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Attractions / Things To Do Adelaide Oval, Adelaide: (08)8300 3800 Dominating the parklands between Torrens lake and St Peter's Cathedral lies the Adelaide Oval, often described as the most picturesque test cricket ground in the world. The first test match played there was against England in 1884. Since that time the ground has been used for other sports such as rugby league and Australian rules football. The distinctive Victor Richardson and Clarrie Grimmett gates add special character to the ground, while the splendid old scoreboard dates back to Edwardian times. Public tours of the Oval and Museum are conducted every Tuesday and Thursday, and on Sundays during the cricket season. Ayers House, Adelaide: 288 North Terrace (08) 8223 1234 Ayers House is an excellent example of colonial Regency architecture. It was the home of Sir Henry Ayers, a former Premier of South Australia and an influential businessman. The restored house is administered by the National Trust and incorporates two retaurants. The oldest section is open to the public and houses a fine collection of Victorian furniture, memorabilia, and art. Open 10-4 Tues.-Fri. and 1-4 Sat., Sun. Mount Lofty Summit, Adelaide: (08)8370 1054 At 727 meters above sea level, Mount Lofty is truly Adelaide's Mount Everest! And the magnificent panorama at the summit yields sweeping views over the city, the Gulf, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. At night, view the Adelaide city lights in contrast to the inky blackness of the ocean beyond. Visitors can drive to the top but, during daylight, the most rewarding method is to climb there by taking the bush track through Cleland Conservation Park. Sellicks Beach, Adelaide: (08)8323 9944 Situated at the southern reach of Adelaide's coastal strip, Sellicks Beach has crisp, white sands, sparkling gulf waters and a backdrop of craggy toffee-colored cliffs. Vehicles are allowed to drive on a stretch of the beach, which is handy for those with a boat to launch. On a perfect blue-sky day some simply prefer to park on the esplanade and enjoy the spectacular ocean view. Adelaide Zoological Gardens, Adelaide: (08)8267 3255 Established in 1883, Adelaide Zoo is the second oldest in Australia. Located adjacent to Torrens Lake and Botanic Park, the zoo's lush mature gardens, heritage buildings and tranquil setting contribute to a delightful day's outing. Adelaide Zoo's collection is diverse and continually changing, and for the children there are lawns to play on, secret paths to explore and a children's zoo. You can dine at the "Lyrebird Cafe," stop for a snack at the kiosk, or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy under a shady tree. Henley Beach, Adelaide: (08)8463 4500 Henley Beach is one of the two closest beaches to Adelaide central business district. Henley's bustling center of beachside activity revolves around the lawn, jetty and alfresco cafe precinct. There are nine restaurants within the precinct offering a variety of cuisine including Thai, Greek, Italian and Aussie fish and chips - the best Adelaide has to offer. Maslin Beach, Adelaide: (08)8384 0666 Australia's first official nude bathing beach! Maslin Beach forms a sweeping arc of golden sand sheltered by spectacular cliffs. It is the perfect isolated spot to acquire that all-over body tan. Nude bathing is only allowed at the southern end of the beach, some 700 meters from the main north-beach car park. There are three car parks for beach-goers, two serving the north end and one the south. Amenities are few but at north beach there is a general store and a large grassed area with barbecue facilities and a small playground. Rundle Mall, Adeialde: Adelaide Arcade (08) 8223 5522 Adelaide’s main shopping area, the Mall is a mix of department stores, boutiques, and small shops. Several arcades run off the mall, including the fully restored 1880s vintage Adelaide Arcade which has Italianate elevators and a central dome. Open daily (except Public Holidays) Living Kaurna (pronounced Gar-na) Cultural Centre, Adelaide: Warriparinga Way Bedford Park (08) 8357 5900 Free admission The cultural centre presents th long association of the Kaurna people with the area and provides vistor with the opportunity to learn more about the culture. Open Mon-Fri 10-4 National Railway Museum, Adelaide: Lipson Street Port Adelaide (08) 8341 1690 Admission charged. The museum contains Australia’s largest collection of locomotives and carriages representing those use on the three major railway gauges throughout Australia. A great family destination. Easily accessible by train (about 20 minutes from the Adelaide city centre). Open daily 10-5 National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide: Corner of Botanic Road and Hackney Road (08) 8222 922 Free Admission (Charge for tastings) Part of the internationally renowned University of Adelaide, the centre presents all of the aspects of winemaking. Open daily 10-5 Parliament House, Adelaide: North Terrace Adelaide (08) 8237 9100 Free guided tours on non-sitting days at 10AM and 2PM. Public galleries open on sitting days from 2 PM. South Australian Museum, Adelaide: North Terrace (08) 8207 7500 This museum, whose entrance is framed by large whale skeletons, has an Egyptian room and many natural history exhibits. Its most extensive collection is of Aboriginal artifacts. It is internationally acclaimed and includes more than 37,000 individual items and 50,000 photographs. There are also sound and video recordings. 10-5 daily SkyCity, Adelaide: (08) 8218 4273 SkyCity Adelaide occupies a large (formerly unused) portion of the classically designed, extremely well maintained central railway station in downtown Adelaide. The venue offers a casino with machines and table games, live music seven days a week, and several restaurants. Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide: Gouger Street (between Gouger and Grote) (08) 8203 7494 Just west of Victoria Square, this fresh produce market has thrived for more than 125 years. Asian shops sit beside older European-style butchers and delicatessens. Around the market are dozens of restaurants and cafes where local food is adapted to international cuisine. Tues., Thur.-Sat. Tandanya, Adelaide: 253 Grenfell Street (08) 8224 3200 Tandanya, the Aboriginal name for the Adelaide area, is a cultural institute featuring indigenous art galleries, workshops, and performance areas. Its gift shop offers Aboriginal craft items. 10-5 daily Area Attractions Outside of Adelaide- Hahndorf Area- Town of Hahndorf: Directions: To get there from Adelaide, take the South Eastern Freeway from the city of Adelaide, and turn off at the Hahndorf exit, a drive from Adelaide of about 20 minutes. Hahndorf is the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia and is a flourishing community that attracts visitors from all over the world. It contains many examples of classic German architecture The 100-year-old elm and plane trees which line the main street provide shade for the many craft shops, galleries and restaurants. Horse-drawn carriage tours and German restaurants are features of the town. The Cedars: Heysen Road, just outside of Hahndorf. The former home of South Australia’s best known landscape artist, the late Sir Hans Heysen. Both his home and studio are open to the public. South of the town is Nixon’s Mill, a stone mill built in 1842. Melba’s Chocolate Factory at Woodside: Directions: follow the signs from the Hahndorf - Woodside exit on the South Eastern Freeway. Parking is at rear. The next time you're driving through the Adelaide Hills, drop by into Melba's Chocolate Factory at Woodside. The old fashioned licorice block is the flagship of Melba's. Take a tour and see how licorice is made. They'll even let you help. The range of products at Melba's has grown from 20 to 200. All the machinery at Melba's is old, and some of the machines have a pretty interesting history. There is even a machine that was used to make wads for 303 rifles during WW2 and is now used to make lollies. The building that houses Melba's is Heritage Listed as it used to be the old cheese section of the Farmers Union factory. Open seven days a week including Public Holidays from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. Kangaroo Island: Gateway Information Center Howard Drive Penneshaw (08) 8553 1185 Australia’s third largest island is 96 miles long and 34 miles wide. It was the site of South Australia’s first official colonial settlement. There is no public transport on the island. Access is by ferry, by which automobiles are transported. The roads are not optimal, and caution should be observed when driving. The beauty of the island is preserved by its isolation. It contains 19 conservation areas and national parks. At Kingscote and Penneshaw fairy penguins can be seen in the evening, and the windswept beach of Seal Bay is home to a large colony of sea lions. The north coast has sheltered beaches that are ideal for swimming. The south coast is beaten by the Southern Ocean and has 40 shipwrecks. One of the highlights of the island is a fantastic grouping of rocks that have been eroded by the wind and the sea into unusual shapes. They are called the Remarkable Rocks. Barossa Valley Tour: This tour can be made by car in a day from Adelaide. The roads are well maintained and the accommodations are excellent. For those who are planning to stop for samples at the wineries throughout the region, it is suggested that one of the many available tours may be a preferred alternative to driving on one’s own. The Barossa and Eden Valleys are Australia’s most famous wine regions. The Barossa Train is an interesting means of travel in the region. The wineries offer tours and samples. Each is unique; all are worth visiting at a leisurely pace. Test |