Last Minute Flights to the Coastal Delights of Adelaide

Adelaide has a rich maritime history, in part due to its thriving port. Port Adelaide is a great place to get acquainted with the city’s past and present. You’ll find dozens of wonderful museums and attractions here, including the National Railway Museum. With more than 100 exhibits, the National Railway Museum is a joy for train and history buffs. Other local museums include the toy-filled Australian Museum of Childhood and an aviation museum. The port is also home to the City of Adelaide Clipper, billed as “the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship.” A tour of the ship is a fascinating glimpse at sea travel from Adelaide to London in the 1800s. The port is also a terrific place to get your bearings after your last minute Adelaide flight lands. Grab a walking tour map from the tourist information office and take a stroll. You can pop into a historic pub for a little refreshment or just admire the Victorian architecture. You can also rent a kayak to paddle around the historic port. 

You may think you have excellent shopping in your own hometown, but Rundle Mall is a world apart. This East End pedestrian mall is full of fun and interesting shops, cafes and boutiques. More than 1,000 stores and services line this street, stretching a third of a mile. It’s the longest pedestrian street mall in the entire country. Plan to spend the day; it’s excellent light activity after a long business class flight to Adelaide. You’ll find funky crafts, high-end housewares and designer fashions in this district. There are fun pop-up vendors, historic arcades and 2,500 food court seats. For refreshment, you can choose between warm and welcoming bistros and fine restaurants. The mall is also home to public art like the silver Spheres, the Rundle Lantern and the war memorial. While strolling around the shopping district, see how many of the mall’s landmarks you can find. 

The city’s North Terrace teems with fascinating cultural attractions and important historic and government landmarks. Considered one of Adelaide’s poshest streets, North Terrace is home to Adelaide Casino. The casino offers table gaming and lively entertainment in a beautiful, historic building. Other North Terrace landmarks include Old Parliament House and the new majestic State Parliament building. The boulevard offers a busy Convention Center and the picturesque University of Adelaide. It boasts the Art Gallery of South Australia, showcasing 38,000 works of art. It sports the gorgeous Botanical Gardens where you can admire several fascinating gardens. These include an international rose garden, an Australian native garden and an Australian forest. The Botanical Garden also has several historic buildings and three stunning glass houses. The South Australian Museum is also located along the boulevard. With its stellar cultural sites, North Terrace is a great complement to last minute business class seats.

From is western beaches to its eastern hills, Adelaide is in a prime recreation and entertainment area. Like many Australian beaches, Adelaide’s coast is superb. For the best beach experience, book your last minute business class tickets for September to March. That’s prime spring and summertime travel in the Southern Hemisphere and a great escape from northern winters. Glenelg Beach is one of the area’s most popular beaches. There, you can swim with dolphins, snorkel and fish. The soft, sandy beach is perfect for sunbathing and building sand castles. The adjoining streets are ideal for shopping and enjoying lunch in a sidewalk cafe. Even better, it’s easy to get to with public transportation. A historic tram whisks you from Adelaide’s North Terrace to Glenelg in just 25 minutes. If cycling along rolling hills and wine tasting appeal to you, you can head east of the city to the Adelaide Hills. The region is renowned for its wineries, German-heritage towns and Cleland Wildlife Park. Cleland is especially appealing since you can see koalas and kangaroos and wooded copses.