Hahndorf
Just an easy 20-minute drive along the South Eastern Freeway
from the city centre of Adelaide is the scenic Adelaide Hills
region. The most popular tourist destination in the area is
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf. The town
was settled in 1839 by Prussian and East German immigrants, and
today is a flourishing community that attracts visitors from all
over the world. They come to admire the many historic buildings and
the 100-year-old elm and plane trees that line the main street, to
shop for crafts, and to enjoy legendary hospitality in the many
restaurants and accommodation establishments. Hahndorf is
surrounded by many wineries and there are two cellars on the main
street offering tastings and meals. The three local hotels have
traditional German beers on tap. Just outside the town is the
famous Beerenberg Strawberry Farm where visitors can pick their own
in season. Hahndorf makes a perfect base for exploring the other
delights of the Adelaide Hills, which include the Mt Lofty area,
Norton Summit, the Torrens Valley and Onkaparinga Valley.
Address:
16 miles (26km) southeast of Adelaide
Historic Hahndorf, South Australia
Chris Fithall
Adelaide Botanic Garden
The Adelaide Botanic Garden is one of the top free attractions
in the city and a lovely place to unwind and enjoy some of the
region's natural beauty. The gardens are easily accessible in the
centre of the city and are immaculately maintained. The garden's
old trees are one of the highlights, including the Wollemi Pine
which dates back to the time of the dinosaurs, and Australia's
oldest avenue of Morton Bay Fig trees. Other favourites include the
rose garden and the covered rainforest area. The garden is also
home to some historic and interesting buildings including three
glasshouses: the Palm House, Bicentennial Conservatory and Amazon
Waterlily Pavillion. The Santos Museum of Economic Botany teaches
visitors about the importance of plants and hosts some fascinating
temporary exhibitions.
Those looking for refreshments will find a selection of kiosks
and a good restaurant clustered near the lake. The restaurant is a
good option for a romantic lunch, with some beautiful views of the
garden. The gardens generally receive rave reviews from visitors
and provide space for exercise, relaxation and learning.
Address:
North Terrace, Adelaide
Bicentennial tropical conservatory in the Adelaide
Botanic Gardens
Peripitus
Barossa Valley
An hour's ride from Adelaide, to the northeast, is the Barossa
Valley, Australia's premier winemaking region. About 50 wineries
operate in the valley, which is blessed with hot dry summers, loamy
soil and good winter rainfall. The heart of the valley is the town
of Tanunda, which features relics of the valley's German heritage
in its museum. A lookout at Mengler's Hill, near the town, provides
spectacular views of the valley, or visitors can opt for a balloon
flight when weather permits. The Barossa Wine Centre serves 70,000
visitors a year and is the perfect place to find out the story of
the valley, its people and culture. A bi-annual festival, the
Barossa Vintage Festival, offers visitors the opportunity for some
off-beat entertainment like treading grapes, waving at scarecrows,
mushroom-hunting and watching floats travel down Tanunda's main
street. Other events and festivals are held throughout the
year.
Address:
66-68 Murray Street, Tanunda (Visitor Centre)
Barossa Valley Vineyards
Kyle Taylor
Adelaide enjoys a hot Mediterranean climate with sunny skies all
year round. In summer, between December and February, the average
maximum temperature is about 84°F (29°C) but the temperatures can
rise as high as 104°F (40°C). In winter, between June and August,
average temperatures range between 45°F (7°C) and 59°F (15°C). What
little rain there is falls in the winter and spring months, between
June and November. The weather in Adelaide is most pleasant during
the cool autumn months, March, April and May, and this is a good
time to travel to Adelaide. Summers can be very hot, while winters
are chilly.
South Australia experiences a variety of climate zones ranging
from arid desert in the north to Mediterranean weather along the
coast, with warm dry summers and cool wet winters. Adelaide, along
the coast, can experience very hot weather in summer, between
December and February, with temperatures averaging between 60°F
(15°C) and 84°F (29°C), but spring and autumn are usually warm,
mild and pleasant. Winter, between June and August, is the coolest
and wettest season, with average temperatures in Adelaide ranging
between 45°F (7°C) and 61°F (16°C). Away from the coast the
temperatures are more extreme, with summer maximums over 104°F
(40°C) and little or no rainfall.
Adelaide Airport
Location: The airport is situated four miles (6km) west of
Adelaide.
Time: GMT +9.5 (GMT +10.5 from first Sunday in October
to first Sunday in April).
Getting to the city:
A public bus service called JetBus collects passengers from the
bus stop on the left side of the plaza as they exit the terminal. A
number of door-to-door shuttle buses are also available at this bus
stop.
Car Rental:
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty are among the car hire
companies represented at the airport.
Airport Taxis:
A taxi rank is located left of the plaza as travellers exit of
the terminal. Concierges help passengers by allocating taxis. The
taxis are metered and the trip to downtown Adelaide takes about 20
minutes.
Facilities:
Adelaide is among the most modern of Australia's airports,
providing passengers with a wide range of duty-free shopping
opportunities, as well as ATMs and currency exchange, free wifi,
luggage storage, first aid facilities, a children's play area, a
prayer room, and numerous bars and restaurants.
Parking
A multi-level short-term car park offers undercover parking
linked to the terminal: the first 30 minutes cost A$5 and each hour
thereafter costs between A$2 and A$6, up to a daily maximum of
A$40. Economical long-term parking can be found a short distance
from the terminal (linked to the airport by free buses), which
costs A$31 for the first day and additional cost of about A$10-A$20
per day thereafter.
![South Australia]()
Adelaide has a small city centre so it is easy to get around on
foot, or by bicycle, using the many cycling paths. A novel service
is the Adelaide City Bikes scheme, which allows visitors and
residents to hire a bike within the city centre for free, so long
as they leave valid ID as a deposit for the duration of the bike
hire. Those wishing to explore farther afield can make good use of
the Adelaide Connector free bus service, which provides a safe and
convenient link between north and south Adelaide through the
central city area. The 19-seater free buses are fitted with
disability access and run seven days a week. There are also other
free bus and tram services in the CBD aimed at carrying visitors
between the main sights. The city is also served by the
TransAdelaide rail system that extends across the metropolitan area
via a number of rail lines. Most visitors enjoy a trip on the 1929
historic vintage tram, which departs from Victoria Square at
regular intervals, carrying passengers to Glenelg in about 30
minutes. Numerous taxi companies operate in the city and cabs can
be hired at stands, hailed in the street, or booked by
telephone.
Adelaide tends to be underrated as a tourist destination but in
truth there is much for holiday makers to see and do here. Choose
between anything from strolling around the city admiring the
architecture, and boutique shopping in the suburbs, to soaking up
the sun on the beautiful sandy beaches, or enjoying Adelaide's
nightlife, dining and art scene.
Start off in the historic beachside suburb of Glenelg for a
stroll along the pier with an ice-cream in hand, before heading up
into the Adelaide Hills to Mt Lofty Summit where breath-taking
views over the city can be enjoyed - the perfect place for those
travel photos. Sports fans should head to the Oval for a local or
international cricket match; culture vultures will love the Art
Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace, where more than 35,000
pieces can be viewed; and history buffs will be captivated by the
Migration Museum's insight into the migration of British prisoners
to Australia in the 1700s.
Nature and animal lovers should head out of the city to visit
Belair National Park for some fantastic bushwalking trails or even
just to hang out and have a picnic on the grass, while visitors can
get up close and personal with koalas, kangaroos and wallabies at
the Cleland Conservation Park. The Adelaide Botanical Gardens are a
great place to relax and unwind under the shade of a tree and West
Beach is perfect for family walks and swimming. After a long hard
day of sightseeing, what could round it off better than a tour of
the Coopers Brewery for a good old-fashioned, family-brewed, ice
cold beer.
Kangaroo Island
Australia's third largest island is home to colonies of sea
lions, fairy penguins, pelicans, marine life and, of course,
kangaroos, and provides so much to do and discover that visitors
are advised to stay for at least two days. Kangaroo Island is
situated eight miles (13km) from the mainland of South Australia.
It is inhabited by a small farming community that produces
speciality foods - this, combined with the fact that the fishing is
excellent, means it is worth visiting for the food alone. The
island separated from the mainland during the last Ice Age, and has
many plants and animals no longer found elsewhere. A third of the
island is protected to preserve the natural heritage.
Organised tours visit the parks and protected waterways, or
visitors can self-guide with the aid of a walking trails brochure
available at the tourist office and many of the hotels. Walking
close to the wildlife is a unique experience - glance around at
kangaroos, wallabies, goannas, echidnas, possums and platypus; and
along the coast watch dolphins, penguins and seals frolic.
Address:
Howard Drive, Penneshaw (Kangaroo Island Gateway Visitor
Information Centre)
![Kangaroo Island]()
Kangaroo Island
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges, one of the few elevated landmasses in South
Australia, is the gateway to the state's Outback, offering rugged
and spectacular scenery best seen at daybreak or sunset when the
colours come alive. At the southern end of the ranges, about 25
miles (40km) from Port Agusta, is the town of Quorn, which is the
jumping off point for four-wheel-drive and adventure tours of the
region. A vintage train runs through the nearby Pichi Richi Pass,
and visitors can try rock-climbing at Warren Gorge. Further north
is the small township of Hawker, which is the popular access point
to the main attraction of the Flinders, Wilpena Pound. Wilpena is
one of Australia's most significant Aboriginal heritage areas,
enclosed in the Flinders Ranges National Park. Rock engravings can
be viewed at Sacred Canyon and there are many bushwalks to be
enjoyed.
Address:
Quorn Visitor Information Centre: 3 Seventh Street,
Quorn
![Flinders Ranges, South Australia]()
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Peter Priday
Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy, the opal mining town located in the harsh Outback
of South Australia, about 540 miles (850km) north of Adelaide,
operates largely underground. Homes, a church, a pottery studio and
various businesses consist of 'dugouts', which have been built by
the locals to escape the intense heat of this harsh region. Coober
Pedy is recognised as the largest producer of opals in the world,
and more than 100,000 tourists from around the world make the long
pilgrimage to this unique town every year. The town features a
working mine with a museum and shop for visitors, who can opt to
stay in the Desert Cave Hotel underground. The town is located
beside the Stuart Highway, Highway 87, which provides plenty of
refuelling spots on the route from Adelaide in the south or Alice
Springs in the north. It is also possible to reach the town by air
or by bus.
Address:
Visitor Centre is located in the District Council Office,
on Hutchison Street
![Coober Pedy Opal Mine]()
Coober Pedy Opal Mine
denisbin
Historic Hahndorf, South Australia
Chris Fithall
Bicentennial tropical conservatory in the Adelaide
Botanic Gardens
Peripitus
Barossa Valley Vineyards
Kyle Taylor
Kangaroo Island
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Peter Priday
Coober Pedy Opal Mine
denisbin
