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Adelaide is one of Australia’s most beloved cities thanks to its vibrant culture, beautiful urban parklands, scenic beaches, and rugged wine regions.
South Australia’s capital city has a wealth of popular tourist attractions to explore, but for travelers who prefer to beat the crowds, there are also plenty of quieter spots to check out. Here are 13 of Adelaide’s hidden gems that will give you a deeper appreciation of this lively city.
1. Morialta Conservation Park
- Website: parks.sa.gov.au/parks/morialta-conservation-park
- Address: Morialta Falls Rd, Woodforde, SA 5072
- Opening hours: 6.30 am – 9 pm
Morialta Conservation Park is the perfect place to unwind, surrounded by South Australia’s natural beauty. You can expect misty waterfalls, rugged ridges, quiet forests, and winding walking trails to guide you through it all. You might even see some koalas in the canopies along the way. If you’re an avid climber, head to the rock climbing zone for some challenging routes.
If you’ll be visiting with kids, drop into the park’s Mukanthi Playspace where there’s a host of wooden climbing frames and slides to have fun with. It takes just 20 minutes to drive to Morialta Conservation Park from Adelaide City Centre and nature lovers can easily make a day of it.
2. BBQ Buoys
- Website: bbqbuoys.com.au
- Address: Pinky Flat, War Memorial Dr, North Adelaide, SA 5006
- Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday / 9 am – 9 pm Friday & Saturday
A unique way to see the scenic River Torrens is on a BBQ Buoy. These fun inflatables are equipped with seats, sun umbrellas, drink coolers, tableware, Bluetooth speakers, and either barbecues or tables. Throw some food on the grill or unpack your picnic and enjoy a dinner cruise with a difference.
3. Adelaide’s Best Bars
Adelaide Central Business District (CBD) is home to world-class wineries, craft breweries, and distilleries, so there’s little wonder the city has a fantastic bar scene. Here are three fun and quirky bars to check out when you’re ready to make a night of it.
Cry Baby
- Website: crybabybar.com.au/the-bar
- Address: 11 Solomon St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 4 pm – 2 am daily
This cool, retro bar has a laid-back, no-fuss atmosphere. The cocktail list is short and sweet, the jukebox is stocked with rock and roll from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and there’s beer and pool aplenty. You’ll find Cry Baby hidden away down the Solomon Street laneway in the West End.
Maybe Mae
- Website: maybemae.com
- Address: 15 Peel St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 1 am Sunday to Thursday / 5 am – 2 am Friday & Saturday
Maybe Mae is an Art Deco-styled hideaway between Peel Street and Leigh Street laneways, but you’ll have to wander through a tunnel, down a set of stairs, and through a concealed door to find it. You’ll feel transported to the 1920s once you get settled into one of the bar’s booths. A fantastic range of cocktails and mocktails are on offer, all of which use locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange
- Website: bibliotheca.com.au
- Address: 27 Gresham St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 11 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday / 5 pm – 12 am Thursday / 5 pm – 2 am Friday & Saturday
If you’re a fan of the State Library of South Australia, be sure to check out this unique establishment. It’s a European-style bar that serves drinks alongside a small menu of light snacks and toasties, and its walls are lined with books. If you see a book you like the look of, feel free to take it with you as long as you replace it with one of your own.
4. Henley Beach
Glenelg is Adelaide’s most popular beach town, but Henley Beach is an up-and-coming hidden gem that appeals to those who want to beat the crowds. It has a vibrant food scene with cool, upscale seafood restaurants and laid-back cafes. It also has some excellent pubs and great nightlife.
The fine sandy beach attracts paddleboarders and swimmers, and there’s good fishing to be had on the jetty. It takes just 20 minutes to reach Henley Beach by car from Adelaide or 35 minutes on the tram, so it’s a handy location for a day trip by the seaside.
5. Tallarook State Forest
- Website: parks.vic.gov.au/tallarook-bushland-reserve
- Address: Main Rd, Tallarook VIC 3659
- Opening hours: 24/7 daily
It takes between eight and nine hours to reach Tallarook State Forest from Adelaide, but the road trip is worth it for a weekend’s escape. Tallarook is a great alternative to Kangaroo Island.
It’s a huge expanse of greenery near Melbourne and the perfect place to get lost for a few days when you need a break from city life. There are lots of campsites to stay in and plenty of things to do, such as bushwalking, horse riding, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, and fishing.
6. Adelaide Himeji Garden
- Website: cityofadelaide.com.au/park/adelaide-himeji-garden
- Address: Cnr South Terrace & Glen Osmond Rd, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 8 am – 5.30 pm daily
An alternative to the busy Adelaide Botanic Gardens is the beautiful Japanese-style Himeji Garden. It has many features of a traditional Japanese garde, such as a lake, stepping stones, and a gravel garden, all of which can help to support mindfulness and meditation.
7. Garden Island Ships’ Graveyard
- Website: environment.sa.gov.au/maritime-heritage-places/shipwreck-trails
- Address: Garden Island, SA 5015
- Opening hours: 24/7
Garden Island Ships’ Graveyard is a portion of the Port Adelaide River where obsolete barges, pontoons, dredgers, ferries, steamers, and sailing ships were beached and stripped of their parts between 1909 and 1945. The remaining wrecks have been weathered by the tide and partially shielded by mangroves, but they offer valuable insight into South Australia’s maritime history.
8. Topiary at Newman’s Nursery
- Website: topiary-dining.com
- Address: Newman’s Nursery, 1361 North East Road, Tea Tree Gully, SA 5097
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Newman’s Nursery is a family-owned, award-winning nursery set in the foothills of Tea Tree Gully, 30 minutes outside of Adelaide. Topiary is its restaurant, and it offers a truly unique dining experience using fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients — some of which are foraged from the nursery grounds.
The restaurant operates in a waste-free, environmentally-conscious manner and puts sustainability at the heart of its operations. When you visit, be sure to check out the nursery’s selection of plants, trees, and giftware.
9. The Mill
- Website: themilladelaide.com
- Address: 154 Angas St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday
The likes of the Adelaide Festival Center and the Adelaide Oval host some of the biggest arts and music events in the city, but The Mill is a small yet mighty alternative. Its multidisciplinary space combines studios, galleries, workshops, performing arts spaces, and meeting facilities to support local artists, designers, and makers.
Look out for performances, exhibitions, and workshops where you can experience the work of talented creatives or learn some new skills and create something of your own.
10. Coorong River by Canoe
- Website: canoethecoorong.com
- Address: Lot 99 Mundoo Channel Dr, Coorong, SA 5264
- Opening hours: 9 am – 8.30 pm daily
The vast Coorong Wetlands lie 52 miles south of Adelaide in the Coorong National Park. These saltwater lagoons are home to plenty of wildlife, and a visit is ideal for those who love canoeing or kayaking. Canoe the Coorong Tours are a great way to experience the beauty of this region. You’ll be led by a knowledgeable guide and have the opportunity to walk the Murray Mouth, where the epic River Murray meets the sea.
11. Mount Osmond Reserve
- Website: environment.sa.gov.au/mount-osmond-reserve
- Address: Unnamed Road, Beaumont, SA 5066
- Opening hours: 24/7
The rugged Adelaide Hills are the perfect place to get lost in nature when you’re in the mood for a scenic hike. Many people flock to the popular Mount Lofty which offers the highest vantage point over the city, but Mount Osmond Reserve is a lesser-known alternative.
There’s a great variety of trails to choose from, including a short and sweet 1.3-mile route and a challenging 6.8-mile loop through eucalypt forest.
12. Adelaide’s Markets
One of Adelaide’s biggest attractions is its bustling Central Market, but don’t miss out on these three lesser-known markets if you love to shop.
Gathered Design Market
- Website: gatheredsa.com.au
- Address: Various, including Hahndorf; check the website for times and locations
- Opening hours: Seasonal, 10 am – 4 pm daily
Gathered Design Market is a seasonal pop-up event that gives local designers and makers an opportunity to sell their wares.
You can expect a wide range of artisanal products and crafts, including clothing, jewelry, bags, homewares, candles, ceramics, cosmetics, and skincare. Plenty of food and drink vendors offer baked goods, hot and cold street food dishes, coffee, juice, craft ales, and spirits.
Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market
- Website: adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au
- Address: Adelaide Showground, Rose Terrace, Wayville, SA 5034
- Opening hours: 8.30 am – 12 pm Sunday
Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market is one of the best places in the city to pick up fresh, seasonal produce. The fruit and veggies on offer here are exceptional in quality, and you’ll also find plenty of fresh meat and seafood, baked goods, dairy products, and condiments. Plus, there are lots of local cooks serving up ready-to-eat homemade dishes made with local produce, so you can grab brunch, lunch, or dinner to heat up later.
Ebenezer Night Markets
- Website: facebook.com/EbenezerNightMarketsEEA
- Address: Ebenezer Place, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 5.30 pm – 10.30 pm, selected dates
Ebenezer Night Markets take place on selected dates in the summer months, and they never fail to create a buzzing atmosphere in Ebenezer Square. Local artisans sell a variety of products and crafts, including clothing, accessories, and jewelry, while the surrounding bars and pubs lay out tables and chairs for drinkers and diners to soak up the ambiance.
13. Riverland Wine Region
Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills are the best-known wine regions surrounding Adelaide, but Riverland is not to be missed if you’re willing to make the 2-hour drive to the area.
There are significantly fewer cellar doors in this region despite it being one of the largest producers of wine in Australia, but there are still plenty of opportunities to taste delicious wines. Riverland is particularly well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Shiraz varieties.
Discover Adelaide’s Hidden Gems
Some of Adelaide’s best sights are those that lie off the beaten path. Which hidden gems will you discover on your trip to this scenic South Australian city?
