Adelaide: The Australia Trip You Didn’t Know You Needed
With United Airlines’ new direct flights, Australia’s most-underrated city just got easier to reach.
Most people land in Australia with a checklist: Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, maybe Uluru. Adelaide doesn’t usually make the cut. Which is exactly why you should go…especially now that United Airlines is starting direct flights from San Francisco in December 2025.
Adelaide isn’t flashy or “popular.” It doesn’t need to be. What it offers is something much rarer in these mass travel days: fresh food, interesting neighborhoods, wine country that feels familiar but better, and friendly locals who seem pleasantly surprised when you stay longer than a day.
Adelaide Central Market: Your First Bite Into the City
Walk into Adelaide Central Market and you’ve stepped into a new love affair with produce of all kinds. Vendors greet regulars by name; fruit spills from overflowing displays; cheeses from nearby farms share space with fresh breads, seafood, and meats. Dozens of lunch counters mean you can do this any way you like…a Vietnamese bánh mì, a steaming bowl of laksa, a flaky pastry with strong coffee. Come hungry. You’ll want options…I’m a big fan of the pizza stall, but arrive early as it’s often sold out by early afternoon.
Flavors That Travel the World
Yes, you’ll find excellent Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese in Adelaide. But I dare you to dig a little deeper: Ethiopian platters built for sharing, Afghan kebabs smoked over charcoal, and Argentinian grills giving serious main character energy. Adelaide’s food scene is generous and diverse: quality without ego or pretension.
Karrawirra Parri / River Torrens: Run, Walk, See Adelaide
The river through this city. Karrawirra Parri (the local Kaurna name for the River Torrens) is more than scenic; it’s how I got to know Adelaide. Follow the path under red gum trees, pass cyclists and dog walkers, and watch the skyline come in and out of view. On my last visit, I set out for an evening run and got swept up by a local running group. Post-run drinks followed well into the night, as they often do here…and I have friends to come back and visit next trip.
Gawler: A Day Outside, Close Enough
Put aside at least an afternoon to take the train north to Gawler and watch the edges of the city relax. It’s about an hour away from Adelaide at the end of the line, but feels a world apart. Heritage buildings, quiet cafés, open skies…it’s where suburban neatness starts to give way to something bigger and hints of something wilder. You don’t have to go deep into the outback to feel it. These are not big city folk, but they are curious about visitors who stop by, so be sure to leave time for the random encounters that are bound to happen when you open your mouth and they realize that “you’re not from around these parts!”
Wine Country That Actually Matches the Hype
If wine is your raison d’etre…or just your reward…Adelaide’s surrounding regions deliver hard:
Barossa Valley: Big, rich Shiraz and wineries where history is poured alongside the numerous tastings.
McLaren Vale: Home of lush coastal energy…Grenache and Cabernet with a light sea breeze in the background if you’re fortunate.
Adelaide Hills: Known for cooler climate elegance…crisp whites and interesting Pinot Noirs.
What sets it apart is its accessability: book a small-group tour or a driver if you prefer a private outing, and you’ll be tasting by late morning without a long drive to get there. Less than an hour from Central Adelaide and you’re out in the rolling valleys.
A Final Word of Caution
And if you needed one last reason to love Adelaide? Where else do you get official city signs warning you that pelicans may bite and cause injury. Not sharks, not snakes, not crocs like elsewhere in Australia, but pelicans. It’s a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously, even when the wildlife does.
United’s Big Move (So You Should Be Planning)
Starting 11 December 2025, United launches the first-ever nonstop flights between San Francisco (SFO) and Adelaide (ADL) three times weekly on a Boeing 787-9 during the Australian summer, with the first return from Adelaide on 13 December 2025.
This turns what used to be a stopover puzzle into something much easier and puts Adelaide firmly on U.S. travelers’ maps. I’m planning to be on one of the first flights, and hope you’ll join me!
5 Tips to Make Your Adelaide Trip Count
🍎 Start at the Market. Breakfast, second breakfast, and snacks for later: Central Market is your anchor.
🌍 Eat globally, locally. Beyond Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese, seek out Ethiopian, Afghan, and Argentinian spots for big flavors without big fuss.
🏃 Walk or run the river. Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) is where locals move; sunset light or Golden Hour is a bonus play.
🚆 Ride the rails to Gawler. An easy train ride north shifts the mood and hints at the outback.
🍷 Book a wine tour. Let someone else drive so you can focus on the grape juice. Framed like this, it counts as a serving of fruit—and don’t forget that! No wrong choices here.
But its United. You know, the airline that you mocked for years? I'd rather fly Qantas to Melbourne or AirNZ to Auckland and connect than spend 15+ hours on United.