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Australia’s only state capital not established with the use of
convict labour, a city surrounded by parklands, with the
metropolitan area bound by the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf St
Vincent. Once renowned chiefly for its large number of
beautiful churches built by the early colonists with stone in a
manner unique from other Australian cities. Today it is best known
for the eclectic Festivals held in and around the city each year.
The central business
district follows a grid pattern, which makes it easy for visitors to
find their way around. At the centre is Victoria Square, with
King William St (the main street), running through it. Rundle Mall
is the main shopping centre, with most of the big name department
stores. The eastern end of Rundle St is renown for its fine dining
and boutique shopping. North Terrace runs parallel to Rundle Street,
a boulevard lined by the SA Art Gallery hosting probably the finest
collection of Australian art in the country, the State Museum, State
Library, State Parliament, Adelaide Casino, SA Festival
Centre, SA Exhibition Centre and the SA University. The fine
buildings and statues along this terrace provide a unique insight
into the culture and history of this remarkable capital.
The River Torrens separates the city centre from North
Adelaide. North Adelaide being the more trendy and upmarket part of
the city. Adelaide airport is about 6 km west of the city centre,
and the interstate train terminal is just south-west of the city
centre in the suburb of Keswick. Interstate buses arrive at Central
in the middle of town. The summer period (December to February)
can be very hot, with Spring (September to November) and Autumn
(March to May) being the more enjoyable times to visit. Winter (June
and August) can get quite cold and wet.
 Adelaide Festival of the
Arts, held in late February/early March is a three week event. The
Adelaide Arts Festival takes place in even-numbered years with live
drama, dance and musical events. There is also a writers’ week, art
exhibitions and poetry readings with guest speakers and performers
from around the world. The Fringe Festival, about the same time,
features alternative music and performance art. Womadelaide is an
outdoor festival of world music and dance which takes place every
February in odd-numbered years. Other festivals include the Idea’s
Festival, SA Living Artists Week and many more. There is much for the tourist to
see and do in Adelaide including visits to the South Australian
Museum, Migration Museum, the University’s Museum of Classical
Archaeology, Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Festival
Centre. The white sandy beaches at Glenelg are popular. The
Barossa Valley 50 minutes north
east of Adelaide provides a great day out for the wine buff or those
wishing to learn more about this industry. The region is dotted with
Lutheran style churches, historic cellars and vineyards with vines
up to 160 years old. Some fo the more popular include Seppelts
vineyards, Yalumba, Richmond Grove, Jacobs Creek, Jenke, Peter
Lehmans and many many more in fact around 50 different wineries
producing some of the finest Shiraz, Cabernet Chardonnay, Grenache,
and many other varieties of wine in the world.
 Hahndorf, the oldest
surviving German settlement in Australia is only 29 km south-east
of the city or head south 30 km to McLaren Vale to sample the
wineries, especially during the festival in late October. Also south
of Adelaide, only 84 km away is Victor Harbor, the main town on the
Fleurieu Peninsula. Founded originally as a sealing and whaling
centre in the 1830s, a visit during June to October can offer the
opportunities to see a southern right whale. For more information
visit the South Australian Whale Centre at Victor Harbor. Other
activities include bushwalking in the Mount Lofty Ranges, sailing
along the shoreline of the Gulf of St Vincent or a diving visit to
the artificial reef near Glenelg beach.
For
Adelaide accommodation
click here.
For additional information on attractions, tours and events, contact the local
visitor centre. |
