Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, one of Australia’s seven states and territories. The state has a population of 1.4 million people within an area that is three times the size of Japan.
South Australia is famous for producing some of the world’s best wines and an abundance of high quality regional food means that it also enjoys an excellent reputation for its innovative cuisine.
A richness in natural resources enables the state’s mining, aquaculture, fishing, agriculture, viticulture and horticulture industries to flourish, while its diversity of landscapes, attractions, events and relaxed lifestyle makes it a very popular destination for interstate and international tourists.
With a population of just over one million people, Adelaide is a very friendly, modern and cosmopolitan city. It is centrally located making it a fabulous base from which to explore Australia’s other capital cities and iconic tourist attractions.
Beautiful green parklands encircle the city and each year host food and wine festivals, cultural and sporting events, circuses and social gatherings.
There is a restaurant to suit every palette and budget in Adelaide but if you love to cook for yourself, the place to buy the best and freshest produce is the Adelaide Central Market. Over eight million people pass through this buzzing, colourful market each year making it one of the most famous markets in Australia.
Just 20 minutes from the Adelaide CBD are white, sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the coast. While great for swimming and water sports, beachside suburbs are also popular because of their excellent cafés, hotels, restaurants and shopping precincts.
Adelaide is very culturally diverse with over 125 nationalities represented and is proud of its history as being the first Australian city to invite people from across the world to settle and freely practice their culture and religion.
The city is very safe and clean. It is free of pollution, congestion and has an excellent public transport network which makes it very easy to get around.
Having a Mediterranean climate, Adelaide experiences four distinct seasons during the year - summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August) and spring (September to December). Average maximum temperatures range from 29° in summer to 15° - 16° in winter.
Each year hundreds of festivals and special events are staged in Adelaide attracting thousands of interstate and overseas tourists. These events all add to South Australia’s proud reputation of being Australia’s ‘Festival State’.
Cost of Living
Comparatively Adelaide is one of the cheapest Australian cities to live in. Accommodation, transport and general living costs are all much less enabling you to get more value for your money.
Banking
Banking hours are generally 9.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am - 5.00pm on Friday. Some banks and credit unions offer extended hours during the week and are open on Saturday mornings. Most banks will change foreign currency to Australian dollars.
Travellers cheques are widely accepted as are major credit cards such as VISA and Mastercard. Diners and American Express credit cards are not as widely accepted.
Working in Adelaide
Under current Australian visa regulations students residing temporarily under a student visa are permitted to work up to 40 hours per fortnight. For more information visit The Department for Immigration and Border Protection.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
The Department for Immigration and Citizenship requires holders of a student visa to purchase and maintain OHSC for the entire length of their student visa.
OHSC usually pays 85% of the fee for each consultation with a medical practitioner (including specialists), X-rays and pathology services.
