Fast facts about Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth largest Australian capital city. The city of Adelaide is surrounded by the hills on the east, and over 70 kilometres of coastline on the west.
Australia is divided into three time zones, with Adelaide coming under Australian Central Standard Time (ACST). The local time in Adelaide is GMT + 9.5 hours.
South Australia has a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers (25⁰C to 35⁰C) and cool to cold, snowless winters (10⁰C to 15⁰C). Adelaide offers more than 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, and without the humidity of other Australian cities.
South Australia has a population of 1.67 million. Over 75% of the population (1.3 million) live within the metropolitan capital of Adelaide. Twenty five percent of South Australian residents were born outside of Australia.
South Australia provides a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for international students, enriched by a vibrant multicultural community representing more than 200 cultural and religious backgrounds.
Things to do
Adelaide is alive and vibrant. Local fresh food markets, exciting restaurants and cafes, international sporting events, and world-renowned arts festivals are just a few of the reasons that studying in Adelaide gives you a quality of life you won't find anywhere else in Australia.
Image credit: SATC and Tourism Australia
Festivals
Image credit: SATC and Tourism Australia
South Australia is known as the ‘Festival State’, with regular cultural and sporting events held right across the year.
- WOMADelaide - celebration of culture, arts, music, and dance from around the world
- Adelaide Festival - an annual celebration of arts and theatre
- Adelaide Fringe Festival - The biggest arts festival in Australia that runs over a month
- Tour Down Under - The largest cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere
- Adelaide 500 - Supercar and motorsport festival
- OzAsia - Showcase of Asian theatre, music, food and more
- Illuminate - Celebration of light, art, music, and technology
Image credit: SATC
Shopping
Image credit: SATC
Like to shop? Adelaide has a wide range of retail outlets. Westfield Marion, the biggest shopping mall in Adelaide, is located just 10 minutes from our Bedford Park campus. Rundle Mall, located in the city centre and only eight minutes from our city campus, offers department stores and high street brands, while the café-lined Rundle Street is home to designer labels.
Food
If you love great food, you’ll love Adelaide. The city is full of stunning cafés and restaurants. South Australia is well known for producing high-quality produce, from fresh fruit and vegetables through to the finest meat and seafood.
- Adelaide Central Markets
- Chinatown & Gouger Street
- North Adelaide
- The Parade, Norwood
- Unley & Hyde Park
- Glenelg & Brighton
Image credit: SATC and Tourism Australia
Outdoor activities and day trips
Image credit: SATC and Tourism Australia
With its beautiful scenery, unique wildlife, and a multitude of activities, South Australia provides endless opportunities for students to explore and enjoy everything the state has to offer.
- Visit one of South Australia's many beautiful beaches. Some popular beaches include Glenelg Beach, Henley Beach, Semaphore Beach & Port Norlunga Beach.
- Adelaide Botanic Gardens
- Adelaide Zoo
- Monarto Safari Park
- Hahndorf
- Cleland Wildlife Park
- Victor Harbour
- Adelaide Hills
- Barossa Valley
Cost of living
Adelaide is known for its high quality of life, safety, accessibility and affordability, making it a convenient and great place to live and study.
The cost of living in Adelaide can be more affordable than other capital cities as rent in Adelaide it's 20% lower than Sydney, 7% lower than Brisbane, 12% lower than Perth.*
*Corelogic Quarterly Rental Review April 2025 Median weekly unit rent
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
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