Thoughts from Adelaide

After a request from a work colleague who wanted some tips when in Adelaide in a few weeks and a general feeling of homesickness catching up with Adelaideans at the Eros Club on the weekend, I write this blog to put together some special places that remind of Adelaide and I will try to visit as a priority on my next trip home...read on...

In the hills:

- Mt Lofty for a view over the city, walk up Mt Lofty via Chambers Gully. A favourite morning walk before work

- Crafers and the many other small Adelaide Hills towns (you'll generally find great bakeries and food at any stop)

- Hahndorf is a tourist mecca but still nice to visit

- Lobethal and Lenswood are a little deeper into the hills but have great booze. Lobethal has a famous beer hall and at Lenswood you'll get some premium wines and cheeses

- Further north in the Flinders Ranges (Mambray Creek, Alligator Gorge) is a little more adventurous and off the beaten track

On the coast:

- Semaphore has a bunch of great cafes and an old "seaside holiday town feel"

- Henley beach is a little busier and metropolitan but great to watch many street performers while eating fish and chips

- After work swims at West Beach were a favourite of mine. It's just a bit quieter and you can run a long way in each direction

- Glenelg - too many tourists but a good coffee stop for cyclists

- Aldinga is an hour or so down the coast from Adelaide. You can drive on Aldinga Beach (even if there are strong reasons to ban it). The Star of Greece restaurant serves up great food on a balmy afternoon. All the beaches along there are just magnificent. Further down Normanville, Carickalinga and so on are great escapes from the city.

- Kangaroo Island is a must see. Catch the ferry across and simply explore the wilderness of the island. You can stay in top hotels or camp it. Simply spectacular...

- Victor Harbour is where many Adelaideans have their beach houses. Again beaches and all the services you need in this relatively large town. All along you can hire beach houses for a weekend and enjoy all the water sports you can imagine. Goolwa is the same but has the added advantage of the Murray River freshwater coming through creating Hindmarsh Island. Acqua Cafe is a top spot for breakfast.

- The Coorong is a national park with a fascinating ecosystem. A large salt lagoon, it is also a great place camp.

- For the adventurous, Robe and Beach Port are real coastal towns but a bit more a trek out of town.

Wine:

There are four main wine regions:

- McLaren Vale, about 50kms south of Adelaide. Look out for the Sea and Vines and similar festivals. Otherwise get a designated driver and cellar door hop all day. Wines are “big fruity reds”
- The Barossa Valley is probably SA's best known region and understandably so.

- The Clare Valley is 200+kms out of town but showcases some excellent wines. Settled by the German's it is steeped in wine making history. A wide range of big reds to fine whites

- Coonawarra is 300+kms south of Adelaide and is famous for its lighter weight reds

- Across the Adelaide Hills you'll generally find cooler climate whites such as Chardonnay and Pinot's

Places I liked to eat:

- China Town Cafe in China Town

- Ying Chow / T-Chow on Gouger Str

- Scoozi on Rundle St. I had lunch there every Friday with my work team.

- Eros is a top line greek restaurant. Next door – it’s baby brother is Eros Café. A great coffee stop or tapas and wine local

- The Central Markets are open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

- Sparrow (modern Spanish) and Harvest of India on O'Connel St

- Mesa Lunge (tapas) on Gouger St

- There is a Japanese dessert restaurant a little way along Gouger to the west. If you're feeling adventurous it's a great way to finish an exploratory feast along Gouger St

- But don't forget Norwood Parade and also King William Rd for great food...

Coffee:

- Biga on Hutt St

- Lucia's in the Central Markets

- The place behind and opposite the Belgian Beer Bar on Ebenezer Place

- The Organic Market at Crafers

- Cibo is fine but you have to drink the coffee's short to get any oomph!