5 Reasons to Move to Adelaide
13 minute read ⌚
A move to Adelaide wasn’t always on the cards, and it’s natural to think things over and change your mind when you’ve studied the options.
As it turned out, choosing where to live in Australia has been a more difficult choice than the decision to move to the other side of the world in the first place!
We’ll take you through the decision-making process.
When we initially started looking at making the move down under a few years ago, we had our hearts set on Queensland.
The tropical weather, stunning beaches and family-friendly living really appealed to us.
However, as our research got more serious, we realised that housing wasn’t really in our price range and primary school teachers were not on the priority occupation list for that state.
After delving into our options further a couple of years later, we were firmly set on Perth, for a really long time. The beaches looked absolutely picture-perfect.
Lots of British expats had settled there. The housing was more affordable. All in all, it seemed like the ideal place to settle and for a long while, we manifested our new lives in the capital of Western Australia.
Then a spanner was thrown into the works. It seemed as though South Australia were really keen to welcome us to their state. We received our invitation to apply for a visa to SA less than two months after submitting our expression of interest (EOI).
After lodging our visa, we were then granted a 190 permanent residency visa just 42 days later. During this time, we started exploring a move to Adelaide as an alternative option to Perth. And we were pleasantly surprised.
There are many reasons why we started to fall in love with Adelaide. Check out our top 5!
1. Location – The Close Proximity to the East Coast
Whilst the idea of being in the most isolated city in the world seemed incredibly appealing at first, in reality, it might not be the best decision for us as a family.
Our children are approaching their teenage years and one of the considerations we needed to make was for the opportunities presented to them as they get older. After already moving to the other side of the world, the idea of our kids going to work or study another 5 hours away (by plane) is pretty daunting!
Choosing a move to Adelaide over Perth means that if the kids decide on uni or work on the East Coast, then we’re not going to be as far away. From a family perspective, we think that by living in Adelaide, we are likely to explore more of Australia for the same reason.
Melbourne is just an hour’s flight away and is somewhere we would all like to visit. Sydney is also only a two-hour flight, which just seems a lot more accessible than the five hours it would take from Perth.
2. The MOST Beautiful City in the World
In 2024, Adelaide was crowned the most beautiful city in the world by ‘Architectural Digest’.
Surrounded by rolling hills, picturesque beaches, wineries and Victorian architecture, Adelaide seems like the ideal place to start our lives all over again. We love looking at photos online of all of the stunning coastline South Australia has to offer, not to mention the outdoor pursuits these places provide.
The kids have already been making their Christmas lists for 2025, which include surfboards, bikes and paddleboards. A far cry from accessories for games consoles. Clarity for us that we are absolutely making the right decision by making the move, but I digress…
There are several green spaces and parks within the suburbs, perfect for after-school activities or a morning walk. Often dubbed the 20-minute city, Adelaide is close to the beaches and coastline but it is also surrounded by the hills in the background and we like the idea of this diversity in such close proximity.
With its river running through the CBD and various beautiful buildings such as the South Australia Library and Adelaide Central Market, we love the Adelaide skyline too. It looks even better during sunsets against the glowing orange-pink sky.
3. Renowned for Arts, Culture and Festivals
There are quite a lot of people online who snub Adelaide as ‘boring’ or ‘dull’ but from what we have seen online, we have to disagree. There are many appealing aspects to the city for us as a family and let’s face it, we live in Coventry, which couldn’t be any more boring if it tried! So anywhere is currently an upgrade!
From families we follow on Instagram who have settled in South Australia, there seem to be lots of things to do and lots going on. As mentioned before, the idea of the outdoor lifestyle itself is one, which massively appeals to us. Obviously, the weather helps too!
Adelaide Family Must Follows on Insta!
The food culture seems to be outstanding here, from the central food markets in the CBD to the farmer’s markets are held fairly regularly.
We follow a fair few Adelaide news channels and socials that are constantly announcing the opening of new bistros and cafes around the Adelaide area.
Adelaide News Must Follows on Insta!
We are looking forward to trying out the different cuisines and finding some firm favourites ourselves from all of these recommendations.
Music, arts, dance, light and food festivals are lined up throughout the year to enjoy in Adelaide, some of which are free and I think it is amazing that money is not a barrier to all people enjoying cultural events.
It’s fantastic that the New Year’s Eve fireworks and events are free for everyone to attend and there is even free public transport to ensure that this is accessible to all.
The History festival in particular is something which really brings communities together and celebrates Australia’s rich heritage-something I think is really important for us to learn about as new residents of the country.
4. Stunning Beaches and Coastline
I may have already mentioned the stunning beaches and coastline a few times already but seriously, I know for a fact that photos online don’t do these the justice they deserve.
The ocean is such a calming, grounding place to be and I cannot wait for our children to spend more time on the beach and in the water. The powder white sand and turquoise waters look simply dreamy and South Australia has so many miles of coastline to offer.
The fact that many of its suburbs have affordable properties close to the beach is one of the reasons we have chosen a move to Adelaide over some of the other locations in Australia.
Away from Adelaide, we are also looking forward to exploring the other beautiful crystal-clear waters, which encapsulate South Australia. Kangaroo Island is definitely on the wish list, as is Memory Cove in the Eyre Peninsula and Dolphin Bay in the Yorke Peninsula.
5. Adelaide Hills
The backdrop to the CBD in the form of Adelaide Hills provides spectacular scenery. The idea of being close to the beach but also to walking, hiking and cycling trails in the hills is one, which excites us. There are wildlife parks as well as plenty of opportunities to see kangaroos in their natural habitats.
From visiting the numerous wineries in the Barossa to hiking in Mount Barker, we are already planning some family days out after we arrive. The hills are well-known for great pubs and restaurants as well as fantastic local produce. Another argument for the fact that we don’t think Adelaide sounds boring! How can it be with all of this on the doorstep?
We are also looking forward to visiting Hahndorf– the German settlement in the hills notorious for its homemade handicrafts and German beer.
Do you agree with our Top 5 Reasons to Move to Adelaide? What would you add? Let us know over on our Instagram @halfthewa
