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Get the most from your Adelaide road trip with our tips

While driving a hire car is the ultimate in convenience, at some point you’ll have to pull yourself away from behind the wheel of your hire car — no matter how comfy the seats may be! Taking a tour is a chance to get local insights, and a city tour is often a good way to get your bearings before you start to navigate in your vehicle. Alternatively, try something completely new with a Murray River cruise. These usually include lunch, and conveniently leave from Adelaide.

If you’ve always wanted to get up close and personal with the wildlife, then a drive to Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula might be perfect for you. Here you have the opportunity to swim with sea lions and dolphins with Baird Bay Eco Encounters.

For those that prefer to observe their ocean critters from a distance, you can often get views of sea lions playing in the shallows from Point Labatt. If you’re after some whale watching, plan your trip between June and October. During school holiday periods rental cars are in high demand, so book well in advance.

Adelaide’s hot zones for nightlife are the clubs, bars, and pubs of Rundle Street in the east, and Hindley Street and Light Square in the west. Gouger Street is Adelaide’s key dining location. It's the gateway to the Adelaide Central Market, and the bustling mall and food halls of Chinatown. Shoppers flock to the premier shopping district of Rundle Mall, while bargain hunters love outlet shopping at Harbour Town. It is a 15-minute drive west of the city, near the airport.

Wine lovers, of course, will have one destination clearly in mind: The Barossa Valley wine region. Many of the wineries are quite generous with their wine tasting sessions so if you’re going to do this, booking a tour with a driver is highly recommended. Not only will your group not need to choose a designated driver for the hire car, but there will be no chance of getting lost, or having difficulty locating quality wineries that cater to your tastes. On top of this, the locals know a thing or two about the region’s history and are more than happy to tell you about it.

No trip to Adelaide is complete without a tram ride to Glenelg. This picturesque little seaside spot is popular with locals, tourists, and of course, the ever-present seagulls. A walk down the pier is a pleasant way to appreciate views of the gorgeous coastline. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and fast food choices. Tourists will often hop on a tram to Glenelg from the city and take in the seaside: a tradition which has endured for many years which also saves you finding a park for the rental car. An ice cream on the beach is refreshing and relaxing, and so too is a seaside pint or two.