Discover a little more of South Australia after the siren sounds.
South Australia is lacing up for a festival of footy this year. Footy mad fans from across the country will gather round our boutique capital come April, as we play host to round five of the 2023 AFL Premiership Season. Kicking off from April 13 at Adelaide Oval, round five will see games played on Thursday night, Friday night, as well as double headers on both Saturday and Sunday. Norwood Oval - located at the heart of one Adelaide's bustling inner suburbs - will host matches on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, while fans will get a glimpse of the picturesque Adelaide Hills when Mount Barker hosts a Saturday afternoon game. Tickets start from only $30 for adults, and children 14 and under are free.
Looking to play and stay? Discover a little more of South Australia with our ultimate Adelaide AFL itinerary. With one of the world's best sports stadiums - Adelaide Oval - a city overflowing with world class restaurants and small bars, there are countless reasons to play on once the game is done. Grab your tickets via Ticketek, pack your team colours and begin planning your trip!
HOW TO GET HERE
FLY
Looking to fly to Adelaide to catch all the action? AFL airline partner Virgin Australia will have over 71,000 seats available on more than 215 return flights to Adelaide from April 12 to 18.
DRIVE
Scenic Route #1: Check out our suggested route from Melbourne to Adelaide that covers famous wine regions, prehistoric landscapes and coastal vistas. Cross the border from Victoria into South Australia at Mount Gambier and let your South Australian adventure begin.
Scenic Route #2: Mix it up on your drive back from Adelaide to Melbourne and drive through Gawler and Truro before discovering the Mighty Murray Way road trip itinerary, that will see you follow the flow of the Mighty Murray way through Blanchetown, Waikerie, Barmera, Berri and Renmark on the way back home to Victoria.
Direct Route: Follow the Western Highway out of Melbourne through Ararat, Horsham, Nhil and Kaniva before entering South Australia at the aptly named Bordertown and heading to Adelaide via Keith and Tailem Bend. This route will take just over 8 hours, and if you leave in the early morning you could be checking into your Adelaide city hotel and pulling up a seat at one of Australia’s best restaurants just in time for dinner.
All visitors are encouraged to plan ahead to stay up to date on the latest traffic updates including road closures, road works and planned events via the South Australian Government website.
Where to stay
Oval Hotel
Another new addition to Adelaide's hotel scene, the Oval Hotel wraps around Adelaide Oval and each of the hotel's 138 rooms has views of the surrounding parklands. Rooms are kitted out with Australian food and wine and hotel guests have access to premium gym and pool facilities next door at Next Gen Health and Lifestyle Club. Just a quick stroll to the heart of the city, Oval Hotel is perfectly positioned for a weekend of sports, events or city exploration.
EOS
Looking for somewhere to stay near the big game? Take your pick of the best hotels in Adelaide from five-star luxury to boutique and budget hotels and be in the midst of the action. After the final siren, retreat to your hotel tucked just off the boundary at Oval Hotel, kick back under the shade of a palm tree in a rooftop pool towering above Adelaide as the cocktails flow at EOS by SkyCity or check into the culinary heart of Adelaide at the boutique Indigo Hotel perched above Adelaide Central Markets. Check out our guide to Adelaide's best hotels and start planning.
Where to eat
Africola
Our city streets are literally teeming with award-winning restaurants dishing up unique, mouth-watering flavours. Pull up a seat in a chic North African diner in the middle of Adelaide where Johannesburg-born chef Duncan Welgemoed dishes up a bold taste of Africa from chicken skin sandwiches, to woodfired cauliflower and fermented flatbreads at Africola. A fiery authentic yakitori feast? Reserve a table at Leigh Street institution Shōbōsho where smoky flavours are complemented with raw, cured, pickled and fermented dishes and are best served with a side of sashimi, noodles, yakitori, dumplings and bao. Dig into why Adelaide is a foodie city then pull up a seat at one of the best restaurants in Adelaide.
Where to drink
Bar hopping
Need a drink to settle the pregame nerves or looking for somewhere for post-game celebrations? With small speak-easy style bars tucked under the streets, swanky watering holes perched above the city skyline, laneways packed with cocktail lounges and quirky bars hidden behind unassuming walls, Adelaide's bar scene is booming. Sip your way around the lane ways of Leigh St, Peel St and Gilbert Place or drink in the boozy goodness of Adelaide's east end. Our top spots for a tipple or two include Hains & Co, Maybe Mae, Udaberri, BRKLYN or NOLA. For more bar inspiration, check out our guide to the Great South Australian gin guide.
What to do
RoofClimb Adelaide Oval
Discover where they keep the best seats in the house. After building one of the top sports stadiums in the country, it seems only natural to add even more excitement with RoofClimb Adelaide Oval – where punters can clamber over the billowing rooftops of the spectacular grandstands. Equally spectacular – the views, be it during the day or at twilight.
Wine regions
With more than 200 cellar doors on its doorstep, Adelaide is the wine capital of Australia and the best news is, it’s all so accessible. You can head to the Barossa and drink the official world’s best wine and be back in the afternoon in time for the game. Or head down the road to the Adelaide Hills, known for its cool climate wines, and sip Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with jaw-dropping views to match. The world-renowned wines of McLaren Vale and Clare Valley are just a stone’s throw away, too. Here’s our guide to the best day trips from Adelaide.
Beaches
With so many exceptional beaches so close to the city centre, Adelaide's sand and surf are virtually inescapable. Chuck on your bathers and jump on a tram just 20 minutes to Adelaide’s favourite city beach, Glenelg. Or kick back seaside at Henley Beach and enjoy dinner and drinks as you watch the sun set over the horizon. Here's our guide to the best beaches near Adelaide and where to find the best beach bars.
Full fixture list for Gather Round:
Thursday, April 13: Adelaide Crows vs Carlton at Adelaide Oval, 7:10pm
Friday, April 14: Fremantle vs Gold Coast Suns at Norwood Oval, 4:40pm
Friday, April 14: Richmond vs Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
Saturday, April 15: Brisbane Lions vs North Melbourne at Adelaide Hills, 12:40pm
Saturday, April 15: Essendon vs Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 3:40pm
Saturday, April 15: Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval, 7:20pm
Sunday, April 16: Geelong vs West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval, 12:40pm
Sunday, April 16: GWS Giants vs Hawthorn at Norwood Oval, 2:50pm
Sunday, April 16: Collingwood vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, 4:20pm
Dates and times for the remainder of the AFL season are updated closer to the time and further information on the fixture can be found here.
Start planning
Here for a few days? Start planning with our Trip Planner by checking out our Adelaide itinerary, from the best places to stay, spots to eat and things to do then start making a bucket list with our guide to the top 10 things to do in Adelaide.
Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to hear about the latest travel deals and holiday packages to Adelaide and South Australia and well as the best events and things to do.
