Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, was planned in 1836, by surveyor Colonel William Light. The city centre has a grid of wide streets and various squares all within 1 square mile. This centre is surrounded by a green belt of 930 hectares of parkland. The main street, King William Street, runs from north to south through Victoria Square at the heart of the city.The Torrens River runs through the centre, separating Adelaide and North Adelaide. The city is surrounded by diverse landscapes, including the Mount Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills) and coastal beaches.

South Australia was one of the first places in the world to give women the vote in 1894, and was the first in the world to enable women to enter Parliament. See the Women & Politics in South Australia website produced by The State Library of South Australia for more.

Adelaide, is well known for its art and theatre, claiming one of the best arts festivals in the world.

The climate is Mediterranean - with hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters. The average winter temperature is around 15C; average for summer is 29C. See the weather page for more.

Adelaide is close to the sea, with Semaphore and Port Adelaide to the north, Henley Beach and West Beach to the east, Glenelg and Brighton to the south, and even further south Onkaparinga and the Fleurieu Peninsula. The beachfront in the heart of seaside Glenelg is only 20 minutes from the city centre and 10 minutes from the domestic and international airports.

Most of Australia's wine is produced in South Australia. The Barossa Valley is 40 kilometres long and between 5-11 kilometres wide and is a popular tourist destination. The Barossa Vintage Festival is an annual event, attracting visitors from around the world. See our what's on section for dates. 

Adelaide Airport Transfers
The airport is only seven kilometres from the city centre. There is an airport bus which will take you into the city.