This is the second time I’m heading to Adelaide, Australia. It seems that on my previous trip, while I truly had a great time; I also managed (somehow?!) to miss out on some hallmark spots and attractions. And by ‘hallmark spots’ I don’t mean the amazing museums, galleries and some gorgeous architectural examples, because, these – I have seen, experienced and haven’t regretted. I’m talking about the REAL, living and breathing Adelaide.
So, this time I’m going with a checklist of all the places I want to visit; the Cricket World Cup being the No. 1 among them! And in order to prepare properly I asked Joanne, a girl I met this summer who’s a native Adelaidian, for some tips on what to visit, where to stay, where to eat and some other useful info about the city.
photo: Leshaines123 via photopin cc
At the very top of my list is, of course – the Adelaide Oval stadium. I’ve visited it once, but it was off-season, so it wasn’t as dynamic as I’m hoping it will be on February 15th for my first cricket game! It’s a truly spectacular building, and I’m sure with a massive, rowdy crowd of people there it will be even more exciting.
Next thing Joanne suggested is to visit Hanley Beach, apparently not very known among the tourists, but which Adelaidians love mainly because it is kept neat and clean and it’s sandy; I was told that it offers some exquisite meals and the atmosphere that goes with it. I’m excited to have the opportunity to enjoy a part of the city ‘reserved’ for the local crowd.
If you like wine, this is an absolute must: I was already familiar with some of the local wines, but I wasn’t aware that there are 18 wine regions here and you can easily book a tour of all of them. Joanne recommended Groovy Grapes as a company that organizes such tours, so I’ll be looking into booking a tour with them soon.
For the following day, I thought to continue in the same spirit and have a pint at Hahndorf Inn. Apparently, this is the oldest German community in Australia which managed to resist the time and preserved its charms to this date.
Ok, now for some useful transport tips I picked up from my local friend:
The first thing I learned about Adelaide is to wherever you go – take some public transport or rent a vehicle from some reputable local rental company. Both options have their benefits: If you take public transport, you arrive directly to your destination, plus you don’t have to worry about the vehicle. On the other hand, if you’d like to become a little more familiar with the city, you could rent a vehicle and take a ‘scenic route’ which is what I’m going to do. Parking in Adelaide is reportedly very easy, so it won’t be a problem to find a spot close enough to the desired destination. I have booked a car with Hertz in Adelaide. They have convenient pick up and drop off locations in the city and of course I prefer them for car rental during my journeys.
P. S. – If you’re planning to go to Cricket World Cup this year and have some useful info about the city, some must-visit places, please DO share in the comments below. I’d be more than grateful for your tips!
