Things to do in Adelaide

Despite rumours to the contrary, there are many attractions and things to do in and around Adelaide. Whilst there is no way that a short text could possibly cover them all, here are a few ideas:

Clubs, Sports and Activities
· Within the University, the Clubs Association can provide you with information about clubs that are recreational, cultural, political and religious and the Sports Association can provide you with information about sporting clubs, exercise facilities, gym membership and attending exercise classes. The Studio allows students the opportunity to explore their creative side by independently doing pottery, painting and sewing. or by attending classes. It provides a wonderful caring environment in which many friendships are formed. Please see 'look' in the A-Z section on this website to learn more about these facilities. 
· Outside the University check out the Internet. For example see 'Sports and Leisure' on  www.sacentral.sa.gov.au and www.bcl.com.au/adelaide/intgroup.htm or search under the name of the activity you are interested in. Local newspapers, library and community noticeboards, the yellow pages are the best ways to find out about clubs, courses and sports that you may wish to participate in. You can also give your local council a call (they are listed in the white pages) and ask them to send you out a community guide to recreational activities in your area. Take up something new such as Yoga, French, photography, golf. 

For the athletic
· Go rock-climbing at the Indoor Rock Climbing Centre at Holden Hill. The staff will give you a brief introduction to climbing then let you go for broke on the climbing walls. Prices approx. $21 for the first climb and hire of harness and shoes. Subsequent climbs are approx. $16. Ph:8266 4090;
· Paddle on the Torrens River. Paddle Boats can be hired on the banks near the Festival Centre on weekends;
· Go swimming (or sit in the spa) at one of Adelaide's many aquatic centres. The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is at Jefficot Road, North Adelaide, ph: 8203 7203, www.adelaideaquaticcentre.com.au. 
· Try horse-riding along country trails with Burra Trail Rides, ph: 8892 2627
· Go bushwalking throughout Adelaide's National Parks and Conservation Areas. There are a number of walks to choose from, all of which range in difficulty from very easy and short to the more challenging. It is a wonderful way to experience Australia's bush, waterfalls and wildlife. You can obtain information and publications (eg. Yurrebilla Trial Map and SA National Parks) from the SA Travel Centre on 18 King William Street. Also go to www.southaustraliantrails.com. Buses travel into the hills call 8210 1000 for fares and times and check out the bus route on the internet at www.adelaidemetro.com.au or go to the Passenger Transport InfoCentre on the corner of King William and Curry Street; 
· Go biking, rollerblading or jogging along the Torrens River. Try the annual 'City-to-Bay Fun Run from the city to Glenelg. Bicycle SA produces cycle route maps that you can pick up at major cycle shops or at the SA Travel Centre;
· There are lots of tennis courts all around Adelaide that are free to use, just locate one near you and hire, borrow or buy a cheap racquet;
· Play Par 3 Golf at War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide, ph: 8231 2359. This is a great size course for those new to golf and it is picturesque. 

Entertainment
· Adelaide has some wonderful festivals and great plays are performed here regularly. Some of the biggest events to keep your eye out for are - the Fringe Festival Show (this is Australia's biggest arts festival and has a fantastically diverse program, the Big Out Day (Australasia's huge touring music festival), the Royal Adelaide Show (the show is a chance to see farm animals, go on fun rides and buy arts and crafts), Womadelaide (a music and dance festival held annually), The Adelaide Festival of Arts (one of the world's great arts festivals and includes opera, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, Adelaide Writers' Week and much more); 
· Want to know what's on in theatre and the Arts?  Check out the entertainment page on the South Government website at www.sacentral.sa.gov.au. Other important sites to see include: www.spinach.org.au and www.southaustralia.com, www.eventspool.com, www.bcl.com.au/adelaide and liveguide.news.com.au;
· Check The Advertiser daily for times and locations of movies; Tuesday is cheap day for movie tickets - approx. $10.00 at most major cinemas;
· Drive-in Movies are good for a whole bunch of friends. Squeeze into one car and tale your own pizza or snacks. Try Murray Bridge Drive In. Approx. $18 a car. Ph: 85321836.
· The BASS guide to theatre & entertainment around Adelaide can be found inside the free local arts paper or go to www.bass.net.au, and try the Adelaide Review, found in cafes and bookshops (try Mary Martins on Rundle Street); 
· You can find a guide to live bands, DJs and dance parties in the free street magazines, Rip It Up and DB;
· In summer, there are outdoor movies in the Botanic Gardens. Times and movie listings can be found at www.moonlight.com.au;
· Ten Pin Bowling - bowling alleys can be found in Norwood (8362 4568), Goodwood (8271 2355), and Marion (8298 9888), with others in the suburbs around the city;
· Ice skating - at Noarlunga Ice, David Witton Drive, ph: 8186 1588;
· Go to the cricket at Adelaide Oval throughout summer. Make sure you wear sunscreen, take a hat and don't forget to wear some green and gold.  Bookings can be made through Bass Adelaide, ph: 13 12 46;
· During winter, go to see an Australian Rules Football game: check the local newspapers for details.

Close to the University
· Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute has a permanent collection of contemporary and traditional aboriginal art from all over Australia. 253 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, ph: 8224 3200, www.tandanya.com.au;
· Art Gallery of South Australia: anyone interested in SA and Australian early European history will find the permanent collection very interesting as the Gallery houses the largest collection of South Australian colonial art in the world. North Terrace, Adelaide, ph: 8207 7000;
· South Australian Museum: features an Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, the museum houses a number of aboriginal sacred and historical objects from around the State, North Terrace, Adelaide, ph: 8207 7500, www.samuseum.sa.gov.au;
· Migration Museum is dedicated to the history of European migration to South Australia, 82 Kintore Avenue, Adelaide, ph: 8207 7580;
· Take a walk through the Botanic Gardens, open daily from early until sunset. Bask on the lawns between lectures, stroll through the Wisteria Arbour, visit the Italian gardens or marvel at the gigantic Morton Bay Fig Trees which shade the walkways. The Botanic Gardens are the perfect place to chill out and escape the pressures of study. Entry is free; North Terrace, next to the Royal Adelaide Hospital;
· Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, Adelaide www.adelaidezoo.com.au, ph: 8267 3255, Open daily from 9:30am - 5pm;
· Learn about wine and do a wine tasting at The National Wine Centre of Australia on the corner of Hackney Road and Botanic Road, ph: 8222 9222.

Wildlife
· Feed the kangaroos and pat a koala at Cleland Wildlife Park, at Mount Lofty, ph: 8339 2444. Open daily from 9:30am - 4:30pm, www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/cleland; 
· Monarto Zoological Park provides safari tours and guided walks of its African & Asian habitats. The park is 70km from Adelaide (one hour's drive), along the Princes Highway, at Monarto. Ph: 8354 4100, open daily 10:00am - 5:00pm, www.monartozp.com.au;
· For a wildlife experience you'll get nowhere else, take a dawn or evening walk at Warrawong Sanctuary on Stock Road, in Mylor, ph: 8370 9197;
· On the way to Victor Harbour, stop at Urimbirra Wildlife Park to see koala shows (11am, 2pm & 4pm daily), and crocodile feeding (1:30pm daily).  Ph: 8554 6554;
· See dolphins on a boat cruise at Port Adelaide. Port River Dolphin Cruises provides cheap cruises on Sundays and public holidays, ph: 84472366.

Beach Culture
· Glenelg, Henley and Semaphore are all excellent swimming beaches in easy reach of the city. Glenelg and Henley, especially, are places where the locals 'hang out' in summer, with plenty of restaurants by the beach. You can catch a tram to Glenelg from the city - they leave every 20 minutes from Victoria Square (trip takes approx. 30 mins);
· Moana & Middleton beaches are not too far from the city - an hour's drive at most, and worth it for the surf;
· Take a train to Noarlunga- fantastic views, great clean beaches and really fresh fish and chips at the deli near the beach;
· Learn to surf - Mark and Evelyn Orr of Surf Culture Australia (SCA) run surfing lessons on the coasts south of Adelaide. SCA have equipment hire and a range of different programs, including transport for small groups (ph: 8327 2802 or 0427 796 845). 

Clubs and Pubs
· For a list of venues look at 'Pubs and Clubs' under entertainment on www.sacentral.sa.gov.au;
· The Gov, 59 Portrush Road, Hindmarsh, is Adelaide's best live music venue. Check out the gig guide on their website at www.thegov.com.au;
· The Grace Emily Hotel has a lot of live music. 232 Waymouth St Adelaide, ph 8231 5500;
· The Prince Albert Hotel, 254 Wright St, also has live music regularly and a great pub feel, ph: 8212 7912;
· The Royal Oak, O'Connell Street, North Adelaide, has jazz on Wednesday and Sunday night, ph: 8267 2488;
· The Stag Hotel on Rundle Street has R&B music and a Happy Hour from 9-11 on Friday nights, ph: 8223 2934; 
· Karaoke at Shotz Nightclub & Pool Hall, 1st Floor 161 Pirie Street, Goodwood Park Hotel 8272 9185, K Box Karaoke 86 Hindley Street, Ph: 8211 6222;
· Play pool at UQ2, 176 Pulteney, ph: 8232 6000;
· Want to go clubbing?  Check out the Planet on Pirie Street almost any night of the week, or for something on a smaller scale and slightly alternative, try the Soda Room, also on Pirie Street. Good clubs are also Church, Synagogue Place off Rundle Street, and Heaven on West Terrace. The Aquarium on Currie Street has good R&B music. For something hip and funky, go to Cargo at the Western end of Rundle Street; For the more punk, metal and gothic-orientated, the Enigma Bar, 173 Hindley Street, www.enigmabar.com.au, has many live shows;
· For a guide to what's happening in clubs: www.goonline.com.au.

Other ideas
· Do volunteer work: Trees for life regularly perform tree plantings in and around Adelaide. Oxfam Community Aid Abroad holds a number of regular events that they need people to help with (ph: 82362100). A good website to check out for links to other volunteer opportunities is http://www.volunteeringsa.org.au/;
· Host an Aussie BBQ: ask everyone to bring something to put on the BBQ (meat, seafood, satays, vegetables). Just provide salads, cool drinks and music;
· Go sightseeing: try the SA Central website for all the information you need to know about South Australia, www.totaltravel.com.au/travel/sa,www.coastshop.com.au/south_australia.htm and www.sightseeing.com.au/adelaide;
· Go to Haigh's Chocolates for a free tour to see how chocolate is made- 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside. Bookings are essential, ph: 8271 33770;
· See the stars at the Plantarium. Open 10am- evening, by appointment only, ph: 83023138;
· See artists at work at the Jam Factory, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide- glassblowers, silversmiths etc;
· Kart Mania and Laser Force Skirmish. There is a centre at 6 Deacon Ave, Richmond, and one at 1 Port Wakefield Rd, Gepps Cross. They are open from midday to 9pm daily; 
· Skirmish Paintball sports are a fun way to vent some energy with a group of friends. There are centres at Strathalbyn, ph: 8260 6689, Port Adelaide, ph: 8241 0064, Old Noarlunga, ph: 8387 3399. Check the yellow pages for others.
· Take a boat ride along the Torrens River;
· Have a picnic anywhere;
· Go camping.

Shopping
Shopping hours in Adelaide are Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. On Thursday nights, shops in the suburbs are open until 9pm, and on Friday night, the shops in the city are open until the same time. Weekend trading hours vary, but generally all shops are open on Saturday and the shops in the city are open on Sunday. Check out more information about places to shop at www.sacentral.sa.gov.au
The major shopping areas for clothing are:
· Rundle Mall in the city centre;
· Rundle Street in the city, where smaller, more fashionable clothing shops are located;
· Marion Shopping Centre - one of the largest shopping centres in Australia;
· Tea Tree Plaza, 976 North East Rd Modbury. You can catch the O-Bahn to the Plaza, this is the world's longest and fastest guided busway travelling up t0 100kmph;
· Best budget shopping can be found on Glen Osmond Road, just next to Parkside Primary School. Here you will find factory outlets for larger fashion labels;
· Harbour Town Shopping Centre, Tapleys Hill Road, West Beach, near the airport, has a lot of cheap clothes.

Markets
· Again, see www.sacentral.sa.gov.au
· The only place to go shopping for really fresh and cheap fruit and vegetables is the Adelaide Central Market. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the Market is a flurry of activity and you can pick up great bargains if you go late in the day. Located between Gouger and Grote Streets in the city;
· Fisherman's Wharf Markets, Commercial Road, adjacent to Lighthouse. Port Adelaide. Open Sundays and public holidays. Stalls selling linen, glass, bric-a-brac, garden supplies, and clothing at bargain prices;
· Junction Markets, Cnr Grand Junction & Prospect Road, Kilburn. Open weekends and public holidays. There are 150 stalls with an international food hall, a produce section and much more. 

Places to eat
There are several streets packed full of great places to eat. These include:
· Rundle Street, City;
· Melbourne Street, North Adelaide;
· O'Connell Street, North Adelaide;
· The Parade, Norwood;
· Jetty Road & Mosley Square, Glenelg;
· Gouger Street;
· Central Market (Grote Street through to Gouger Street) Cheap Asian Food available at the International Food Plaza and Food Court;
· City Cross Food Hall (Rundle Mall through to Grenfell Street);
· CitiCentre Arcade (Rundle Mall); 
· Myer Centre Food Hall (Rundle Mall);
· The Southern Cross Arcade, a foodcourt in Rundle Mall near King William Street.

Student Food Suggestions:
· Indian Bazaar on Gouger Street - (Christy, India)
· Central Market Food-court (Corinna, Germany)
Chinatown (BBQ Meat) & Chinese buffet hotpot, Hindley Street (Wenyan, China). I like to eat in Chinatown, because all the chinese food is there, it is cheap and good to eat (Alan Yi Hung Ng)
· The Oyster Bar in Glenelg - "nice atmosphere and you can watch the boats come in"
· Knoodle Junction (at Pultney St.) - cheap prices with student
discounts, good food, friendly & fast service, close to the Uni, several different options on the menu plus "buffet" (Riku)
· Gaganis Brothers Imported Food, -13 Bacon Street Hindmarsh, ph: 8346 5766. This place is great! Its huge and cheap - lots of items in bulk sizes (Catherine)

Walks in Adelaide
By Alek Moreno, Columbia

· Botanic Gardens
Do not underestimate this walk just because is free and it is so close. The Botanic Gardens, located on North Terrace, are just a couple hundred metres from the Uni, after the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and are a great way to learn more about plants from Australia and the world, but also are a nice relaxing opportunity to get away from Uni and city worries. Plenty of open spaces, huge trees, a green house exhibiting tropical plants, beautiful flowers, to study, walk with friends or just wander about, a must see.

· Morialta Conservation Park
It is very conveniently located near bus route 105, so going there and back is very easy. It offers walks through the forests and gorges, amazing waterfalls (in rainy seasons) and the chance to see koalas in their natural environment.  Keep an eye out for the tall trees in the area. Also, there are several trails with various degrees of difficulty, for every level of fitness. A lookout beneath a rock outcrop makes you feel like you are in middle-earth, and for the more adventurous, there are rock-climbing areas.

· Mount Lofty
According to some, this is the toughest day walk in Adelaide. You start at Waterfall Gully road; you can get there by bus route 142. Go to the first waterfall and enjoy some tea at the kiosk, and then choose one of the many options available: the second waterfall, Eagle on the Hill, the gum tree groves and swamps. In all these places, you can spot lots of native fauna, just stop from time to time, keep quiet and open your ears and eyes. If you are fit and want more scenery, keep walking to Cleland Conservation Park, where you will find a nice zoo with all the Australian fauna, and Koala exhibits. Further up, you will reach Mount Lofty summit, where the view of Adelaide, from the sea to the Hills, and from Glenelg to Port Adelaide, is a really rewarding experience after a strenuous walk. If you want to cheat, go there by bus, route 823, and have lunch at the restaurant, you can walk another time.