Choose from 47 Fun Things to Do in Adelaide
ShowingFilter 41-47 of 47 listings.
South Australian Museum
One of the principal attractions of Adelaide’s Cultural Precinct, the South Australian Museum is devoted to the region’s natural and cultural history. The museum is best known for its impressive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural items: the largest collection of its kind in the world.
The Basics
The South Australian Museum has 11 galleries, with exhibits titled Australian Aboriginal Cultures, Pacific Cultures, Megafauna, Ediacaran Fossils, South Australian Biodiversity, and Minerals and Meteorites. There is also a Discovery Center, where interactive exhibits include a microEye video microscope, a live bee hive, and expert talks. Explore the museum on a guided or self-guided tour.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Entrance to the museum is free, but there is sometimes a charge for special events and temporary exhibits.
- On-site facilities include restrooms, a cloakroom, a café, and a gift shop.
- The museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The South Australian Museum is located along the North Terrace in downtown Adelaide, next door to the Art Gallery of South Australia. It’s a short walk from the shopping boulevard of Rundle Mall, and the free City Loop bus 99C stops right outside.
When to Get There
The museum is open daily, year-round. The quietest time to visit is on weekday mornings.
Exhibition Highlights
Marvel at the whale skeleton in the Whale and Dolphin Gallery; see a model of a 36-foot (11-meter) long Architeuthis dux squid; follow Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson in the Australian Polar Collection; and see fossils up to 550 million years old. In the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, the collection includes ancient paintings, maps, boomerangs, and bark canoes, while the Pacific Cultures Gallery has weaponry, masks, and ritual objects.
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Admission: Free
From $ 44
Henley Beach
Just a few minutes from the city center and blessed with a long stretch of white sand, Henley Beach is one of Adelaide's most attractive coastal retreats. Running for 500-meters along the gulf coast, the city beach is a lively spot, lined with waterfront restaurants, cafes and bars.
Along with swimming and sunbathing, activities at Henley Beach include kayaking, water sports and fishing. A scenic esplanade also runs along the beachside, all the way from Henley Beach to West Beach, with walking and cycling trails connecting the coast to the Torrens riverside.
Practical Info
Henley Beach is located around 10km west of downtown Adelaide.
Address: Henley Beach, Adelaide, Australia
From $ 88
Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Reserve
Ngaut Ngaut is the ancestral home of the Nganguraku people and today serves as a site of archaeological study, history and cultural significance. A visit to the site offers a glimpse into the life, beliefs and customs of the local Aboriginal people, much of whose culture has been lost.
Located on the banks of the Murray River, Ngaut Ngaut takes advantage of the beautiful natural scenery with a boardwalk that runs along the riverbank and allows visitors to walk near the cliffs that rise above an ancient seabed. There is also the opportunity to view an untouched section of the Mighty Murray.
Visitors to Ngaut Ngaut are taken through the park on guided tours, during which guides impart knowledge of the historical Nganguraku culture through viewings of the remaining archaeology. Ngaut Ngaut is the site of incredibly comprehensive rock art that details Aboriginal astronomy with lunar cycles carved into the cliffs. Guides also introduce visitors to the plants and animals that enrich the views of the natural landscape.
Practical Info
The site is located in the Murray-Darling Basin of South Australia, approximately 105 miles (170 km) north of Adelaide. It takes about two hours to drive from the city center. Entrance to the park is arranged by prior appointment only to respect the area and its significance to the Aborigine people, and guided tours are offered. The park is closed on days of extreme fire danger.
Address: Murray-Darling Basin, Adelaide, Australia
Hours: Closed on days of extreme fire danger.
From $ 979
Parliament House
It took 65 years for this building to be erected, but despite major delays it's a stately structure Aussies are seriously proud of. Daily tours provide access to Chambers and the chance to view historic documents, like the Magna Carta, up close and in person. Permanent exhibits on women in government and an impressive art collection"”including one of the world's largest tapestries and an outdoor sculpture garden"”make this a cultural destination for visitors locally and aboard.
Practical Info
Parliament House is located at the corner of North Terrace and King William Road. It is open to the public every day of the year except Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in non-sitting weeks.
Address: North Terrace and King William Road, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
From $ 22
Colonel Light's Lookout
Sometimes referred to as Light's Vision, this lookout on Montefiore Hill is named after Colonel William Light, the founding father of Adelaide. During the summer of 1837, Light was put in charge of selecting and surveying the site for the city. A life-sized statue of Colonel Light sits here, having been originally erected in Victoria Square but moved in 1938 to create Light's Vision on top of Montefiore Hill. Local legend says it's where he looked out and began planning the city.
Practical Info
Today, Colonel Light's Lookout is a popular site for residents and visitors to get a glimpse of Adelaide's skyline, so be sure to bring your camera along. Grassy areas at Colonel Light's Lookout make it a nice spot for adults to stretch their legs and for young kids to run around.
Address: Adelaide, Australia
From $ 50
Victor Harbor
A world away from busy Adelaide, Victor Harbor is the perfect place to get away from the city and relax.
Victor Harbor is situated on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. Though easily accessible from the city as a day trip, it would be remiss not to spend a few days exploring the peninsula in its own right "“ wineries, national parks, ocean views and historical attractions abound in the area.
The drawcard of Victor Harbor is first and foremost the gorgeous outlook over Encounter Bay. A wide, sweeping beach and clear water is backed by colonial architecture encasing boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. A horse-drawn tram is a nod back to history as it takes visitors across a causeway to Granite Island and its colony of Little Penguins.
When to visit Victor Harbor depends on your interests. While the area is beautiful year round, visiting between June and September will afford views of whales as Southern Right Whales use the waters nearby as a nursery for their newborn calves. Fishing and surfing is good in all seasons, though warmer in summer! Visiting in Spring grants visitors the opportunity to try new season wines and olive oils.
Victor Harbor is situated on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. Though easily accessible from the city as a day trip, it would be remiss not to spend a few days exploring the peninsula in its own right "“ wineries, national parks, ocean views and historical attractions abound in the area.
The drawcard of Victor Harbor is first and foremost the gorgeous outlook over Encounter Bay. A wide, sweeping beach and clear water is backed by colonial architecture encasing boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. A horse-drawn tram is a nod back to history as it takes visitors across a causeway to Granite Island and its colony of Little Penguins.
When to visit Victor Harbor depends on your interests. While the area is beautiful year round, visiting between June and September will afford views of whales as Southern Right Whales use the waters nearby as a nursery for their newborn calves. Fishing and surfing is good in all seasons, though warmer in summer! Visiting in Spring grants visitors the opportunity to try new season wines and olive oils.
Practical Info
Victor Harbor is located roughly 80km from Adelaide "“ about an hours drive. For public transport, the Adelaide Metro runs a bus service to nearby McLaren Vale, and a train runs from the Adelaide CBD to Noarlunga.
Address: Victor Harbor, SA, Australia
From $ 84
Seal Bay Conservation Park
One of the major attractions of Kangaroo Island, Seal Bay Conservation Park is the home of the rare Australian Sea Lion.
The Conservation Park contains numerous attractions, such as the Bales Bay Picnic Area, which provides the perfect lunch spot with picnic and barbeque areas. A short walk from the Picnic Area is a lookout offering views of Cape Gantheaume where migrating whales can be seen swimming offshore from May through October. A short drive from the Picnic Area is the Bales Bay beach.
The true attractions of the park however, are the sea lions. A tour is the best way to learn about the sea lions, and to see them up close. Guides take visitors to the colony, relating information about the sea lions, their behaviour, and their conservation. The Seal Bay Experience tour is run several times a day, allowing visitors to walk among the sea lions and marvel at these amazing animals up close. Be sure to bring a camera to capture every moment!
For those who want a little distance between themselves and the seals, the Boardwalk Self-Guided Experience doesn’t disappoint. A short, wheelchair friendly boardwalk, the walk provides an unobstructed view of the sea lion colony and the Southern Ocean behind them. The viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk is a prime whale watching spot. The Sunset Tour is easily the most spectacular tour, taking visitors onto the beach in a single group as the sun sets, casting a golden glow.
The Conservation Park contains numerous attractions, such as the Bales Bay Picnic Area, which provides the perfect lunch spot with picnic and barbeque areas. A short walk from the Picnic Area is a lookout offering views of Cape Gantheaume where migrating whales can be seen swimming offshore from May through October. A short drive from the Picnic Area is the Bales Bay beach.
The true attractions of the park however, are the sea lions. A tour is the best way to learn about the sea lions, and to see them up close. Guides take visitors to the colony, relating information about the sea lions, their behaviour, and their conservation. The Seal Bay Experience tour is run several times a day, allowing visitors to walk among the sea lions and marvel at these amazing animals up close. Be sure to bring a camera to capture every moment!
For those who want a little distance between themselves and the seals, the Boardwalk Self-Guided Experience doesn’t disappoint. A short, wheelchair friendly boardwalk, the walk provides an unobstructed view of the sea lion colony and the Southern Ocean behind them. The viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk is a prime whale watching spot. The Sunset Tour is easily the most spectacular tour, taking visitors onto the beach in a single group as the sun sets, casting a golden glow.
Practical Info:
The Seal Bay Conservation Park lies on the southern coast of Kangaroo
Island, only a 45 minute drive from Kingscote. The park is open 9-5
daily, and stays open until 6 in the summer months of December and
January. Entry to the park is free, though fees apply for the tours. The
following fees are for adults/children. Seal Bay Experience (including
Boardwalk): $32/18. Boardwalk Self-Guided Experience: $15/9. Sunset
Tour: $60/36.
Address: Seal Bay Conservation Park, Seal Bay, SA 5223, Australia
Hours: Open Daily: Feb - Nov: 9am - 5pm; Dec - Jan: 9am - 6pm. Closed Christmas Day.
Admission: Guided Tour: Adult: $32, Child $18. Self-Guided: Adult: $15, Child: $9.
From $ 156