Enquiries & Contacts

The City of Adelaide

Adelaide is a multicultural city with a population made up of over 100 different ethnic communities. Many of these communities proudly maintain links with their culture. The city combines creativity and liveliness with a safe and clean environment. South Australians lead a relaxed but exciting lifestyle, in a state with a rich history, and a particular love of fine wine and food.

Want to know the weather in Adelaide? Click here to find out the current forecast.

Adelaide is a very livable city. The cost of living compares very favourably to other Australian cities, with lots to see, good transport to get around in, and lots to do. Please refer to the information below:

Download City of Adelaide Map

Download North Terrace Campus Map

Eating Out

The University has several refectories (cafeterias) and a coffee shop where you can purchase lunchtime food such as sandwiches, rolls, hot chips, pies and pasties, soups and salads.

The nearby city has an enormous selection of snack bars, food halls and cheap restaurants which offer a variety of international cuisine. Areas to check out include: Rundle Mall, Rundle Street, Hindley Street, Gouger Street and the Central Market.

Transport

Public Transport

Adelaide has a large public transport system, which includes buses, trains, trams and O-bahns. Holders of a University of Adelaide student card are entitled to a concession fare on public transport in Adelaide. However, you will have to pay full fare until you receive your student card, which will be issued after enrolment.

You need to purchase a ticket to travel on public transport (with the exception of the free buses within the city. See free services. For information about fees and charges, timetabling and transport options available, please refer to the Adelaide Metro web site.

How to use public transport in Adelaide: click here to download this information, in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Spanish or German.

Or you can visit the Passenger Transport InfoCentre on the corner of King William and Currie Streets, Adelaide. It is open 8am - 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am - 5.30pm Sunday.

Free bus services in Adelaide

City Loop - 99C (FREE)
You can catch this bus on North Terrace in front of the University. This service takes you on a loop around the City, taking in the Museum, State Library, Art Gallery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Botanic Gardens (five-minute walk to National Wine Centre), Rundle Street (East End), Tandanya, Central Market, the Hindley Street precinct and the University. This bus connects with services for the O-Bahn, the Glenelg Tram and the Adelaide Railway Station.

Bee Line - 99B (FREE).
The Bee Line takes you through the centre of the City via North Terrace, King William Street and Victoria Square, stopping at Rundle Mall, the Town Hall and the Central Markets. The bus connects with services for the O-Bahn, the Glenelg Tram and the Adelaide Railway Station.

Adelaide Free (Bee Line and City Loop services) operates seven days a week. The Beeline runs every 5 minutes. Monday to Thursday 7.40am - 6.00pm, Fridays 7.40am - 8.45pm, Saturdays 8.30am - 5.30pm, and Sundays 10.00am - 5.30pm. The City Loop runs every 15 minutes Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 6.00pm, Fridays 8.00am - 8.45pm, Saturdays 8.15am - 5.15pm and Sundays 10.00am - 5.15pm.

Adelaide City Connector bus (FREE).
This bus is a convenient link between North Adelaide and the city area. It operates between 9.00am - 5.30pm. A timetable can be obtained from the Adelaide City Council Customer Centre: 25 Pirie Street, Adelaide.

Airport JetBus (ticket required)
JetBus runs regularly from the Adelaide Airport terminal into the City. Tickets can be purchased on board.

Taxis
Also known as "cabs". Taxis operate all over Adelaide and are available 24 hours per day. They are all metered: fares are automatically calculated by computer and displayed on a small screen near the driver. The fare is not negotiable. Tipping is not expected in Australia.

Although taxis are convenient to use they are expensive.
Taxi Company phone numbers are:
- Suburban 131 008
- Adelaide Independent 13 22 11
- Yellow Cabs 13 2227

Driving in Australia
If you are studying in Adelaide you may qualify as a visiting driver (or rider) and can use your overseas licence or an international driving permit. Please contact Transport South Australia to find out about the specific requirements for you.

Some general advice on driving in Australia:

You can only drive the type of vehicle covered by the licence class shown on your Drivers Licence.
If your Drivers Licence is not in English, you must get an official translation of it. You can do this at the Interpreting & Translation Centre: 24 Flinders Street, Adelaide. Phone: 8226 1990.
You must carry your Drivers Licence with you when driving (and your International Driving Permit or the official translation of your overseas Drivers Licence).

Buying a Car
You may choose to buy a second hand car to get around the city and other parts of the country. To make sure you end up with a reliable vehicle at a reasonable price,

join an automobile association like the RAA;
pay for an independent vehicle inspection of the car before you buy it;
consider the pros and cons of buying from a motor dealer or a private owner;
check that the numbers on the vehicle match the registration certificate; and
remember the costs of registration and insurance, which are compulsory.

Note: it is expensive and can be difficult to find a park around the North Terrace campus.

Cycling in Adelaide
Adelaide is a great city for cyclists. You can cycle from the coast to the hills along Linear Park and the River Torrens, passing straight through the centre of Adelaide without ever venturing onto a road.

Commuting to university by bicycle (bike) requires a street-legal bicycle, a helmet and a good bike lock. There are lots of places to park and lock your bike on campus.

While there are many good cycle paths around Adelaide, all University of Adelaide campuses are either in the city or on main roads and you will no doubt find yourself at some time riding in traffic. Cycling in traffic can be dangerous. It's crucial to stay alert and be cautious.

There are a series of bike routes in and beyond the city. You can get a pack of bike route maps from the International Student Centre.

Buying a Bicycle
In Adelaide, bike stores sell specialist equipment. You can purchase bikes at very cheap prices from chain stores, such as: Rebel sports in the Myer Centre, Target, Kmart and Big W. In such stores it is possible to get a new Mountain Bike (10 speed) for around $160 - $200. Refer to the Yellow Pages phone book to find the store nearest to you.

Buying a Second Hand Bike
A great place to find a cheap bike is in the ‘Advertisements’ and ‘For Sale’ sections of the local paper - see the Saturday edition of The Advertiser. There is also a newspaper called the Trading Post where people advertise second hand items for sale.

BikeSA also runs an online trading section on bicycles and bike parts.

You can purchase bikes cheaply at second hand stores. Some that are close by are:

Unley Disposals
106 Unley Rd, Unley ph: 8271 2126
Bus nos 190, 191, 192 – bus stop no.2

Unley Rd Pawnbrokers
149 Unley Rd, Unley ph: 8373 3177
Bus nos 190, 191, 192 – bus stop no.3

Adelaide City Cash Converters
110 Gouger Street ph: 8212 7344
City

Other second hand stores include charity shops like the Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul.

Bicycle SA is the peak recreational and educational cycling organisation in South Australia. It has about 2000 members and attracts about 12,000 participants to its events each year. Events include a daily rides program, bicycle education in schools, and a range of on road and off road cycling opportunities. Bicycle SA also represents cyclists in a range of forums particularly advocating for cycling opportunities for the recreation cyclist.

Religious Matters

Religious Centre
A number of rooms are available for student use in the Lady Symon Building and many of the religious affiliations use these facilities for meetings or private religious observance.

Islamic Requirements
For assistance in obtaining halal food or visiting the Mosque you may telephone the Adelaide Mosque for more information.

Halal beef, lamb, chicken and various other meats can be purchased from: Rainbow Halal, Shop 31, Market Plaza, Gouger Street, Adelaide. Phone: 8231 5424
Always ask the butcher first before buying any meat from a butcher shop or supermarket if you are uncertain about the label. Some butcher shops may only stock some halal meat products while other butcher shops will not stock any. However, if you tell your local butcher shop that you wish to buy halal products only, then they will often be able to order them for you.

Any assistance required by Muslim students with respect to settling in is available from the mosques, Islamic centres and the Islamic Society. The Islamic Students' Society University of Adelaide (ISSUA) can be contacted through the Clubs' Association.

Islamic Prayer Room
Separate prayer rooms for male and female Islamic students are available at the University on Level 6 of the Union Building.

Chaplaincy Services
Chaplaincy services are available to students and staff, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments can be arranged through the Religious Centre (telephone 8303 4161).
The counselling provided covers issues such as spiritual, ethical, personal, marriage, vocational, advocacy and justice.

Religious Organisations
Here is a list of some of the religious organisations within Adelaide.

BAHA'I FAITH
Baha'i Centre of Learning, 279 Flinders Street, Adelaide
email: adelaide@sa.bahai.org.au
web: www.adelaidebahai.com

Baha'i Information Office
342 Brighton Road, NORTH BRIGHTON 5049. Phone: 8298 7822
email: secrtariat@sa.bahai.org.au
web: www.bahai.org.au

Buddhist
Buddhist Temple
45 Smith Street, Thebarton. Phone: 8443 5856

Buddha House Centre for Advanced Buddhist Studies
3 Nelson Street, Fullarton. Phone: 8379 9153

United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation
20 Butler Ave, Pennington. Phone: 8447 8477

Buddhist Adelaide Non-sectarian
Tibetian Budist Group, West Lakes. Phone: 8449 1618

Christian
St Francis Xavier's Cathedral (Catholic)
Wakefield Street, Adelaide. Phone: 8231 3551

St Peter's Cathedral (Anglican)
27 King William Street, Adelaide. Phone: 8267 4551

St Stephen's Lutheran Church
152 Wakefield St, Adelaide
Phone: 8223 5491

Chinese Christian Church of Adelaide (AACC)
294-296 Morphett St, Adelaide
Phone: 8231 9993

Chinese (SA) Christian Church Inc
10 Pitt St, Adelaide
Phone: 8202 5848

The Vietnamese Evangelical Church in South Australia
28-32 Tait Street, Renown Park
Phone: 8261 6929 (after hours) or 8266 1697

Korean Adelaide Church
40 Third Ave, St Morris
Phone: 8336 3421

Korean Adelaide Presbyterian Church
309 The Parade, Beulah Park
Phone: 8364 1751

Hindu
Ganesha Hindu Temple
3a Dwyer Road, Oaklands Park. Phone: 8298 1278

Islamic
The Adelaide Mosque
20 Little Gilbert Street, Adelaide. Phone: 8231 6443

Islamic Arabic Centre & Al-Khalil Mosque
Corner Torrens Road and Audley St, Woodville North. Phone: 8268 1944

Gilles Plains Mosque & Islamic Society
52 Wandana Avenue, Gilles Plains. Phone: 8369 0781

Islamic Society of South Australia Incorporated
& Park Holme Mosque
658 Marion Road, Park Holme. Phone: 8277 8725

Jewish
Beit Shalom Synagogue
39 Hackney Road, Hackney. Phone: 8362 8281.

Recreation

Not all of your time in Australia should be spent studying. In fact, if you don't set aside time to relax, exercise and make friends your study will not be as effective as it should be. Australians enjoy their relaxation or leisure time and take part in a wide range of recreational activities.

The Student Union and the Overseas Students' Association organise social and recreational activities for students each term. The International Student Centre also organises a program of workshops and events throughout the year.

The Clubs Association at the University of Adelaide boasts over 100 religious, cultural, social, faculty or general interest groups. Students are encouraged to join clubs and take part in their many activities and outings.

Newspapers
The Advertiser: Adelaide's daily local newspaper. It has local, national and international news. It is a good place to look at local advertisements if you want to buy things. The Wednesday and Saturday editions also include accommodation listings.

The Australian: is the national daily newspaper. A good source of a wide range of national and international news and also special feature sections on different days throughout the week.

The Age: is a Melbourne based daily newspaper, available throughout Adelaide.

The South Australian Travel Centre (telephone 1300 655 276) provides general information about activities in Adelaide as well as tourist information if you intend to do a little travelling further afield. Their office is located at 18 King William Street, in the city.

Sport
Australians are great sport lovers, both as participants and spectators. The University Sports Association offers many sporting clubs and there are also community sports clubs in Adelaide. There is a gymnasium on campus (SportsHub), which has subsidised membership for students.

Soccer, cricket, cycling, netball and Australian Rules Football ('footy') are the popular sports in Adelaide.

Water sports are also popular in Australia because of our good weather and huge expanse of coastline. The suburban beaches around Adelaide are clean, safe and very popular with swimmers, sailors and windsurfers. There are a number of suburban Olympic size swimming pools open to the public for a small entrance fee.

Movies, Television and Radio
Going to the movies is a popular pastime amongst young Australians. There are several cinema complexes in the city, and a number in the suburbs as well. As a student you are entitled to a concession rate at cinemas. Movies in some cinemas are further discounted on Tuesday nights.

DVDs are popular with Australians and you may be invited to watch a movie on video at the home of a friend.

There are a number of both FM and AM radio stations in Adelaide offering a wide selection of music, news and sports coverage:

The University has its own FM band radio station: Radio Adelaide (101.5 on the FM dial) broadcasting student radio programs with diverse information programs and a very broad range of music (from classical to jazz to metal...)
5EBI.FM (103.1 on the FM dial) is predominantly a multicultural radio station and usually broadcasts in foreign languages.
5RPH, (Radio for the Print Handicapped - 1197 on the AM dial) is a radio station where newspapers are read for people who have difficulty reading for themselves. This also provides a useful way for newly arrived students to improve their English.
Other popular music channels are SAFM 107.1, MMM (Triple M) 104.7 FM, JJJ (Triple J) 105.5 FM, Nova (91.9FM), and Fresh (92.7FM).

Adelaide has six free to air television channels. The national television and radio station is called the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) which provides commercial-free viewing. SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) is Australia's primary multicultural television network. SBS has specialist international news services. ACE television is a community television provider. The 10, 9 and 7 commercial networks provide a range of local news and popular television viewing.

Holidays and Travel

Students are entitled to concessions for rail fares and airfares within Australia. There will be a number of weeks during the year when you do not have lectures or examinations. There are many beautiful places in South Australia to visit and you should consider taking advantage of the travel discounts available to students. Before you finalise any travel arrangements, ensure that you have taken your supplementary exams into account.

The Flinders Ranges, River Murray towns, Kangaroo Island and the many beaches along the South Australian coast are popular holiday destinations. For more information, check out the SA Tourism web site.

Features and Festivals

Adelaide has a number of nicknames that you will probably hear during your time in the city. As The City of Churches, Adelaide boasts a disproportionately large number of churches. Church spires complement the cityscape, particularly St Peter's Cathedral (North Adelaide), and St Francis Xavier (Wakefield St, City). They represent an important part of Adelaide's colonial history.

South Australia also lays claim to the title The Festival State - you will often see this proclaimed on South Australian vehicle number plates. In fact, there are over 500 festivals held in Adelaide every year. These range from the traditional to the offbeat, and from international arts festivals to small regional events.

Major ongoing festivals include:

Adelaide Festival of Arts, along with Edinburgh and Avignon, this is one of the three great arts festivals of the world, and is held in Adelaide's summer every two years. It's sister festival is the Adelaide Fringe, held concurrently. The fringe is more alternative and attracts a diverse range of theatre, drama and music events.
Womadelaide is a world festival of music and dance, now held every year in the Botanic parklands of Adelaide.
During your time in Adelaide, you will have the opportunity to experience a diverse range of different cultures, celebrations and activities. For more information about festivals and events in Adelaide and South Australia, see ArtsSA or visit the SA Tourism Commission.

Along North Terrace and very close to the University's largest campus are the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Migration Museum, South Australian Museum and the State Library, all of which are worth a visit. Tandanya Aboriginal Centre on Grenfell Street in the city has indigenous Australian arts and crafts on display, and there are many small art and craft galleries in the city, suburbs and, in particular, the beautiful Adelaide Hills area.

The City of Adelaide is also host to many leading arts organisations such as the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, State Opera of South Australia, Festival Theatre and Australian Dance Theatre, and enjoys regular visits from major interstate and international artistic groups.