Begin preparing for an experience where you will soak in all the beauty Australia has to offer through its diverse landscape and laidback culture. While studying in the ‘City of Churches’ surrounded by bustling cafes, hip nightclubs, and stunning scenery, you’ll learn the true meaning of “no worries” Aussie lifestyle.
Adelaide City Information
Adelaide, it’s the fifth largest city in Australia and one of the top ten most livable cities in the world. Located in South Australia, the festival state of the nation that hosts over 500 events and festivals each year, and named the UNESCO City of Music, you’ll find no excuse to spend a dull Saturday night in.
Explore the multicultural flavors infused in Adelaide’s restaurants and uncover the pumping arts and live-music scene hidden in the many lane ways tucked away in the city center.
You can head on over to the west to photograph some of the bluest beaches, or head on over to the eastern suburbs and Adelaide hills for green walking and cycling trails. Or if it takes your fancy, adventure north to discover sprawling vineyards in the Barossa Valley that are renowned throughout the world.
University of Adelaide
With more than 140 years of excellence in education, the University of Adelaide is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Located near the heart of the city center, the University of Adelaide feels like a small campus and is a member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s “Ivy League.”
The University ranks highly in Australia and the world, setting a record for “firsts.” It was the first university in Australia to admit women—and only the second in the world. It was also the first Australian university to establish a conservatory of music.
The main North Terrace campus borders the Rundle pedestrian shopping mall, the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide Zoo, and the River Torrens. It’s a short walk or public transportation ride to recreation, shopping, and nightlife.
On campus, the Hub Central will cater to your needs. The “Hub” offers a range of facilities and services to support students’ daily lives. Enjoy unique study spaces, food outlets, and academic and personal support advisors. They even have cooking facilities for students who commute to campus!
Eating
While in Adelaide, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out – both for casual dining for a bit more of a formal affair if you’re feeling up to it. From the humble Australian meat pie to fresh seasonal salads, from the gourmet burger and fries to exotic Asian-fusion dishes, you can find it all here!
Resources for navigating food in Adelaide:
Lonely Planet Adelaide Restaurants
Best Cheap Eats for University Students in Adelaide
Restaurants in Adelaide – Tripadvisor
8 Adelaide Cafes You Will Love
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Adelaide
Food courts located in and around the Rundle shopping mall is also one of the closest and depending where you go, cheapest places to eat. Being close and convenient is a plus, especially if you need to grab a quick bite to eat in between classes, but don’t have the time to sit down and wait for your food to come out.
Large chain supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths are also close to campus, making it easy to grab basic groceries to snacks on your way from apartment to campus to class, or visa versa.
Things to Do
In your spare time you’ll have opportunities to explore the city of Adelaide at your own pace. What’s fantastic about this city is that most activities or sights will be withing 20-30 minutes (walking/driving/public transportation) of the main University of Adelaide campus.
Right down North Terrace are is the State Library of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the Art Gallery of South Australia. What’s great about visiting these sights that are only a 5 minute walk from campus is that admission is free! There may be an admission fee for certain exhibitions, but usually student discounts are available. Just ask!
If art and culture isn’t exactly your thing, how about taking a short tram ride or 15 minute leisurely walk up to Victoria Square to take in all the sights there. Be sure to visit Chinatown and the Adelaide Central Market where you can get lost among the stalls selling locally grown fresh produce, or just chillax in a little European style cafe that’s tucked a little out of the way.
When the weather is nice be sure to take a stroll along the Torrens River located on the northern end of the main University of Adelaide campus. You can even borrow a bike for free and follow the path all the way to the beach and back to the city.
Still don’t know what to do with your spare time? Check out these websites for some inspiration:
Lonely Plant Top Things to do in Adelaide
23 Beautiful Place You Won’t Believe Are Actually in Adelaide – Buzzfeed
Transportation
Adelaide Metro runs Adelaide’s integrated bus, train and tram network.
Tickets can be purchased on board, at staffed train stations and in delis and newsagents across the city. Ticket types include day trip (AUD$10), two-hour peak (AUD$5.30) and two-hour off-peak (AUD$3.40) tickets. Peak travel time is before 9am and after 3pm. There’s also a three-day, unlimited-travel visitor pass (AUD$26). As an alternative for a longer stay, you can save at least AUD$1 per trip with a rechargable multitrip Metrocard.
- Bicycle – Adelaide city center is pizza-flat, making it great for cycling! With a valid passport you can borrow an Adelaide Free Bike from Bicycle SA. A helmet and lock is provided upon collection of the bike. There are a couple of dozen locations around town where you can collect a bike at any of them, provided you return it to the same place.
- Bus – Adelaide’s buses are clean and reliable. Most services start around 6am and run until midnight. Every 30 minutes daily, Adelaide Metro’s Free City Loop buses – routes 98A and 98C – run clockwise and anticlockwise around the CBD fringe, passing North Tce, Victoria Sq, Hutt St, the Central Market and winding through North Adelaide en route. The 99A and 99C buses travel the same route (minus North Adelaide), Monday to Friday – the net effect is a free bus every 15 minutes Monday to Friday. Adelaide Metro’s After Midnight buses run select standard routes but have an ‘N’ preceding the route number on their displays.
- Train – Trains depart from Adelaide Station, travelling along five suburban routes (Belair, Gawler, Grange, Noarlunga and Outer Harbour). Trains generally run between 6am and midnight (some services start at 4.30am).
- Tram – Adelaide’s state-of-the-art trams rumble to/from Moseley Sq in Glenelg, through Victoria Sq in the city and along North Tce to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Trams run approximately every 10 minutes on weekdays (every 15 minutes on weekends) from 6am to midnight daily. Standard Metro ticket prices apply, but the section between South Tce and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre is free. New route extensions are currently in the works!
- Taxi – Adelaide Independent Taxis offer regular and wheelchair-access cabs. Adelaide Transport offer minibus taxis for four or more people, plus airport-to-city transfers. Suburban Taxis run a taxi service in all suburbs. Yellow Cabs is your standard, regular cab service (most of which are white!). Uber is easily accessible in Adelaide, but Lyft has not been made available yet.