Ten Reasons to Visit Adelaide
Adelaide - a city renowned for so many things, and so many things to see and do! Art galleries and museums, theatres, churches, festivals, food and wine, sport, historic buildings, parklands and gardens, beaches and mountains - the list is endless. What many people may not know is that this elegant city with its heritage architecture and picturesque river setting is also home to some of the country's most unique attractions:
1. Performing Arts Centre
Australia's first modern multi-purpose performing arts centre. Adelaide is justifiably proud of its title 'Festival State'. The performing arts are a feature of this cultured society and not only in the bicentennial festival year - the Adelaide Festival Centre has something on all year round, from visual arts exhibitions, to theatre, opera, dance, and musicals.
2. Central MarketThe largest fresh produce market in the Southern Hemisphere. Join the thousands of locals who come to the Central Market in Gouger Street for its dazzling array of fresh produce and international foods, plus entertainment and other merchandise and second hand stalls. One of Adelaide's icons, the market has been operating on the same spot since 1869. Central Market operates Tuesdays 7am to 5.30pm, Thursdays 11am to 5.30pm, Fridays 7am to 9pm and Saturdays 7am to 3pm.
3. Australian National Motor MuseumAustralia's largest and most important collection of motor vehicles. The Australian National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills is considered one of the best in the world with over 300 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. More than a museum, this fascinating collection provides a social history of Australia's road transport with unique stories about the owners, drivers and designers, and those who made and sold them. Open 9am to 5pm daily in Shannon Street, Birdwood.
4. Dining in AdelaideThe most restaurants per head of population in Australia. Eating out in Adelaide is a culinary adventure - its café and restaurant menu covers all cuisines and budgets. Surrounding the city, the main eating precincts are the bohemian Rundle Street East, the bar precinct of Hindley Street, Melbourne Street and O'Connell Street in trendy North Adelaide and the international strip in Gouger Street. For the essential Adelaide experience in late night eating, try a 'pie floater' from one of the nocturnal pie carts!
5. Glenelg
An original 1929 tram, which runs from Victoria Square to Adelaide's oldest beachside resort suburb of Glenelg. Browse the shops and cafes in Jetty Road, visit the Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Interpretive Centre located in the Heritage Town Hall, and enjoy a stroll along the white sandy beach and the jetty. On weekends the Grand Hotel is where all the action is with a variety of restaurants and bars and live entertainment till late.
6. Kangaroo IslandOne of the world's last island wildernesses. Just a 45 minute ferry trip from Cape Jervis, Kangaroo Island has 18 conservation and national parks, a spectacular coastline with beautiful white sandy beaches, secluded inlets and rugged cliffs, and some of Australia's most endearing marsupials and sea animals. Stay a few days to enjoy the bushwalking and fishing opportunities - there is a range of accommodation and eating places.
7. South Australian Art GalleryThe largest collection of 19th century Australian art on display at the South Australian Art Gallery. Located in leafy North Terrace and open daily from 10am to 5pm, the Art Gallery boasts Australia's most balanced collection of Australian art, extensive collections of European and Asian art and sculpture, and touring exhibitions.
8. National Wine CentreWith some of Australia's premier wine regions just a few hours drive from the heart of the city, the new National Wine Centre at the University of SA (North Terrace campus) is a great place to start your wine experience. As well as providing wine education and appreciation courses, the centre houses an exhibition gallery, a retail store and information on all the wine regions in Australia.
9. Botanic GardensThe largest and oldest glasshouse in the Southern Hemisphere. Don't let the winter rains put you off visiting Adelaide's beautiful Botanic Gardens. The Palm House is an exquisite restored Victorian glasshouse imported from Bremen in Germany in 1875 and thought to be the only one of its kind in the world, and it houses a display of Madagascan arid flora. Madagascar and Australia were once part of the continent of Gondwana and these plants are the endangered ancestors of our modern native plants.
10. Sir Donald BradmanAustralians are proud of their cricketing heroes and Adelaide lays claim to the greatest one of all, the legendary 'Don'. Cricket lovers can check out the new Sir Donald Bradman statue in Creswell Gardens, and a collection of his memorabilia at the State Library in North Terrace.