Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5th floor of the Myer department store, Rundle Mall. Call BASS at
&
13 12 46
in South Australia, or 08/8400 2205.
THE PERFORMING ARTS
The major concert hall in town is the
Adelaide Festival Centre,
King William
Road (
&
08/8216 8600
for general inquiries, 08/8400 2205 for box office).
The Festival Centre encompasses three auditoriums: the 1,978-seat Festival The-
atre, the 612-seat Playhouse, and the 350-seat Space Centre. This is the place in
Adelaide to see opera, ballet, drama, orchestral concerts, the Adelaide Symphony
Orchestra, plays, and experimental drama.
The complex also includes an outdoor amphitheater used for jazz, rock 'n'
roll, and country music concerts; an art gallery; a bistro; a piano bar; and the Sil-
ver Jubilee Organ, the world's largest transportable concert-hall organ (built in
Austria to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee).
The Adelaide Repertory Festival presents a season of five productions a year,
ranging from drama to comedy, at the
Arts Theatre,
53 Angus St. (
&
08/8221
5644
). Playwrights Alan Ayckbourne and Terrence Rattigan are among the many
who have had plays performed here. The theater, which is a short walk away
from many hotels and restaurants, is also the home of the Metropolitan Musical
Theatre Company, which presents two musical comedy productions a year.
Tickets cost around A$16 (US$10) for adults and A$11 (US$7.15) for children.
Her Majesty's Theatre,
58 Grote St. (
&
08/8216 8600
), is a 1,000-seat venue
opposite Central Markets that presents drama, comedy, musicals, dance, opera,
and recitals. Tickets are generally A$30 to A$55 (US$20-US$36).
THE BAR & CLUB SCENE
Adelaide's nightlife ranges from twiddling your thumbs to nude lap dancers. For
adult entertainment (clubs with the word
strip
in the name) head to
Hindley
Street
—there are a few pubs there, but I wouldn't recommend them. For infor-
mation on gay and lesbian options, pick up the
Adelaide Gay Times.
Popular
Universal Wine Bar
at 285 Rundle St. (
&
08/8232 5000
) is the per-
fect place to start an evening, with great atmosphere and good wines by the glass.
As for all-age pubs, the locals will point you toward
The Austral,
205 Run-
dle St. (
&
08/8223 4660
);
The Exeter,
246 Rundle St. (
&
08/8223 2623
);
The Lion,
at the corner of Melbourne and Jerningham sts. (
&
08/8367 0222
);
and the
British Hotel,
58 Finniss St. (
&
08/8267 2188
), in North Adelaide,
where you can cook your own steak on the courtyard barbecue. Also popular
with both visitors and locals alike is the
Earl of Aberdeen,
316 Pulteney St., at
Carrington Street (
&
08/8223 6433
), a colonial-style pub popular for after-
work drinks.
The Port Dock,
10 Todd St., Port Adelaide (
&
08/8240 0187
),
was licensed as a pub in 1864 and has kept up with tradition ever since; it even
brews four of its own beers and pumps them directly to its three bars with old
English beer engines. Most pubs are open from 11am to midnight.
TRYING YOUR LUCK AT THE CASINO
Right next to the Adelaide Hyatt, and dwarfed by the old railway station con-
taining it, is the
Adelaide Casino
(now officially called “SkyCity” to make it
sound trendier), North Terrace (
&
1800/888 711
in Australia, or 08/8212 2811).
The casino has two floors of gaming tables and slot machines, as well as four bars
and several dining options, including a fast-food station and the excellent Pullman
buffet restaurant. The casino is open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to
4am and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6am.
