Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 10 . ADELAIDE & SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Follow King William Street south and you’ll be chasing the tram to the beachside
suburb of Glenelg; follow it north, and it crosses the River Torrens and
flows into sophisticated North Adelaide, an area crammed with Victorian and
Edwardian architecture. The main avenues in North Adelaide, O’Connell and
Melbourne streets, are lined with restaurants, cafes, and bistros that offer the
tastes of a multicultural city.
To the northwest of the city center is Port Adelaide, a seaport and the historic
maritime heart of South Australia—home to some of the finest colonial
buildings in the state, as well as good pubs and restaurants.
GETTING AROUND By Bus Adelaide’s public bus network is divided into
three zones, and fares are calculated according to the number of zones traveled.
The city center is classed as Zone 1. The fare in Zone 1 is A$1.80 (US$1.20) from
9am to 3pm on weekdays and A$3 (US$1.95) most other times. You can buy tickets
on board or at kiosks around the city. You can pick up free metro information
and get timetable and destination information over the phone, or at the Passenger
Transport Board Information Centre (& 08/8210 1000), on the corner of
Currie and King William streets. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8am to
6pm and Sunday from 10:30am to 5.30pm.
The CityLoop bus (no. 99C) operates free bus service every 15 minutes
(Mon–Thurs 8:30am–6pm, Fri to 9pm, and Sat to 5pm) around the city center,
along North Terrace, East Terrace, Grenfell Street, Pulteney Street, Wakefield
Street, Grote Street, Morphett Street, Light Square, Hindley Street, and West
Terrace. Another free bus, the Bee Line (no. 99B), runs along North Terrace,
down King William Street to Victoria Street. Routes are well signposted. All city
free buses are wheelchair-accessible.
Bus nos. 181 and 182 run from the city to North Adelaide.
The Adelaide Explorer bus (& 08/8231 7172; www.adelaideexplorer.com.au)
stops at 26 sights around town, including Glenelg, and costs A$30 (US$20) for
adults, A$19 (US$13) for children, and A$70 (US$46) for families of four. The
loop takes a leisurely 3 hours, with commentary, and you can get on and off when
you want. The first bus departs from 38 King William St., on the corner of Rundle
Mall (next to Haigh’s Chocolates), at 9am. The company will pick you up from
your hotel between 8 and 8:30am if you call ahead, and will drop you off at the
airport (with your luggage) as part of the fare. Call or e-mail ahead. Buy tickets on
the bus.
By Tram The Glenelg Tram runs between Victoria Square and the beachside
suburb of Glenelg. Tickets are valid for 2 hours and cost A$1.80 (US$1.15) for
adults and A90¢ (US58¢) for children 5 to 14 from 9am to 3pm, and A$3
(US$1.95) for adults and A$1.30 (US85¢) for children at other times. The journey
takes 29 minutes.
By Taxi & Car The major cab companies are Yellow Cabs (& 13 22 27 in
South Australia only), Suburban (& 08/8211 8888), and Amalgamated (& 08/
8223 3333). Access Cabs (& 1300/360 940 in South Australia only) offers
wheelchair taxis.
Major car-rental companies are Avis, 136 North Terrace (& 08/8410 5727);
Budget, 274 North Terrace (& 08/8223 1400); Hertz, 233 Morphett St. (& 08/
8231 2856); and Thrifty, 296 Hindley St. (& 08/8211 8788).
The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA), 41 Hindmarsh
Sq. (& 13 11 11 in South Australia, or 08/8202 4500; www.raa.net), has
route maps and provides emergency breakdown services.