Adelaide · ~1.85 million · The Festival State · ACST / ACDT — 30 minutes behind the east coast
The most liveable capital most travellers skip. Adelaide is compact, affordable, ringed by parklands and within an hour of world-class wine country. South Australia also has the best container deposit scheme in the country, the Outback proper, and a festival season that takes over the city each March.
The bodies that actually decide these things. Everything further down this page cites one of them.
The clock is half an hour behind Sydney, not a full hour. Flights and appointments catch people out constantly.
You get 10 cents back for every eligible drink container you return. Backpackers genuinely fund weekends this way.
Adelaide’s CBD tram is free between South Terrace and the Entertainment Centre.
SourcesGreen Industries SA — container deposit scheme (Container refunds)Adelaide Metro — free travel (Free tram)
Not free. You get a bill unless you have cover.
Costs are directional and change without notice. Confirm on the official page before relying on a figure.
SourceSA Ambulance Service
Getting around
The City Connector bus loop and the CBD stretch of the tram are free. Adelaide is small enough that a lot of it is walkable.
Bank card instead of a travel card? Adelaide Metro accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets alongside metroCARD on most services.
SourceAdelaide Metro
Health advice, 24/7
Free 24/7 registered-nurse advice.
Sourcehealthdirect Australia
Driving
Permanent residents generally have 3 months to convert to a South Australian licence. Temporary visa holders can usually keep using a valid overseas licence, with an English translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in English.
SA.GOV.AU — driving & transportRenting
Tenancy law and bond lodgement. Your bond is lodged with a government authority, not held by the agent — if nobody lodged yours, something is wrong.
Tenancy rules & bondsWork safety
The state regulator for workplace health and safety. If a job feels unsafe, this is who you call — and they do not ask about your visa.
Report or askSourceSafeWork SA
Costs & climate
One of the most affordable mainland capitals. Adelaide share rooms commonly $180–$280 a week.
The driest state in the driest inhabited continent. Hot dry summers, mild winters, and serious heat inland.
SourcesConsumer and Business Services SABureau of Meteorology — South AustraliaG'day Guide estimate — not an official figure
Whatever the job, check your legal minimum rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator in your first week. Underpayment of new arrivals is common and the calculator settles it in five minutes.
SourcesJobs and Skills AustraliaHarvest work via Workforce Australia (Seasonal work regions)
An hour from Adelaide and one of the great old-vine wine regions of the world.
Sea lions, koalas and dramatic coastline, regenerating strongly after the 2019–20 fires.
One of the largest fresh produce markets in the southern hemisphere, and the cheapest good lunch in the city.
Ancient landscapes and Adnyamathanha country — the accessible Outback.
Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide and the Festival all at once. Casual work is everywhere in February and March.
SourcesSouth Australian Tourism CommissionNational Parks and Wildlife Service SA
Compact, affordable and surrounded by wine country.
In your first week here
Still to do?
The national list — myGov, tax file number, Medicare, Fair Work and the rest — is on the main guide, in the order that works. Tick it off as you go on the checklist in My guide.