Photo: KOOMO Restaurant
Adelaide’s reputation as a city where a great restaurant, a festival and a walk in the hills are rarely far away has landed it inside the national top ten in new research into Australia’s most entertaining places to live.
New research from Muval has ranked Adelaide Central and Hills as the sixth most entertaining region in Australia, with a “buzzing” score of 56.7 out of 100.
The Buzzing Cities report ranked SA4 regions across Australia against lifestyle factors including restaurants, cafes, nightlife, events, arts, galleries, museums, fitness, recreation and outdoor activities.
For Adelaide Central and Hills, the numbers paint a strong picture of a mid-sized capital region holding its own against larger eastern-state cities. The region recorded 131.9 restaurants, 105.3 cafes and 190 events and festivals per 100,000 people, showing how Adelaide’s mix of food, culture and events continues to shape the way people live, move and spend their time.
The report found lifestyle and convenience are becoming increasingly important for Australians choosing where to live, alongside the more traditional considerations of affordability and location.
Muval CEO James Morrell said, “Where Australians choose to live has always been decided primarily by affordability and location; however, it is increasingly being shaped further by convenience and lifestyle access.”
“Major inner-city areas such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane continue to rank highly because they offer a diverse mix of entertainment options, such as restaurants, nightlife, events and cultural experiences all within proximity. This makes them particularly attractive for young professionals and people wanting a more active, social lifestyle.”
While the Adelaide CBD and Hills performed strongly, the data also pointed to a clear lifestyle divide within the city. Adelaide’s North ranked among the five least entertaining regions in the nation, with a score of 12.2 out of 100. According to the research, the region recorded 22.6 restaurants and 0.2 bars per 100,000 people.
The gap between Adelaide Central and Hills and Adelaide North was one of the clearest divides in the report, with Adelaide Central and Hills outscoring Adelaide North by 44.5 points.
Outside metropolitan Adelaide, South East South Australia ranked as the state’s second most entertaining place to live, with a buzzing score of 49.0 out of 100 and an 11th-place national ranking. The region’s result was supported by strong outdoor lifestyle credentials, including an Outdoor Recreation Score of 77.4 out of 100.
Barossa-Yorke-Mid North also ranked highly for South Australia, placing third in the state and 13th nationally with a score of 47.4 out of 100. The region recorded standout appeal across arts, galleries and museums, as well as events and festivals per 100,000 people.
The results suggest South Australia’s lifestyle appeal is not only concentrated in the city centre, with regional areas continuing to offer a compelling mix of food, culture, outdoor recreation and events.
“Aussies are being increasingly drawn to locations that combine a balance of entertainment, outdoor recreation and lifestyle appeal without needing to live near a major central business district (CBD),” James said.
Here’s the 1–6 list of the most entertaining regions by overall score:
- Sydney – City and Inner South, NSW — 71.8/100
- Melbourne – Inner, VIC — 63.4/100
- Perth – Inner, WA — 63.2/100
- Brisbane Inner City, QLD — 62.0/100
- Hume, VIC — 59.2/100
- Adelaide Central and Hills, SA — 56.7/100
The full Muval Buzzing Cities research is available here.
