or hear a lion roar in the distance.
The outdoor pools at Monarto Safari Resort allow guests to lounge and look out for safari animals that wander across the plains.
PHOTO: JOURNEY BEYOND
Day 2: Get up close to wildlife
Just across the fence line that runs along the back of Monarto Safari Resort, antelope, zebra and other animals graze near a watering hole.
PHOTO: JOURNEY BEYOND
Catch the sunrise and spot animals such as giraffes and zebras grazing at the watering hole near the resort before breakfast.
As in a safari, animal sightings are not guaranteed. On my first morning at around 8am, I spot a tower of giraffes crossing the plains and some antelope bounding towards the watering hole. On my second morning at around the same time, I catch only two emus strutting about in the distance.
Spend the rest of your morning at Monarto Safari Park (
monartosafari.com.au ), where animals like the southern white rhino and scimitar-horned oryx roam open plains.
Visitors can explore the park via its walking trails – which range from 500m to 2km and are fenced to create a safe boundary between visitors and animals – or take the hop-on-hop-off bus.
The park is located around a five-minute drive from the resort and free shuttle buses are available. Check with the front desk for timings.
Resort guests pay discounted rates for general park admission. Adult admission for those aged 15 and above costs A$40, while child admission for those aged four to 14 costs A$21. Those aged below four enter free.
Non-staying guests pay A$49 an adult and A$27 a child aged four to 14 for general admission. Tickets are available for pre-booking up to three months in advance, and the park recommends doing so as daily visitor numbers are capped.
Monarto Safari Park and Adelaide Zoo are part of the non-profit organisation Zoos South Australia (Zoos SA). One of the organisation's aims is to achieve positive and impactful outcomes in animal conservation.
To do so, the park undertakes various conservation strategies – including breeding programmes and translocations, where an animal species is intentionally moved and released to support its recovery in the wild – and has made great progress since its opening in 1983.
The red-tailed phascogales, an Australian marsupial, was once locally extinct.
PHOTO: MONARTO SAFARI PARK
Among its recent success stories are the release of 92 red-tailed phascogales, an Australian marsupial, and 40 greater stick-nest rats to restart their populations in New South Wales after both species had gone extinct locally.
The captive-bred animals were reintroduced into protected predator-free areas with the aim of establishing self-sustaining populations in the regions they were previously absent from.
The park has also succeeded in captive breeding of the Mallee emu-wren – a tiny brown bird once extinct in South Australia due to bushfires – having bred 25 of the birds to date.
'We try to choose conservation programmes where we have a skill set we know we can apply, complement other partners and value-add to the work that they are doing,' says the park's conservation manager Mark Smith.
According to Mr Smith, Zoos SA contributes annually about A$100,000 each to domestic and international conservation initiatives. Funding for these efforts – as well as the general operations of the park – largely comes from park entry ticket sales, membership-based support, donor contributions and sponsorships.
An average of 6 per cent from the cost of each guest booking at the resort goes to Zoos SA's conservation fund, which supports various conservation activities, including research and education.
Zebras graze alongside the safari truck on a sunset drive through the park's open plains.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Head back to the resort by early afternoon and enjoy a different view of the animals on a sunset safari ride – an experience available only to resort guests.
The 2½-hour Sunset Wildlife Safari guided tour grants after-hours access to the park aboard its safari truck.
Tickets cost A$165 an adult and A$105 each for those aged between four and 14. Kids under four years old go for free. Canapes and drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – are included.
During my game drive, we see animals such as zebras and antelopes graze less than 5m away.
We manage to get close to a giraffe sitting gracefully among tall grass and watch as cheetahs prowl through the grassland, with their sights set on some nyalas just beyond the electric fence separating the two species.
A giraffe sits quietly among the tall grass during a sunset tour of Monarto Safari Park.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Our guide shares more conservation wins, including how the scimitar-horned oryx – a desert antelope originally from Africa – was once listed as extinct in the wild in 2000 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to several anthropogenic threats, including poaching and habitat loss.
Once extinct in the wild, the scimitar-horned oryx now has healthier population numbers, though more work has to be done to help the species thrive.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Monarto Safari Park was part of a global initiative to boost the animal's population with research and breeding programmes. As at December 2023, the antelope is at less of a risk, with its conservation status lowered from IUCN's extinction list to Red List of Threatened Species – a significant conservation milestone as a result of collective efforts.
The combination of insightful commentary and observing animal behaviour – set in the cold winter air, against the pink-blue hues of the darkening sky – stir in me a deeper appreciation for the richness of wildlife.
Day 3: Explore Adelaide Hills
Head to Adelaide Hills for views of rolling hills and open pastures, and stop for lunch at one of more than 50 cellar doors in the wine region.
The Lane Vineyard is among more than 50 cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills wine region.
PHOTO: THE LANE VINEYARD
Adelaide Hills is known for its cool-climate wines, such as sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay.
As one of the highest wine regions in South Australia – with elevation ranging from 400m to more than 700m above sea level – grapes grown here ripen more slowly, allowing their natural acidity to be preserved while developing other complex flavours.
The Lane Vineyard offers experiences like trout fishing and all-terrain vehicle tours of the property.
PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIA TOURISM COMMISSION
White wines from here are sparkling and crisp. Sauvignon blancs are my favourite, for how bright and fruity they land on the palate. And South Australian red wines, such as the popular pinot noir, are lighter than bold, full-bodied varietals like shiraz and cabernet sauvignon from warmer regions.
The Lane Vineyard (
thelane.com.au ) has a restaurant and tasting room, and offers activities like an all-terrain vehicle tour of its 40ha site, as well as trout fishing. A four-course menu costs A$105 a person, or order from the seasonal menu with mains starting at around A$40.
Tasting flights at wineries typically start at A$15 and include between three and six glasses of wine. Some wineries waive the tasting fee if you buy a bottle of wine.
Go behind the scenes on a tour of Jurlique Farm to learn about operations there.
PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIA TOURISM COMMISSION
Visit Jurlique Farm (
str.sg/AKvC ), where global skincare brand Jurlique plants and harvests botanicals like roses and manuka myrtle for use in its products. The farm has tour experiences from A$40 a person that includes a behind-the-scenes look at its operations, such as how seedlings and plants are propagated, and how to harvest flowers.
A retail store stocks some of the brand's best-selling products, including creams, facial mists and oils.
If you have time for one more winery, head to Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door (
str.sg/vGuD ), located 20 minutes by road from Adelaide's central business district.
Penfolds Magill Estate Cellar Door is a 181-year-old property.
PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIA TOURISM COMMISSION
The 181-year-old property was where Penfolds wine company was started, which today produces some of Australia's most well-known wines. Have a bite at the recently renovated Magill Estate Kitchen bistro, which serves modern Australian dishes in a casual setting.
Heritage tours and wine tastings are available and can be booked via its website. Prices start at A$35 for a tour that lasts 1½ to two hours.
Back in the city, enjoy a leisurely stroll around city park Victoria Square.
Food and drink festival Tasting Australia is held annually in Adelaide over about 10 days, with more than 150 smaller events held throughout the event.
PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIA TOURISM COMMISSION
While retail shops generally shutter at around 6pm, some restaurants and bars in the city stay open till around midnight. Food and drinks are affordable, with options ranging between A$10 and A$40 for a main.
Areas such as Peel Street and Leigh Street have a good selection of restaurants and bars serving various cuisines, and popular joints are buzzing.
For instance, Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room (
fugazzi.com.au ), a New York-inspired restaurant in Leigh Street, is nearly full on a Wednesday night at 8.30pm. It features an Italian-American menu with imaginative small plates, pastas and wood-fired meats. Mains start at A$34.
Try the gnocco fritto at Fugazzi, which is similar to a fried doughnut served with whipped ricotta, honey, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Alternatively, check out Vietnamese restaurant Sit Lo (
sitlo.com.au ) or Indian eatery Bollywood (
g.co/kgs/zokbFW5 ) for meals under A$20 a person in the CBD.
Day 4: Explore the city
Head to Adelaide Central Market for brunch. The market is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and has more than 70 traders selling fresh produce, baked goods and souvenirs such as books, magnets and soaps.
Adelaide Central Market has more than 70 traders selling fresh produce, baked goods and souvenirs.
ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY
Tour guide Stephanie Taylor, 71, a fifth-generation Adelaide resident, frequents the market and says produce can sometimes be two to three times cheaper than in supermarkets. 'On Saturdays at around 2pm, you can find vendors selling things at a discounted price. If you don't shop here, you're silly.'
Have a sit-down meal at Lucia's Pizza & Spaghetti Bar (
str.sg/LjPK ; pasta dishes start at A$20), with ravioli that is raved about online, or pick up bites at stalls around the market. A public dining area with chairs and tables is available.
Stroll down Australia's first pedestrian street mall Rundle Mall, which has 700 retailers, including local chocolate company Haigh's Chocolates and Australian fashion brands like Review and Noni B.
End the night with dinner at one of the restaurants in Pirie Street. Establishments like Part Time Lover (
parttimelover.com.au ) and Osteria Oggi (
osteriaoggi.com.au ) come recommended by locals.
Travel tips
Singapore Airlines is currently the only carrier with non-stop flights between Singapore and Adelaide. The journey takes about 6½ hours, with two daily departure options from Singapore: a morning flight at around 8am, and a late-night flight past 11pm. The latter is ideal for maximising your time in Adelaide, as it arrives at about 7.30am local time.
Return economy class fares for travel in July start at around $1,200, based on checks by The Straits Times.
A new hotel in the city is Adelaide Marriott
(str.sg/uYyi ), which opened in August 2024 in the former Adelaide General Post Office building. A night in its superior guest room in July starts at A$278. Airbnb apartment rentals for two typically cost about $200 a night in the city.
While public transport such as trams, buses and trains are available, the best way to get around – especially when exploring the outskirts of the city – is by renting a car.
Based on checks by ST, for a mid-sized sport utility vehicle such as a BYD Atto 3, prices start at around A$70 a day for a four-day rental period in July from car rental company Sixt, which is located at the airport. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Didi work here.