Local time Adelaide

Currency

A$

Travel to Adelaide

Flying to Adelaide

There are no direct flights from the UK to Adelaide but connections can be made via Dubai, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Doha, Melbourne and Sydney. Airlines include British Airways, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Virgin Australia, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. From the USA, you can fly via Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane with Virgin Australia. The cheapest time to fly is usually between mid-April and mid-June. School holidays and Christmas tend to be the most expensive.

Flight times

From London – 21 hours 30 minutes; New York – 26 hours; Los Angeles - 19 hours; Sydney - 2 hours 10 minutes; Toronto - 26 hours.

Travel by road

Driving regulations across Australia differ from state to state, so visitors should make note of any law changes between South Australia and other territories. The legal age for driving without supervision in South Australia is 18 years.

Traffic drives on the left in Australia with speed limits of 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas and 100kph (62mph) outside built-up areas unless a road sign indicates otherwise.

There are large, good quality roads in and around Adelaide, and the city is linked by main routes to other major cities in Australia.

Short-term visitors to South Australia must have an overseas licence in English, a licence with an English translation or an international driver's licence. You also need an International Driving Permit issued in the country where your licence was issued. You must carry your licence at all times when driving. Third-party insurance is also compulsory in South Australia.

Due to extreme weather conditions, it is also advisable to contact one of Australia's motoring organisations if you plan to drive into the outback. They can offer advice and distribute maps for more remote regions.

The Australian Automobile Association (tel: +61 2 6247 7311; www.aaa.asn.au) provides further information. The National Roads and Motorists' Association (NMRA) (tel: 13 11 22, in Australia only; www.mynrma.com.au) also provides information and motoring services.

Emergency breakdown services

Royal Automobile Association (RAA) (tel: +61 8 8202 4600).

Routes

Adelaide is linked with Sydney by the Hume Highway and Stuart Highway; Melbourne by the Western Highway and Dukes Highway and by the more scenic Great Ocean Road and Princes Highway; Perth by the Great Eastern and Eyre Highway; and Alice Springs by the Stuart Highway.

Coaches

The main coach operator is Greyhound Australia (tel: +61 7 3155 1550; www.greyhound.com.au), which links Adelaide with major cities like Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as well as over 1,000 smaller destinations. Firefly Express (tel: +61 3 8318 0318; www.fireflyexpress.com.au) runs daily coaches connecting Adelaide with Melbourne and Sydney.

Time to city

From Sydney - 14 hours 25 minutes; Melbourne - 8 hours 10 minutes; Perth - 28 hours; Alice Springs - 16 hours 10 minutes.

Travel by Rail

Services

Adelaide has a good local railway network as well as interstate lines connecting the city with the rest of Australia.

The main hub for local trains is Adelaide Railway Station, located at 125 North Terrace. Interstate trains arrive and depart from Adelaide Parklands Terminal on Richmond Road, 3km (1.9 miles) west of the city centre.

Operators

Adelaide Metro (tel: 1300 311 108, in Australia; www.adelaidemetro.com.au) offers reliable rail services across the city and the state. Its central routes are extensive with four lines giving access to the suburbs. Trains reach as far north as Gawler Central, run south to Belair, go southwest to Seaford Interchange, and reach Grange and Outer Harbor in the west. A tram line from Entertainment Centre to Glenelg is good for covering the Central Business District.

Great Southern Rail (tel: +61 8 8213 4401; www.greatsouthernrail.com.au) operates several classic journeys to and from Adelaide. The Indian Pacific runs from Sydney to Adelaide and from Adelaide to Perth. The Ghan goes from Adelaide to Alice Springs and onto Darwin, while The Overland runs between Adelaide and Melbourne.

Journey times

From Sydney - 21 hours 45 minutes; Perth - 3 days and 2 nights; Alice Springs - 2 days and 1 night; Darwin - 54 hours; Melbourne - 10 hours 30 minutes.

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

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Clarion Soho Hotel

There are only 29 rooms at Clarion Soho Hotel, hence the focus on quality over quantity. With modern Manhattan interiors, commodious king-size beds, crisp white linen and Missoni cushions, comfort and style intertwine in the sleeping chambers. Each room also comes with 42-inch LCD TVs, DVD players with free DVD hire, luxury spa products, iPod docks and cable broadband internet. Don’t miss the restaurant with Tom Dixon feature lighting, Kartell chairs and a marble bar imported from Italy.

The Hotel Metropolitan

Doubling as a hotel and a pub, this historic location dates back to 1883, and is conveniently placed opposite the Adelaide Central Market and a short walk from the Adelaide Railway Station. Although the rooms are small, the amenities are numerous: a game room with complimentary snacks, outdoor dining and live entertainment, and an art gallery. The guest list is mature—you must be 16 or older to stay.

Hotel Ibis Adelaide

Located in the Central Business District, the Ibis Hotel boasts 311 fresh and modern rooms, a ground-floor restaurant and bar with world-class food, and balconies so guests can enjoy the fresh Adelaide air. Wi-Fi, online check-in and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet are complimentary.

Largs Pier Hotel

Luxury suites and motel rooms await at the Largs Pier Hotel. Built in 1882 and still dominating the seafront by Largs Bay Pier, this is the hotel where AC/DC and Jimmy Barnes played before they were famous. Heritage rooms are a sensory mix of lofty ceilings and cutting edge bathrooms, complete with king-size, four-poster beds. One suite also contains a dining room. The hotel is the site of the very first drive-through bottle shop in Australia.

Majestic Minima Hotel

This artsy hotel stands out not only for its green and silver modern-style exterior, but also its unbeatable location in the heart of North Adelaide. Each of Minima Hotel’s 46 rooms was painted by a local Australian artist, giving every room a unique feel and aesthetic. Guests can look at the website and request a specific room or be surprised when they walk through the door. Expect decorations ranging from abstract ocean scenes to neon sculptures to a blown-up aboriginal alphabet.

Majestic Roof Garden Hotel

At the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, the guest experience is in the name—expect a gorgeous rooftop garden overlooking the city to compliment the usual amenities of a modern hotel, including free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and complimentary breakfast. The location is great for exploring downtown as well.