When Colonel William Light planned the city of Adelaide, he imagined an urban space that was easy to navigate and ringed by parklands. One hundred and eighty years later, his design underpins one of the most liveable and lid-back cities in the world.

1. Adelaide Botanic Garden

This is a classic example of Hanoverian/ Victorian botanic gardens – a place of resource, science and recreation designed for the settlers of a young city. Right in the heart of the city, the Adelaide Botanic Garden boasts the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion and Museum of Economic Botany as well as trees and gardens that have thrived for more than 150 years. Linger a little longer by dining in the Restaurant Botanic.

2. Laneways

Ten years ago, Adelaide discovered a cool quarter hiding in plain sight – a network of grungy lanes perfect for small bars and lounges, cafés and diners, rooftop retreats and urban hidey-holes. The laneway scene amounts to scores of small operators, a lot of street art, and a boatload of good vibes. The trick is to secure some recommendations (try Maybe Mae, Hains & Co, Bank Street Social) then follow your nose late into the night…

3. Riverbank

The Adelaide Riverbank offers panoramic views across the River Torrens and surrounding parklands. Attractions include Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Oval, the Popeye pleasure boats (cruising the waterways since 1935 and now also offering gin-tasting cruises!), Captain Jolley’s Paddle Boats, Segway SensationSA, Adelaide City Kayak Tour and the BBQ Buoys (think large, round rubber boats with a barbecue in the centre…). Time your visit to coincide with a match at the Oval and you’ll see hordes of fans streaming across the elegant footbridge that curves over Torrens Lake.

4. Central Market

The 150-year-old Central Market is the oldest of its kind in Australia and still as lively as the day it opened. On market days, the undercover hall is filled with the sounds and smells of stalls selling everything from lasagne to laksa. Plenty of stallholders offer free samples, but if you’re looking for something more substantial you can find places to sit and indulge. Guided tours run regularly – a chance to try new (often unusual!) produce, meet the growers and learn a few tricks in time for your next dinner party.

5. Adelaide Zoo

Established in 1883, Adelaide Zoo is home to more than 3000 native and exotic animals. It’s the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be operated by a conservation charity, Zoos SA, and is another of Adelaide’s inner-city green oases (it’s also a botanic garden with five Heritage-listed structures). It’s home to the only pandas in Australasia, a ‘zoo-keeper for a day’ experience, and a new South-East Asia ‘immersion’ exhibit where visitors walk through the jungle with Sumatran tigers and orangutans seemingly within reach.

Read dueSouth Magazine here.