When people look to go backpacking in Australia, most people draw up up an itinerary including Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland. But if you are looking to see more of the country you really should consider venturing to South Australia.
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and I was instantly struck by the hotchpotch of architecture they have in South Australia. Flanked with looming glass towers over Victorian brickwork, straight, flat avenues of road are cornered with French-colonial balconies.
This city has a bit of a boring tag, and I’m not going to lie, it isn’t the most exciting or fast packed destination in the world, but there is an appeal, especially if you like slower paced cities. Here are my tips to maximise your time in Adelaide.
Reasons to Visit Adelaide
If you need some convincing to visit Adelaide, it really is an underrated city to visit on any Australia itinerary.
If you like quieter less busy cities, you will like Adelaide. I really struggled at first with this – in a city like London, Bangkok, Melbourne or Sydney you become part of the ant hill, racing around, bumping in to coffee wielding businessmen and furrow browed tourist at every turn.
In Adelaide, it is very quiet and the vibe is laid back, the outlook easy-going. No one seems to be in a rush, so you can really let the experience of South Oz sink in.
Getting from Adelaide Airport
Adelaide is a long way from most places, and the chances are you will arrive here by plane, unless you fancy a really long epic bus/train trip. Adelaide airport is 6 km west of the city and the drive is 30 minutes. You can jump on a shuttle at a cost of $7.50 or take a taxi for about $20 to the city centre. You could also jump on a public bus.
Top Things to Do in Adelaide
Here are some of the highlights of Adelaide.
Sample the Food and Wine
The first thing I discovered about Adelaideans was their penchant for coffee. Everywhere you turn, the aromas of roast beans are never far behind you. Glutton that I am, I have sampled everything I can get my mitts on since being out here.
I came out here indifferent to the joys of a well-balanced glass of vino, but Hugh (Yalumba mentee based in the Barossa) soon trained us up on all things wine. Groovy Grape tours and friendly Adelaideans alike, have all instilled in me a love of the good stuff.
You can sip your favourite new tipple in a variety of cool places, from trendy wine bars on Peel Street, to dark and cosy hotels surrounding Rundle Mall and the CBD.
Relax on Breathtaking Beaches
I love beach cities and Adelaide lots to choose from. The water, like the light here, is always full of different vivid colours. The sand is soft and the air fresh. The beaches are also really quiet, especially compared to tourist hotpots like Bondi and Manly. Bliss. Top beaches to visit include Glenelg, Port Noarlunga, Henley, Moana, Semaphore, Christies, Seacliff and Maslin.
Visit the Countryside
Kangaroo Island, McLaren Vale, the Barossa… I can’t stress enough how underrated South Australian countryside is. To whet your appetite, I’d recommend a Groovy Grape tours wine tour on another cloudless Sunday.
Throughout the countryside, vineyards were stripped, bulbous hill swelled out of the ground, and sweet place names cropped up – Yakalilla, Lovelock Road, Normanville. These were usually scattered with old fashioned bungalows and full gardens.
All Things Arty!
Wile away a day along the hallowed cultural precinct that is North Terrace, then go on a street-art wander around the city in the afternoon sun.
In the AGSA (Art Gallery of South Australia), you can get lost in the fascinatingly curated, diverse works on offer. Stroll east, and see Tandanya’s offerings of contemporary Aboriginal art.
On a Thursday night, the University of South Australia’s Samstaag Gallery is open until late, so you can ponder on art by upcoming Australasian artists, before discussing them in the pub with your mates.
Sport
Adelaide, like most places in Australia, is a sports mad. There are lots of sports you can watch live here including Australian rules football, football, baseball, basketball and cricket.
If you have never experience a liv Aussie rules game, be sure to get tickets to see the Adelaide Crows. Or a trip to watch live cricket at the impressive Adelaide Oval is highly recommended, especially if Australia are playing. This is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque sporting grounds in the world.