Adelaide is a hidden gem of a city for running. The capital of South Australia, known as the ‘City of Churches’, while boasting a more laid back culture than Melbourne and Sydney, is also a self-professed food and wine ‘capital’. The spectacular setting makes running in Adelaide a pleasure. The city is surrounded by parkland, numerous rivers, and is also 10 km from the western coast.
The signature run in Adelaide is Park Lands Trail, which forms a perimeter around 27 parks and is also a great way to ‘sightrun’ the city. Within that, join the locals at Victoria Park and the University Loop. Another great place to run in Adelaide is the River Torrens Linear Park Trail. For beach views, the Coastal Trail goes for 70 km, and we’ve put together some good options, anchored by Glenelg. Just off the Coastal Trail, West Lake and Patawalonga Lake offer two attractive perimeter loops. The West Trail and Mike Turter Bikeway are multi-use paths that connect central Adelaide to the coast. The Sturt River Linear Park Trail and three interconnected trails near the airport are additional off-road running options.
Adelaide’s attractive running options are nearly all accessible by transport. There are buses, trams, and light rail lines within the city and also a tram connecting to Glenelg on the coast, so pick up a metroCARD! There are good maps and effective way-marking.
