There is no need to whinge about South Australia.
This state has something for everybody.
If you are a Sheila who likes to nosey-poke around,
Or a bloke who loves adventure,
South Australia is a bloody ripper.
Wine, food and schooners of amber fluid,
Can be found down every frog & toad.
For nature lovers, why not take a hop over to Kangaroo Island.
Enjoy some of the best walkabouts in the world.
It’s a Beaut!!
South Australia,
Everybody should give it a burl in their life time.
It’s Heaps Good.
Pretty much that sums up South Australia in a nut shell. With its quaint capital city and numerous vineyards, South Australia is a diamond in the rough. It is a brilliant blend of the best of life, combining a relaxed lifestyle and great food and wine with incredible nature experiences. The region used to be the traditional home of the Kaurna people, but now the total population is 1,584,500, with most of the people living in the capital city of Adelaide, and with over 150 vineyards South Australia is considered Australia’s premier wine state.
ADELAIDE
Known as the city of churches, the city of multiple cultures and the city of festivals, Adelaide is a big city with a small feel. Situated between the Mt. Lofty ranges and the sea, this city of 1.1 million people has a leisurely pace to it. Any religion and ethnic culture is welcomed with open arms. The city plan was laid out in 1836 and is one of the easiest to get around. The wide streets in its 1 ½ square km city centre are organized in a simple grid that’s ringed with park lands. The North Terrace is where most of Adelaide’s history lives. The city’s oldest church, Anglican Holy Trinity, was the first church built here in 1838 and was the first church to allow any religion to worship within its walls. Most of Adelaide’s museum’s are in North Terrace. Among them is Ayers House Museum. It was the colonial home to Sir Henry Ayers between 1855 and 1897. Mr. Ayers was South Australia’s premier and to whom Ayers Rock was named after. The Art Gallery of South Australia houses most of the cities finest collections and the South Australia Museum has the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts with over 3000 items. Adding to Adelaide’s charm is the fact that all of these museums are free for people to enjoy everyday of the week. Another distinct lard mark of the North Terrace is the University of Adelaide. It was established in 1874 and is the third oldest university in Australia. With it’s old world charm and buildings that are still the original ones, students from all over the world come to this university to study.
Adelaide has more restaurants per capita then anywhere else in Australia. If you are craving Thai, Chinese, American or traditional Aussie food, you will be able to find it in this city. When the sun sets the nightlife comes to life. Every evening you will be able to find something to do. Whether it is a quiet stroll among the parks, hitting the clubs with the younger generation or just sitting in the local pubs and enjoying a drink with your mates, Adelaide has it all.
Adelaide has some of the best hotels in the world. The Hilton is right in the heart of downtown for the business travelers, and just 10 minutes from the airport for an easy stopover hotel. The Hyatt is at the end of the North Terrace within easy walking distance to all the sites and museums. The Majestic Roof Top Hotel was rated the 4th best in the world by travelers. It is the perfect hotel for people that like to shop. It is about a 10 minute walk from the Rundle Street Mall which has some of the best shops in Adelaide. All in all, if you are looking for the small, quiet hotel, the hotel in the middle of it all, or one of the best hotels in the world, you will find it here.
Considered the driest land in Australia, Adelaide has the least rainfall of all Australian capital cities. In the summer, temperatures can get as high as 48 C and in the winter as low as 5 C at night, but this city is still one of the cheapest if you want to buy a house. Right now Adelaide is in a drought. One of their main water sources is almost dry and because of this, the government has put restrictions on the water usage. However, this does not affect the tourism industry. All of the hotels and restaurants have high tech recycling systems that re-use all of the waste water from the kitchens.
One of Australia’s best kept secrets, Adelaide is a great city to visit. Everybody seems to forget about this city when they come to Australia. After you visit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, come relax in the best city of Australia, Adelaide.
BAROSSA VALLEY
Just an hour’s drive North East of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley offers everything you’d expect from Australia’s most famous wine region. With more then 70 wineries across the two wide, shallow valleys, you will fall in love at first glance. The region owes much of its appeal to the European settlers, mostly German and Polish, who first made this place home in the 1850’s. Around every corner, you will find winemakers waiting to share their wines at the numerous cellar doors. With 6 to 12 varieties of wine for tasting, you are sure to find something that you enjoy. You do not have to know anything about wines to enjoy a day in the Barossa Valley. All of the workers at the wineries are glad to share with you their knowledge about wines, and when you leave you will fell like the expert.
Penfolds, Australia’s most famous wine, is one of the biggest wineries in the region. The first of its kind in the region, Penfolds has the Make Your Own Blend Experience. It is a fun wine experience for anyone who has dreamt of being a winemaker for a day. You get to mix three different blends, Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre to try and make your own blend.
One of the best parts about this region is the accommodations. With only one true hotel, the rest are Bed & Breakfast’s. Set among the vineyards, you will fell like you are a million miles away from anything. Stop by for just one night, or stay for a week, the Bed & Breakfast style houses are the way to go. Most of them are family run and make you feel like part of the family.
As you travel to all the different cellar doors, you will pass through many small towns. Each one has its own charm and character, but they all have the same features. Stately stone buildings and tiny shops line the main street. They have the feel of being in a small English village. Most of the residents of these towns work at the wineries and vineyards. No big supermarkets or malls, the residents go to the local bakeries and shops each day to get their suppers.
Travelling around the Barossa Valley is very easy. All of the dirt roads are clearly marked and all of the wineries are clearly labeled. But the best way to see it all is to go on a private tour. Australia has severe laws against drinking and driving, and you would not want to ruin your vacation by getting caught. One of the best private tours, in my opinion, is Rich & Lingering. It is owned by a gentleman named Jason Miller. Rich & Lingering is a specialist food and wine tour operator with a passion for gratifying the senses. They provide tours of the highest quality. Your personal wine guide is a professional wine taster, and works in a boutique winery. They are very good at what they do and will show you everything that you want to see. I would personally recommend this company.
MCLAREN VALE
Where the vines meet the sea. Just 40 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale has the warmth and feel of a country town. The area is only minutes away from the stunning coastline and beaches that influence so much of the lifestyle and culture of the people. With over 80 cellar doors, the region’s artisans are passionate about the food, wine and culture of the area and this is evidence in the genuine hospitality offered by all the people.
The region has a very Mediterranean feel to it, with many an Italian influence to the wines. With the four clear seasons, (dry, warm summer, calm autumn, winter rains and fresh spring) the McLaren Vale also produces olives, olive oil and cheeses. Add a tour of an Olive Grove onto your itinerary, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Most of the cellar doors seem to be owned and operated by local people that have a passion for wines. Although a lot of the wine that is produced is exported, there are some wineries that only produce products for Australia. This way of thinking is what makes McLaren Vale so popular.
Similar to the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale is made up of wineries and Bed & Breakfast style accommodations. Stay in the region and wake up to watching the grapes ripen or the waves roll in. Once again the best way to see the region is by a private tour. Most of the tour operators have pre made itineraries, but they will all work with you if you want to customize your tour. All of the tours will start first thing in the morning and conclude around dusk, which is the perfect time to see kangaroos. Driving along the coast on your way to Cape Jervis, you have to keep your eyes open for them. Normally, in every open field, you can see little brown dots hopping along. It is a great way to end a fantastic day of sightseeing and wine tasting.
KANGAROO ISLAND
The best way to describe Kangaroo Island, or KI as the locals call it, is a “zoo without fences.” KI is Australia’s 3rd largest island with an area of 2, 250 square km. It is only 16 km from the mainland, but it feels like you have stepped back in time with its folksy, friendly, less sophisticated way of life. It is an island made up of a series of bays and inlets that was discovered in 1802 by a British explorer named Matthew Flinders. Half the native bush land and the red earth roads on Kangaroo Island remain just as they were when it was discovered so long ago. The two main ways to get to KI are by ferry or by airplane. The ferry leaves from Cape Jervis and takes about 45 minutes. It is big enough to transport 250 people and cars and trucks. The ferry is the main way that most of the supplies arrive on the island. Flying to KI is the quickest way to reach the island. You depart from the Adelaide airport, and at only 20 minutes, it is a quick and easy trip. The air plane is a small 12 seater, but despite the small air craft, it is a vey nice ride. You can see some amazing views of the island as you fly in.
Most of the islands people, about 4,400, are native people whose families have grown up on the island. They are very passionate about preserving the natural beauty of it and educating the world about this secluded piece of heaven. There are two main cities on the island.
Penneshaw is a small town where the ferry port is. There is one main hotel and a few hostels, but it is most famous for the Little Penguins that call the coastline home. Living and breeding in burrows, these little penguins leave every night to fish in the ocean and return every morning to rest. Guided tours depart every evening to see this spectacular sight.
Kingscote is the largest city on the island. It was founded by European settlers in 1836. It is the busiest tourist centre and also the administrative and communications centre. The airport is just 15 minutes away from the city, so most people stay in this city.
There are so many things to do on the island that one day is never enough. The best way to see Kangaroo Island to its fullest is a 2 or 3 day stay. Here are two of the best places to visit on the island.
SEAL BAY CONSERVATION PARK
A 45 minute drive from Kingscote, Seal Bay is the perfect place to see Australian sea-lions up-close in their natural environment of coastal vegetation, sand dunes and the beach. You can wander along the 400 meter boardwalk to the viewing platform or the best way is to take one of the guided tours. Only on the guided tour can you go onto the beach and walk among the sea-lions. Over 300 sea-lions call the beach home. You are not allowed to touch them, but some times the little pups come up to you to take a better look. Standing on the beach listening to the pups call for their moms who have been off fishing for the last 3 days is one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. The guided tours run everyday (expect Christmas) from 9am until 4pm at a cost of $27.50 per adult.
FLINDERS CHASE NATIONAL PARK
Located at the western end of Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase National Park encompasses stunning coastal landscapes, vast areas of wilderness and a diversity of wildlife. Camping, hiking and wildlife viewing are just some of the activities that you can do while you are visiting this park. Entry fee into the park is $8.50 per adult, with additional fees for camping.
Hiking along the paths in the park you need to keep your eyes open for the wildlife that is abundant throughout. You have to be quiet and have an eagle eye to spot most of the animals which are normally sleeping during the day. Probably on of the easiest animals to find are the kangaroos that the island is named for. The island’s isolation has seen some species evolve differently from the mainland species. This is exactly what has happened to the KI kangaroo. It is sub-species of the western grey kangaroo that can be found on the main land, but it is smaller, darker, and has longer fur. The best time to see the kangaroos is from dusk to dawn, as the animal is nocturnal.
While looking for the kangaroos, you might also see the Tammar Wallabies. They look just like small kangaroos, but have smaller and finer features. The island is abundant with the wallabies, and with only a small population alive on the main land, this is one of the only places to see this animal. Koalas, one of the island’s most famous characters, can be found everywhere. You don’t have to look hard, just up, to find them. They normally sleep about 18 hours a day, due to the Eucalyptus that they eat. It has very little nutritional value, which makes the Koala tired. As an introduced species, the Koala’s numbers have truly exploded to an enormous amount. To help control them, conservationists have started to capture the Koalas and perform vasectomies on the males and tuba ligations on the females. Thanks to their efforts, the koala population is starting to decline to reasonable numbers. One of the hardest animals to find is the Echidna or spiny Anteater. If you are very lucky you might see one on the side of the road foraging for ants. At over 125 million years old, the Echidna is the oldest living mammal in the world. It most closely resembles a small hedgehog, with coarse hair and spines all over its body. Just like the Platypus, it is the only other mammal in the world that lays eggs. Once the egg has been fertilized, it is deposited into her pouch were it will stay for the next 45 to 55 days to develop.
Aside from the animals, Flinders Chase National Park has two other must sees. The first is Remarkable Rocks. A cluster of granite boulders set atop a granite dome, along the islands south-west shore. Formed from the erosive forces of wind, sea spray and rain for over 500 million years, the rocks appear to be perched above the sea. It is rather windy down by the rocks, so it is advised that you wear your jacket. You can walk all around the rocks and take some amazing pictures. It is a truly remarkable place to stand and look at the South Ocean. If we could see that far, on a clear day you might see Argentina to the west and Antarctica to the south.
The second must see is Admirals Arch. It is a natural rock arch, sculpted by weathering and erosion from the sea for over thousands of years. You can take the board walk all the way down to the viewing platform to get some amazing pictures and views of the arch. Another cool thing about the arch are the New Zealand fur seals that live in and around the arch. Over 7,000 of them call it home. You can stand there for hours watching the seals play in the waves and clumsily try to get on and off the rocks.
South Australia, what more can I say about this wonderful place. I have only touched upon a few of the many wonderful things to see and do will you are here. I think that you should go and experience it for yourself. Ask for Matt; tell him that Melissa sent you. J
