Best Maps for Adelaide

by Christopher O'Keeffe August 21, 2026

Adelaide is a planned city inside Park Lands, a long metropolitan corridor between Gulf St Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges, a gateway to wine country and a base for travel across South Australia. This guide compares the best Adelaide street, touring, wall, business, postcode, topographic and historical maps for visitors, residents, organisations, field teams, schools and collectors.

By Christopher O’Keeffe — Managing Director, Mapworld Australia

Adelaide is often described as an easy city to navigate. At the centre, that is largely true: Colonel William Light’s grid, the surrounding Park Lands and the north–south axis through King William Street create a clear urban structure.

Greater Adelaide is a more complicated mapping problem.

The metropolitan area stretches in a long band between the coast and the Mount Lofty Ranges. It extends north through Salisbury and Elizabeth towards Gawler, south through Noarlunga towards Aldinga, east into steep and winding Hills communities, and west through Port Adelaide to the Gulf. Beyond the suburban edge are the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, Murraylands and an entire state whose scale cannot be understood from a city map.

A navigation app can calculate a route. A good paper map explains why that route exists, what lies around it and how one journey fits into the wider region.

That is why the “best map of Adelaide” depends on the question:

1. a street map explains roads, suburbs, postcodes and metropolitan structure;

2. a touring map connects Adelaide with the Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula;

3. a wall map allows a home, classroom or organisation to see the whole system at once;

4. a business or postcode map supports territories, service zones, logistics and administration;

5. a topographic map reveals contours, drainage, vegetation, infrastructure and terrain; and

6. a historical map shows how the planned city, transport network and state developed.

For many users, the right answer is not one map but a small, purposeful map kit: a folded street or touring map, a wall map at the right size, a dedicated postcode map if boundaries matter, and the correct topographic sheet for fieldwork.

Adelaide stands on the traditional Country of the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains. The City of Adelaide acknowledges the Kaurna People as Traditional Custodians and recognises their enduring relationship with the lands, waters and sky. Historical and contemporary institutional maps record particular systems of naming, ownership and administration; they do not contain the full history, knowledge or meaning of Country.

Explore Mapworld’s complete South Australia maps collection, South Australia wall maps, Australia AUSTopo 1:250,000 maps, Australia 1:100,000 Geoscience topographic maps and historical wall maps. Businesses can also browse the broader postcode maps collection.

Adelaide makes more sense when the city grid, Park Lands, coastal plain, metropolitan corridors and Mount Lofty Ranges can be seen together.

AI-generated editorial illustration. It does not depict an actual event or a specific Mapworld product.

The Best Adelaide Maps: Quick Recommendations

Purpose	Best place to begin	Why
Best overall Adelaide street map	Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562	A 2023 double-sided map combining central Adelaide at 1:25,000 with Greater Adelaide and the Barossa at 1:100,000
Best portable Adelaide regional map	Adelaide & Region Hema map	Combines Greater Adelaide at 1:80,000 with a 1:800,000 regional touring map, CBD inset, Barossa map and rail network
Best folded state-and-city combination	South Australia State & Suburban UBD 570	Pairs South Australia at 1:1,900,000 with metropolitan Adelaide at 1:100,000
Best map for Adelaide Hills and Barossa touring	Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics map	Named sealed and unsealed roads, wineries, parks, trails, hill shading and detailed regional insets
Best standard Adelaide wall map	Adelaide UBD 562, 690 × 1000 mm laminated	Two useful scales in a practical office, classroom or home format
Best enlarged general Adelaide wall map	Adelaide UBD 562, 1020 × 1480 mm laminated	Enlarges Greater Adelaide coverage from Gawler to Aldinga Beach for better room-distance reading
Best Adelaide map for sales and operations	Adelaide Business Map 565 UBD, 1020 × 1480 mm	Adds local government boundaries, postcode boundaries, industrial areas and radial distance circles at 1:75,000
Best very large Adelaide business map	Adelaide Business Map 565 UBD, 1480 × 1980 mm	A wall-filling 1:50,000 version for shared planning rooms and detailed territory work
Best Hema metropolitan wall map	Adelaide & Region Hema, 700 × 1000 mm laminated	A clear 1:80,000 continuous regional view from Gawler Belt to Willunga and east to Charleston
Best large Hema planning map	Adelaide & Region Hema Supermap, 1000 × 1430 mm	Enlarged to 1:56,000 with suburbs, postcodes, road hierarchy and future freeway corridors
Best wall-filling Adelaide regional map	Adelaide & Region Hema Megamap, 1400 × 2000 mm	Designed for operations rooms where the metropolitan structure must remain readable from a distance
Best postcode map for metropolitan Adelaide	Adelaide Postcode Wall Map	Dedicated Adelaide postcode boundaries, numbers and suburb index in a 788 × 1036 mm format
Best postcode map for statewide operations	South Australia Postcode Wall Map	Postcode boundaries and numbers across the state with a comprehensive town index
Best South Australia wall map for an Adelaide-based organisation	South Australia UBD 570, 690 × 1000 mm laminated	A double-sided state and metropolitan reference with 2023 mapping
Best Adelaide-area 1:100,000 topographic reference	6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 Topographic Map	Shows contours, drainage, vegetation, infrastructure and terrain over roughly 54 × 54 kilometres, with an important legacy-currency warning
Best current broad topographic overview	Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000	Current national-series context from 2023 using GDA2020, MGA coordinates and AHD heights
Best historical map of metropolitan Adelaide	City of Adelaide Historic Wall Map, 1877	Shows the planned city, surrounding townships, roads, sections and hydrography within eight miles of the GPO
Best historical infrastructure map	Adelaide to Port Darwin Overland Telegraph Line, 1872	A striking continent-spanning record of the route and repeater stations that connected Australia to global communications
Best Federation-era map of South Australia	South Australia by H.E.C. Robinson, 1908	Railways, roads, towns, ports and pastoral tenure in an elegant historical state map
Best post-war state comparison	Gregory’s South Australia Wall Map, 1948	A clear view of the state’s towns, road hierarchy, boundaries and waterways after the Second World War

The Short Answer

For most visitors, new residents and general city navigation, start with the Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562. The central side supplies detailed streets at 1:25,000; the reverse explains the metropolitan corridor from Gawler to Aldinga Beach at 1:100,000 and adds a Barossa Valley inset.

Choose the Adelaide & Region Hema map when the trip is as much about the Hills, Barossa or Fleurieu Peninsula as the city. Its combination of metropolitan and regional scales makes it the better all-round touring companion.

For an office wall, the standard Adelaide UBD 562 wall map is the versatile choice. Select the Adelaide Business Map 565 when teams need local government areas, postcode boundaries, industrial zones or distance rings. Choose the Hema Adelaide & Region Supermap when a continuous regional view and wall readability matter most.

For postcode planning, use the Adelaide Postcode Wall Map for the metropolitan market and the South Australia Postcode Wall Map for statewide operations.

For topography, the key choice is between detail and coverage. The 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 map provides an intermediate terrain view but belongs to a legacy series with variable 1961–2008 currency. The current Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000 provides a much broader, more current regional overview using GDA2020—but it is not detailed enough to be the sole map for demanding bushwalking.

For historical Adelaide, begin with the 1877 City of Adelaide map. It is the clearest choice for comparing the planned colonial city and early suburbs with modern Adelaide.

A street map explains Adelaide’s grid and corridors. A regional map connects the city with the Hills, coast and wine country. A business map explains operational boundaries. A topographic map explains the ground beneath them. A historical map reveals how every layer changed.

One City, Six Different Mapping Problems

A Street Map Answers: How Do I Move Through Adelaide?

Street maps prioritise named roads, intersections, suburbs, postcodes, parks, railways, facilities and indexes. They are best for everyday orientation, property searches, trades, deliveries and learning how the inner grid connects with metropolitan Adelaide.

The most useful Adelaide street map needs two levels of detail. A large-scale central map can show the CBD, North Adelaide, Port Adelaide and inner suburbs clearly. A smaller-scale reverse can show the full north–south urban corridor and its relationship with the coast and Hills.

A Touring Map Answers: What Lies Beyond the Suburbs?

Adelaide’s travel geography expands quickly. Hahndorf, Mount Barker, the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Victor Harbor, Goolwa and Cape Jervis are close enough to form part of many Adelaide itineraries, but far enough away to require regional mapping.

A touring map sacrifices some suburban street density to show highways, secondary roads, distances, visitor attractions, parks and regional towns.

A Wall Map Answers: What Must Everyone See at Once?

Wall maps turn geography into shared information. A dispatch team can mark jobs. A school can compare coast, plains and ranges. A household can plan day trips. A government or community organisation can discuss services without passing around a screen.

The correct wall-map size depends on viewing distance. A 700 × 1000 mm map suits close reference. A 1000 × 1430 mm Supermap is easier to read across a meeting room. A two-metre Megamap belongs in a large operations space.

A Business or Postcode Map Answers: How Is Work Divided?

Roads, suburbs, postcodes and council areas are different boundary systems. Businesses often need to know all four.

The Adelaide Business Map 565 combines operational layers on a street base. A dedicated postcode map removes other detail so postal territories become the main subject. Neither should be treated as a legal authority without checking current data with the relevant organisation.

A Topographic Map Answers: What Is the Land Doing?

Adelaide sits on a coastal plain beside a steep rise into the Mount Lofty Ranges. Contours explain why eastern routes bend, why creeks and catchments matter, and why a short horizontal distance can become a demanding walk or drive.

Topographic maps show elevation, slope, drainage, vegetation, tracks, roads and other constructed features. Scale, datum and publication currency matter as much as the place name printed on the sheet.

A Historical Map Answers: What Was Here Before?

Historical maps preserve earlier roads, sections, townships, railways, pastoral leases and administrative assumptions. Adelaide is especially rewarding because its central plan remained legible while the metropolitan footprint expanded far beyond it.

Historical maps are evidence and interpretation—not current navigation tools. The names, boundaries and silences on them reflect the period in which they were made.

1. Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562

Best Overall Street Map of Adelaide

The Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562 is the strongest general-purpose paper map of Adelaide because it solves both the central-city and metropolitan problems on one double-sided sheet.

The central side is at 1:25,000, where one centimetre represents 250 metres. Its coverage extends approximately from Birkenhead in the north-west to Holden Hill in the north-east, and from Marino in the south-west to Coromandel East in the south-east. That scale supports detailed work with streets, parks, local facilities and transport infrastructure.

The Greater Adelaide side is at 1:100,000, where one centimetre represents one kilometre. It follows the metropolitan corridor from Gawler in the north to Aldinga Beach in the south and includes a Barossa Valley inset. Suburb names, postcodes, major roads, industrial areas, parks and the index provide the wider framework.

The 2023 edition unfolds to approximately 700 × 1000 mm and is available as folded paper or laminated variants.

Best For

• visitors who want more context than a phone screen;

• new residents learning how Adelaide’s suburbs connect;

• trades, property professionals and local service providers;

• families planning routes, schools and weekend travel;

• anyone who wants a current city map that remains useful without power or reception.

The Two-Scale Advantage

At 1:25,000, the city becomes readable street by street. At 1:100,000, the full metropolitan shape becomes visible. Trying to force both purposes onto one side would either make central detail too small or make the sheet too large to handle.

This is the best first purchase when the question is simply, “Which paper map of Adelaide should I buy?”

2. Adelaide & Region Hema Map

Best Portable Regional Overview

The Adelaide & Region Hema map is the better choice when Adelaide is the base for travel into the Hills, wine regions and Fleurieu Peninsula.

It combines:

• Greater Adelaide at 1:80,000;

• a regional touring map at 1:800,000;

• an Adelaide CBD inset;

• a Barossa Valley touring inset;

• suburban rail mapping;

• major and secondary roads, route numbers, attractions, fuel locations and a distance grid.

Regional coverage includes Mount Barker, Hahndorf and Stirling in the Adelaide Hills; Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston in the Barossa; and McLaren Vale, Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Yankalilla and Cape Jervis across the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The folded, double-sided sheet measures approximately 700 × 1000 mm when open.

Choose Hema When

• the itinerary combines the city with wine regions or the coast;

• you need a practical overview rather than maximum central-street density;

• rail lines and touring information are useful;

• you are planning several day trips from one Adelaide base;

• the map will live in a vehicle, caravan or travel bag.

For more background on the publisher’s mapping approach, read Hema Maps Explained.

3. South Australia State & Suburban UBD 570

Best Folded State-and-City Combination

The South Australia State & Suburban UBD 570 is ideal when Adelaide is one part of a journey or operation spanning the state.

One side maps South Australia at 1:1,900,000. It shows the main highway system, regional roads, centres, national parks, conservation areas, rivers, lakes and the great distances between the settled south and the outback.

The reverse maps Greater Adelaide at 1:100,000, extending from Gawler to Aldinga Beach. It includes suburban postcodes, major arterials, industrial areas, parks and a Barossa Valley inset.

The 2023 map unfolds to about 700 × 1000 mm. It is a strong choice for people travelling from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Murraylands or Far North who still want a useful metropolitan map when they return.

Best For

• statewide road-trip planning;

• regional sales and service teams based in Adelaide;

• schools needing city and state perspectives in one product;

• relocation and general household reference;

• travellers who do not want to carry separate state and Adelaide maps.

The trade-off is predictable: its metropolitan side cannot match the 1:25,000 central detail of UBD 562, and its state side cannot replace specialist 4WD or topographic mapping.

4. Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics Map

Best Map for the Hills, Barossa and Wine-Country Day Trips

The Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics map fills the space between a metropolitan street map and a dedicated topographic sheet.

The main map is at 1:150,000, with coverage from Kapunda south to Strathalbyn, from the Adelaide fringe east to Murray Bridge. It marks named sealed and unsealed roads, wineries and cellar doors, parks, forests, hill shading and major recreational trails.

Useful insets add:

• Crafers to Hahndorf at 1:50,000;

• Mount Crawford Forest at 1:50,000; and

• the Barossa wine region at 1:75,000.

The Heysen, Kidman, Lavender Federation and Mawson trails are shown, making the map useful for itinerary planning by walkers and cyclists. However, a trail line on a regional map does not turn it into a detailed navigation sheet. For remote, off-track or safety-critical field use, supplement it with current, larger-scale mapping and official trail information.

The sheet opens to approximately 1000 × 700 mm and is available folded or laminated.

The best Adelaide office map depends on the decision—general street coverage, operational boundaries, postcode territories or a continuous regional view.

AI-generated editorial illustration. It does not depict an actual event or a specific Mapworld product.

5. Adelaide UBD 562 Wall Maps

Best General Street-Oriented Adelaide Wall Map Family

The UBD 562 cartography is available in several wall formats through Mapworld’s South Australia wall maps collection.

690 × 1000 mm: Best Standard Size

The Adelaide UBD 562 690 × 1000 mm laminated wall map is the most versatile choice for a home office, classroom, reception area or small business.

It retains the map’s two useful perspectives:

• central Adelaide at 1:25,000; and

• Greater Adelaide at 1:100,000.

Because the published map is double-sided, confirm which side you want facing outward when ordering a flat or displayed version. Choose the central side for detailed inner-suburban work and the metropolitan side for regional operations.

1020 × 1480 mm: Best Enlarged General Map

The Adelaide UBD 562 1020 × 1480 mm laminated wall map enlarges the Greater Adelaide view for easier reading across a room. It covers the 75-kilometre metropolitan corridor from Gawler to Aldinga Beach, with suburbs, postcodes, road hierarchy, parks, industrial zones and the Barossa inset.

This size is better when several people need to gather around the map or when labels must remain readable from more than arm’s length.

The Size Rule

Do not buy the largest map merely because it contains larger text. Measure the available wall and allow clearance around furniture, doors, switches and presentation screens. Then estimate the normal viewing distance.

Mapworld’s guides How to Choose a Wall Map and What Size Wall Map Do I Need? explain the decision in more detail.

6. Adelaide Business Map 565 UBD

Best Adelaide Map for Sales Territories, Service Areas and Operations

The Adelaide Business Map 565 UBD at 1020 × 1480 mm is not simply a larger street map. It is designed around the layers organisations repeatedly ask for:

• local government area boundaries;

• postcode boundaries and labels;

• industrial and commercial zones;

• major and minor roads; and

• radial distance circles from central Adelaide.

At 1:75,000, it balances metropolitan coverage with enough detail for customer plotting, franchise planning, dispatch, field-service allocation, property work and community-service coordination.

1480 × 1980 mm: Best for a Large Planning Room

The Adelaide Business Map 565 UBD at 1480 × 1980 mm enlarges the same operational concept to 1:50,000. That scale and two-metre height make a substantial difference when the map is used by a group or marked with many sites.

Choose the XL version when:

• the wall is large enough to give the map visual breathing room;

• users will stand several metres away;

• postcode, LGA and industrial layers must remain legible;

• dozens or hundreds of clients, assets or jobs will be plotted; or

• the map will function as a permanent operational surface.

The smaller business map is easier to accommodate and often sufficient. The larger version is not automatically more informative; it makes the same kind of information easier to see and mark.

For a focused comparison, read Best Wall Maps of Adelaide for Business.

7. Adelaide & Region Hema Wall Maps

Best Continuous Metropolitan and Regional View

Hema’s Adelaide wall-map family prioritises a single continuous view rather than the two-sided central/metropolitan structure of UBD 562.

700 × 1000 mm at 1:80,000

The Adelaide & Region Hema 700 × 1000 mm laminated wall map covers Gawler Belt in the north, Willunga in the south and Charleston in the east. It shows primary and secondary roads, metro routes, state and national route numbers, existing and planned freeway corridors, suburbs, postcode boundaries and an index.

This is the best Hema size for a small office, household or classroom where users will stand close to the map.

1000 × 1430 mm Supermap at 1:56,000

The Adelaide & Region Hema Supermap enlarges the same coverage to 1:56,000. Its stronger wall readability makes it an excellent middle ground between a standard sheet and a two-metre installation.

This is often the best all-round Hema wall map for logistics, real estate, education and regional service planning.

1400 × 2000 mm Megamap

The Adelaide & Region Hema Megamap turns the metropolitan corridor into a wall-filling operational reference. It is intended for large offices, dispatch centres, classrooms and planning rooms where map labels must remain visible across the space.

The Megamap uses a heavy-duty write-on/wipe-off laminated finish. Before ordering, check not only the wall size but also delivery access, mounting method and whether users can comfortably reach the upper portions of the map.

UBD or Hema?

Choose UBD 562 when detailed central streets and the familiar two-scale city/suburban structure matter. Choose Hema Adelaide & Region when you want one continuous metropolitan region, clear road hierarchy and a range of increasingly large planning formats.

8. Adelaide and South Australia Postcode Maps

Best Maps for Territory and Service-Zone Planning

Postcode maps answer a specific business question: which postal areas cover the customers, properties or services being discussed?

The Adelaide Postcode Wall Map measures 788 × 1036 mm and concentrates on metropolitan Adelaide. It displays postcode boundaries and numbers with a suburb index, supported by major roads and reference features for orientation.

The South Australia Postcode Wall Map, also 788 × 1036 mm, extends postcode coverage across the entire state and adds a comprehensive town index.

Choose Adelaide When

• almost all customers or jobs are metropolitan;

• postcode labels need to be large enough for regular team use;

• the organisation divides the city into sales, franchise or service territories;

• dispatch staff need a quick visual boundary reference.

Choose South Australia When

• the business serves both Adelaide and regional centres;

• freight, healthcare, government, maintenance or sales territories extend statewide;

• town lookup is as important as the metropolitan pattern;

• a single planning wall must represent the whole state.

Postcodes Are Not Suburbs or Councils

A postcode is a postal delivery construct. It may contain multiple suburbs, cross boundaries people assume are fixed, or change over time. Local government areas, electoral divisions, statistical areas and service catchments are separate systems.

If council boundaries are the real subject, consider the South Australia Local Government Areas Wall Map instead. For important decisions, verify the map’s data currency and check the responsible authority.

Read Understanding Australian Postcode Maps for a fuller explanation.

9. South Australia UBD 570 Wall Maps

Best Statewide Wall Reference for an Adelaide-Based Organisation

Adelaide organisations often need to see the capital and the state together. The South Australia UBD 570 690 × 1000 mm laminated wall map provides South Australia at 1:1,900,000 on one side and metropolitan Adelaide at 1:100,000 on the other.

The 1020 × 1480 mm South Australia UBD 570 wall map enlarges the statewide road, town and national-park view. The approximately 1.4 × 2.0 metre UBD 570 Megamap is designed for operations rooms, public displays and organisations working across long regional corridors.

Choose a statewide wall map instead of an Adelaide map when the team regularly discusses Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Mount Gambier, Renmark or other regional locations. Keep a separate Adelaide map beside it if detailed metropolitan planning is also routine.

For a broader comparison, read Best Wall Maps for South Australia.

Choosing an Adelaide Wall-Map Finish

Paper

Paper is the lowest-cost option and the best choice for conventional framing. It also works well on a pinboard. Paper should be protected from moisture, repeated handling and harsh direct sunlight.

Laminated

Lamination is the practical choice for planning. Mapworld’s standard professional wall maps are generally encapsulated between two sheets of gloss laminate, producing a wipe-clean surface suitable for whiteboard markers and removable map dots. Always test a marker in an unobtrusive corner and erase notes regularly.

Read Why Laminated Maps Are Ideal for Business Use.

Timber Hang Rails

Timber rails at the top and bottom create a ready-to-hang display without a conventional frame. They suit offices, schools, libraries and homes, especially when a map may later be moved. Custom rail fitting can add up to ten working days.

Canvas

Canvas gives a map a warmer, more decorative presence. It is particularly effective for historical maps and home interiors. Canvas is not the best option when a team needs to write on the map every day.

Flat or Pre-Folded Lamination

A flat-laminated map has the cleanest presentation. A previously folded map that is opened and laminated may retain visible crease lines but offers a more economical functional surface. Both can be useful; the difference is primarily presentation.

Adelaide’s topographic story is the transition from coastal plain to steep ranges, reservoirs, valleys and regional country.

AI-generated editorial illustration. It does not depict an actual event or a specific Mapworld product.

10. 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 Topographic Map

Best Intermediate Adelaide-Area Topographic Reference—With a Currency Warning

The 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 Topographic Map belongs to Geoscience Australia’s national 1:100,000 series.

At this scale:

• one centimetre represents one kilometre;

• a standard sheet covers roughly 54 × 54 kilometres;

• the contour interval is 20 metres; and

• features include contours, spot heights, streams, roads, buildings, place names, vegetation and administrative boundaries.

The Adelaide sheet is approximately 590 × 710 mm and can be supplied on paper, waterproof and tear-resistant Tyvek, or laminated.

The Important Limitation

The national 1:100,000 series has variable mapping currency from 1961 to 2008. Sheets may use AGD66 or GDA94, with geographical and AMG or MGA coordinates, AHD heights and UTM projection.

That makes 6628 Adelaide useful for:

• broad terrain and catchment context;

• education and historical comparison;

• environmental, engineering or planning discussions where its date is understood;

• identifying the relationship between metropolitan Adelaide and the lower Mount Lofty Ranges.

It should not be assumed to show current suburban roads, new infrastructure, current access conditions or every present-day track. Check the edition and datum, compare it with current authoritative information and never make safety-critical decisions from an old sheet alone.

Browse the Australia 1:100,000 Geoscience topographic map collection and read What Is GDA2020? if you are combining older sheets with modern coordinates.

11. Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000

Best Current Broad Topographic Overview

The Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000 map is the best current broad topographic sheet for placing Adelaide within its surrounding terrain and regional transport network.

At 1:250,000, one centimetre represents 2.5 kilometres. A standard AUSTopo sheet covers about 150 kilometres east to west and 110 kilometres north to south. The Adelaide sheet measures approximately 800 × 500 mm.

The current national AUSTopo series provides:

• mapping currency from 2023;

• geographical and MGA coordinates;

• GDA2020 horizontal datum;

• Australian Height Datum elevations; and

• Universal Transverse Mercator projection.

It shows contours, spot elevations, drainage, roads, tracks, buildings, place names, vegetation and administrative features across a much wider region than 6628.

Best For

• regional orientation around Adelaide;

• environmental and infrastructure overview;

• road-trip and fieldwork preparation;

• teaching the relationship between coast, plains, ranges and Murraylands;

• a current broad reference to accompany more detailed mapping.

What It Cannot Do

At 1:250,000, individual foot tracks and small terrain features are compressed. The sheet is not a substitute for detailed current mapping when a walker, search team, land manager or field worker needs precise local navigation.

Explore the full Australia AUSTopo 1:250,000 collection and read New AUSTopo 250K Geoscience Maps for Australia for the national-series context.

Which Topographic Scale Should You Choose?

Scale	Ground distance represented by 1 cm	Best use around Adelaide	Main limitation
1:25,000	250 m	Detailed walking, field navigation and local land work when a current sheet exists	Small geographic coverage; exact sheet selection matters
1:50,000	500 m	Broader walking areas, parks, forestry and regional fieldwork	Less local detail than 1:25,000
1:100,000	1 km	Catchments, regional terrain and intermediate planning	The national Adelaide sheet is legacy mapping with variable currency
1:250,000	2.5 km	Current broad regional overview and long-distance planning	Too general for detailed bushwalking or site work

The number after the colon grows as the map shows more country and less detail. A 1:25,000 map is larger-scale and more detailed than a 1:250,000 map.

Read 1:25,000 vs 1:50,000 vs 1:100,000 Maps, What Is a Topographic Map?, How to Read a Topographic Map and Australian Topographic Map Symbols Explained before relying on a sheet in the field.

Paper, Waterproof Tyvek or Laminated?

• Paper is economical and suitable for dry planning, filing or framing.

• Tyvek is foldable, waterproof and tear-resistant, making it the best choice for repeated field use.

• Laminated is durable and easy to annotate in an office, vehicle or planning room, but less convenient to fold into a pocket.

Field-Safety Rule

A printed topographic map is one part of a navigation system. Confirm the exact sheet footprint, datum, edition and route before leaving. Carry a suitable compass, know how to use grid references, keep the map protected, and take current access, fire, weather and closure information.

How to Find the Right Topographic Map Sheet for Any Location in Australia explains the sheet-selection process.

Adelaide’s enduring central grid becomes most revealing when historical plans are compared with modern mapping and other archival evidence.

AI-generated editorial illustration. It does not depict an actual event or a specific Mapworld product.

12. City of Adelaide Historic Wall Map, 1877

Best Historical Map of Adelaide’s Early Metropolitan Form

The City of Adelaide Historic Wall Map, 1877 is the strongest historical choice for readers interested in Adelaide itself rather than the whole state.

The map records the city grid, roads, sectional subdivisions, suburban townships and hydrography within an eight-mile radius of the General Post Office. The River Torrens, creeks and coastline provide a physical framework around the planned settlement.

At 820 × 1060 mm, it is large enough for close study and display. Available finishes include 160 gsm archival paper, encapsulated laminate and 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas, with timber hang rails available for selected variants.

Best For

• then-and-now comparisons with UBD 562;

• local and family history;

• schools, libraries, museums and planning studios;

• a meaningful Adelaide housewarming, retirement or heritage gift;

• anyone fascinated by the survival of Light’s central plan.

The map should be read as a colonial record. Its sectional divisions and place names document one mapping tradition while omitting much older Kaurna knowledge and relationships with Country.

13. Adelaide to Port Darwin Overland Telegraph Line, 1872

Best Historical Map of Adelaide’s National Connections

The Adelaide to Port Darwin Overland Telegraph Line Wall Map, 1872 tells a different Adelaide story: not suburban growth, but continental connection.

The long landscape-format map follows the telegraph route from Adelaide to Port Darwin, marking stations and depots against rivers, ranges and settlements. Compiled from official documents supplied by the Superintendent of Telegraphs, it records the infrastructure that dramatically reduced communication time between Australia and the wider world.

The map measures 1000 × 457 mm, making it particularly effective above a desk, cabinet or meeting-room credenza. It is available on archival paper, laminated, canvas and hang-railed formats.

Choose it for communications, engineering and exploration history, or as a visual counterpoint to a city plan: one map shows Adelaide’s internal design; the other shows its relationship with a continent.

14. South Australia by H.E.C. Robinson, 1908

Best Federation-Era State Map

The South Australia Wall Map by H.E.C. Robinson, 1908 is reproduced from the Lady Northcote Atlas of Australia.

It shows the state during a period of railway expansion, pastoral development and post-Federation optimism. Railways, roads, towns, ports, rivers, relief and land-tenure boundaries combine with Robinson’s period typography and title work.

Two sizes are available:

• 660 × 900 mm standard; and

• 1020 × 1390 mm large.

Paper, laminated, canvas and timber hang-railed variants allow the same cartography to function as framed art, a teaching resource or a substantial public display.

This is the best historical state map to pair with a current South Australia wall map when the purpose is to compare transport networks and regional development across more than a century.

15. Gregory’s South Australia Wall Map, 1948

Best Post-War State Reference

The Gregory’s South Australia Wall Map, 1948 captures the state at the beginning of the post-war era.

Towns and settlements, roads, administrative boundaries, rivers, lakes and coastline appear in a clean mid-century cartographic style. Compared with the 1908 Robinson map, the 1948 sheet reveals another stage in the development of South Australia’s road and settlement system.

The reproduction measures 750 × 1000 mm and is available on archival paper, laminated or canvas, with hang-rail options for selected finishes.

It works particularly well in a chronological display: 1877 Adelaide, 1908 South Australia, 1948 South Australia and a current UBD or Hema wall map.

16. South Australia Pastoral Stations, 1948

Best Historical Map for Rural and Family Connections

The South Australia Pastoral Stations 1948 H.E.C. Robinson Wall Map focuses on stations, leases and regional divisions rather than urban streets.

It is valuable for station families, genealogists, rural historians, schools, museums and organisations connected with South Australia’s pastoral economy. Names and lease patterns across the Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Gawler Ranges, Murraylands and Far North make it a map that rewards close study.

It is available in two sizes:

• 690 × 1010 mm; and

• 980 × 1390 mm.

Finishes include 160 gsm paper, laminated, 395 gsm canvas and timber hang rails.

Historical pastoral maps should be interpreted carefully. Lease boundaries record a colonial economic system imposed on Country; they are not a complete account of the land or the people connected to it.

Browse the full historical wall maps collection, then read Why Historical Maps Make Beautiful and Meaningful Wall Art and Vintage Maps as Wall Art for display ideas.

How to Read Historical Adelaide Maps Responsibly

Historical maps can be beautiful, detailed and genuinely informative. They can also carry the assumptions of the institutions that created them.

When reading an Adelaide or South Australia historical map:

1. Identify its purpose. A city plan, pastoral map, road map and communications map selected different facts.

2. Check the publication date and source. A modern reproduction preserves old cartography; it does not make the information current.

3. Notice what is absent. Kaurna place knowledge, cultural landscapes and enduring relationships with Country were often excluded from colonial maps.

4. Compare several dates. One map is a snapshot; a sequence reveals growth and change.

5. Use other evidence. Photographs, directories, archives, oral histories, government records and First Nations knowledge add essential context.

6. Never use a historical map for present-day navigation or boundary decisions. Roads, property systems, access and place names change.

The richest interpretation comes from comparison rather than nostalgia alone.

Build the Right Adelaide Map Kit

For a First Visit

Take the Adelaide & Region Hema map if the itinerary includes the CBD, Hills, Barossa or Fleurieu Peninsula. Choose UBD 562 if detailed suburban streets are the priority.

Use Adelaide Metro’s live tools for present-day public transport and service changes.

For a New Resident or Relocating Family

Start with folded UBD 562. Add the standard Adelaide UBD wall map for a permanent household overview. The combination makes it easier to understand the relationship between workplaces, schools, coast, Hills and the long metropolitan corridor.

For Sales, Delivery and Field-Service Teams

Choose the Adelaide Business Map 565 for postcode, LGA, industrial and distance layers. Add the Adelaide Postcode Wall Map if postal territories drive workload allocation.

Use the 1480 × 1980 mm business map when many locations must be marked or the map will be read by a group from across a room.

For a Statewide Adelaide-Based Organisation

Place a South Australia UBD 570 wall map beside an Adelaide map. The state map shows long regional corridors; the city map resolves metropolitan detail. Add the statewide postcode map when services are allocated by postal geography.

For Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Touring

Carry the Hema Adelaide & Region map for the overall journey and the Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics map for local scenic roads, wineries, parks and trail context.

For Field Professionals and Bushwalkers

Use the current AUSTopo sheet for broad context, then obtain the most detailed current map appropriate to the site. Confirm datum and edition, carry a compass and backup navigation, and check official closures, fire conditions, weather and access information before departure.

For Schools and Universities

A strong teaching set combines:

• Adelaide UBD 562 for urban form;

• Hema Adelaide & Region for regional connections;

• South Australia UBD 570 for state geography;

• the 6628 and AUSTopo sheets for scale, datum and topographic literacy; and

• the 1877 Adelaide map for historical comparison and critical cartographic reading.

For an Adelaide History Enthusiast

Begin with the 1877 city map. Add the 1908 Robinson and 1948 Gregory’s state maps for a chronological display. The Overland Telegraph map adds a powerful infrastructure story, while the Pastoral Stations map provides rural and family-history depth.

Paper Maps and Live Information Work Better Together

A paper map is excellent for context, redundancy, discussion and spatial memory. It does not display a crash that happened ten minutes ago, a railway disruption announced this morning or a park closed because of weather or fire.

Before travel, combine the appropriate paper map with current official information:

• Traffic SA for roadworks, incidents and planned events;

• Adelaide Metro journey planner for current public-transport options;

• Adelaide Metro service disruptions for planned and unplanned changes;

• South Australian National Parks closures and alerts before visiting parks or trails; and

• South Australian outback road warnings before extending a journey into remote areas.

Paper and digital mapping are not opponents. A robust navigation system uses each for what it does best. Read GPS vs Paper Maps for the wider argument.

How to Choose the Right Adelaide Wall Map

1. Decide What the Map Must Show

• streets and suburbs: UBD 562;

• continuous metropolitan roads and postcodes: Hema Adelaide & Region;

• operational boundaries and distance rings: UBD Business Map 565;

• postal territories: Adelaide or South Australia postcode map;

• statewide routes and towns: UBD 570;

• history and display: 1877 Adelaide or another historical reproduction.

2. Decide How Far Away It Will Be Read

A standard 700 × 1000 mm map is designed for close use. A Supermap works across a meeting room. A 1.4 × 2.0 metre map needs a large wall and enough distance for the viewer to take in the whole sheet.

3. Decide Whether It Will Be Marked

Choose laminated for whiteboard-marker notes and removable map dots. Choose paper for framing or pinboards. Choose canvas for decorative display.

4. Choose the Correct Boundary System

Postcodes, suburbs, local government areas and electoral divisions answer different questions. Do not choose a postcode map when the organisation actually works by council boundaries.

5. Check Edition and Currency

Street networks, postcodes, infrastructure and administrative boundaries change. Historical and legacy topographic maps require explicit date and datum checks. Reconfirm the live product specification immediately before purchase or publication.

Why Buy an Adelaide Map from Mapworld?

Mapworld does more than list a small selection of off-the-shelf maps. The range brings together UBD, Hema, Carto Graphics, Cartodraft, Geoscience Australia and historical reproductions in formats suited to travel, fieldwork, planning and display.

Depending on the product, Mapworld can supply:

• folded paper maps;

• flat paper wall maps;

• encapsulated laminated maps;

• waterproof and tear-resistant Tyvek topographic maps;

• canvas historical and display maps;

• timber hang rails;

• Supermap and Megamap enlargements; and

• custom print and finishing advice.

That range matters because the best map is not merely the most detailed. It is the map whose coverage, scale, date, physical size and finish match the job.

Browse all South Australia maps, South Australia wall maps, AUSTopo 1:250,000 maps, 1:100,000 Geoscience maps and historical wall maps.

Complete Adelaide Map Directory

Street and Touring Maps

• Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562

• Adelaide & Region Hema map

• South Australia State & Suburban UBD 570

• Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics map

• South Australia maps collection

Adelaide and South Australia Wall Maps

• Adelaide UBD 562, 690 × 1000 mm laminated

• Adelaide UBD 562, 1020 × 1480 mm laminated

• Adelaide Business Map 565, 1020 × 1480 mm

• Adelaide Business Map 565, 1480 × 1980 mm

• Adelaide & Region Hema, 700 × 1000 mm

• Adelaide & Region Hema Supermap, 1000 × 1430 mm

• Adelaide & Region Hema Megamap, 1400 × 2000 mm

• South Australia UBD 570, 690 × 1000 mm

• South Australia UBD 570, 1020 × 1480 mm

• South Australia UBD 570 Megamap

• South Australia wall maps collection

Postcode and Administrative Maps

• Adelaide Postcode Wall Map

• South Australia Postcode Wall Map

• South Australia Local Government Areas Wall Map

• Postcode maps collection

Topographic Maps

• 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 Topographic Map

• Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000

• Australia 1:100,000 Geoscience topographic maps

• Australia AUSTopo 1:250,000 maps

Historical Adelaide and South Australia Maps

• City of Adelaide Historic Wall Map, 1877

• Adelaide to Port Darwin Overland Telegraph Line, 1872

• South Australia by H.E.C. Robinson, 1908

• Gregory’s South Australia Wall Map, 1948

• South Australia Pastoral Stations, 1948

• Historical wall maps collection

Final Verdict: Which Is the Best Map of Adelaide?

There is no single winner for every purpose, but the choices are clear.

• Best overall paper street map: Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562.

• Best Adelaide touring map: Adelaide & Region Hema.

• Best standard wall map: Adelaide UBD 562 at 690 × 1000 mm.

• Best operational wall map: Adelaide Business Map 565.

• Best continuous regional wall map: Adelaide & Region Hema Supermap.

• Best postcode map: Adelaide Postcode Wall Map, or the statewide version for regional operations.

• Best current broad topographic map: Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo 1:250,000.

• Best historical Adelaide map: City of Adelaide Historic Wall Map, 1877.

For most households, the ideal Adelaide map kit is UBD 562 plus the Hema regional map. For a business, it is the Business Map 565 plus a dedicated postcode map. For fieldwork, it is current broad AUSTopo mapping plus the most detailed current local sheet available. For historical study, it is the 1877 city plan beside a current metropolitan map.

The best map is the one that lets you see the right geography, at the right scale, at the moment a decision has to be made.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best street map of Adelaide?

The Adelaide City Streets & Suburbs UBD 562 is the best general street map. It combines central Adelaide at 1:25,000 with Greater Adelaide and a Barossa inset at 1:100,000.

What is the best Adelaide map for tourists?

Choose the Adelaide & Region Hema map when the trip includes the Hills, Barossa Valley or Fleurieu Peninsula. Choose UBD 562 when detailed suburban streets are more important.

What is the best Adelaide wall map for an office?

The standard Adelaide UBD 562 is the best versatile office map. The Adelaide Business Map 565 is better for sales, services and logistics, while the Hema Supermap is better for a large continuous regional view.

What is the difference between UBD 562 and UBD 565?

UBD 562 is a general street and suburban map. UBD 565 is a business-focused wall map that adds operational layers such as postcode and local government boundaries, industrial areas and radial distance circles.

What is the difference between the UBD and Hema Adelaide maps?

UBD 562 uses separate central and metropolitan views, giving stronger inner-city street detail. Hema uses a continuous Greater Adelaide view and its folded edition adds broader touring coverage, a CBD inset, Barossa mapping and rail information.

Which Adelaide postcode map should a business buy?

Buy the Adelaide Postcode Wall Map for a predominantly metropolitan business. Choose the South Australia Postcode Wall Map when customers, services or deliveries extend throughout the state.

Are Adelaide postcode boundaries the same as suburb or council boundaries?

No. Postcodes, suburbs and local government areas are separate systems. Select the map that matches the boundary used by the organisation and verify important current data with the responsible authority.

What is the best map for the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley?

The Adelaide Hills & Barossa Carto Graphics map is the strongest dedicated regional choice. The Hema Adelaide & Region map is better when the same trip also includes metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

What is the best topographic map of Adelaide?

For current broad regional context, choose Adelaide I5409 AUSTopo at 1:250,000. The 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 sheet supplies more detail but comes from a legacy series with variable 1961–2008 currency and older datums.

Is a 1:250,000 map detailed enough for bushwalking?

Usually not on its own. It is excellent for broad regional orientation but detailed walking and off-track navigation generally require current larger-scale mapping, appropriate skills and official access information.

Is the 6628 Adelaide 1:100,000 map current?

Do not assume so. The national 1:100,000 series has variable currency from 1961 to 2008 and may use AGD66 or GDA94. Check the specific sheet and use current authoritative information for changed roads, access and infrastructure.

What is the difference between paper, Tyvek and laminated topographic maps?

Paper is economical and easy to file. Tyvek is waterproof, tear-resistant and foldable for field use. Lamination produces a durable write-on/wipe-off planning surface but is less convenient to fold.

Can a laminated Adelaide wall map be written on?

Yes. Mapworld’s encapsulated wall maps are designed for compatible whiteboard markers and removable map dots. Test the marker first, avoid permanent ink and erase notes regularly.

Which historical Adelaide map makes the best gift?

The 1877 City of Adelaide map is the most recognisably Adelaide-focused choice. The 1872 Overland Telegraph map suits engineering and communications interests, while the 1908 Robinson map is ideal for someone connected with South Australia more broadly.

Can historical maps be used for navigation?

No. Roads, access, boundaries and names change. Historical maps are for display, research, education and comparison, not present-day route finding.

Where can I buy maps of Adelaide?

Mapworld supplies Adelaide street, touring, wall, postcode, business, topographic and historical maps online with delivery throughout Australia. Start with the South Australia collection or South Australia wall maps.

Related Mapworld Articles

• Best Wall Maps of Adelaide for Business

• Best Wall Maps for South Australia

• Understanding Australian Postcode Maps

• Hema Maps Explained

• Best Australian Road Maps and Road Atlases for 2026

• What Is a Topographic Map?

• How to Read a Topographic Map

• Australian Topographic Map Symbols Explained

• 1:25,000 vs 1:50,000 vs 1:100,000 Maps

• How to Find the Right Topographic Map Sheet

• What Is GDA2020?

• New AUSTopo 250K Geoscience Maps for Australia

• How to Choose a Wall Map

• What Size Wall Map Do I Need?

• Why Laminated Maps Are Ideal for Business Use

• GPS vs Paper Maps

• Why Historical Maps Make Beautiful and Meaningful Wall Art

• Vintage Maps as Wall Art

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