There is something for everyone in Adelaide, South Australia. Whether you are looking for the best restaurant, hotel, wine, gin or the beach, it’s all within easy access of Adelaide. Okay, they may not have won the title best botanic gardens or most scenic, for me, this city has ticked both those boxes as well. Prior to Europeans arriving on 28 Dec 1838, The Indigenous Australians called the Adelaide area Tandanya, which means the Place of the Red Kangaroo. Adelaide was a planned city and it was named after the wife of King George IV. At first the settlers were British or Irish but in the mid-19th century many Germans settled in Adelaide and the surrounding area.
As you walk through the inner city area, you realize that many famous buildings were erected in the 19th century. The foundation stone of Holy Trinity Church was laid in 1838. Meanwhile Adelaide Town Hall was built in 1866 and the city started taking shape thus.
The Botanic Gardens were established in 1857 and if you are staying in the CBD, it is within walking distance. Entrance is free to the Adelaide Botanic Garden and features beautifully-landscaped gardens, majestic avenues and stunning architecture. Spanning 50 hectares, has some of Australia’s finest plant collections.
The Adelaide Hills are also home to Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf where you can enjoy a unique cultural experience. I took a half day tour of Hahndorf and got a history lesson too – the town was settled in 1838 by Lutheran migrants fleeing religious persecution in Prussia. Still strong in German heritage this unique town has plenty to offer; as you wander down Main Street, lined with 100 year old trees and intriguing ‘Fachwerk’ buildings maintained and restored to their original state.
A short 10 kilometres from the heart of Adelaide is the charming seaside suburb of Glenelg and you can take the tram from the city centre. Set on the sandy white shores of Holdfast Bay, this is the site of South Australia’s original mainland settlement with its name Glenelg notable for being a palindrome.
A scenic drive through the Fleurieu Peninsula and a short ferry trip south from
Adelaide will find you in the pristine wilderness of Kangaroo Island, an
ecological paradise with an abundance of native Australian wildlife. Walk among
the Australian sea lions and free-roaming kangaroos and keep your eyes peeled
for adorable koalas at Flinders Chase National Park. Absorb the natural wonders
of the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch, two amazing natural rock
formations.
I would definitely recommend allowing a day to spend in Kangaroo Island. Just 13 kilometres from the mainland, you’ll feel a million miles away in this natural wonderland.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- Best time to visit is from March to May and September through to November. Temperatures are very temperate and enjoyable. Summer can go up to mid-40 degrees Celsius!
- I would recommend having 2-3 days in Adelaide, hire a car and head off to Kangaroo Island for a couple of days and then 2-3 days to the Barossa or McLaren Vale.
- South Australia is a haven for foodies, so take time to enjoy the culinary delights.