5 days in Adelaide and surrounds

Day 1: Adelaide

Start your day by visiting Adelaide Central Market. With more than 70 traders under one roof, it is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere, buzzing with life and colour all year round. The market offers a huge range of fresh food ranging from fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, to cheeses and baked goods, along with some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes and eateries. 

For lunch, Le Souk at Adelaide Central Market is a place where you can experience genuine Algerian hospitality.

In the afternoon, take some free time to explore the city on foot, or by the free tram. North Terrace is often referred to as Adelaide’s Cultural Boulevard where South Australia's history lives. Not just in museums and the South Australian Art Gallery, but in memorials, statues, plaques - and the many splendid historic buildings.

Time for some retail therapy. Rundle Mall is the shopping heart of Adelaide. Created in 1976 as Australia's first pedestrian mall, you will find more than 600 retail stores, four major department stores and 15 arcades there.

For prayer, visit the old surviving mosque erected in 1888, The Adelaide Mosque located along Gilbert Street. Finally end your day at Pondok Daun, which serves authentic Indonesian cuisine on Currie Street.

Day 2: Glenelg

Glenelg is Adelaide's most popular metropolitan beach and it is the easiest to access by the tram from the city. Start the day with an amazing wildlife experience at Glenelg. Head out with Temptation Sailing in search of wild dolphins. Temptation Sailing operates a variety of different cruising options from wild dolphin swim and dolphin watch cruises, public day or twilight cruises. Take a stroll around the picturesque Holdfast Shores and shop around Jetty Road for its bustling mix of quality cafés, clothing boutiques and restaurants.

For lunch, Kathmandu Palace Restaurant in Glenelg brings you the taste of traditional and modern Nepali cuisine, aromatic spices and an array of exotic flavours.

Afterwards, return to the city and another unforgettable adventure awaits at the iconic Adelaide Oval. A tour of the famous Adelaide Oval is a unique experience, especially if you attempt the RoofClimb. Enjoy picturesque views of the city and beyond before testing your nerve if you choose, with a lean out point 50 metres above the ground. Take your pick from a twilight climb, and enjoy a night view of sparkling city lights.

For dinner, Warong at Rundle Mall is an authentic South East Asian dine in or takeaway business, with a main focus on Malaysian and Indonesian street food.

Day 3: Adelaide to Adelaide Hills

A great day trip from Adelaide is just a 20-minute drive from the city to the Adelaide Hills. At Mount Lofty Summit, take in unrivalled panoramic views of Adelaide, surrounded by lush greenery and native wildlife. You can also get up-close and personal with iconic Aussie wildlife at the award-winning Cleland Wildlife Park. Many animals are free-roaming in the 35-hectare park, creating wonderful impromptu opportunities to touch and interact with the native wildlife.

For lunch, The Mustard Seed Restaurant on Hahndorf's Main Street presents the highest quality Indian food drawing inspiration from the many regions of India.

Continue to Hahndorf which is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and its heritage is still visible in its traditional streetscape. Browse beautiful galleries and gift shops selling handcrafted trinkets, toys, jewellery and other keepsakes. Hahndorf's Beerenberg Farm is an absolute must-visit in the Adelaide Hills. Stock-up on a fantastic range of jams, preserves and farm-fresh produce, then hit the patch and pick your own strawberries. The farm shop is open year-round while the strawberry picking season runs from November to April.

Head back to Adelaide for a sumptuous dinner at Marrakech Restaurant in North Adelaide which introduces exciting flavours of authentic Moroccan cooking. 

Day 4: Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

Home to native wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and rare birds, Kangaroo Island is a sanctuary for wildlife and natural, rugged beauty - great for families. Take a 30-minute domestic flight from Adelaide or a two-hour drive down south to Cape Jervis followed by a 45-minute ferry ride on Sealink Ferry to reach the island. Visit Seal Bay to get up close with Australian sea lions. There are no enclosures or cages at Seal Bay. Instead, you will be taken into the heart of the colony where experienced guides will give you an insider view into the lives of these endangered animals. This is a truly exceptional wildlife experience not to be missed.

For lunch, The Chase Cafe located at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre provides a welcome rest stop for visitors to the western end of Kangaroo Island.

Flinders Chase National Park is a rugged wilderness featuring iconic landmarks such as the the famous Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Learn more about Cape du Couedic Lighthouse on the island’s southwest coast that has saved many boats from shipwrecks. Afterwards, take a stroll along the boardwalk leading the Admirals Arch for a spectacular scenic sunset view.

Finally, indulge in a seafood feast at Kangaroo Island Fresh Seafoods. 

Day 5: Kangaroo Island

Continue your adventure with a multitude of outdoor, action-based activities. Ride quad bikes through 500 acres of winding bush land trails, open grassland and rocky terrain, hire sandboards or toboggans and surf the massive sand dunes at Little Sahara.

Craving for a seafood lunch? There’s no better place on the island to devour oysters, marron, abalone and King George whiting all in one place than The Oyster Farm Shop.

Kangaroo Island is home to the world's oldest bee sanctuary and the residents represent the only pure strain of Ligurian Bee in the world. Visit Island Beehive or Clifford's Honey Farm to learn about Ligurian Bees, see the production factory, take a guided tour, and enjoy free tastings of quality honey.

Return to Adelaide by flight or by car via Sealink Ferry. For dinner, Beyond India in North Adelaide provides outstanding, authentic, contemporary Indian cuisine.