Things to see in Adelaide

Things to see in Adelaide

Okay we’re off to Adelaide, a taste of Adelaide. As usual we’ve done our research, but with so many things to see in Adelaide and with a very limited amount of time, we’re going to see and do as much as we can. Lets hope the weather holds up. This trip to Adelaide was a 5 day stop-over on our way home from Melbourne.

St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral

Flight JQ974 is now ready for boarding. Boarding passes in hand we make our way directly to gate 25. Boarding Jetstar’s A320 we’re quickly directed to our seats. Seated in seats 1E and 1F, Lyn opted for the window seat and with what has become a ritual, as the aircraft taxies down the runway, we look at each other and utter the words “I love you”, knowing perfectly well that we’re in good hands. Prior to departure the stewardess go through the obligatory safety demonstration.

Before we know it the Airbus A320 is in the air, such a smooth departure. Within moments the Seat Belt warning light has been extinguished and we are free to move around the cabin. First stop is the overhead compartment for our stash of sea salt potato chips, Kit-Kats and water to wash it all down. On our way home, back to Perth. The flight will take approximately 3 hours in which time I’ll get a little shuteye and have an opportunity to reminisce about the events of the past week.

Tuesday afternoon, after a short flight from Melbourne we land at Adelaide airport. I scramble for our carry-on baggage, opening the overhead luggage compartment carefully, as instructed by the recorded message at landing. We make our way out of the aircraft, down the gangway and into the airports reception area. It’ll be a while before the bags are off load, enough time to quickly freshen up and get our bearings. Standing alongside other passengers waiting for the first bags to appear through the little opening as the baggage carousel starts up. We are looking for one brown and one teal Tosca mid-sized light weight travel bags, they’re ours. I quickly scramble past the other patrons, reaching over to grab both bags. All bags collected we head for the taxi stand and take our turn waiting for a cab to whisk us away to our newly renovated hotel, “The Mayfair”. This is the start of our 5 night stay in Adelaide, South Australia.

Adelaide

Set aside a couple of days to walk around the city and for things to see in Adelaide, you will be well rewarded. Adelaide makes for a great walking city as its very flat and plenty of laneway drinking holes and eateries. We certainly took advantage of the free tram service along North Terrace and King William Street when the days got a little long and we were over the idea seeing another landmark. Adelaide is a neatly laid out city, surrounded by parks and gardens with the Torrens River (Karrawirra Pari) to the north. The northern perimeter is bound by the appropriately named road, North Terrace. Starting at the western end of North Terrace many of Adelaide’s notable buildings and institutes can be found along here. Starting with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the University of South Australia City West Campus, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Casino, Adelaide Railway Station, Parliament of South Australia, Government House, City Gallery, State Library of South Australia, South Australian Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, the University of South Australia.

The Mayfair Hotel

Our hotel is located on the corner of King William Street and the extension of Rundle Mall, Hindley Street.  An excellent location, across the road is the Rundle Mall tram stop, Beehive Corner and the western end of Rundle Mall. We arrive at the hotel lobby and are greeted by the staff and proceed to check-in. Two swipe keys are issued, we make our way to the 5^th floor. Our luxurious King Suite hotel room is well appointed, and we take a moment to freshen up before heading out to do a little exploring.

Rundle Mall

A mere 15 minute drive from the airport is Rundle Mall, Australia’s first pedestrianised mall opened in September 1976. With 520 metres of shopping and office space between Pulteney and King William Street, the mall is home to a vibrant shopping community with many coffee shops and retail stores. You can venture off the main strip and discover some of the smaller covered malls and lane-ways with their own peculiar atmosphere. The weekends come alive with talented buskers exchanging their entertainment for a few coins. The aromas of freshly ground coffee beans intertwined with the smell of cooking bacon make for a relaxing morning.

Rundle Mall – Beehive Corner

Truffles, Horatio, Olivier and Augusta

Grabbing the camera bag and a bottle of water we head down stairs and exit via the main doors. We cross over to Rundle Mall for a little exploring. By this time most of the shops and eateries have closed so we’re left to our own devices to find something for dinner. Half way down Rundle Mall we come across some very popular little pigs. Truffles, Horatio, Olivier and Augusta are four much loved bronze sculptures commissioned by the Adelaide City Council and unveiled in July 1999 as part of the final stages of the Rundle Mall upgrade. The pigs were named as a result of a public competition.

Rundle Mall’s popular little pigs.

The Mall’s Balls

A little further down the mall our passage is interrupted by two very large shiny balls, one stacked on top of the other, official called “The Spheres” and locally known as the “Mall’s Balls” they were erected in 1977 as part of Adelaide’s centenary. The structure is made from two polished stainless steel spheres and stands an impressive 4M in height. You will find this is also the meeting point for the free walking tours, well not quite free, its “tip” based so you pay based on the value you feel the tour was worth.

Rundle Mall – The Spheres

Hindley Street

If you’re staying in the centre of town then Hindley Street is a great place to find a really nice meal. Hindley Street is an extension of Rundle Mall, I may get shot down by the locals referring to it as an extension of Rundle Mall when in actual fact it’s a world of its own with many small cafes, restaurants and big name takeaways. As has become expected, just venture off the main strip and you’ll discover more small cafes and pubs serving some international and boutique beers. The place comes alive at night with nightclubs opening to greet the partying patrons. We must have walk past the Japanese cheesecake shop several times meaning to stop by, but alas it didn’t happen. Hindley Street was a great source for breakfast and our evening meals during our stay and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Rundle Road

To the east of the Rundle Mall is Rundle Road, of all the shopping precincts I found this one the most interesting with many boho fashion shops, eateries and pubs. A nice short walk from the hotel, I found myself just wondering around the area looking in shop windows and taking pictures of some of the great architecture and street art. As with Hindley Street and Rundle mall there are many side streets and alleyways filled with street art and offering all manner of foods with a place to relax.

Honouring Jamie Goldsmith

Adelaide Central Markets

Adelaide Central Markets – Selection of cheeses

As with many cities Adelaide has its own market place selling all type of fresh produced sourced from far and wide across South Australia. A quote direct from them sums it all up:

In true Market tradition, our traders source the freshest produce direct from their suppliers, growers and wholesale markets, so you know that what you buy is ‘market fresh’”.

Produce on offer ranges from fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meats and small-goods, chocolates and fudge. Flowers in buckets, even a camera shop selling second-hand camera equipment can be found.

Sun-dried tomatoes, olives and artichokes

The vibrant market place has many coffee stops making eggs and bacon for breakfast with mushrooms on the side, my perfect breakfast. After wondering around for an hour we pulled up a couple of stools at the “Big Table” owned and operated by Derek and Michael Zappia. Breakfast was served on quirky mismatched crockery which all added to the atmosphere. A little conversation with the staff and watching them manoeuvre within such a tight space was like watching a perfectly executed ballet. Thanks “Big Table” you put together a great breakfast. We stopped by and chatted to the local vendors who are more than happy to share a story or two and let you sample their wares.

Locally produced fruit

The Adelaide Central Markets are less than 500 metres from our hotel, a short tram ride south down King William Street and are open early Tuesdays to Saturdays. Check their website as their times vary during the week and public holidays. We choose to walk back to the hotel to burn off the breakfast and see some more of Adelaide’s historical buildings and churches on the way back. Be prepared to set aside a couple of hours one Saturday morning to wondering around and taste the samples at the Adelaide Central Markets.

Pickled vegetable and small-goods

Moonta Street Chinatown

Things to see in Adelaide – Paifang gateway guarded by two lions dogs.

Adelaide’s Chinatown is located within the Adelaide Central Markets precinct in Moonta Street. Moonta Street Chinatown is approximately 200 meters long and is bound by Gouger and Grote Streets. Consisting of two traditional styled Paifang gateways guarded by two lions dogs either side of the entrance inviting you to enter and explore the mystical world of Asian cuisine from China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam all which can be easily found within a large food hall. Remember to get there early as we did notice most of the vendors had stopped cooking around 8:00pm

Moonta Street Chinatown

Barossa Valley

A little reprieve from the walking was spent tasting some of the wares of the Barossa Valley region. Well known for its wineries we opted for a “Hop On Hop Off” wine tour operated by Trail Hopper. We were picked up in the morning and spent the day being chauffeured around in a large white bus from winery to winery. In my mind a very notable drop was at our first stop.

Yalumba Wineries – historic family owned winery.

Lunchtime was a great opportunity to stop in the town of Angaston and hunt down the local bakery. D&M’s is a little bakery located in the centre of town serving delicious freshly made rolls, cakes, pastries, pies, sausage rolls and coffee. We had to sample a freshly baked pie and sausage roll and finished lunch off with a jelly cake and a vanilla slice, I let you figure out who had the jelly cake.

Yalumba Winery tasting room

One day in the Barossa Valley is nowhere long enough. I think staying at one of the many bed and breakfasts or a room in the local pub within the area for a few days would have been a better option, maybe next time.

Street Art

Vibrant Adelaide Street Art.

The following morning Lyn wasn’t feeling the best so I ventured out on my own making a bee line to the local tourist information centre, I was looking for street art. Adelaide has two main areas of street art one the western end of the city and the other in the eastern end with a little speckled throughout the area. An annual street arts event takes place early in the year, and as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival artists are commissioned to create large scale murals throughout the city.

Matt Adnate – Aboriginal child

Depicted in local street art are many images of stylised Aboriginal people, modern and contemporary images conjured up from the imagination of the creative artists. If you’re interested in discovering some of the magnificent pieces I suggest downloading the Street Art Explosion 2018 map it will guide you to some of the newly commissioned pieces as well as the existing art works.

Brief History

Adelaide is a planned city as can be seen whilst walking the city and was founded in 1836. The City was named Adelaide after the wife of King George IV. The original settlers were British, Scottish, Welsh and Irish and the colony was known as a “non-convict” colony. By the mid-19^th century many Germans and Silesian emigrants made the surrounding areas of Adelaide their home. Adelaide’s vineyards go back as far as 1836 with vines been planted by early colonists in the fertile soils of the Adelaide Hills.

Prior to the founding of Adelaide, the Torrens River (Karrawirra Pari) was an important place to the local indigenous Kaurna people as a reliable fresh water source with abundant fish and other foods. As with many settlements of the 1800’s the local indigenous people were displaced with the onset of colonisation. As with some Australian states, South Australia embraces the dual naming of indigenous place names and on many maps you’ll see the English name as well as the Aboriginal name.

Conclusion

If you’re traveling in this great vast country of Australia make a point of dropping in and spending a week or two discovering all the great things to see in Adelaide. We will be back to see the “Giant Rocking Horse”, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra plus much more. This would be a great driving holiday from Melbourne.

What was your favourite discovery in Adelaide? Did you get to the vineyards and try a drop or two? Let us know so others can benefit from your experiences.

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The authors travelled courtesy of Jetstar Australia

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