Six best tours to do while you’re in Adelaide
Whether you’re a culture vulture or nature lover, if you’re heading to Adelaide, this experience is an absolute non-negotiable.
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One of the great things about visiting Adelaide is nothing is too far away - from scenic beaches and cultural icons, to the hills and wine regions, everything is within easy reach.
You will want to cram in as much as possible and a tour is the perfect way to get to experience the best places without wasting any of your precious holiday time.
DISCOVER THE BEST TOURS TO DO IN ADELAIDE
Whether it’s a cultural tour you’re after, or a chance to marvel at nature, here are some of the best ways to discover the many charms to be found in and around Adelaide.
BEST BIKE TOUR
Rising above Adelaide, just 20 minutes from the city, is the majestic Mount Lofty Ranges, a scenic area that offers incredible panoramic views from the 710 metre tall Mount Lofty Summit.
This tour, which suits people with beginner mountain bike ability through to experienced bikers, takes you through 18km of stunning scenery.
A tour bus will pick you up from downtown Adelaide and take you to the Mount Lofty Summit to take in the jaw-dropping views.
Then a 18km bike ride begins. You’ll get to visit the Cleland Wildlife Park — home to kangaroos, emus, wombats and koalas — and cycle through Adelaide’s suburbs, where you can see beautiful colonial houses and parks.
The cost of the five-hour tour covers morning tea with cake, your mountain bike, gloves and helmet, and entry to Cleland Wildlife Park.
BEST BAROSSA VALLEY TOUR
Taste the Barossa Premium Tour
With a wine heritage that dates back seven generations, the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s great wine regions, and just 90 minutes northeast of Adelaide.
Along with a small group, you will be able to discover some of the best wineries in the region with this day trip, which begins with a sample of some of Australia’s finest Shirazes at Chateau Yaldara, followed by a drive through the picturesque vineyards and across Jacob’s Creek to the historic township of Tanunda.
There will be a wine tasting and lunch at the Peter Lehmann winery cellar door, featuring a platter of cheeses, olives, meats and freshly baked bread.
The next stop is Langmeil Winery, one of the oldest producing Shiraz vineyard in the world before another wine tasting at Lindsay Wines.
The tour includes plenty of stops for photo opportunities, including Mengler’s Hill Lookout and the Seppeltsfield region, before you’re taken back to Adelaide.
BEST ADELAIDE SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Adelaide City Highlights Half Day Tour
If your time is limited Adelaide, but you want to make sure you’ve seen all the top sights and attractions, this is how to do it.
This three-hour sightseeing tour on a comfortable coach will highlight all the best attractions the South Australian capital has to offer, from its historic landmark and cultural icons, its lovely parks and beachfront.
Highlights include St Peter’s Cathedral, the State Library of South Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the University of Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, the National Wine Centre, and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Bicentennial Conservatory.
The tour ends on an extra sweet note, at Haigh’s Chocolates, where you can sample their amazing array of treats and take home some delicious souvenirs.
BEST KANGAROO ISLAND DAY TRIP
One Day Kangaroo Island Experience from Adelaide
There’s no better time than now to visit Kangaroo Island, the wild and ruggedly beautiful island off the South Australian coast.
More than 18 months after the catastrophic 2020 bushfires, the bush is regenerating, wildlife is in abundance, new tourism experiences have launched and even the national park is open again.
This incredible tour is a day trip, with a morning picks-up and evening set-downs at selected Adelaide hotels, will let you see all the top sights, including Penneshaw, Seal Bay Conservation Park, Vivonne Bay Bistro, Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
You’ll get expert commentary by a guide, beach walk and two-course lunch, all admission costs included — and a very high chance of seeing kangaroos, koalas, sea lions and other wildlife that makes this island so special.
BEST FLEURIEU PENINSULA TOUR
Victor Harbor and Southern Highlights Tour with Lunch For 2
Just 40 minutes south of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula offers some of best coastal scenic experiences South Australia has to offer, and this tour lets you experience it in its sublime glory.
The eight-hour tour begins with hotel pick-up in Adelaide and a scenic drive through the Adelaide Hills before arriving in the historical Scottish settlement of Strathalbyn for morning tea on the banks of the Angas River.
Then it’s on to the paddle steamer town of Goolwa for a brief tour before continuing past the coastal town of Port Elliot, including Horseshoe Bay and Whale Lookout.
In Victor Harbor, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous three course lunch at Hotel Victor and free time wandering the main street, beach and Granite Island.
Then it’s off to the world famous wine region of McLaren Vale to take in the scenery and sample local wines, cheese and coffee, before a scenic drive past Port Noarlunga and Moana beaches on the return to Adelaide.
BEST DOLPHIN TOUR
Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships’ Graveyard Kayak Tour
Seeing a dolphin in the wild is one of life’s true great joys, and on this tour it’s pretty much guaranteed.
Departing from Garden Island, this three-hour guided kayaking tour will allow you to explore the captivating Ships’ Graveyard Maritime Heritage Trail and the adjoining dolphin sanctuary that’s home to a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins.
After a safety and training lesson, you’ll get to paddle through mangrove-lined waterways and sheltered creeks as you keep an eye out for dolphins, birds and other native wildlife.
Then it’s onto the Ships’ Graveyard, the final resting place for 26 sailing ships, steamers, motor vessels, barges, ferries and pontoons, which carries the stories of the region’s seafaring history.
Safety equipment, including life jackets, will be provided and there will be time for photo opportunities, and the chance to buy souvenir photos.
What’s the best time to visit Adelaide?
Any time is a good time to visit Adelaide, with each of the seasons offering something special. Summer can get quite hot in the city, as in Australia’s other major cities, and winter is typically the wettest month, with temperatures particularly low in the Adelaide Hills.
Autumn, between March and May, is an attractive time to visit, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures in the low to mid 20s — and well as lots of gorgeous autumnal colours, especially in the Adelaide Hills. Spring, between September and November, is also a colourful time, with city gardens in bloom and temperatures reaching a daily average of about 21.7C.
How far is Adelaide from the airport?
Adelaide Airport is very close to the city CBD — just seven kilometres, in fact, so it’s not a very expensive taxi or ride sharing fare — even with the $3 airport levy. Adelaide Metro offers a JetBus service from the airport to Glenelg, West Beach and the City, servicing all stops en route. You’ll need a Metro card, which can be bought from the airport ticket vending machine at the bus stop.
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