Adelaide
South Australia
10 Must Do Experiences
Looking to add some peak experiences to your bucket list? Adelaide has you covered with these ten must-do’s, from heart-pounding outdoor adventures across rooftops to up close and personal encounters with native wildlife. Recharge with a bike ride through the picturesque Clare Valley countryside, or take an epicurean self-driving tour to markets and craft breweries. Enjoy the year-round festival culture in Adelaide, and discover some of the most eclectic nightspots and small bars such as the Pink Moon Saloon where the local wildlife gathers
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01
Visit the home of Penfolds Grange
It doesn’t get more iconic than this. Take a tour at Penfolds Magill Estate, home to the world-famous Penfolds Grange. Join a heritage tour taking in the Penfolds history and a visit to the vintage cellar, or enjoy the Ultimate Penfolds Experience with a visit to the Grange Cottage, vintage cellar and a private wine tasting experience. Cap it all off with a sublime meal with matched wines at the excellent Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
02
Cuddle a koala
Get closer to the great Australian icon, the fluffy koala. South Australia is one of the few places in the world where you can hold a koala at a wildlife conservation park – there are three to choose from (Cleland Wildlife Park, Gorge Wildlife Park, and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park).
03
Taste your birth year
Here’s the dilemma: You can taste an awesome vintage tawny from your birth year, but first you have to admit your age. Do you lie and try to pass for 10 years younger, or tell the truth? In this case put vanity aside and embrace the chance to taste your birth year direct from the barrel in the famous Seppeltsfield Centennial Cellar. Seppeltsfield Winery has been laying down a tawny vintage every year since 1878. Now the cellar holds some of the most rare and cherished wines in the world – perhaps your birth year is the best one!
04
Tour the Epicurean Way
Love food, wine, and glorious vistas? Then pack a bag and grab the keys – it’s time to hit the road on South Australia’s best food and wine route, the Epicurean Way. Indulge your tastebuds as you wind your way through Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley wine regions, with suggestions of the best wine tourism experiences, restaurants, artisan providores and accommodation.
05
Blend your very own South Australian wine
Be a winemaker for a day, under the expert tutelage of the wine greats of South Australia. Various locations in the Barossa and McLaren Vale offer wine blending classes that brings together science and fun. See how your tastebuds match up with the professionals, and take home your own handmade vintage.
06
Visit the d’Arenberg Cube
Explore wine with all your senses, at the state-of-the-art d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale, just a 45 minute drive south of Adelaide. This is more than just a cellar door, with sensory rooms related to wine and winemaking, restaurant and bars, and a new tasting room. The brainchild of fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn, the building is modeled on the Rubik’s Cube, clad in glass and set among Mouvèdre wines. Opens April 2017.
07
Cycle the Riesling Trail
Follow the Riesling Trail through Riesling country – the Clare Valley wine region. There are three loops to choose from ranging from 9km to 16km, covering the main townships through the Clare Valley. For the more intrepid, the 900km Mawson Trail also crosses the Clare Valley, merging with the Riesling Trail between the townships of Auburn and Clare.
08
Experience Adelaide’s vibrant small bar scene
Get into the local vibe at one of the many small bars tucked away in the laneways of Adelaide. Try craft beer, locally made gin and whiskey, cocktails with a distinctly South Australian flavour, and of course, wine galore. Embark on a bar hop that includes bars with a French, New Orleans, Basque, or Swiss chalet theme and nibble on the exquisitely made tapas and bar snacks. Heaven.
09
Get into the Festival Vibe
Adelaide is the Festival City, with events year round encompassing art, dance, music, comedy, and so much more. Kick off your festival spirit during Mad March, with the Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival of Arts, and WOMADelaide. In June, discover the colour of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival; August welcomes the greatest guitar players in the world at the Guitar Festival; and October is a riot of energy with the Feast Festival and OzAsia. There’s something for everyone, all year long!
10
Adelaide Oval Roof Climb
Climb across the iconic roofline of this sporting landmark for 360 degree views of Adelaide, stretching from the Adelaide Hills to the east, to the beaches in the west. Suit up, strap in and get ready for a two-hour guided climb over this historic arena, home to cricket, football and Australian Rules Football (AFL). For those adventure-seekers, let go and lean back over the goal square 50m above the ground. Climb during a sports match to the thunderous cheering, or opt for a twilight climb and see the magical sunset colours wash over the city.
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