Our hearts were still on the scenic roads of Margaret River when we caught an early flight from Perth to Adelaide a day later. Our time in Western Australia had definitely run out too soon – I’m starting to wonder whether four months are going to be enough time to see even a few parts of this massive country.
And it is massive. In fact, we travelled more than 2 700 km into the East and a different time zone; Adelaide is an hour and a half ahead of Perth. Contrary to most other major Australian cities, Adelaide doesn’t have convict beginnings – in fact, initially there wasn’t even a prison in Adelaide (until basic human nature proved it necessary pretty soon). The first thing one notices about the city are the unique parklands: lush parks surround the square mile city centre grid, which might be why Adelaide doesn’t feel rushed like other cities.
For those who love historical monuments and buildings, Adelaide has plenty to offer. The Botanical Gardens and Adelaide Zoo, where you can visit the only giant pandas in the southern hemisphere, are worth mentioning. Outside the city borders, Adelaide surrounds are even more enchanting. The scenic Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley are must-sees.
The Festival State
South Australia proudly proclaims itself as The Festival State, and you’re practically guaranteed to catch a lively event at any time of year. Music, food, wine, art, German culture, the moon, cycling – you name it, and Adelaide probably already has an event celebrating it. As we were exploring the breathtaking Adelaide Hills, we happened to drop in on such a festival in Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest German settlement. 300 people had dressed their cars, and themselves, very creatively for a week-long drive from Hyde Park to Hahndorf, all in the name of Charity. Children were entertained with street art and clowns, grownups drank Hofbrau and ate bratwurst rolls while an oompah band set the tone – all this to welcome the big-hearted drivers as they paraded their cars through the streets. South Australians certainly know how to organise a good festival!
We were also lucky enough to catch the Barossa Gourmet Food and Wine festival, and what a festival it was! Nothing beats tasting some of the country’s best wine right where it’s made, while the local swing band sets the atmosphere and the estate’s restaurant, or local caterers, fills the air with hearty aromas; all this while you’re taking in the sunshine as it makes its way across the storybook green hills. Life simply doesn’t get better than this.
Kangaroo Island
Random trivia snippet: there are about 44 million kangaroos in Australia – that’s about twice the human population. Since our arrival in Kangaroo country I’ve been waiting with bated breath to see one of these little guys up close – add to that some koalas, wallabies and wombats, actually. I find the snugly marsupials fascinating, so we didn’t waste any time to visit KI, or Kangaroo Island. It’s a long yet scenic drive to Cape Jarvis, where you catch the ferry and half an hour later you’ll find yourself on Australia’s third largest island. Population 4500; Size 4500 km² (of which 2 thirds are National Parks) and home to some breathtaking sights. The Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch depict the playground of mythical Greek gods – they might have had a go at some croquet at the Arch after playing marbles using the Remarkable Rocks.
We also got the chance to see an insightful “˜Birds of Prey’ show starring a cute kestrel, two friendly kookaburras, a barn owl and a majestic wedge-tailed eagle. Raptor Domain works diligently to rehabilitate injured birds, while also trying to educate their visitors on how these beautiful creatures survive so that we can help ensure their future. Unfortunately the kangaroos weren’t exactly hopping about as I had expected, but we did manage to spot some at a wildlife park. They really are adorable – both due to their comic gait and their doe-like eyes. Eucalyptus trees line the entrance to the sanctuary where koalas spent the afternoon catching a few winks (apparently they sleep for 20 hours a day).
I shared a giggle with my husband as the bus driver sang enthusiastically to Waltzing Mathila as we made our way back to Penneshaw and the ferry. I have to admit, I couldn’t help humming along.
Next stop: Alice Springs from where we explore Uluru (also knows as Ayer’s Rock), King’s Canyon and Kata Tjuta.
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