 Adelaide, Australia
Small compared with Sydney and Melbourne, Adelaide is all heart when it comes to enjoying the good things in life. The South Australian capital, west of Melbourne and east of Perth, is home to just over one million people who have a passion for eating, drinking and being merry wherever and whenever they can. This may have something to do with the fact that unemployment is low, traffic jams are as rare as hen's teeth (an Australian colloquialism), high quality restaurants appear to be on every street corner, and the best wine in the country is bottled just up the road in the Barossa Valley. Like their love of good food and wine, South Australians are sports mad, and enjoy participating and partaking in a range of cultural pursuits. Once a year (in February and March), the city comes alive with the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the largest arts event in Australia, rivalled only by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The event celebrates art in all its forms - comedy, plays, musical shows, dance and less mainstream performances - everything and anything. It is certainly a great time to be in town but then anytime is a great time to be in Adelaide. Its mild year-round climate, quality, affordable accommodation, great shopping and bounty of things to see and do, makes it a must-see for those visiting Australia and maybe seeking an alternative to the larger city centers. Built on an alluvial plain, Adelaide city is a town made for walking. The majority of its three, four and five star accommodation is contained within the city limits between the Torrens River and South Terrace - interspersed between its five squares (Light Square, Hindmarsh Square, Victoria Square, Whitmore Square and Hurtle Square). Some accommodation is also located on the northern side of the Torrens River in North Adelaide, close to the historic Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Zoo. The great thing about this city is that wherever you are, you’re never too far from anywhere else.
At the upper echelon are the Hyatt Regency Adelaide, the Hilton Adelaide, and the Radisson Playford Hotel & Suites, all located in the heart of the city. For the more budget-conscious traveler the Director's Studios Hotel and Hotel 208 are good choices, and also near to Adelaide's premier attractions, including museums, shopping centres and restaurants. And, because Adelaide is a secondary Australian city, it really is affordable. Even the five star accommodations are significantly cheaper than staying in a hotel of a similar standard in either Sydney or Melbourne. If your passion is wine, then Adelaide really is the place to be. The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Clare Valleys are all easily accessible from the city and each offer world-class wines, particularly red wines. You can sip your way around the wineries and soak up some of Australia's most beautiful scenery in an afternoon or a day. For water lovers there are dolphin ruises from nearby Glenelg, and Kangaroo Island, described by locals as one of the most unspoilt islands in the world. Kangaroo Island is chock-full of native Australian wildlife and stunning natural wonders, like the Remarkable Rocks. Adelaide is also a great place to take off into the great Australian outback. From Adelaide you can catch The Ghan train right up through central Australia to Alice Springs, Ayers Rocks and all the way to Darwin. So bring your walking shoes to Adelaide, bring your sense of good fun, and don't forget your camera. You're in for the time of your life in a city that loves a party. DAY 1
If you're fortunate enough to be staying at the Hyatt Regency Adelaide (located in North Terrace in the heart of the city) then you're in for a treat at breakfast. The atrium-style hotel is located right on the River Torrens and has spacious, comfortable rooms and huge marble bathrooms. The Hyatt Regency Adelaide is about five-and-a-half miles from the airport (15 minutes in a cab). From the Hyatt, take a short stroll to the east along North Terrace. Passing the Adelaide Railway Station with its grand façade (now full of boutiques and the SKYCITY Adelaide Casino) and Parliament House, stop at the South Australian Museum. For a better understanding of Australia's indigenous culture, visit the museum's collection of Aboriginal artefacts. From the museum, head south down King William Street to Grote Street. A few blocks from here is the Adelaide Central Market, a bustling place that is the heart and soul of the capital. The markets are open on Tuesday, and Thursday to Saturday, but the restaurants are open every day. Graze through the myriad food stalls for a traditional market lunch. You can sample home-grown olives and olive oil, and crispy damper - a simple yet tasty bread that was once the staple diet of Australian stockmen when they "went bush" for long periods of time with their cattle. As well as traditional Australian fare, Central Markets is a melting pot of exotic foods from around the world - drinkable yoghurt (kefir) with its origins in the Middle East, Korean delicacies, Indian curries, European cheeses and Italian pizzas and pasta. Opposite the market, at 32 Grose Street, visit "The Antiques Market" which has bric-a-brac of all shapes and sizes. Vintage toys, old recipe books, silverware and much more can be found here. Meander from here into Chinatown, adjacent to the market, and slip into one of the authentic Asian restaurants like Charleys Shack, a Vietnamese eatery famous for its spiced noodle soup.
If you can still walk after all that great food, back-track to North Terrace and onto the Botanic Gardens. The rose garden is spectacular, as is the Bicentennial Conservatory built in 1988 (Australia's bicentennial year). It is the largest single span conservatory in the southern hemisphere. Nearby is the Palm House, Australia's oldest glass house. Just to the east of the Botanic Gardens is the Australian National Wine Centre. This architectural icon houses a cafe, wine store, and a fantastic interactive museum that tells the story of the history of wine in Australia. The center employs some state-of-the-art tools to help visitors understand the intricacies of winemaking, and an interactive display that helps you make your own virtual wine. If you're in the mood to sample some wines you can also do that here. If you plan explore the Australian outback at some stage then a quick shopping trip to R.M. Williams is a must-do for any budding cowboy and cowgirl. R.M. Williams is an Australian institution, and stocks a huge range of coats, boots, jackets, and of course hats, that are favored by many of Australia's true cowboys. For a more traditional shopping experience head for Rundle Mall, east of King William Street. Definitely a place to shop'till you drop.
Dinner this evening is in the rambling seaside village of Glenelg. You can walk to Victoria Square from most hotels and take a tram to Glenelg for under $5 per person. It's a leisurely way to see the city and outer suburbs. Once you've alighted at Glenelg walk along the boardwalk to Sammy's on the Marina, one of Adelaide's most popular and fresh seafood restaurants. If fish isn't to your liking try Durhams, a sophisticated restaurant with excellent modern fare. Stroll through historic Glenelg to work off dinner, and head back to Adelaide by tram or taxi (about $20) for a good night's sleep.
* Adelaide skyline photo from www.adelaidecitycouncil.com. Hyatt Regency Adelaide photo from www.adelaide.regency.hyatt.com. Australian National Wine Centre photo from www.wineaustralia.com.au. Glenelg Jetty photo from www.glenelgholidays.com.au. (Updated 01/07/08 MG) |
72 Hours in Cape Cod
A summer spot for many New Englanders, charming Cape Cod is a welcoming getaway, whether you're interested in a rich arts and cultural atmosphere or are simply looking to spend a weekend basking at one of the sunny beaches along the National Seashore.