Australia Travel Destination Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley Wines
Australian Travel Destination 5
Adelaide is one of those cities that is just a great size: large enough to have character, culture and services, yet still small and regional enough to offer the experience of running into real locals. A well planned and set out city, it is easy to get around on foot. Catch a tram (streetcar) to the seaside suburb of Glenelg, enjoy lunch looking out over the Gulf St Vincent, and walk on one of the excellent city beaches of the area. Architecturally, Adelaide is a gem: many of the houses lining its streets have a very distinctive sandstone, brick and bluestone combination of building materials that show off a distinct Adelaide character. The old Central Adelaide Railway Station has been converted into the Adelaide Casino. It is worth a visit, even if you are not into gambling, just to see the wonderful job of developing a major gaming facility while maintaining the beauty, charm and character of the original building. Adelaide has a well developed street restaurant and coffee culture precinct on the eastern end of Rundle Street, just a few minutes walk from North Terrace. The Annual Adelaide Festival of the Arts is South Australia's premier cultural event. Held over several weeks in March, it is considered one of the world's leading cultural festivals.
For more detail, see the Map of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf, Australia. Also see the Map of Adelaide Australia
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Geography of Adelaide
Adelaide stretches along the Gulf St Vincent, creating the excellent beaches of its western border, south over the McLaren Vale wine area and on to the Fleurieu Peninssula and Kangaroo Island via the Cape Jervis Ferry. On its eastern border lie the Adelaide Hills and the Mt Lofty Ranges, the western extent of the Australian Great Dividing Range. Adelaide has a mild climate, with most of the rainfall occurring in the winter months (June to September). It has dry, hot summers that can be oppressive when the winds from the desert areas of Central Australia to the north dominate. Adelaide has a population of 1,200,000, making it Australia's 5th largest city. The Adelaide Airport is very close to the Downtown Area. In our opinion, hotels in the downtown area near North Terrace are the best located in the city.
Compare Prices on Adelaide Hotels: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Adelaide
History of Adelaide
The vision of colonel William Light, the first Surveyor-General of South Australia, dominates the development of Adelaide. In 1836, South Australia was declared a British Colony and Adelaide was established as its capital. Unlike Sydney, Hobart, Perth and Brisbane, Adelaide was not established as a convict settlement and was based on free settlement and trade. The exploration of the Murray River in the 1850's linked Adelaide to the rest of Australia, and the area grew rapidly despite the setbacks of drought and being to the west of the major population centres of Melbourne and Sydney on the East Coast of Australia. Light's vision for Adelaide's layout was so good that Adelaide has maintained his notion of character and feeling of open space despite the heady development of the 21st Century.
The Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf and Mt Lofty Ranges
To the east of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills provide an outdoor area of small country towns and rolling countryside. The village of Hahndorf shows its German heritage and is famous for the Australian colonial artist Hans Heysen. The village's streets have been well preserved and can be enjoyed on day trips. Tours and sightseeing trips to Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills are available from Adelaide city on a daily basis.
Tours and Sightseeing around Adelaide: >>> Tours & Sightseeing Adelaide
The Wine Areas - Barossa Valley, the Southern Vales and McLaren Vale
The Barossa Valley is about 60 Kms (40 miles) to the north of Adelaide City, and is best accessed on any of the excellent day tours if you are not driving yourself and staying up among the vineyards. If you are interested in wines and wine production, the Barossa Valley will give you a very good look at this fine example of Australian Viticulture. The McLaren and Southern Vales area is to the south of Adelaide, and it is here that excellent coastal style wines are produced. Good accommodation is available in the wine areas around Adelaide.
Tours to the Barossa Valley: >>> Food, Wine & Nightlife Adelaide
Compare Prices on Barossa Valley Accommodation:>>> Australian.com - Hotels in Barossa Valley
Will Travel Planning Help? >>> Work with an Australian Travel Planner.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is much larger than you might think looking at the map. It is Australia's third largest island, coming after Tasmania and Melville Island. Day and multi-day tours are available from Adelaide, but for a more relaxed look at the Island, flying over and staying at one of the excellent hotels, lodges or accommodations can really show you some different aspects of Australia.
Tours to Kangaroo island: >>> Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour from Adelaide
Compare Kangaroo Island Accommodation: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Kangaroo Island
