Joanna James
As one of Australia's finest holiday destinations, Adelaide welcomes visitors from around the world. Here are seven facts travellers should know about the dynamic city before heading to the location.
One fact that most travellers do not know about Adelaide is that a beach holiday hotspot is part of the city's coastal landscape. Glenelg is not only one of the most popular beach hubs in the region but the country at large and it is less than half an hour's drive away from the heart of Adelaide. As an area rich in culture and history Glenelg is also the location in which the first settlers landed, thus making Holdfast Bay the first-ever European settlement in Southern Australia. Lined with cafes and beach resorts, other attractions in the area include The Beachouse, a sprawling water park with its own Ferris wheel.
The Adelaide Botanic Garden is no ordinary garden space in the city. Having opened its doors to the public in 1855, the garden has been a fixture in Adelaide for over a century. Divided into various thematic gardens, some of the most intriguing corners of the park include the Mediterranean garden, the palm house, the wetland area and the country's first avenue which features Moreton Bay fig trees. Open to visitors free of charge, the Amazonica water lilies which only flower at night and the venue's Bicentennial Conservatory make it a horticulturist's dream.
Ranked among the world's most iconic sporting arenas, the Adelaide Oval is a historic stadium which has seen some of the planet's biggest and most unforgettable sports events. Having been built in 1871, the mammoth stadium staged its first cricket match back in 1884. Hosting event related to sixteen types of sports, the Oval is simultaneously a cricket ground, a football pitch, a hockey stadium and a cycling hub while tennis and lacrosse courts are also part of the arena.
While Adelaide's top malls and department stores are nothing to scoff at, the best shopping the city has to offer is concentrated near Victoria Square. Set up in 1870, the market is a colourful mix of stalls and shops retailing everything from food items, flowers, baked goods, fresh fruits, cheese varieties and vegetables. The cafes at the market provide the best meals in the city while those looking for a bargain should head to the market on Saturday afternoons.
One need not venture far to witness the majesty of giant pandas when holidaying in Adelaide as the local zoo is home to the beloved endangered creatures. Although the pandas are the main attraction, the spacious zoo also encompasses a host of other animals including orang-utans and an impressive bird populace while those who want to pet kangaroos and wallabies should head to the petting zoo within the premises.
the Art Gallery of South Australia is the beating heart of the city's cultural enclave and as such is home to the country's most celebrated paintings, sculptures, installations, ceramics, furniture, metalwork and photographs.
Located on the slopes of the Lofty Mountain, the Cleland Wildlife Park is the best place in Adelaide to see potoroos, kangaroos and wallabies in nature mimicking environment. Travellers based at the Oaks Horizons or any other aparthotel or accommodation in Adelaide CBD can reach the venue in less than 30 minutes.
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