Game On! Adelaide Metro just the ticket for an amazing race
Monday 28 July 2025

A group of Adelaide teenagers have developed their own city-wide scavenger hunt game using the Adelaide Metro network, benefiting from the new low fares for students.
The premise of ‘Adelaide: The Game’ sees the city split into six territories, each corresponding to a trainline (Seaford, Gawler, Belair, Outer Harbour, Grange, along with the CBD).
Teams use public transport to travel between locations, completing challenges to earn points. By having the greatest number of points in a territory, a team 'owns' that territory, and whoever owns the most territories by the end of the game wins.
One of the game’s creators, 17-year-old year 12 student Lex Bailiht, says using Adelaide Metro as the backbone of the game was a no-brainer.
“Using public transport network provides an accessible way for everyone to get around, while adding an element of strategy. Planning a journey is possibly the most enjoyable part of the game. If we were just driving cars everywhere, the game would be nowhere near as fun,” he says.
“Adelaide's train and trams are really easy to use and does a great job of getting us where we need to go. And the buses have massive reach, so we often use them for short journeys; or to access areas not accessible by rail.”
While Lex and his friends live in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, the game sees them traverse the entire network, reaching all the way north to Gawler, back down towards Noarlunga, and out to the bay, all in one day. The random challenges mean players might take in scenic coastal scenes, lush greenery in the hills, and varying urban landscapes by the time they complete the game.
It’s also never been cheaper for young people to use Adelaide Metro services, even during the school holidays. The price of a metroCARD 28-day student pass is now just $10, down from $28.60, with the change kicking in from 1 July 2025. The significant cost of living measure was a key initiative of the recent State Budget, and will save families up to $242 per year, per child.
“With the newly reduced price of a 28-day student pass, it's by far the best option to get to and from school; almost all of us are using them. This means that playing Adelaide: The Game comes at no real additional cost to us, which makes it completely accessible.”
Once out and about on the network, there’s a wide range of challenges for players to complete.
“Currently we’ve created over 100 challenges, ranging from just reaching the end of a certain line, to taking photos with particular statues that can be found in the vicinity of the train stations,” Lex explains.
The group usually plays during the school holidays, taking off from the Adelaide Railway Station and going until the clock hits 5pm- whoever own the most territories by then is crowned the winner. A controller also oversees the game from a central location, tracking movements and keeping score.
The idea came about after seeing similar international games online.
“I'm a big fan of the YouTube travel show 'Jet Lag: The Game', and while looking for something fun to do within the friend group about a year ago, I had the idea to create a game similar to the ones they play,” Lex explains.
“The idea seemed ambitious at first, but the dedication of our team allowed us to play the first round only a couple months after its inception. We have also considered the possibility of expanding the rules to be used in any other city or publishing an app that would allow members of the public to run their own versions of the game.”
“Game days are easily one of the most anticipated events within our friend group- enthusiasm is always high. We enjoy the strategy and team building elements, but also just having the opportunity to purposefully spend a day outside with friends,” he says.
“Getting off the train at a station you've never visited and exploring the surrounding area is always fun, and there's always a thrill to be had when someone completes a challenge you were going for before you do- it gets really competitive sometimes”.
“The network is so extensive, but we also feel safe wherever we go, be it on the trains or catching a bus.”
Michelle Spagnoletti, Adelaide Metro’s Director of Service Planning and Customer Experience says it’s fantastic to see young people showing such creativity and using the Adelaide Metro to enjoy a day out exploring the city.
“It’s also really pleasing to see young people taking full advantage of cheaper fares on public transport,” she says.
“With the new $10 fares for students using a 28-day metroCARD, it really is such an affordable and easy way to get around the city, whether that’s to get to school, or to enjoy a day out with friends in the holidays.”
“With more than 100 train and tram stations, and over 300 bus routes, almost everywhere in Adelaide can be reached by using public transport.”