About Adelaide

Weather in Adelaide

In October the mean maximum temperature in Adelaide is 21 degrees celcius.  Rain is possible but not likely during this time.  

Time Zone

Adelaide’s time zone is Central Standard Time which is UTC/GMT +9.30 hours.
Adelaide will not be in daylight savings during the conference

Exchange Rates and Currency

Australian currency is decimal, with the dollar as the basic unit. Currency exchanges are located at airports, banks and major hotels.
For information on exchange rates between Australia and your country, please visit:  www.xe.com/ucc/

Tipping

Tipping is not the general custom in Adelaide and taxi drivers, hairdressers and porters at airports and hotels do not expect to be tipped.

Religion

Christianity is the predominant faith in Australia, however all major religions are represented.

Credit Cards

In general the accepted credit cards are VISA, Diners, Mastercard and American Express which are accepted in most restaurants, cafes, shops and petrol stations.

Electricity

The voltage in Australia is 240 volts.

Public Transport

Adelaide is an easy city to get around. Public transport provides access for visitors to most parts of the city square mile and the suburbs. Taxis are also plentiful. Adelaide 's City Free service is a free bus service for commuters who want to move through the city quickly. Enjoy the nostalgic experience of traveling from the city centre to Glenelg, one of Adelaide 's premier metropolitan beaches, with its vibrant cafe and shopping strip along Jetty Road , on the City to Bay tram. Trams depart regularly from Victoria Square in the city.

Shopping

Adelaide is full of surprises and shopping is one of them. As more than 75% of the world's opals are mined in South Australia , there are many shops selling solid gemstones and jewellery. South Australia is also the largest producer of Australian wines, which are highly regarded internationally. Shopping in the city is centered around Rundle Mall, the most concentrated retail shopping precinct in Australia . Department and specialty stores, boutiques, buskers, arcades and al fresco cafes all add to the atmosphere.

Adelaide

Adelaide is a compact city of approximately 1.2 million people, situated between the beautiful Adelaide Hills and the long white beaches of the Gulf of St Vincent . Settled in 1836, Adelaide retains much of the charm and tranquility of the past while offering all the vigour, multicultural diversity and conveniences of a modern city. Adelaide is known for its biennial Arts Festival, its many churches and graceful stone buildings and its location within an hour's drive of some of Australia's most famous and beautiful wine producing regions.
Adelaide and South Australia offer a lower-key but often more authentic and rewarding experience of Australia than that seen in the eastern states and larger cities. Adelaide's appeal as a conference / convention destination lies in its safety, the ease of getting around, with most hotels and city sights within walking distance of the Convention Centre, in its low levels of pollution, the proximity of the airport to the city, the quality of our food and wine and lower overall costs compared to other cities.

Climate

Australia's climate varies between regions, the north being warm and tropical, the south milder. Our seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere & Spring is September & November, Summer is December & February, Autumn is March & May and Winter is June & August. Adelaide's climate is mild, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Clothing

Australians tend to dress informally. Light weight clothes are appropriate for spring and summer, sweaters, overcoats and umbrellas for winter.

Adelaide Hills

Everywhere in the Adelaide Hills, you're sure to find pleasures and experiences that appeal to you. Whether it's enjoying unique food and wine, walking a nature trail, hunting for treasures in the many art and craft shops, exploring an old goldmine, or relaxing in one of the many bed and breakfast getaways, the Hills will always entertain you. Festivals, country shows and special events are staged all year round with great opportunities to enjoy yourself with the crowd.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is where you go when you want to see Australia but don't have time to see it all. The island is a microcosm of everything that is special about Australia. The scenery is spectacular, the climate mild and the wildlife such as wallaby, koala, possum, echidna and bandicoot are plentiful throughout the island. The world's most accessible sea lion colony can be found on the island, providing a brilliant experience for visitors. The abundance of unique flora and fauna, plus the undisturbed beauty of the rivers and coastline has resulted in much of the island being reserved as national and conservation parks.

Wine Country

Australian wines are world-renowned and South Australia is responsible for 70% of the nation's considerable output. From the vales of the Barossa Valley to the red soil of Coonawarra, there are wines to suit every palate. The Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale region each stage an annual Gourmet Weekend when top restaurants team up with wineries to present a complete culinary experience. The heritage-rich Barossa also plays host to the world's largest wine festival, the biennial vintage Festival commencing Easter Monday. It's a week-long carnival of fine wine and food, frivolity and German culture.

Outback

Further north is South Australia's great outback, three of Australia's legendary inland tracks are to be found in this region: the Birdsville Track, the Strzelecki Track and the Oodnadatta Track. If you think deserts are dry, barren and inhospitable places you'll be relieved to see the waterholes and lakes on Cooper Creek where you can swim in perfect solitude or perhaps catch a fish for dinner. If you are looking for something different, Coober Pedy is an unforgettable experience. The area produces 70% of the world's opal and is home to some truly great Australian characters. With searing summer temperatures, many locals live in dugout homes. You too can experience life below ground in the world's first underground hotel, the Desert Cave Hotel.

Flinders Ranges

There is nowhere else in the world like the Flinders Ranges. In parts, the Ranges date back an incredible 1,600 million years.

Multi-coloured parrots, wallabies, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and large red kangaroos are some of the animals that can be seen throughout the Flinders. Everything from high rainfall forests to arid micro-climates can be found here, with flora and fauna to match. Come spring, the Flinders is ablaze with brilliant coloured wildflowers.

The Flinders is home to an interesting and unique fossil trail depicting some of South Australia's earliest history. Aboriginal rock carvings and paintings thousands of years old reflect a very different kind of history. Wilpena Pound, a profoundly important area to Aboriginal mythology, is a huge natural amphitheatre and the greatest single feature of the Flinders Ranges.

South East

The state's south east is a kaleidoscope of colour and landscape. It covers rugged coasts, beautiful beaches. lush pasture, pine forests. vineyards, ancient subterranean caves, sinkholes, lakes and extinct volcanoes.

Follow the coast road for stunning beaches stretching as far as the eye can see along a spectacular coastline. Head inland to the 'Terra Rosa' soils of the Coonawarra which produces some of the best wine in the nation.
Take a guided tour of the wildlife in the nearby Bool Lagoon, a world-rated wetland.

The Coorong National Park is another renowned wetland with an extraordinary linear lake, 140km long and mostly less than 3km wide, a great place for sailing and camping.

Classic Country

Classic country comprises the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula. From rugged, spectacular cliffs and wide sandy beaches, through rolling cropping lands and merino studs, to tiny Cornish miners cottages and the remnants of the once prosperous copper industry, 'Classic Country' has a myriad of attractions to offer.

The waters surrounding the peninsula are an angler's delight offering an abundance of marine life and places to catch them. The Yorke Peninsula also offers a great diversity to the diver with spectacular underwater scenery with massive crevasses full of magnificently coloured corals, sponges and fish species.

Big River

The Sturt Highway runs straight into South Australia's Riverland, providing a chance to come to terms with Australia's greatest river, The Murray. As the mighty Murray unfolds, it is a constantly changing scene: magnificent gum trees and towering cliffs, broad lakes, quiet billabongs and holiday villages.

Fishing, swimming, water skiing or simply counting the ripples, this lazy river is guaranteed to reduce modern stress levels to the almost non-existent.

Cuisine

Adelaide has a culinary culture that is both excellent in quality and rich in variety, with more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia. There are many dining precincts, some within walking distance of the Adelaide Convention Centre. Adelaide can also promise prices that will encourage you to take advantage of our gastronomic offerings. You can choose from a vast menu of multicultural origins, informal or silver service dining, and local delicacies include fresh seafood such as whiting and lobster. The Central Market, the main fresh produce market, is conveniently situated in the city, and is a tourist attraction in itself.