Interstate favourite Little National Hotel has landed in Adelaide, bringing a relaxed take on indulgence close to the city’s art and sports scene.
Little National Hotel’s newest addition is a welcome arrival in Adelaide, bringing a touch of luxury to a sleek 21-floor tower.
The new hotel sits on North Terrace’s western end, the business side of Adelaide’s cultural boulevard, close to the Adelaide Convention Centre, university campuses and the biomed precinct.
Little National has made a name for itself interstate with its custom-built beds, and they don’t disappoint. If you plan on going out, don’t lie down first. I made that mistake, sinking into the plump white pillows and quilt and struggling to make myself vertical again.
Where is Little National Hotel Adelaide?
The hotel is centrally situated in North Terrace. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
Little National Hotel Adelaide is located in North Terrace in Adelaide’s CBD, directly across the road from the Adelaide Convention Centre (my room looked straight out over the centre and I could see them setting up for the next day’s event). It’s also near the Adelaide Railway Station and tram stops, the majestic Adelaide Oval and the city’s festival and arts precinct.
Catch the train up to the South Australian Art Gallery and Adelaide Botanic Gardens, or walk up to Rundle Street for boutique shopping, East End eateries and the Adelaide Central Market.
What is the style and character of Little National Hotel Adelaide?
The hotel is dressed in neutrals. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
Beds take centre stage in the rooms. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
Sophistication meets leisure in the hotel's library. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
The hotel has been designed by developer, DOMA Group, to take full advantage of its central city location with 360-degree views of the Adelaide skyline including the hills to the east and Adelaide’s glorious beaches to the west.
A palette of taupe, copper and brown is offset by sheer off-white curtains and a lot of potted greenery, creating warmth and an aura of contemporary sophistication.
The hotel straddles the line between five-star hotel service and modern convenience for busy guests, featuring self-check-in and check-out with friendly and helpful front of house staff on stand-by.
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AI Prompt
What are the rooms like at Little National Hotel Adelaide?
Sweet dreams; the Little National brand is known for their indulgent beds. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
Little National’s signature offer are their beds, which take centre stage in all the rooms and are made with custom joinery and mattresses. You can even buy the Bemboka Moss Stitch Cotton blankets spread across the beds from DOMA Group’s online retailer, Hotel Realm. The headboard is comfortable to rest against (although there is also a small table and chairs as well) and the TV is built into the bed frame.
What facilities does Little National Hotel Adelaide have?
The gym features Technogym equipment. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
While the rooms might be compact, the living hub upstairs has been designed so guests can gather and stretch out. It encompasses a lounge, dining area and library with plenty of table space if you need to catch up on emails. The hotel is wired up with the latest tech, with all light switches found on panels in the rooms – you can even push a button to let staff know if you want housecleaning or not.
On level 21, the well-stocked bar serves up a selection of South Australian wine and spirits, and on a balmy night with the windows open, it gives rooftop vibes.
The gym is a large and bright space with separate cardio and weights rooms with plenty of room to lay out a mat, and Technogym equipment.
There are also conference rooms available to book – another nod to the intended clientele.
What is the dining like at Little National Adelaide?
Head up to level 21 for snacks, cocktails and a breezy atmosphere. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
I eventually drag myself out of bed to get something to eat upstairs at the lounge/bar and library up on level 21.
The menu is small but considered – instead of full restaurant service you’ll find smaller share plates and snacks showcasing South Australian produce such as olives, almonds, Barossa Fine Foods ham and an Adelaide Hills cheese plate.
I opt for the weekly special of the chicken burger at $34, plus a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from the state’s Coonawarra wine region. For those that don’t want to leave their bed, there’s no room service but the hotel doesn’t mind you ordering in.
It is worth venturing out for a meal as Adelaide has an eclectic dining scene. Nearby is French restaurant La Louisiane while Peel and Leigh Streets are where you’ll find Fugazzi, Shobosho and more.
The next morning I have breakfast back upstairs – $30 for a small but delicious buffet (make sure to get the pastries) – accompanied again by those amazing Adelaide views. A perfect end to an indulgent stay.
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Does Little National Adelaide have access for guests with disabilities?
The Big Room option is spacious and ideal for guests with disabilities. (Credit: Dave Wheeler, styling by Jack Milenkovic)
The hotel offers Big Rooms, which are designed with a little more space for guests who require accessibility. They have a larger bed, a little extra floor space to support improved mobility and ease of movement and a wheelchair-accessible shower.
Is Little National Adelaide family-friendly?
There’s not too much room to move with little kids in the standard rooms but the hotel also offers Family Suites (from $489/night) with the family package including breakfast for two adults and two children.
The verdict
A welcome high-end hotel option on North Terrace, perfect for conference goers and those for a short stay in town to soak up Adelaide’s festival culture and sporting events.
The bed and the views alone are worth a stay. The small touches – T2 Sleep time tea with a Japanese-style teapot, St Ali coffee pods, fluffy Brogo robes and a custom Little National publication to read – make the experience extra special.
Details
Best for: Conference attendees and couples wanting a luxury stay close to the action.
Address: 100 North Terrace, Adelaide
Room rate: $239/night for the Little National Room
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Monarto Safari Resort’s new Safari Lodge delivers so much more than a memorable stay; it’s packed full of unforgettable moments.
Just a year after the 78-room Monarto Safari Resort opened, the new Safari Lodge brings a more intimate and exclusive overnight African safari experience to Australia just outside of Adelaide. But just how similar is it to an African safari?
Consider these pinch-me moments I had during my stay and decide for yourself.
1. Cheetah sightings at check-in
Spot cheetahs before you even check in.
Safari Lodge is set within the Wild Africa precinct of the expansive, open-range Monarto Safari Park. I expected to see animals, but I didn’t expect to see two cheetahs stalking the fenceline just behind my tent at check-in.
I cross the paddock to get a closer look. Both are now perched like a sphinx on a hill overlooking the 20 premium tents that make up Safari Lodge. I stand here, locked in place, waiting to see if they make a move. After 10 minutes like this, I turn to get settled into the tent but throw a final look in their direction; they’ve slinked back down, now barely visible in the grass. I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about this encounter later tonight.
2. Sipping champagne as a giraffe sips from a waterhole
Enjoy champagne while meeting the locals. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The all-inclusive stay includes a 2.5-hour Sunset Safari that takes guests into the Wild Africa precinct onboard a purpose-built Safari Land Cruiser for a chance to see free-roaming herds of African animals up close.
The safari drive culminates in a champagne and canapé stop in a fenced and sheltered viewing area of the precinct. A chance to watch the sun set as animals gather around one of the many waterholes. And we’re in luck! Two giraffes are stripping leaves from a nearby tree as three white rhinos graze to my right. One giraffe starts galloping, in that funny head-bobbing way giraffes do, to the water’s edge. It splays its legs and bends its long neck down to start slurping up water. I find giraffes endlessly entertaining, and sipping champagne while watching the scene play out is the icing on the cake.
3. A rain shower with views of a waterhole where African animals gather
Enjoy views from the King Safari Tent.
I am staying in tent 17, one of the best positioned tents for animal encounters, due to its proximity to the waterhole. Not only does the spacious 71-square-metre King Safari Tent feature a king bed, lounge area, separate dressing room with kitchenette, coffee machine, kettle and fully stocked mini bar, and ensuite bathroom. But you can even glimpse the waterhole from the rain shower. It’s thoughtful details like this that keep you connected to the safari experience no matter where you are located.
4. Feeding lions from within a caged dome
Step into the Lion 360 experience. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Monarto Safari Park isn’t a zoo. Set across 1500 hectares of South Australian bushland, it’s an expansive safari experience. It’s been designed to support complex social groupings, natural behaviours and long-term species management. Entry is included for guests, but I’ve decided to upgrade my experience with tickets to Lion 360.
Senior Keeper Rachel Hemming herds 15 of us into a domed cage for the unique lion feeding experience. She leads Monarto’s care and conservation breeding programs for their iconic big cats. “Make sure you don’t get too close to the edge of the cage; the lions like to mark their territory,” she warns.
She starts making cat-like calls to Kubwa, Kashka and Kito, the three male lions lazing somewhere out of sight behind the tree line in the distance. The promise of food eventually lures the lions over. I’m in awe of their size as they pace back and forth, pausing to take the meat as it’s fed to them via tongs.
In her excitement, one lady has inched too close; a lion takes aim and hits his mark before she realises her mistake. I see her leaving the gift shop with a new jacket not long after the tour ends.
5. A swim in a private plunge pool with a floating charcuterie board
Tuck into a poolside treat. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The Safari Lodge reception is also home to a restaurant and bar, heated swimming pool and several private plunge pools available to book. After a morning spent at Monarto Safari Park, a dip in one of the private plunge pools sounds too good to skip.
I change into my swimmers and make my way to the lodge. A generous charcuterie board arrives shortly after I slip into the pool. I’m told floating trays are already on order, but picking at the selection of cheeses, meats, nuts and fruit while perched on the edge sipping champagne is just as indulgent as it is having it float in the water. I never make it to the gym or pickleball court beside the lodge, but I have no regrets.
6. A front-row seat to a male rhino rejected by two females
Watch a rhino’s unlucky day. (Credit: Lucas Alexander)
Louis Tonkin, our Wild Africa Tour host, is giddy with excitement when he spots the three white rhinos on our Sunset Safari drive. He has an inkling that we’re about to get a show.
He pulls to the side and tells us what terrible eyesight white rhinos have, struggling to spot a motionless animal or object even from a short distance. However, they make up for it with acute hearing and an incredible sense of smell. Which explains why the larger male rhino is methodically creeping towards the two disinterested females grazing metres in front of him, then suddenly freezing on the spot. He’s hoping one will be open to mating with him. He takes another wary shuffle forward and suddenly the smaller of the two turns and charges towards him, butting him hard with her head. It’s a firm no. The male, denied, sheepishly backs away.
7. Watching a dazzle of zebra from the comfort of a luxury safari tent
Wildlife encounters abound.
Rain clouds loom, and the wind is howling, but thankfully it hasn’t deterred the zebras. I’m brewing a cup of Monarto’s Serengé-T – a vanilla rooibos blended with Daintree black tea and butterfly pea flower when I spot them. Six zebras are prancing across the plains for a drink at the waterhole. I watch their antics from the deck of my King Safari Tent, wrapped in a merino blanket made by Australian-owned Grampians Good Co. and marvel at the fact I get a front-row show to these wild animals.
After they disappear from view, I sit with the sketch pad and pencils I find in the cupboard and start drawing some of my most memorable animal encounters from the weekend – starting with the two hippos I saw ravenously munching on grass at dusk as we made our way out of the Wild Africa precinct last night. This really is as close to an authentic safari experience as you can get outside of Africa.
