“TRAVELING IS LIKE FLIRTING WITH LIFE. IT’S LIKE SAYING, “I WOULD STAY AND LOVE YOU, BUT I HAVE TO GO; THIS IS MY STATION” – LISA ST. AUBIN DE TARAN
Ah, Adelaide. Where to begin? For those who have been before, you’ll understand when I say Adelaide is a somewhat peaceful country town compared to her neighbours Melbourne and Sydney. Though not overly touristy, it’s an awesome place to spend a weekend away from the hustle and bustle!To get a little taster of what Adelaide has to offer, I’ve put together a weekend itinerary full of adventure!
DAY ONE:
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MOUNT LOFTY
Kick-start your weekend with an early morning climb to Mt. Lofty. It’s about 4KM to the summit and is quite a steep challenge, but the views from the top are incredible and offer panoramic views over the city of Adelaide. Take comfort in the fact that to get back to your car it’s all downhill!IMAGE FROM FLICKR
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ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET
After Lofty, if you’re anything like me, you will have built up a bit of an appetite. Head to the Adelaide Central Market for some fresh produce and delicious food. With over 80 stalls under one roof, the Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Open from 7AM-3PM Saturday (closed Sundays).IMAGE FROM FLICKR
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GLENELG
Now that you’re fueled up and full of energy, head over to the Victoria Square Tram Stop and hop on the next tram headed for Glenelg. It’s about a 40-minute tram ride to this coastal spot in Adelaide. How you wish to spend your afternoon in Glenelg is completely up to you!
- Pick up some Gelato and walk along the picturesque Glenelg Pier taking in the beautiful coastal views.
- Grab a spot in the shade or on the sand and laze in the sun reading a book.
- Wander through the boutique shops along promenade and treat yourself to a little ‘souvenir’ or two.
- Head to the Glenelg Visitor Center and learn about the history of Glenelg and maybe even book a boat tour or hire a bicycle to cover more ground.
- Pick up some fish and chips (or potato scallops and chips for my veggie friends), grab a spot on the grass by the water and watch the waves roll in.
IMAGE FROM FLICKR
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RUNDLE MALL
After exploring Glenelg, jump back on the tram headed for Rundle Mall. This wide street was pedestrianised and is now home to Adelaide’s top stores and a huge variety of eateries and restaurants to suit everyone. Why not treat yourself to a beverage and source the locals for a good spot to have dinner to finish off the perfect first day.
IMAGE FROM FLICKR
DAY TWO:
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BAROSSA VALLEY OR ADELAIDE HILLS
If you’re a wine lover like myself, you definitely don’t want to miss visiting two of Australia’s most famous wine regions. There is quite a selection to choose from, but the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and Adelaide Hills is very scenic and well known for its cool climate wines.IMAGE FROM FLICKR
You can opt for a wine tour that will collect you from your accommodation and take you around to various vineyards to sample a range of local wines. If you prefer to self-drive and explore along the way, I definitely recommend grabbing a map of the region you wish to visit at a local visitor center.IMAGE FROM FLICKR
Hahndorf is a must visit if you decide to visit Adelaide Hills.; a great place to enjoy a beautiful lunch and wander through the small town shops.
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PORT LINCOLN
If wine tours aren’t for you, and you would prefer something a little more adventurous, a trip to Port Lincoln may be more enticing. Port Lincoln is a 50-minute flight (7+ hour drive) from Adelaide. It is a city on the lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia and is known as one of the best places in Australia for shark cage diving and swimming with sea lions.
It is also the ‘Seafood Capital of Australia’ and has a huge range of dining options to suit all budgets and taste buds. There’s also great scenic options for hiking or you can opt to hire bikes to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time. Ensure you allow plenty of time to get back from Port Lincoln and depart from Adelaide to head home if flying out the same day.IMAGE FROM FLICKR
Be sure to follow my adventures on Instagram & Twitter!
Adelaide is certainly a nice “country town” Try the MTB trails around Mt Lofty and feel some real excitement or maybe swim (in a cage) with the white sharks or better still go kayaking (no cage) in that area to really get the heart pumping. Swim with dolphins as we do (https://paddlingsouth.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/dolphins-and-sea-lions/) Or maybe just relax as you did at Udder Delights and then Rundle St precinct for a coffee. ENJOY !!!.. Ian….PaddlingSouth
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Thanks Ian! 🙂
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Great post! Looks delicious there!!! I mean, err beautiful! What is a slipper slide? Are there photos somewhere? Also is this 4km cruise downhill something I don’t know about, or just a term for going down the hill fast as it’s downhill and not uphill?
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Thanks Christina! Unfortunately in all the excitement I didn’t take photos of the slide. I was able to find this other post with more photos though! – http://www.thisisradelaide.com.au/just-eat-it/2015/4/27/welcome-to-the-jungle
Oh yes, it is a term I use – similar to easy; meaning it is a lot easier coming down hill than it is coming up! lol. I sometimes forget I have readers from all over the world who might not understand my ‘aussie slang’ 🙂
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Awesome! thanks so much! And yes, you’re worldwide!!! EH? lol Just kidding. thanks for the reply. Have a great night!
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haha! 😉 thanks Christina! You too! 🙂
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interesting looking place! hahahaha
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Very different! haha. Before they changed it, I think it used to be a pub with indoor mini golf!
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Your trip looks amazing! Definitely adding to my bucket list!
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Glad to hear it Jamie!
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Sounds like you had a great weekend Cass. A lovely part of Australia I’ve been to several times, though I haven’t yet swum with the sharks!
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Wow love your blog! So inspirational. I really hope to travel more in my life. Looks so amazing, I cant wait to read more 🙂
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Thanks Jaclyn! 🙂
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I’m supposed to be talking my brother n law OUT of moving back there from the states! This won’t help because it makes me want him to move so I have an excuse to visit!!!!!
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Adelaide is beautiful! I can understand why he would want to move back 😊. Perfect excuse to visit 😉
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Great blogpost!
I lived in Adelaide for three month last year but I just realiesed again that I’ve hardly seen anything. I did enjoy Adelaide and I totally agree to that “big coutry town”-thing, it’s maybe not the most touristic-town ever (luckily) but it’s so nice to live there. Before leaving Adelaide I wasn’t as much into discovering every corner, place and country, as I am now, so that I haven’t seen too much, and to defend myself, I left earlier than I expected to.
Probably I just need to step by another time and do everything I haven’t last time.
See you, Saskia xxx
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Thanks Saskia! I’ve been 3 times now and there is still so much I have yet to see. It’s a beautiful little city in Australia. I can’t wait to return one day 🙂
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Oh wow, the pictures of wine country are stunning. That is where I would be 🙂
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