Just Back From ...

Adelaide

By Leva Mostaghim

I love Adelaide.

Some people say that this is not something I should go around telling everyone – but most of the people who say this have never visited the “City of Churches”. Trust me, if you’re after a relaxing and enjoyable weekend getaway, then Adelaide is the perfect destination.

Beautifully set between the Adelaide Hills and the Gulf of St Vincent; in Adelaide you can experience the excitement and culture of a big city without any of the normal big city aggravations.

It's almost impossible to get lost in Adelaide, mainly because almost everything you could want to do is 20 minutes away. Surrounded by 930 hectares of parklands; the city centre is laid out on a square mile grid of wide streets and is a charming blend of gracious colonial buildings, hip shops, street cafes and of course churches.

Admittedly, Adelaide has an unfashionable reputation of being a city with a huge population of puritans and for it’s inexplicably large number of churches. Nowadays, however, pubs, nightclubs and cafes outnumber the churches.

Big festivals and events are surprisingly frequent for a city of Adelaide's size. From January to March 2006, has an exciting line up of internationally celebrated events that you won’t want to miss including WOMADelaide and the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Drink great wines, eat great food and leave your worries behind. With all the charm and allure of any other major Australian centre, Adelaide is one of the most vibrant, stylish and cosmopolitan cities you'll visit.

Things to do:

Haigh's Chocolates
If you're craving chocolate, you need settle only for the best at Adelaide’s iconic Haigh's Factory. Distance 20 minutes from the city centre 154 Greenhill Rd Parkside Tel: 08 8372 7077

Port Adelaide & Semaphore
Head to historic Port Adelaide for a look at the excellent, hands-on South Australian Maritime Museum. Distance: 45 minutes from the city centre

Barossa Valley
The Barossa offers everything you'd expect from Australia's most famous wine region. Distance: One hour from the city centre

Where to Eat:

Perryman’s Bakery
For the best pies, pasties and apple turnovers in the South Australia. Tynte Street North Adelaide

CIBO espresso
A tastier alternative to fast foods. Traditional Italian food using the best local ingredients together with South Australia’s famous wines in a modern, relaxed Italian atmosphere. Just look out for their red signs on almost every metropolitan Adelaide Street.

Events to see:

Adelaide Fringe 2006
24 February 2006 - 19 March 2006
24 entertainment-packed days and nights bursting at the seams with music, dance, theatre, comedy, visual arts, film, writing, cabaret, digital arts and more. The Fringe has become Australia’s biggest arts event of its kind and the second biggest Fringe in the world

Womadelaide 2006
10-12 March 2006
A three-day extravaganza of music, dance, art, food, crafts and culture.