Urban wellness in South Australia

Looking for a dose of wellbeing without leaving town? In Adelaide, you can find your bliss around every bend. With its quiet corners, its parks and beaches, there are plenty of places and things to do to quieten the mind and immerse in.

Why not get up early and spend some time talking to the animals at Adelaide Zoo, home to over 2500 animals including Wang Wang and Fu Ni the only two pandas in Australia, and one of Australia’s largest lion prides and giraffe herds. The zoo leads the way with their animal wellbeing plan that has a focus on the environment, behaviour, nutrition, and physical and mental health to ensure positive wellbeing. Their new Wellness Program for staff, visitors and volunteers also incorporates these principles. To promote the benefits of mindfulness, or being in the moment, they’ve created a map with a series of mindful stops around the zoo such as the Rainforest and Wetlands Aviary and the Aldabra Tortoise lawns. Just choose your favourite spot to pause and take a breath. For a few minutes, use your senses to take in where you are, and what you can see, feel, hear and smell – you’ll be surprised how this practice can really enhance your experience. While exploring the zoo you can also learn about some impressive sustainability and conservation efforts they are leading.

Or how about a walk with a birds-eye view of the city? RoofClimb Leaders will guide you across the highest points of Adelaide Oval’s unique roofline. Travelling from the Western Stand to the Riverbank Stand on a purpose-built path, the experience will offer breathtaking views and a unique perspective of the city of Adelaide. Witness blue sky in every direction and marvel at some of Adelaide’s most recognised landmarks.

Another favourite of ours is the Adelaide Central Market, which has been in operation for over 150 years and is the go-to for gourmet grazing. Be guided by the tempting aromas of everything from fresh-baked pastries to spicy curries as you browse the 80-odd artisanal food stores. If you are looking for something to take home with you, try one of the handmade pasta sauces at Lucia’s Fine Foods, or explore the bushfood flavours on offer at Something Wild, where you can buy ground wattleseed or bush apple gin.

Once you’ve fuelled up, it’s time to get back to nature. With plenty of parkland in the heart of town and bushland ringing the city, Adelaide has plenty of places to enjoy. If you want to get your heart rate up, hop aboard a bike and explore the city’s many two-wheeler trails. Or join Pure SA on their Adelaide City to Sea Bike Tour, which takes you from the riverbank precinct down to the coast, where the salt-tinged sea and the sound of the waves lifts your spirits as your stroll along Henley or Glenelg Beaches.

Finally, if you want to pamper your body as well as your mind, we recommend a trip to the Jurlique Spa, an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. Jurlique is known for its luxury skincare, produced using botanicals that Jurlique grows on its biodynamic farm in the Adelaide Hills: everything from lavender and rosemary to black elder and honey. Its flagship spa in Rundle Mall offers a range of treatments designed to help you decompress, like the facials that not only soften and nourish your skin but also soothe away your tension thanks to a facial massage using cool jade and warm rose quartz crystals.

You’ll also find lots of amazing wellness experiences in Adelaide in these blogs: Go green in the city | Well Traveller and Where to get your yoga fix in Adelaide | Well Traveller

Image credits: South Australian Tourism Commission, Pure SA and Jurlique.