Acquaintance with Adelaide, South Australia

Australia is a huge island, which lives its own life. And even though the country has changed in the course of the last 200 years, one thing that is still the same is the beauty of its nature and the kindness of people living here.

South Australia is the state located in the south of the continent. There are only about 1,5 million people living in the state, and the reason for this is its dry climate and inclement nature. Its history is also different from that of the other states, since South Australia was founded as a colony for the best of the British society, entirely free settlers. Two thirds of local inhabitants live in Adelaide – the state capital.

Adelaide is an exceptionally charming city, located on the coast. What the city is remarkable for is its lay-out: the centre is built-up with multi- storied buildings and shining skyscrapers, but a great amount of houses are one- and two-storied. Adelaide will impress you with its irreproachable architecture, clean streets and nice people. The city was founded in 1836 and some of its parks and squares are more than 150 years old. Colonial buildings (there are many of those in the city centre) are well-kept as a living memory.

Even though Adelaide is the state capital, it is one of the most peaceful Australian cities, with lots of restaurants and cafes. Its population is more than one million. Modern city is elegant and pleasant to live in. It is surrounded with green parks and calm rural suburbs and vineyards. Local wineries, such as Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale produce best Australian wines. Thanks to auspicious climate and modern technologies local wines could compete with French ones.

The major arterial road of Adelaide is King William Street where one can find numerous banks and travel offices. There are also lots of stores and restaurants concentrated on the street. The city museum offers a unique collection of things that refer to indigenous people. Another local attraction is the Adelaide Festival Centre which hosts the biennial Adelaide Festival of Arts.

In contrast to Sydney or Melbourne, there are little significant attractions found in Adelaide. It can’t be called a huge resort like Cairns or the Gold Coast, its industry is not as developed as in Perth or Brisbane. So why are tourists so attracted to Adelaide? Tourism plays a significant part in local economy. For many years there have been numerous festivals and exhibitions, romantic tours and other events organised in the city. You can make a trip on an old-fashioned ship, visit Kangaroo Island and Coober Pady – the opal capital of the world, where 80 % of world opals are mined. Kangaroo Island is a unique wildlife resort, inhabited by sea lions and kangaroos. It is also very popular with fishermen. Adelaide is surrounded with excellent parks and beaches, that is why it is perfect for those fond of active sports like tennis, golf, sailing and riding. Besides, you can make a bicycle trip to discover local wildlife and the beautiful Mount Lofty Ranges whereas those fond of sunbathing can take a tram to the sandy beaches of Glenelg. Make a tour around local vineries, take surfing lessons and observe wildlife.

Adelaide Hotels

Adelaide is the South Australia’s seat of government and houses many government and financial institutions. Adelaide is a beautiful laid out place on the either sides of Torrens River with extensive green cover for a refreshing stay. Adelaide is also called the festival city and is known for its splendid architecture, beautiful gardens, and the churches that make it a vibrant modern city. Adelaide is located amongst the popular wine regions of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today Adelaide is known for its many festivals as well as for its wine, arts and sports.Here in Adelaide the traveler can enjoy the festivals and feast on the variety of cuisines and visit shopping centers, the nightlife areas where always something is going on. One might go to the sporting venues like the Oval or to the seaside suburbs of Glenelg and Brighton. The North Terrace has many attractions to explore like the museums and the libraries. In other words the city has got something for everyone to make the vacation memorable. The Adelaide Hotels offers the travelers a host of choices for a comfortable stay. The Hotels in Adelaide are located in the popular areas and near to the tourist attractions of the city. The Adelaide Hotels are found in areas like Adelaide City, Central City, Glenelg, North Adelaide, North Terrace, South Terrace, Victoria Square and others. The Adelaide Hotels cater to the needs of the guests according to their requirements to suit their style and budget. Some of the popular Adelaide Hotel groups include Hilton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, All Seasons, Mercure, Quality Inns, etc. that range from the 5 star to discount or budget hotels. The Adelaide Hotels caters to the needs of the business, leisure and back packer travelers. The 5 star hotels offer the state of the art facilities and strategic location for a memorable vacation. On the other hand the budget hotel offers good value for money for the travelers. The hotels cater to the needs of the guests and offer warm services for a unique vacation. The Adelaide has got to offer the adventure lovers, the leisure travelers, the food lovers, the business travelers, the cultural searchers with what they are looking for. The Adelaide Hotels offers accommodation according to their needs and offers warm services to make their stay memorable. The Adelaide Hotels suite the style and budget of the travelers. The hotels offer modern amenities and services to make the stay comfortable. But on the other hand the services and facilities would range according to the budget of the travelers. All this would make the vacation in Adelaide a unique experience along with the many attractions to explore.

Beautiful Barossa

Located close to an hour from the city of Adelaide in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is known world wide as one of the most famous wine regions in Australia. You can expect to sample exquisite wines, enjoy all type of local food produce and enjoy the beautiful gardens and vineyards prevalent to this area. It is a beautiful area to visit and stay a while, and with ample accommodation is the perfect car hire getaway.

With a climate close to Mediterranean temperatures, the rainy season is between April and October, with seasons predictable all through the year. During summer the temperature reaches 35C on average, and winter brings cold days and colder nights.

There are a large number of festivals, events, art galleries and antique shops that will easily fill up your day and are perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll. Why not jump in a hot air balloon to take in the panoramic views of the valley? There are a number of camping grounds that have shady sites perfect for a relaxing getaway while you visit the region.

What is a beautiful, vineyard peppered valley without a massive festival once a year? The Barossa Vintage Festival is known for its events, food, music and of course, its wine. With such an extensive history of wine-making, some of the best names come from this region. Wolf Blass, Peter Lehmann, Yaldara and Yalumba are some of the more popular names.

With magnificent grounds, the three Chateaus which dominate the valley have to be seen to be believed. Surrounding the Chateau Barossa are over twenty thousand rose bushes which would leave a scent to die for, and the Chateau Yaldara has a café perfect for an cosy afternoon tea. The Chateau Tanunda is also offset with a cricket oval and has its own small winery. Stay here for a meal to dine in style and indulge in the scenery, food and incredible architecture.

There is a great view from the lookout Mengler Hill, which is east from Tanunda. There are pretty church steeples punctuating the landscape, and rolling hills and green valleys for miles on end. It is also a great spot to enjoy the sunset. Tanunda is also a great place for food shopping and dining. A great restaurant here is the 1918 Bistro and Grill known all over the valley.

Just down the road is also the Stuhl Conservation Park which is great for the family. These are walking tracks here, and plenty of wildlife such as kangaroos, possums, parrots and lizards.

If you are here on a weekend, you can’t miss the Barossa Farmers Market. Held on Saturday mornings, you will feel as though you have just stepped foot inside the home of the friendly locals, as they offer their local produce, wares and wines. It is fantastic for a wander and a closer look at the relaxed way of life in the valley.

There is so much to see and do at the Barossa. Try the Yaldara winery, which is close to Lyndoch and its beautiful lavender farm. South from Angaston, the Yulumba winery is also worth a visit. The Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop is a great favourite with the locals and tourists, with plenty of taste testing and produce to tempt any sceptic. With her books and local wines on sale, it is great for browsing and getting to know the locals over a meal.

The Barossa valley is no longer one of South Australia’s best kept secrets. The word has been out for long enough now that this is by far one of the most enjoyable tourist destinations in the state, with a plethora of wines to suit any palette, wineries that never seem to end, pretty towns dotted across the landscape, and friendly locals that welcome you into their world as you get away from the fast pace of normal life.

Enjoy the valley while you can, and there is no doubt you will take some of it home with you until you return.