Adelaide, Australia
South Australia's capital, Adelaide, was designed in 1836 on a square mile grid, making it compact and easy to tour by foot. It is a graceful city of wide streets, elegant buildings and lush parkland. Cultural pursuits, good food and wine are always high on the agenda when you visit Adelaide.
Unlike other Australian states, South Australia's citizens were not drawn from convicts but were attracted to the area by the potential to build wealth in wool, copper and wheat. Along the North Terrace are the cultural icons of the South Australian Museum, Art Gallery, University of Adelaide and the Adelaide Casino in the beautifully refurbished 1920s railway station.
Adelaide's city precinct is surrounded by a gorgeous green belt of parklands - a great spot for a picnic lunch.
Local planners have kept high-rise buildings to a minimum and the city's wide streets, original stone colonial buildings, mansions and workers cottages are other distinctive qualities.
Rundle Mall
Rundle Mall provides an eclectic variety of shops including department stores, boutiques, specialty shops and malls. Famous home-grown retailers found here include Jurlique skincare, RM Williams Bush Outfitters and Haigh's Chocolates.
In Rundle Street many shops and restaurants display the work of local artists providing a good opportunity to purchase a unique memento of your holiday.
Adelaide Central Market
The 125-year-old Adelaide Central Market is a noisy, colourful and aromatic meeting place, with more than 50 cultures bartering and selling the finest produce in friendly rivalry. Fishmongers, greengrocers, fruiterers and butchers compete with a brigade of buskers.
For handcrafted works of art, tour the local galleries such as Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design, Metal and Stone and the Gray Street Workshop. Metal and Stone specialise in silver and jewels as well as the exquisite and original spectacle frames made by Peter Coombe.
Weekend markets
Outside the city in the Adelaide Hills small farmers gather at weekend markets in Uraidla, Littlehampton, Mylor, Meadows and Macclesfield and the organic market at Stirling to delight the senses with fresh seasonal produce (honey, herbs, strawberries, apples, etc) home-made cakes and preserves.
On Saturday morning, travel out to the eclectic farmers markets in Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula or Angaston in Barossa for a celebration of regional produce, cuisine and coffee.
Arts and culture
Adelaide has a proud artistic and cultural heritage. On even-numbered years it stages two premier arts festivals, the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival, attracting thousands of Australian and international performers.
The international sounds of the WOMADelaide world music festival can be heard every summer near the Adelaide Botanic Park.
Aboriginal culture is featured at Tandanya, Australia's National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, owned and managed by Aboriginal people. It offers an insight into Australian Aboriginal culture through museum artefacts and contemporary exhibitions.
The Art Gallery of South Australia is renowned for its collection of Aboriginal works, 19th century Australian paintings and a collection of Rodins.
Melbourne Street is the place to go if you enjoy hunting for antiques.
Stroll along North Terrace to see magnificent examples of 19th century architecture in the renovated railway station and casino complex, the past and present Houses of Parliament, Government House, the Art Gallery and Museum, Universities of Adelaide and South Australia and a museum dedicated to Sir Donald Bradman, Australia's most famous cricketer.
The Adelaide Festival Centre features world-class theatre productions.
Dining and delicacies
South Australia's temperate climate and rich soil provide Adelaide with some of the freshest food and finest wines in the country. About 70 per cent of Australia's export wines come from internationally renowned wineries - Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Langhorne Creek and others. Visit the National Wine Centre of Australia in the city and experience all these wines in the one place.
Adelaide has a reputation for innovative and affordable cuisine. Dining hot spots include O'Connell and Gouger streets, Norwood Parade and Rundle Street East or the 'East End'. For a leisurely meal by the sea try one of the popular cafes or restaurants at Henley Square (where the Oscar winning movie Shine was filmed) or Glenelg.
For an indulgent meal book a table at Penfold's Magill Estate Restaurant - home of the legendary Grange wine - or Bridgewater Mill, Jarmers, Alphutte or The Grange - winner of the Remy Martin, Gourmet Traveller, Restaurant of the Year Award and home to the city's acclaimed master chef, Cheong Liew.
History in the Hills
The Adelaide hills offer spectacular views, morning mists and grand mansions. Stroll about and enjoy the charm of colonial days in the historic townships of Stirling, Aldgate and Bridgewater.
Stay in gracious accommodation in historic properties proud of their heritage such as Thorngrove Manor with its castle-like design and sumptuous furnishings and Mount Lofty House with its gracious rooms and English-style gardens.
The village of Hahndorf, where 187 German Lutheran settlers made their home, retains its German-style charm, entertainment, nightlife and German cake shops. At the Hahndorf Academy watch artists work, and purchase their crafts.
While in the hills district dine at Bridgewater Mill the spectacularly renovated 1860s flour mill where you can visit the sparkling-wine maturation cellars of the Petaluma winemaking empire.
Cleland Wildlife Park has 70 hectares of shady bushland teeming with native birds and animals, including koalas and kangaroos. See rare and endangered species including bilbies, bettongs and platypus at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary near Mylor. For antiques head to Woodside or further south to Strathalbyn.
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