I think a little piece of my heart is still in Adelaide.
I initially traveled there after my three month trip to South East Asia to spend time with my sister and her Italian boyfriend for Christmas. The plan was to arrive, spend the holidays, then head off to Tasmania to find a job. But you know what they say about making plans… I thought “Well I’m already here, lets just throw out a few resumes and see what happens. What could go wrong?”
I ended up getting possibly my dream job at a little dive shop called Adelaide Scuba.
Adelaide in the summer was what I picture to be the “Aussie dream”. Everyone is always outside; either running, drinking lattes, or on the beach. Life is slow, life is simple, life is gooood. Days were long, the weather was hot, and my Canadian ass could not fathom spending Christmas on the beach, in my bikini drinking warm beers. But there we were.
I was already on my second working holiday visa, and one of the downsides of spending too much time in South Australia was that my work as a Dive Instructor did not count towards the six months of regional work I had to do if I wanted to extend for a third year.
I had the privilege to meet some amazing humans, have some incredible experiences and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Even if it did mean saying goodbye to my third year.
What to do in Adelaide
Spend an afternoon in Glenelg (Free-ish)
Glenelg was where I got to call home for the time I lived in Adelaide. There is a mainstreet (Jetty Rd) that leads out onto a Jetty over Glenelg beach, and if it’s not winter you will most likely see the ferris wheel lighting up half of the neighbourhood. If you’re not staying in Glenelg it is about 20 minutes from the CBD by car or it’s the last stop on the tram line.
On the marina you can dine while looking at beautiful boats and on the off chance you see a single dolphin swimming around- It’s most likely June, the local dolphin, say hi to her for me. If you’re wanting to go for a swim, ignore the main beach by the jetty and take a walk to Glenelg North Beach you’ll find it much less busy and way more relaxed, you can also walk to West Beach from here and admire the massive houses along the way.
Mt. Lofty & Cleland National Park
Located in the Adelaide hills, Cleland is a great place to go for a hike if you don’t want the long drive. There are tons of nice tracks to choose from. One easy hike we did was to Waterfall Gully Adelaide Hills Unfortunately when we got to the “waterfall” we weren’t sure if we had missed a turn because there was no water-falling of any sorts. Don’t worry, the hike is still beautiful.
I kept tripping over myself because I was too busy looking for Koalas up in the trees. I didn’t see a single one the whole hike and then as we were about to leave there were around EIGHT in the parking lot. So keep your eyes peeled, and watch out for DROP BEARS.
If hiking is not your thing then Mt. Lofty summit will be right up your alley. You can park in the car park (for $5.80/hr) and walk no more than five minutes to a fantastic spot to watch the sunset over the whole city. And if you’re really lucky you might spot a wallaby or kangaroo. If you have some time to spare and don’t get car sick. This route back to the CBD will give you some great views that you will want to pull over for.
Beaches
I don’t think there was such a thing as a bad beach in Adelaide.
Glenelg – As mentioned before*
Henley Beach – It’s only about 15 min drive from the CBD, Henley can get a bit crowded but is by far the best beach to people watch. There are lots of cute shops down the main street. Take a small stroll, grab an ice cream and if you don’t want to get sandy there is a nice grass area to relax.
Port Noarlunga – About a 30 min drive from Adelaide, and it is absolutely worth the trip. As a dive instructor, I spent loads of time here diving with my students so it was like my second home. The beach is sheltered by a small reef, so when the tide is low the water becomes calm and great for swimming. If you brought your snorkel gear this is a fantastic spot to see some cool fish and you might even see a few scuba divers. At the end of the jetty the water ranges from about 7-8m (23-26ft) so it’s a pretty safe spot to jump in if you are feeling brave.
You’ll often see people walking on the reef when it is exposed but please DON’T. Save yourself from looking like an ignorant tourist, stepping on the reef destroys delicate habitat for living organisms plus sea urchins like to hide in the cracks and crevices.
Maslin Beach – This is 40 min from the CBD, why go? Well this is Australia’s first official nude beach, (don’t say I didn’t warn you) If this is not your kinda thing, don’t worry they have clear signage where the clothing optional zone begins.
*Don’t forget to catch at least one sunset on these beaches, there is nothing like seeing the sun fully dissolving into the ocean and trying to catch the “green flash”.
Rapid Bay and Second Valley
These beaches are 12 minutes from each other and roughly 1 hr & 30 from the city. Rapid Bay is a bucket list must do for divers, but if you’re not diving and don’t want to piss off a lot of fishermen, Second Valley is the better pick.
It is located in a sheltered little bay that makes it perfect for swimming, snorkeling or paddleboarding if that’s your thing. Its dramatic coastline and blue ass water makes it “instagram worthy”. You’ll notice Second Valley has two different sides, one is sandy and easy for a great swim while the other is a bit more rocky, giving you more of a dramatic, reefy look to explore. The best time to visit is late morning / afternoon for light, views and often calmer water. Just a heads up: the car park is quite small, so plan to arrive earlier if you can.
Day Trips from Adelaide
Wine Tasting in the Barossa Valley (Day trip)
South Australia is known for its wine, so you have a lot of wineries and cellar doors to choose from and it all comes down to what you’re willing to spend. you can go crazy boujee or if you’re a backpacker like me and you tend to lean towards places that give you the most bang for your buck, I’ve got a real treat for you…
While my sister and the Italian boyfriend were working in a cute little motel in the Adelaide hills, they found a cellar door offering FREE wine tastings. It’s about an hour from Adelaide’s CBD, so make sure you have a safe way to get back home because they encourage you to try everything on their menu without holding back when pouring the tastings.
Jacobs Creek cellar door
Now I know at some point in your life you have probably bought a cheap bottle of Jacobs creek white wine. Well Jacobs creek wine is produced in the Barrossa Valley and they of course have a Cellar Door. You can choose a flight of their tasting wines from $15pp – $30pp. When you have finished you can walk though some of their vineyards near the Cellar door. A Very nice cheeky photo opp if you ask me.
Hahndorf
Hahndorf is about a 30 minute drive from Adelaide, and got a little too much hype if you ask me. It’s a small town settled in the 19th century by Lutheran migrants, who brought their German style architecture with them. Don’t get me wrong it’s a lovely way to spend the afternoon, but do go rearranging your whole trip for it. They have charming little wine bars, cafes, and small boutiques. If you do go, autumn is a great time to visit, do yourself a favour, grab a warm German pretzel and a pint at the German Arms Hotel while admiring the colours of the autumn leaves draped over the streets.
I think Adelaide is a small hidden gem when it comes to Australia. Sure, yes it is a big city, but not one everyone thinks of. There is lots to do and I’m sure it will end up having a small place in your heart too.
P.S. Watch out for the Kangaroos, they are everywhere in this state. Especially the ones lying on the side of the road…oof