The Walkable City
Discovering Norwood and Kent Town, minutes from Adelaide’s CBD
If you’ve lived in Adelaide for any length of time, you know the joy of a good walkable pocket. The kind where you leave the car behind, cut through the parklands and let the afternoon unfold without much of a plan. No tight itinerary, no traffic to contend with, just a sense that whatever you stumble across will be worth your time.
Just east of the CBD, Kent Town and Norwood sit side by side, close enough to feel connected to the city but far enough to have their own rhythm. Both are an easy 10 to 15-minute walk from the eastern edge of town, and together they form one of those neighbourhood wanders locals tend to keep to themselves, until someone asks for a recommendation.
This is the kind of walk that doesn’t demand much of you. It’s mostly flat, well connected and forgiving if you decide to detour, stop for a coffee or linger somewhere longer than planned. Wide footpaths, leafy streets and an easy transition from parklands to suburbia make it ideal for a slow afternoon stroll, a weekend wander or even a spontaneous after-work escape.
It’s also an area that rewards slowing down. Former warehouses now house bars, studios and creative spaces, side streets reveal murals and tucked-away cafés, and quiet residential stretches give way to lively dining strips without any fuss. Nothing tries too hard here. It just works.
KENT TOWN
Quietly creative
Kent Town has long been one of Adelaide’s more understated neighbourhoods. It doesn’t announce itself loudly, but once you’re there, it makes perfect sense. Film studios, design firms and creative businesses have operated out of this pocket for years, giving it a low-key, industrious feel that quietly hums along in the background.
A walk through Kent Town is full of small, satisfying discoveries. You might pass a gallery showcasing local makers, spot a café where the regulars greet the barista by name, or stumble across a cellar-door-style venue tucked into a building that once served a very different purpose. Laneways double as open-air galleries, and it’s not unusual to see someone stop mid-walk to admire a new mural or snap a photo.
There’s a sense that people here are working, making and living, not performing for visitors. That authenticity is part of the appeal. Kent Town feels creative without being self-conscious, industrious without feeling rushed.
A proper local pub in the best sense of the word, The Kent Town Hotel is the kind of place that suits many occasions: a casual lunch, a post-walk drink or a dinner that stretches on longer than expected. The food is solid, the drinks list is thoughtful and the welcome is easy. Walk in without a booking and you’ll likely end up staying.
Kent Town sets the pace for the day. Unpretentious, quietly creative and comfortably familiar, it’s an ideal starting point, or pause point, on a walk that’s more about enjoyment than destination.
NORWOOD
Where the locals linger
A short walk further east brings you to Norwood, and the shift in energy is immediate. The Parade is one of those main streets Adelaide does particularly well: busy without being overwhelming, polished without losing its personality.
Here, the footpaths are alive. Locals pop in for a morning coffee, meet friends for a long lunch, browse for a last-minute gift or sit down for a casual drink that turns into dinner. Bakeries, wine bars, boutiques and everyday services sit shoulder to shoulder, creating a streetscape that feels active at all hours of the day.
Norwood Oval adds to the neighbourhood’s heartbeat. Home to the Redlegs for more than 145 years, it has also hosted AFL Gather Round and AFLW matches, drawing crowds from across the state and reinforcing the suburb’s strong sense of identity and pride. On game days, the atmosphere spills out into nearby cafés and bars, adding another layer of energy to the area.
But Norwood isn’t just about big moments. It’s the everyday rhythm that makes people linger. A place to sit and people-watch, to browse without rushing, to stay for dessert simply because you can. With its strong community feel, regular local events and well-loved hospitality scene, it’s no surprise Norwood was recently named among the world’s coolest neighbourhoods by Time Out.
A walk locals recommend
What makes the CBD–Kent Town–Norwood walk such a favourite is how effortless it feels. No driving. No parking. No rushing to beat the clock. Just a well-worn path through neighbourhoods that locals genuinely use and enjoy.
You can start in the city, cross the eastern parklands and follow your curiosity. Detour down a side street, stop when something catches your eye, or settle in somewhere comfortable and see how the day unfolds. Whether you’re walking solo, with friends or hosting visitors from interstate, the experience adapts easily.
It’s also a reminder of what Adelaide does so well. Compact neighbourhoods, strong local character and the luxury of space to move at your own pace. Kent Town and Norwood sit right there, just beyond the CBD, offering a walk that feels familiar, lively and easy to love.
Once you’ve walked it, you’ll understand why locals keep coming back.
WHAT’S ON
Eastside
The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters has a packed events calendar ahead. Here are some of the key highlights coming up over the next few months.
Concerts in the Park
7 Feb – 28 to Mar 2026
4.00–8.00pm
Various locations
Food Secrets + Eastside Wine & Ale Trail Bus Tours
18 Feb – 21 to Oct 2026
9.45am–2.00pm
The Beatles Anthology
15 Mar 2026
Norwood Concert Hall
2026 AFL Gather Round
9–12 Apr 2026
The Parade, Norwood
To find out more visit: npsp.sa.gov.au
