Discover South Australia...

Whether you want to get out and party, or just relax with the family, the city of Adelaide has something for you. The city’s generous boulevards and elegant architecture provide the perfect backdrop for all sorts of activities. No matter what takes your interest, there's something that will pique your curiosity. One café on East Rundle Street has every inch of wall space covered with hundreds of event posters for sporting events, local gigs, drama performances, the opera, art festivals, carnivals for kids… Not unusual for a café looking for a bit of ambience, you might think, until you realise that all the posters are for events happening that very month.

TOP ACTIVITIES

Shopaholics
Wander down Rundle Mall and indulge in some retail therapy. There are more than 800 shops to choose from, so you won't run out of options. Bargain hunters must take a trip to the Adelaide Central Market. It's open every Saturday - and the best time to turn up is early in the morning for breakfast. And chocoholics should be sure to pick up some treats from Haigh's Chocolates - they'll help you deal with reality when you eventually have to go home!

Culture
If you want to immerse yourself in South Australia's rich arts and culture, stroll along North Terrace - Adelaide's cultural boulevard. It’s home to the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery in the South Australian Museum, Adelaide Botanic Garden and the National Wine Centre. Just around the corner, wander through the fascinating National Aboriginal Cultural Institute - Tandanya. Yearly events include the Royal Adelaide Show, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the Adelaide Fringe, Tasting Australia, WOMADelaide, The Barossa International Music Festival, the various Gourmet Weekends in the state’s wine regions, and of course festivals such as the Schutzenfest (German), Glendi (Greek) and Carnevale (Italian).

Foodies
And if you're after a meal or a drink, there are more than 700 restaurants, cafes and pubs to choose from. So, sample the alfresco styles of East Rundle Street, try the seafood and Asian cuisine at Gouger Street, and treat yourself to some fine dining at the restaurants and cafes of North Adelaide.

Animal Lovers
Head west along the coast to Baird Bay and swim with a colony of sealions. Unique to Australia, endangered and endearing, the Sea Lions (“Stitch”, “Agro”, “Finns” and their pups) are intelligent, inquisitive, and gentle. Play comes naturally as they entice you in to their world of water, where they will dive and swim with you as if you are one of them. The best time to have this amazing experience is between 1st September and 31st May each year. In fact the pups in the colony will be having their 1st birthdays this summer and you can celebrate with them by having a swim with them! The most amazing thing about these furry friends is their interaction with humans is completely initiated by the sea lions – the boat takes you to their ‘playpen’ and soon enough they will surround you ready to play! Sea Lion swims are fully supervised and there is no set age limit on persons entering the water. Alan and Patricia Payne run Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience located off the West Coast of Baird Bay - Eyre Peninsula South Australia, in the Great Australian Bight.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA HANDY HINTS

Time Differences
South Australia operates in Central Standard Time (CST), which is 30 minutes behind Eastern Standard Time (EST).  Daylight saving operates in South Australia from the end of October through to the end of March.

Shopping Hours
Trading hours are generally Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. There is late night shopping in Adelaide city stores every Friday until 9pm, and at Adelaide suburban stores every Thursday until 9pm.

Click here to read about South Australia's Wine region

Click here to read about South Australia's Unspoilt Kangaroo Island