Adelaide

Adelaide, or the 'City of Churches', is laid with picturesque side-sweeping streets, city squares and lush green gardens that make it an enchanting and adventurous place to explore. Adelaide is the fifth most populous city of Australia and is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia.

Adelaide is competing with Melbourne for the title of most artistic city in Australia. The city boasts a fantastic live music and performing arts industry and is home to the Adelaide Fringe Festival which brings new talent to the stage annually. Adelaide is famous for its surrounding vineyards and magnificent cuisines available throughout the region, and is home to the Penfolds Magill Estate and the National Wine Centre which showcases Australia's wine industry. To experience true Australian history in the Australian fresh food industry, head to the famous Adelaide Central Market which has been trading since 1869 and is home to some of the freshest organic produce in the region.

Adelaide is the gateway to the Barossa Valley, the Northern Territory and Uluru, making it the ideal tourist destination, especially for those going by car or caravan. Adelaide itself is an effervescent city with plenty to offer visitors, whether it be taking a tram ride to the beach at Glenelg, shopping in one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest shopping malls, taking in a game of cricket at the Adelaide Oval, watching the Australian rules or taking a trip out to the vineyards in the Adelaide Hills.

Transport around City: You can travel for free within Adelaide city on certain bus and tram routes. Adelaide Metro also offer regular train, bus and tram services.

Attractions: Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Glenelg, Port Noarlunga, Rundle Mall, Penfolds Winery.

The Adelaide Botanic Gardens are an absolute must-see. Highlights include the Santos Museum of Economic Botany and the 1988 Bicentennial Conservatory which recreates a tropical rainforest environment. Tours are available daily at 10.30am and last about an hour and a half.

The Art Gallery of South Australia is absolutely superb and hosts both an international art collection and temporary exhibitions. If art is your thing, you could easily spend a couple of days here, but for those on a strict time budget, head to the Elder Wing to see the Colonial State Collections and Australia Federation Landscapes. There are free guided tours that run twice daily, a great bookshop and a fantastic cafe with an inspired menu.

Your trip to Adelaide is not complete without a visit to the Haigh's Chocolate Factory. Haigh's is dedicated to fine chocolate production and is the oldest family-owned chocolatier in Australia. Deliciously mouth-watering samples are included in the tour and bookings are essential.

Giant Pandas Wang-Wang and Fu Ni have been residents of the Adelaide Zoo since 2009. The zoo offers exclusive behind the scenes tours allowing you to get up close and personal with the animals.

Recommended Restaurants: Adelaide is one of the finest dining precincts in the country, thanks to the region rich supply of fresh food products and gourmet specialties. There are entire streets devoted to dining in Adelaide, which are a mix of cafes, restaurants and pubs. Gouger Street is Adelaide's key eat street and is the gateway to Adelaide Central Market and Chinatown. Here, you will find everything from Thai to Japanese and French to Argentine cuisine, not to mention the top-of-the-charts seafood restaurants. For other dining precincts, try Rundle Street on Adelaide's East End for great lunch and night dining, and nearby Hutt Street will serve you anything you please for breakfast. But, for Adelaide's real beauty, Hindley Street is home to Apothecary 1878, an elegant wine bar that will take your breath away.

Recommended Bars: If it's a healthy night life you're looking for; dance the night away in Electric Circus or Woolshed on Hindley. For cocktails and a relaxing atmosphere head to Maybe Mae or Distill.

Recommended Hotels: Hilton Adelaide, Hyatt Regency Adelaide, Stamford Plaza Adelaide, Stamford Grand Adelaide.