Top things to see, eat and do in Adelaide
Discovery Directory: Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront
Tourists to Adelaide are soooo spoiled for choice and in recent years, the event calendar has simply exploded. In fact, the Wall Street Journal named it “Australia’s coolest city”, proclaiming it an “almost utopian alternative to the typical urban sprawl. A moat of lush parklands surrounds a one-square-mile city center full of shops and restaurants. Beyond that, leafy suburbs give way to the Adelaide Hills, where koalas roam, and to the sea.”
But what about the excitement factor, huh? How’s this for starters:
- LIV Golf - back in Adelaide in 2024 with big names like Cameron Smith and Phil Mickelson.
- Illuminate – artistic light and music like you’ve never seen before – and lots of it for free.
- Tasting Australia – if you are a fan of TV cooking shows, you can’t miss this one.
- Gather Round. Every. Single. AFL. Team. In Adelaide. For. One. Weekend. Boom!
- VAILO ADELAIDE 500. It’s pedal to the metal for supercars fun through the streets of Adelaide.
- Womad, The Adelaide Festival and The Fringe. Rolling into each other, so much creativity, so many experiences.
- Tour Down Under cycling - the largest cycling event in the southern hemisphere.
Now that’s an introduction to the big ticket items, and yet Adelaide sightseeing is so much more than that. The big surprises are often in the little finds.
There’s so much to See, Do & Eat in Adelaide and it’s all easy to access with a Stay at Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront.
One of the few metro parks in our network, Adelaide Beachfront is a short 30-minute drive from the Adelaide city centre. While the park might be in the ‘burbs, as its name boasts, it’s beachfront so you’ll feel a million miles away from it all in this coastal location.
SEE
Chugga chugga choo choo… that’s the sound of the steam locomotive rolling along the tracks between our holiday park and the sand dunes that protect the Semaphore coastline. Board the open carriage train at Fort Glanville (the station is just outside the park perimeter) and take the scenic 2km ride to the Semaphore Jetty. Disembark here and make the most of the foreshore fun with fishing off the jetty, a ride on the Semaphore Carousel, a splash at the Semaphore waterslide complex complete with ferris wheel, mini golf and other carnival amusements. Take a short stroll to Semaphore Road for a spot of boutique shopping or catch the latest flicks at the cinema.
Whether you're an experienced diver or a beginner snorkeler, exploring the Port Noarlunga Reef is an unforgettable experience.
Tourists and locals should also visit Jetty Road at Glenelg The pubs have been refreshed and the ice cream outlets are as good as ever, with Colley Reserve close by to lounge around and enjoy your treat.
The city of Adelaide grid is surrounded by parklands and you can see all the exquisite flora and fauna in one spot with a visit to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Stroll through an array of beautifully landscaped gardens including wetlands, roses, succulents, natives, and a rainforest in the largest glasshouse in the Southern Hemisphere. Looking for a deeper connection with the city of churches, Zen out at the traditional styled Japanese garden, the Adelaide Himeji Garden. A walk around Government House – with views into the grounds - and the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Gardens gives you a sense of history, and there’s plenty of space for kids to run around.
Image Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission - Tree Lined Path Botanic Gardens - Adelaide
EAT
Casual eats line the street at Semaphore Road, just a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk along the Esplanade from our holiday park. Choose from pub grub, pizza, fish and chips, burgers, yiros, noodles, brunch dishes and a heap more. Plus, with three ice cream shops scattered along the strip, you’ll be indulging in more than one scoop.
Set sail down to Port Adelaide, less than a 10-minute drive from our holiday park. It’s one of Adelaide’s emerging suburbs littered with heaps of local eateries ready to serve you what your stomach rumbles for - brunch, acai bowls, baked-goods, pub grub, American BBQ ribs, an Italian feast and more. In the centre of it all is an old woolshed that has been transformed into a 500-litre brew kit complete with a bar the size of a cricket pitch, say ahoy to Pirate Life Brewing. This modern-day brewery is open 7 days a week and features 24 varieties of local and imported beers on tap. Weekends feature live entertainment as well as an array of food trucks. Grab a micro-brew and some bar snacks or book in a brewery tour.
For a cool urban vibe head to an adults-only night out to Peel Street in the CBD. The traffic-free laneway is lined with alfreso dining and boutique bars. Sample plates of tapas with chianti at La Rambla, share an Asian feast at Gondola Gondola or enjoy a Serbian BBQ at Kaffana. Finish the night with panoramic views of the city while sipping on a cocktail at the swanky 2KW Bar and Restaurant.
Keen to stick to the city limits but want to sample the best vinos from the Great Wine Capital of the World, then head to the National Wine Centre on the outskirts of the city. Appreciate, taste and learn about the history of wine with an Australian Wine Discovery Tour with Masterclass.
Roll a meal and sight-seeing experience into one, climb aboard BBQ Buoys. Glide along the River Torrens from the Torrens Weir to Frome Road Bridge, with SA wine in hand, while cooking a BBQ feast. Grill and chill past the iconic Adelaide Oval, Festival Centre and Skycity Casino with almost everything provided – it’s up to you if you want to BYO food or order from BBQ Buoys.
If you look up, you might see people doing a roof climb at Adelaide Oval on one side (more on that soon), or at a rooftop bar (there’s plenty) on the other side of the river.
During Gather Round, a flying fox whizzes across the River Torrens.
DO
While our holiday park has heaps to keep the kids entertained with 2 swimming pools, bouncing pillow and pedal kart hire, they’ll definitely want to check out Point Malcolm Reserve. Accessible directly from the park, this neighbouring adventure playground is massive and boasts separate play spaces for junior and senior kids, tennis courts, a basketball court with lights, a soccer field, a sandpit, picnic facilities and more. What a place to get the kids out into the great outdoors!
Go get a bird’s eye view of Adelaide with RoofClimb Adelaide Oval. Colonel Light certainly had vision for the city site and the 360-degree views of the city skyline, Adelaide Hills and coast from the stadium’s rooftop certainly showcases the capital city in all its glory. While at the Oval why not take in an Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour with a behind the scenes history lesson from expert guides. Don’t forget to selfie on ‘The Hill’ in front of the world-heritage listed scoreboard.
An activity that combines see, eat and do? Yes please! Check out SA’s mouth-watering food scene with Feast on Foot - Adelaide City Food & Street Art Walking Tour. Go on a walking food excursion and sample treats from hidden cafes and restaurants as you truly feast like a local. Plus, it’s guilt-free, you’ll work off all the calories you consume on your walk.
Are you a G’DAY REWARDS Member? ExperienceOZ has heaps of amazing Adelaide adventures for you to choose from and, you’ll save 15% on all experience bookings* Not a member? Find out more about being one here.
Image Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission - RoofClimb Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
STAY
Adelaide is both sedate and lively. It’s easy to drive around and your accommodation is going to be quite, away from 24-hour-freeway noise.
But there’s so much to do – and it’s so close.
This is where the team at Discovery Parks has you covered.
Book at Deluxe 3-Bedroom Cabin with foreshore views. Perfect for a family getaway, you’ll wake up to the sound of crashing waves and spend the evening watching the sunset from your balcony complete with outdoor setting.
The newest cabins installed at Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront, are the Superior Studios of which one has been modified and equipped with mobility impaired facilities and fittings for guests. This Superior Access Studio includes ramp access, limited additional furnishings, bathroom railings and air-conditioning.
Caravanning on the loooooong road across the Nullarbor from WA to VIC, then no doubt you’ll be looking for a few SA stops along the way. We recommend booking your Powered or Powered Ensuite Site ahead of your arrival, as Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront tends to fill pretty quickly – just proves it quite the prime metro location!
