The Best Adelaide Accommodation For Every Budget

Whether you’re looking for affordable accommodation or high-end luxury, here’s where to stay in Adelaide.

If you’re heading to Adelaide for work or pleasure, or planning a staycation, there is nothing like staying somewhere where you will find everything you need on your doorstep. From boutique heritage boltholes to newly refurbished hotels, from campsites and caravan parks to luxury accommodation and chic Airbnbs on the city’s fringes, here is a look at eight of the best places to stay in Adelaide.

Sequoia Luxury Lodge

Sequoia Luxury Lodge is nestled in the Adelaide Hills and it’s as exquisite as a glass of the Mount Lofty House Summit sparkling wine produced exclusively for guests from the grapes grown on the grounds where the vineyard sits. The $18 million luxury lodge comprises 14 luxury sustainably designed suites, an infinity pool and a day spa. Guests at Sequoia also have access to the three-hatted Hardy’s Veranda Restaurant at nearby Mount Lofty House, which is also located on the 12-hectare estate.

Sequoia Adelaide Hills — The doors to Sequoia have quietly opened in the Adelaide Hills.

Mayfair Hotel

One for Adelaide architecture fans, the Mayfair Hotel is set inside the old Colonial Mutual Building, which was transformed into a stylish five-star place to stay in 2015. Located on busy King William Street, the city’s main drag, the Mayfair offers 10 different styles of rooms with all the trappings you’d expect of a high-end hotel: espresso machines, Appelles amenities, fluffy bathrobes and slippers and a complimentary mini-bar. Take in the breathtaking views from the hotel’s Hennessy Rooftop Bar, named after the building’s architects: Hennessy, Hennessy & Co. and dine at the stylish The Den downstairs.

The Playford

The Playford is located opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre and minutes from Adelaide’s major retail and restaurant zone, making it a popular choice for business travellers. From its gold-leaf walls to its sweeping grand staircase and bold curves, the MGallery by Sofitel hotel – once home to Adelaide newspaper, The News – has a warm Art Nouveau ambience. All up, the hotel in the heart of Adelaide’s cultural precinct offers 182 beautifully appointed guest rooms.

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Adabco Boutique Hotel was originally opened as Our Boys’ Institution in 1897, an accommodation provider that preceded the YMCA. Housed in a charming, heritage-listed building, there is a distinct playful style on show in the boutique hotel with hand-painted artworks and a palette of warm gold and claret reds tempered with original features that will transport you back to the original 19th-century Venetian Gothic-style building. The hotel, located on a leafy street in Adelaide’s east, features spacious rooms, a communal kitchen and a relaxing lounge and dining area just a 10-minute walk to the city centre.

Adabco hotel — Adabco is housed in a charming, heritage-listed building.

Holiday Inn Express

The Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre is located in the north-west quarter of Adelaide’s CBD and although it looks rather austere from the outside, the nine-level, 245-room hotel is all warmth and colour and fun inside with colourful rugs, bold artworks and impressive murals livening things up. The new hotel provides easy access to Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Convention Centre and Rundle Mall and offers guests a free Express Start Breakfast or Grab & Go option.

Fire Station Inn

As far as fire engine-obsessed kids are concerned, there’s no other accommodation in Adelaide that holds a candle to the Fire Station Inn. There’s nothing flash or subtle about the North Adelaide property, but that’s the whole point. The 4.5-star inn sleeps a maximum of four in a suite splashed with colour from a bright-red 1942 International Fire Truck, which takes pride of place in the Fire Engine Spa Suite. Housed in Adelaide’s first Fire Station (built circa 1866), the suite also includes fireman lights, a red fireman’s pole and memorabilia.

Discovery Holiday Parks Adelaide Beachfront

With West Lakes and Glenelg beaches nearby, there’s plenty to do at the Adelaide Beachfront holiday and caravan park . In addition to luxuries such as an en suite, hot showers and laundry facilities, a stay here also offers access to nearby West Lakes, Henley Beach and Glenelg, which are well worth including on your Adelaide itinerary. Suitable for tents, campervans, and caravans, the pet-friendly campground has a swimming pool, bouncing pool, activity room and kiosk.

Discovery Parks Adelaide Beachfront — Location, location, location.

Planning a trip to Adelaide? Read more tips and itineraries in our Adelaide travel guide.

From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.

From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.

Why Silversea?

Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.

Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.

silversea cruise ship pool deck — Take a dip in the pool deck.

1. Koolama Bay

Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.

Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.

King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise — Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.

2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.

Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.

welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise — Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.

The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.

aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise. — Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

4. Horizontal Falls

Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.

With each tidal shift, the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley ’s most mesmerising natural wonders.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. — Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

5. Montgomery Reef

As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.

The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel, turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.

Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.

aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef — Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.

6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.

One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions , guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.

Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.

aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion — See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art

The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant

Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.

Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.

Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys — Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

The best Adelaide accommodation for every budget