Following a recent conference I took the opportunity to do an Adelaide Walking Tour that explored the early grand mansions and subdivisions of north Adelaide. I love to go on guided walking tours to get insights into some of the quirkier aspects of the history and culture of a city, along with tales of the exploits of its inhabitants that you don't get through just looking at the key buildings and monuments yourself. I discovered Down to Earth Tours run by Graeme Fanning. Graeme offers six … [Read more...]
Adelaide Day Trip: McLaren Vale
If you are in Adelaide, a day trip to the McLaren Vale is a great thing to do if you are interested in wine history or just wine tasting. On a previous trip to Adelaide I had explored the Barossa Valley wine region, so I was excited to have the opportunity to visit the McLaren Vale on a tour after a recent conference. I knew it was going to be a great day because it was organized by the fabulous Beth who arranged an amazing Gippsland Food Adventures tour for us last year in Melbourne. The … [Read more...]
The Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island Adventure
May 2017 Take a memorable road trip through Victoria and South Australia, starting from Melbourne and taking in each twist and turn of the Great Ocean Road. Channel your inner surfer at some famed boarding locations, drink in the sweeping vistas of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, and get an insight into local Aboriginal history in the lush surrounds of the Grampians National Park. Continue through the Adelaide Hills and cross to Kangaroo Island. Much of this stunning landscape is … [Read more...]
Day 4: Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
17 May 2017 On Kangaroo Island we experience sheep shearing, Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, a sea lion breeding colony, sand boarding at Little Sahara and a night at Vivonne Bay Lodge. I very nearly don't make the next leg of my journey: I booked my trip as a 5 day tour but it is actually made up of 2 separate parts. My trip notes simply say that we depart from the bus station at 6.45am. With nothing to indicate anything to the contrary, I assume it is the same as the pickup in Melbourne … [Read more...]
Day 5: Kangaroo Island and back to Adelaide
18 May 2017 On Kangaroo Island today we experience a wildlife sanctuary, Flinders Chase National Park, the Remarkable Rocks, and the fur seals at Admirals Arch. We have a 7.00 am breakfast and ready to depart again by 8.00 am. First we go down to Vivonne Bay which has been voted best beach in the world (criteria included longest stretch of sand). Next stop is the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary where we have an hour to explore, looking out for koala, kangaroo, wallaby and echidna. Maggie … [Read more...]
Adelaide Day Trip: Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a wine and food region about 60 km north-east of Adelaide and definitely worth a day trip. It is a beautiful drive winding through the hills and valleys up into the broad valley that is the Barossa. This is one of Australia's oldest wine growing regions and the area was settled in the 1840s by Lutheran religious refugees escaping from Germany (and area that is now in Poland): they arrived at the port and then made their way up into the hills and started … [Read more...]
A Weekend in the Adelaide Hills
19-21 May 2017 I am spending the weekend with friends Andrew and Midori up in the Adelaide Hills but I have most of Friday in Adelaide city. After my Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island Adventure, I make the most of having a leisurely morning (the first in what seems like a very long time) before having to pack up my bags and store them in the luggage room after checking out. I have arranged to meet a friend Bronwyn for a coffee but she is delayed by an hour and half, so I decide to have … [Read more...]