Working in Adelaide Australia
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and is small city with a big attitude. There is plenty to do and see in Adelaide and it is a city well worth exploring, You can get from end of town to the other in no time at all, so use those extra minutes to duck down a laneway or peek around a corner.
There is a great café culture, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of history to take in. There are wide, grassy parks throughout the city and the historic buildings take you back to a time when Australia was a wild and untamed adventure land. To the east of the city there are gently rolling hills and the ocean lies only a short distance to the west.
Come, explore Adelaide, drink in her goodness and then, having had a good look around, head out to the surrounding countryside. In particular, any visitor to South Australia should spend some time the Barossa Valley, sampling some of the finest wines that Australia has to offer.
- Airport
- Railway station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Adelaide Airport
Adelaide Airport is the main airport in South Australia and is the fifth busiest airport in Australia servicing over 7.3 million passengers each year. Located only 6km from the city centre, the airport offers easy access to Adelaide and other parts of South Australia. A new International / Domestic terminal was opened in 2005 and was named the world’s second-best international airport in 2006 – in the category of airports servicing 5-15 million people. A number of domestic Australian carriers as well as a range of major regional and international airlines fly in and out of Adelaide Airport.
Getting to the city from the airport is an easy journey with transportation options including taxis, rental cars, the Adelaide Airport Flyer shuttle and the JetBus service.
A taxi from the airport to the city should cost about $20 AUD while the JetBus is around $3.00 to $5.00 depending on the time of day.
Railway station
No trip to Australia is complete without a railway journey through the outback. In South Australia, there are three options to choose from. The Ghan and the Indian Pacific offer two of Australia’s most famous railway journeys. The Ghan runs from Adelaide right though the red centre of the county and into Darwin in the far north of the Northern Territory. The Indian Pacific runs from Perth to Sydney with trains running in either direction from Adelaide. The third South Australian railway journey is on the Overland from Adelaide to Melbourne and offer a unique way to traverse the South Australian and Victorian landscapes.
In the city itself, Adelaide offers both a train and tram service, with trains running between the city and the outer suburbs. The Glenelg tram provides an excellent service between the beachfront at Glenelg and a number of locations throughout the city.
Transportation
Adelaide Metro provides Adelaide’s public transport system. The service includes buses, trains and a tramline with buses making up the majority of the system. Bus lines run in and out of the city and also provide comprehensive coverage of the CBD itself. The train system primarily serves to link Adelaide with the surrounding suburbs and the six lines, which comprise the commuter rail system all run to Adelaide station in the CBD. The light rail, or tram, system has been improved in recent years and the South Australian government is now considering the construction of a full CityLINK tram system.
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If you are going to be in Adelaide for a few days and plan to use public transport, make sure to buy a metrocard as you will save significantly on the cost of each trip.
There are plenty of taxis to catch in Adelaide and it is simply a matter of queuing at a taxis stand or hailing one in the street.
Cost of Living
In comparison to other parts of the world, the cost of living in Australia is generally higher. The Australian dollar is relatively strong against other currencies, the Australian economy is also strong and the cost of moving goods into and around Australia is significant. All of these factors combine and put pressure on local costs, but smart travellers can still find plenty of budget-friendly options.
According to the online database, Numbeo (www.numbeo.com) prices for typical items in Adelaide are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | 15.00 A$ |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | 75.00 A$ |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | 6.00 A$ |
| Coke (330mL) | 3.00 A$ |
| Milk (1 litre) | 1.50 A$ |
| Loaf of bread | 2.94 A$ |
| Eggs | 4.00 A$ |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | 4.90 A$ |
| Monthly pass | 126.00 A$ |
| Petrol (1 litre) | 1.45 A$ |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | 1,215.00 A$ |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | 2,400.00 A$ |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | 45.00 A$ |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | 475.00 A$ |
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Moneyconverter.com is an excellent resource for converting any local currency to that of your home country. This is a great tool for budgeting and stretching your “hard-earned” cash.
Accommodation
Adelaide offers a range of accommodation options. The particular type of accommodation that you choose is really a matter of personal preference and budget. Once you have decided what kind of accommodation you are seeking, then it is simply a matter of finding something that suits.
You will have to make some decisions about whether you are seeking short or longer-term options. For short-term accommodation, backpacker hostels and the less expensive hotels are always an excellent option.
Across some different price brackets, options in Adelaide include:
Budget
Glenelg Beach Hostel
Our House Backpackers
Hostel 109
Mid-range
Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide
Clarion Hotel Soho
Adelaide Meridien Hotel and Apartments
High-end
InterContinental Adelaide
Stamford Grand Adelaide
Hilton Adelaide
Shopping
Adelaide offers some excellent shopping experiences. You can hit over 700 retailers in the Rundle Mall and find some unique and trendy boutiques in Norwood Plaza and Burnside Village. If you’re really after a bargain and outlet shopping is more your style then head off to Harbour Town – only a short 15 minutes from the city.
Like with most Australian cities, don’t forget to be on the lookout for that unique little treasure that lies just off the beaten track; in a laneway or tucked in an unexpected nook.
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Time your shopping to coincide with either the post-Christmas sales or the end of financial year sales in June. Many Australian retailers offer significant discounts at these two times of year.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police, Fire and Ambulance 000
Insurance and Healthcare
A number of countries have signed reciprocal health care agreements with Australia. Check out www.humanservices.gov.au to find out if your home country is one. Regardless of whether you qualify or not, you should still consider taking out some form of additional cover – especially if you are on a working holiday and intend to be in Australia for 12 – 24 months.
Taking out private health cover while in Australia is well worth the investment. Any visitor to Australia can take out Overseas Visitors Health Cover. This type of cover will essentially bring you up to par with the basic coverage that all Australian residents have as part of their Medicare entitlements. Overseas health cover should ensure that you are covered for hospital admissions as well as a portion of any doctor’s fees.
Many Australian doctors will offer a bulk billing service meaning that they only pass on to the patient the costs that are not reimbursed to them by the Australian Government. If you can find a doctor that “bulk bills” you will achieve excellent savings in regards to your basic medical costs.
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Some insurance policies will have waiting periods and exclusions. Make sure you fully understand the limitations of your cover before signing up.
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As with any travel experience, before heading off to Australia for holiday or work, you should confirm the specific health-care services that will be available to you and also consider taking out your own, personal travel insurance.