how to get around in Adelaide?
 

Hello,
My husband and I are planning on flying into Adelaide from Sydney in late November and staying in Adelaide for a couple of days before heading out to Kangaroo Island. What's the easiest way to get around town in Adelaide? I'm not sure what we plan on doing there yet, but thought it might be a good place just to relax for a bit in the midst of our travels. Is it worth renting a car or is everything pretty centrally located and we could just rely on public transportation? While I'm at it, anyone have any good recommendations on accomodations? Looking for something $120 USD or less and are open to staying in a b&b or something with character.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Anywhere you'd want to go in Adelaide itself is easily reachable by foot, or bus, or in the case of beachside Glenelg, tram. It's an easy city to drive in, though, and I'd recommend renting a car for one day just to take a spin out to the Barossa Valley. You could go there via Gawler to the north and return via the Adelaide Hill and the southeastern expressway, or vice versa.

KI would make a nice drive too, but maybe you've got transport organised? (Someone mentioned car rental companies that don't let you take their cars on the ferry - don't know about that, and am puzzled as to why.)

mc10, as for accommodation, you might like to browse www.wotif.com, armed with a map of Adelaide (bound to be one on the Web somewhere) - you couldn't book via wotif this far ahead but it might give you some ideas. Have you searched on adelaide +tourism, adelaide +accommodation etc? If you get a B&B that's not too central, that would be another reason to rent a car, of course.

Hello - on the accommodation front, it depends what you mean by 'character'. If you mean old house/garden/verandah/ chocolates on the pillow sort of place, then can't help and guess that would be in the 'burbs and you'd probably struggle to find something for $120.

Woops - just realised you mean USD so ignore that last.

But if you mean with a different sort of character and you don't mind a bit scruffy, then I can recommend a pub on King William Street. I stayed in a single there on the backpacker floor (ie without breakfast and one floor higher than the other budget stuff) in March for AUD55. en suite, TV, fridge, kettle - but had seen better days.

Loved it. Very central. If you think it might suit, then post again and I'll dig out contact info for you.

Hello,
We stayed at the Medina Treasury, I'm not sure of the cost as it was part of a package. Was centrally located & very nice.

As for transportation in Adelaide, there is a free bus that goes around town near or to the major attractions.

Audrey

Thanks everone for your comments and suggestions. I'm glad to hear that everything is readily accessible w/o a car, but we may take on Neil's suggestion to visit the Barossa Valley one day. I checked out the wotif.com sight and it looks like there are a bunch of great deals, but I'm concerned that there might not be much available in late November since they're heading into their summer season. Am I assuming too much?

Thanks again!

mc10, I don't have any info one way or the other on that one, sorry, but I can't see why there'd be a flood of tourists hitting Adelaide in November, unless there's some special event on. Most likely the weather will have been pleasant for a good two months by that time, and Adelaide winters are mild anyway. In my book summer would actually be the worst time to visit South Australia, as it can get uncomfortably hot at times.