Joanna James
Located at the foothills of Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide was founded by the European immigrants. The laid-back vibe is inviting to tourists who like to spend a few days in a bucolic setting.
You can start your city tour at North Terrace: a charming boulevard lined with cultural and historical highlights. The most imposing point of interest is Parliament House which is located at the intersection of North Terrace and King William Street. As you walk down the street, you find the South Australian Museum, the State Library of South Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Museum. One of the buildings celebrating Gothic Revival Style is the University of Adelaide.
The garden was established in 1855 with the purpose of educating the locals about the importance of plants. Located a few paces away from Avani Adelaide Residences, the garden is visited by tourists and locals every day. The garden features medicinal plants, Australian Native Species, a wetland designed to irrigate the grounds and a Mediterranean garden. The site also houses a museum that teaches the importance of plants. Other highlights of the garden include the Bicentennial Conservatory and the palm house. The popularity of the garden is so much so, a tourist can find the best hotel in Adelaide in the near vicinity.
The gallery displays an excellent collection of artworks. Found in the heart of Adelaide's cultural precinct, Art Gallery of South Australia is housed inside a charming Victorian building. The gallery was established in 1881, and the architecture of the building blends perfectly with the artworks on display. The collection includes all mediums of art including paintings, sculpture, metalwork, ceramics, jewellery and furniture. The Australian collection of artworks cover the period between the colonial era and the modern age. There are also European works, North American pieces and Asian Exhibits.
The museum is adjacent to the State Library, and serves as a research facility known for its collection of items pertaining to the Aboriginal heritage. Apart from the excellent Australian collection, the museum features pieces from the South Pacific Islands. There are also Egyptian antiques, and the South Australian Biodiversity Gallery is dedicated to displaying local flora and fauna. The museum is also a family-friendly attraction found in Adelaide; the kids love the display of fossils, stuffed specimen and skeletons.
The perfect contrast between the old and the new fascinates visitors. The modern wing of the library has a glass front and offers facilities like free Wi-Fi. The Mortlock Wing is the old space which is housed inside the 1884 French Renaissance building. Befitting an ancient library, at the Mortlock Wing, you find ladders reaching up the wooden shelves stuffed with leather-bound books. The charming wrought-iron balustrades add to the antiquity of it all, and the glass dome above lets natural light into the building.
Found west of Victoria Square, at Grote Street, Adelaide Central Market is a popular shopping spot; it is also one of the oldest indoor markets. The market was founded in 1870 to provide a platform for farmers who want to sell fresh produce; you also find baked goods, flowers, cheese and various culinary treats. Locals and tourists like to walk through the arrays of produce and go for a mouth-watering grub at a nearby café. If you intend to shop at the market, you are expected to bring your own bags and baskets. Saturday afternoon is the best time to visit when it assumes its most lively bearing; bargain hunters wander through isles of products and vendors cut the prices in half in order to attract customers.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a pas...
