Best Things To Do This Winter in Adelaide

In Adelaide, we’re closely connected — to each other, to stories and to the arts. That’s why theatre feels so at home here. There’s something timeless about settling into a velvet seat, the hush before the lights dim and a full house swept up in a story. At Her Majesty’s Theatre, you feel like you’re stepping into a piece of living history. Escape the cold and take in a world-class musical, a touring ballet or a drama. Over at the Adelaide Festival Centre, catch a main-stage show or a bold new work — or head to the Dunstan Playhouse for contemporary performances with a local edge. 

In the midst of winter, the Adelaide Central Market feels like a season of its own — cosy, colourful and bustling with life. It’s not just shelter from the weather that draws you in, but lines of stallholders calling out greetings, sharing samples and learning your name. The air smells of fresh coffee and paella, while colourful towers of vibrant citrus fruits and earthy root vegetables spill from crates. There’s a kind of joy in seeing food this fresh. Its quality speaks for itself as a guided tour takes you behind the scenes, winding through seafood counters and spice stalls. Locals gather around steaming bowls of laksa, and queues spill out of the beloved Lucia’s — an institution, home to Italian food served with the warmth of South Australian hospitality. Here, Adelaide in winter feels anything but cold.  

As the days grow shorter, Adelaide’s restaurants invite you to linger — over shared plates, second bottles and stories that stretch late into the night. Menus shift with the season, shaped by local produce and the kind of care you can taste. In the heart of the city, mood lighting at Press* Food & Wine hugs you hello. Dine on locally sourced ingredients cooked with love — like slow-roasted meats and winter vegetables, charred just right. Just 25 minutes from the city, at Ondeen in the Adelaide Hills, the idea of local goes even deeper, with much of the produce grown in their own garden. Winter brings earthy root vegetables, vibrant herbs and hardy greens, served in dishes that feel grounded and generous. The staff speak about food with the kind of quiet pride that comes from growing it themselves — and from knowing exactly what makes a South Australian winter taste so good. Want more inspiration? We’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants to visit if you’re looking for things to do in Adelaide in winter. 

An Adelaide winter is welcomed with the glow of Illuminate Adelaide. When the chill settles in, you pull on a thick coat, wrap a scarf around your neck and step into streets pulsing with colour and sound. Turn a corner and you might find yourself face to face with a glowing herd of horses or standing beneath colourful lights cascading down iconic landmarks. In Adelaide Botanic Garden, laser light and sound bend and blur nature. And above the river, hundreds of drones rise in unison, telling stories in the sky — both ancient and powerful. A mix of free and ticketed events draw crowds each winter. Whether you’re hand in hand with your child, sipping hot chocolates with friends, or linking arms with your significant other, it’s a city-wide spectacle that coaxes you out of hibernation.