Bucket list South Australia covers 7 must-do items for a visitor. It is a short list of experiences, not just attractions.
These experiences to an extent defines the State and unique to it. I am also confident these experiences will be treasured for years to come.
In 2011 , The Economist in its annual survey rated Adelaide , the 3rd most liveable city in the World amongst 170 cities rated. One wonders why?
South Australia is different. It does not have theme parks or anything specially built for Tourism. It however is called the “Festival State” for a reason. Despite being one of the lesser known states of the Australia, it does stand out in its own way. .
State of South Australia
South Australia is larger than many European countries. It is the 3rd largest state after Western Australia and Queensland. It is also one that is sparsely populated with 1.8 million people. 77% of them living in its capital city of Adelaide.
Adelaide is the 5th largest city in Australia. It was the 4th largest until 1984 when Perth overtook it. At one time it was even larger than Auckland, the New Zealand’s capital and largest city.
In this post, I won’t go into detail as it is worth the visitor making his or her own discovery with little bit of prior research. Make sure you get the seasons right and the festivals that you are keen on. Once aligned things will fall into place.
- Wines and vineyards
- Adelaide Central Market
- Festival time at Rundle Street
- Hahndorf & the Adelaide Hills
- Adelaide Oval
- O-Bahn
- Dangerous Reef, Neptune Islands & Great White Sharks
1. Wines & vineyards
One of my favourite ploys is playing down the visit to Barossa Valley for visitors. One of the World’s celebrated wine regions. Famous for its Mediterranean climate, rich soils and award winning wines.
I would drive nonchalantly into the Barossa, briefly stop at the road where a small creek runs below.
That creek is Jacob’s Creek with the signboard stating it. You should see their faces. Surprised that I brought them to the home of one of the most recognisable wines names of the World. Nine out ten overseas visitors have no idea that Barossa is home to so many well known brands.
Realising that I knew what I was doing, they left to me to work out the remaining agenda. Cellar door visits, wine tasting and vineyard views and restaurants for sumptuous meals. Including well known mavericks like Peter Lehmann’s wines. All within easy reach of each other. And read about this rare vineyard
South Australia is the undisputed wine capita of Australial producing 50% of the country’s wines, 80% of premium wines and 67% of wine exports. Its has rich varietal of wines blessed by the range of terroirs that allow it.
Barossa, Eden Valley, Coonawarra and the Adelaide Hills all have a specific varietal in play and they are leaders in it. 3 reds and 1 white. South Australia has 18 wine regions and the bigger ones have their yearly festivals.
Best advice is get on one of guided tours that are advertised online. Small group in a passenger van is ideal. The guides do a great job and share some interesting tales besides all things wine and life in the Barossa.
2. Adelaide’s Central Market & Chinatown
Why visit a produce market in the first place? This one is different.
Firstly it sits in the heart of Adelaide CBD, prime and expensive real estate. Its pull is that it has so much history and its link to the waves of migration over a a century. There is an aura and a charm the surrounds it. Visit it for late breakfast on a Saturday morning. A background to the market in this post.
Established in 1869, the 155 year old market is an icon and an institution of the State. One of the largest in the country, it has about 80 trading stalls. You could buy fresh produce, meat, seafood and dry goods. And the range of small cafe stalls offering good bites and meals.
It will remain in that location protected by its people and the Government of the day. No different to the sacred parklands that covers the 4 sides of the city. Take either of them out and Adelaide and South Australia loses part of it’s identity.
Chinatown and Central Market are physically tied at the hips. On weekend visits, Adelaideans especially those of Asian heritage will do both. It is non-negotiable. It has always been a fun trip to the market for marketing as well as for food. So much fun and delight that I have written a number of posts about it.
3. Festival time at Rundle Street
This is an experience. Plan well ahead and come prepared. I have written 2 posts that touches on important events and the street. This is why we are called the Festival State. Its does not matter if you are into the arts, theatre, food, equestrian, cycling or motor racing, there is a major event for each of them.
Rundle Street and Rundle Mall are my favourites and I am partial to it. So my take is rather shameless and I make no apologies.
During my weekend early morning bike ride up to Norton summit, I would then ride into the city each and every time for coffee. I would enter and leave by Rundle Street only when I could easily do by other ways.
There are 2 parts to this. It has to be one of the major festival events and second it has to be Rundle Street. Each has its own charm but it is when they come together. It screams “bohemian”.
4. Hahndorf & the Adelaide Hills
Hahndorf tucked in the hills is the main attraction of the Hills and of German origin. The Adelaide Hills is a different eco-system, the climate is cooler, the vegetation and landscape are welcoming and a charm that is unique.
What you see is a reflection of two particular migration wave that left its mark. Of a people, heritage and culture shaped by what took place more than a century ago. Mainly from England and Germany.
There are 24 towns and villages. Some are of English heritage and others distinctly German. They are quaint and because of the climate and vegetation they are attractive to have a home if one is prepared to commute. Its is also an excellent weekend getaway or retreat for locals and interstate visitors.
It is a 25 min drive from the city centre. I have yet to come across 2 separate and distinct ecosystem that is this close.
5. Adelaide Oval
World elite cricketers over generations have graced the hallowed grounds. The cricket fraternity around the World know of this mecca bar none. It has a special place among World’s best batsmen and for a reason. It is in the bucket list of the cricketing aficionados. There was a time its grass was the high heaven of a fair cricket test. Its one time groundsman Les Burdet was the high priest of test lawns sought by cricketing venues overseas.
My firm once hosted an Australia – New Zealand industry conference and we polled the participants to see what they would like to see on the off day. Nearly all asked for the Oval. We were surprised. They told us they just wanted to be on the grounds.
More importantly try and make it when a Test is on, that would be a bonus.
6. The O-Bahn
I once had a call from an accountant from Sydney who was scheduled to do a one day review of accounts for their office in Adelaide. All he asked if I could take him for a ride on the O-Bahn during lunch time.
There are 4 countries that have it and Australia is one, with Adelaide the only city having it. The others are Germany, the UK and Japan. The O-Bahn stretches from he North Eastern Suburbs to the city. It fast tracks daily commuting traffic in a speedy and uninterrupted way.
Essentially a guided busway where conventional public buses with fitted guide rollers that can travel on normal roads get on purpose built concrete tracks like a railway and do part of their journey on it. It came on line in 1986, 12 kms with 3 interchanges.
You can get on a bus in the city centre and within minutes enter a busway and a ride to the Northern suburbs. Head to the nearest interchange at Klemzig, hop on a bus back and within 30 minutes, you have ticked one item in your bucket list.
Interestingly the city has stops for tram, conventional railway and buses. Even more interesting is that no locals talk about it as they do not see it any different. So you could be tourist or visitors spent weeks in Adelaide and had no idea it is one of 4 places on earth you could have done a ride and have a unique entry in your travel log.
7.Dangerous Reef, Neptune Islands and great white sharks
The name says it all. Not many people are aware that the footage of great white sharks for the 1975 movie “Jaws” came Dangerous Reef. All of it. Thousands of miles from Martha Vineyard where the movie was shot.
This particular item is rather niche and requires a few days but has attracted what I call a single purpose visit. What surprised me is that every now and then an article or post would appear while surfing the net. Nearly always written by a foreigner far away from Australia who came with one distinct purpose – to see the Great Whites in their environment. It’s never about the touristy aspect but the focus is on these massive and wonderful creatures.
Dangerous reef is in Spencer Gulf, 33 km from coastal city of Port Lincoln. Its well known breeding ground for Sea Lions and Birds. It is also well known for gathering of Great White Sharks in numbers. Known phenomenon since the 1930s.
Until the species received protection it was also well known for game fishing. It then turned to Shark tourism. Shark Cage diving in particular. The first place in the World to conceive and operate the shark cage diving tourism.
Since 2002, Cage diving charters have moved to Neptune Island further West. It is the only place in Australia where cage diving is permitted.