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11.4.5 Adelaide and SA
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This article is from the soc.culture.australian FAQ, by Stephen Wales with numerous contributions by others.
11.4.5 Adelaide and SA
In Adelaide itself, there's some very interesting architecture. It's
one of only two designed cities I know of in Australia - the other
being Canberra, the federal capital. It was designed by Colonel
William Light (I hope I remember correctly) in the early days of the
colony.
There are many lovely churches, and the parks are also nice. The
stone architecture in the area is unique in Australia - wood was
scarce in SA, so stone was used. Also, many of the early migrants
were from Germany and Europe, and preferred stone to wood.
The town of Hahndorf just outside the city has some wonderful german
influences, including the food!
Then there's the wineries: To the north is the Clare Valley, to the
south is McClaren Vale, to the north east is the Barossa Valley. The
Barossa is the longest established, and my personal favourite, because
one of there specialties is german-style white wine. McClaren Vale
has some interesting styles including the light italian table wines.
Down in the south-eastern corner of the state can be found other
wineries specialising in sparkling wines (including methode
champagnoise). The areas around Mildura also have extensive grape
crops, but these are often for sultanas, or made into wines by the
southern wineries.
The citrus growing areas close to Mildura are great for fruit - the
town of Berri can be seen lending its name to products in the
supermarkets all over the country.
National parks and recreation areas: The Adelaide hills have a number
of small national parks and recreation areas including some
spectacular gorges and viewpoints. There are other small parks to the
south on the Fleurieu Peninsula, including Hallet Cove. Kangaroo
Island, off the tip of the peninsula is a popular weekend destination
and has a lot to offer - including the chance to see seal colonies.
Other places for weekend trips - or preferably longer - include the
Flinders ranges and the Gammon ranges, the Eyre peninsula and the
Grampians National Park in Victoria. There are also extensive
wetlands near the mouth of the Murray River, and paddle-wheeler trips
on the Murray are popular.
The Flinders Ranges, especially the Gammon Ranges at the northern end,
are a good introduction to a visitor of what "the Outback" really
means. There are comfortable motels to stay in, but the gorges and
valleys are well worth seeing. I was lucky enough to see the Gammon
just after rain - the ephemeral flowers were amazing, and the red rock
reflecting in still pools of the gorges something that must be seen to
be believed.
[DS] Kangaroo Island, just a 30-minute light plane flight or a
somewhat longer ferry ride from Adelaide, is a must-see. The tourist
office can organise extremely cheap long-weekend trips incl. car hire
(but watch out for the roads -- I had a tyre come off and didn't even
realise it, the roads are that corrugated!) and accommodation. It's a
great place with excellent swimming and fishing and, of course, lots
of kangaroos.
[WS] For animal petting, Cleland Wildlife Reserve is the place to go.
You can walk among wallabies and Kangaroos and on occasion pet a koala.
If you like to hike, you could start at Waterfall Gully and hike there
through some beautiful woods, but check the distances and directions
first to make sure it fits your time and hiking constraints.
If you like to try good wine, McClaren Vale is south of Adelaide and
Barossa Valley is north. They have some of the finest wines that are
not too outrageously priced, in the world. A tour by a knowledgeable
native would be most helpful. My wife, an Adelaide native, recommends
Handorf, a German town not too far, and the art gallery where you
might view Hans Heisen's art. A popular place to shop is the Rundall
Mall in downtown Adelaide. On the River Torrens is "Popeye" which
offers quiet trips on the river. In that vicinity is the theatre
complex. The Adelaide Zoo and the parklands around the main city are
also pleasant endeavours.
[MW] BEACHES - don't let anyone tell you beaches are no fun in winter,
it just isn't true. Personally, I think the southern beaches are the
best, that is the ones south of Adelaide, heading towards Cape
Jervois. For a secluded beach, you can't go past Normanville. If you
like body surfing, try Boomer beach near Goolwa. Victor Harbour is
worth a day trip, and you can see fairy penguins under the rocks on
Granite Island. I haven't been to Kangaroo Island for quite a while,
but people say it's still beautiful and relatively unspoilt.
HILLS - Adelaide's best kept secrets. Besides Hahndorf, there are
many other (less touristy) towns, with local crafts, tea shops, lovely
old buildings, and great country bakeries. There are also forests to
be wandered through (Kuitpo "Kai-po" and Second Valley are the
largest). Further north, the wildlife park at Cudlee Creek (already
mentioned elsewhere in this newsgroup) is a must. In the Barossa, try
to see the Whispering Wall.
HIKING and bushwalking - the Flinders Ranges are really spectacular.
The best time to go is August/September, when the wildflowers are out
and the weather is not too hot.
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