South Australia (SA) & Adelaide
SA is sparsely populated, with over 80% of its inhabitants living in Adelaide and a handful of major rural centres. The state's productive agricultural regions are clustered in the south and in the Murray River irrigation belt. As you travel further north or west the terrain becomes increasingly drier and more inhospitable; the outback, which takes up more then 75% of the state's area, is largely semi-desert. The state's most important watercourse is the Murray River, which rises in the Australian Alps and meets the sea by Lake Alexandrina. SA is by far the driest Australian state.
South Australia has a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and cool winters, with most rain falling between May and August. Heat is the major climatic extreme, with daily maximums around 38°C common in the outback from October to April. Adelaide can also get very hot in summer, and if you don't have access to a pool or air-conditioner you'll find it unpleasant. Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant times, with winter getting a bit cold and wet.
For more information about Adelaide and surrounding area, view the SA - Fact sheet (pdf 45.9kb or rtf 266.84kb) and/or visit the South Australian government website.