Grampians to Adelaide
Northbound
| Grampians to Adelaide - Apr, Sep-Aug: Tue,Thur, Sun May-Aug: Thu, Mon |
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| Halls Gap |
Hostels |
7.30am |
| Horsham |
Post Office |
12.30pm |
| Keith |
Bakery |
4.00pm |
Adelaide
Arriving in Adelaide we’ll take you on a quick orientation tour. Beautifully planned and laid out - you’ll find Adelaide a very easy city to get around. Adelaide was the only Australian colony that started with free settlers, not convicts. Settlement was originally made on Kangaroo Island, and then it moved to Glenelg and then to its present location. It’s thanks to surveyor Colonel William Light that Adelaide is a planned City. In 1836 Colonel Light designed the city along a clearly defined grid pattern with two major centres – Adelaide, now being the shopping and commercial hub and North Adelaide, now with its trendy bars and cafes.
Interspersed with gardened Squares, and surrounded by an abundance of Park Lands, more than any other city in Australia. It has a country town friendliness with an urban feel that is European.
The Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Festival Fringe bring the City a world-class extravaganza of cultural delights. These and other festivals, events and concerts dotted throughout the year, give Adelaide its title as the "Festival City".
The colony attracted many German settlers, who headed to the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley and are responsible for the success of these famous wine-growing districts. Adelaide was the first capital city in Australia to get a direct telegraph link with Europe - this became operational in 1872. They got this privilege at what was undoubtedly great expense as they had to lay a land line all the way through the centre of Australia through countryside which had only once been previously covered (by that dude who obviously totally enjoyed getting off the beaten track by the name of John McDougall Stuart) - but they considered that it was worth it to prove that South Australia was flasher than Victoria or New South Wales. Beyond the city limits, a dizzying assortment of wineries, historic townships and unspoilt beaches lie less than an hour away.
Our Reservations guru and Adelaide native, Pasquale’s List of unique South Australian Icons he reckons you can’t leave town without trying:
Popeye Motor Launches
The very first of the Pop-eye fleet set sail in 1935 carrying 25 passengers for a short outing along the river Torrens. It was such a success that between 1948 and 1950 three new boats were commissioned to be built. These three boats are still in use today and trips along the river Torrens to the Adelaide Zoo are enjoyed by overseas, interstate and local visitors of all ages.
Balfours Frog Cake
The Frog Cake is the ‘Balfours Mascot’ and has been used in promoting the culture of the State. Introduced during the 1920's when tearooms were the height of fashion in Adelaide, the Frog Cake was originally made with green fondant, the chocolate and pink versions were introduced later. Frog Cake lovers have also created a demand for the Red Father Christmas Frog Cake and the Easter Yellow Chick Frog available during these festive seasons.
Stobey Pole
In 1924, South Australian James Stobie invented a steel and concrete pole to carry electricity and telephone lines, due to SA’s lack of suitable timber. Stobie Poles have other advantages too – they’re termite proof and have a life span of around 50 years. All Stobie Poles end at the SA border, with most other States preferring wooden telegraph poles.
Pie Floater
It looks like a bowl of green mushy gruel with a lump of something solid sitting in it. On closer inspection this absolutely strange looking mush turns out to be a hearty pea soup, with a meat pie turned upside down. Delicious? Many South Australians and lesser numbers of their visitors think so. It’s South Australia’s own culinary specialty, the ‘pie floater’.
The hearty meal is traditionally eaten at kerb side from a ‘pie cart’, the most famous being Cowleys’, which still stands alongside the GPO in Victoria Square.
These pie carts became a meeting place where cabbies, police, night watch men and other workers rubbed shoulders with theatre patrons in formal evening wear, musicians, politicians and businessmen..
Today the pie cart remains one of our most favourite of eateries and the pie floater’s curb-side consumption by people from all walks of life for more than 130 years makes it an authentic and uniquely South Australian culinary tradition.
Things to do:
Adelaide Zoo
Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Ph: (08) 8267 3255
http://www.adelaidezoo.com.au
> SKYCITY Adelaide
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Ph: (08) 8212 2811
http://www.skycityadelaide.com.au
> Museum of SA
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8207 7500
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au
>South Australia Art Gallery
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8207 7000
http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au
> Haigh’s Chocolate Factory Tours
153 Greenhill Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8372 7000
http://www.haighschocolates.com.au
Things to do: Near Adelaide
Victor Harbour is the largest town on the Fleurieu Peninsula and is popular with the Adelaide locals, many of whom have weekenders there. It is located on the shores of Encounter Bay that got its name from a meeting between Flinders and Baudin back in 1802. The town has a notorious past as a whaling town, first established in 1837. Whaling operations lasted until 1864. Victor Harbour is a great place to spend a few days. While you’re there check out the Bluff, Granite Island, which is connected by a causeway. You can get to the top by chairlift or walk. There’s also whale watching during winter months and cable hang-gliding. For more info contact the Visitors Centre (08) 8552 4255 or Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism on Ph (08) 8323 9944.
The Barossa Valley is about an hour and a half drive north of Adelaide. The Barossa Valley is one of the best wine producing districts in Oz. The Valley has a distinct German feel to it, as the early settlers were, surprisingly, Germans. Prior to WW1 many of the original German names were changed to Anglo names to chill out the locals. After the war some were changed back, but most remained Anglicized. Whether you’re into wine or not, check out the Barossa Valley as the scenery and the culture is seriously outstanding. It is possible to have wine tastings at over 40 wineries (you may never leave the Barossa!)
Arriving into Adelaide we’ll take you on a quick orientation tour.
Fine food, great wine, a sense of history and the good life can all be found in the vibrant and colourful City of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
It’s thanks to surveyor Colonel William Light that Adelaide is a planned City. In 1836 Colonel Light designed the city along a clearly defined grid pattern with two major centres – Adelaide, now being the shopping and commercial hub and North Adelaide, now with its trendy bars and cafes.
Interspersed with gardened Squares, and surrounded by an abundance of Park Lands, more than any other city in Australia. It has a country town friendliness with an urban feel that is European.
The Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Festival Fringe bring the City a world-class extravaganza of cultural delights. These and other festivals, events and concerts dotted throughout the year, give Adelaide its title as the "Festival City".
Adelaide offers all the world-class cosmopolitan shopping and fine dining you’d expect of a European metropolis, but without the hassle of most big cities. Transport here is quick and painless, and most point of interests are within walking distance of the CBD.
Beyond the city limits, a dizzying assortment of wineries, historic townships and unspoilt beaches lie less than an hour away.
South Australian Icons:
Popeye Motor Launches
The very first of the Pop-eye fleet set sail in 1935 carrying 25 passengers for a short outing along the river Torrens. It was such a success that between 1948 and 1950 three new boats were commissioned to be built. These three boats are still in use today and trips along the river Torrens to the Adelaide Zoo are enjoyed by overseas, interstate and local visitors of all ages.
Balfours Frog Cake
The Frog Cake is the ‘Balfours Mascot’ and has been used in promoting the culture of the State. Introduced during the 1920's when tearooms were the height of fashion in Adelaide, the Frog Cake was originally made with green fondant, the chocolate and pink versions were introduced later. Frog Cake lovers have also created a demand for the Red Father Christmas Frog Cake and the Easter Yellow Chick Frog available during these festive seasons.
Stobie Pole
In 1924, South Australian James Stobie invented a steel and concrete pole to carry electricity and telephone lines, due to SA’s lack of suitable timber. Stobie Poles have other advantages too – they’re termite proof and have a life span of around 50 years. All Stobie Poles end at the SA border, with most other States preferring wooden telegraph poles.
Pie Floater
It looks like a bowl of green mushy gruel with a lump of something solid sitting in it. On closer inspection this absolutely strange looking mush turns out to be a hearty pea soup, with a meat pie turned upside down. Delicious? Many South Australians and lesser numbers of their visitors think so. It’s South Australia’s own culinary specialty, the ‘pie floater’.
The hearty meal is traditionally eaten at kerbside from a ‘pie cart’, the most famous being Cowleys’, which still stands alongside the GPO in Victoria Square.
These pie carts became a meeting place where cabbies, police, nightwatchmen and other workers rubbed shoulders with theatre patrons in formal evening wear, musicians, politicians and businessmen..
Today the pie cart remains one of our most favourite of eateries and the pie floater’s curb-side consumption by people from all walks of life for more than 130 years makes it an authentic and uniquely South Australian culinary tradition.
Things to do:
Adelaide Zoo
Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Ph: (08) 8267 3255
Fax: (08) 8239 0637
http://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/home.php
SKYCITY Adelaide
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Ph: (08) 8212 2811
Fax: (08) 8218 4150
http://www.skycityadelaide.com.au/
Museum of SA
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8207 7500
Fax: (08) 8207 7430
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/page/default.asp?site=1
South Australia Art Gallery
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8207 7000
Fax: (08) 8207 7070
http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/content-info.html
Haigh’s Chocolate Factory Tours
153 Greenhill Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel: (08) 8372 7000
Fax: (08) 8373 0528
http://haighschocolates.com.au/factory_tour/visitors_centre.html
Things to do: Near Adelaide
Victor Harbour is the largest town on the Fleurieu Peninsula and is popular with the Adelaide locals, many of whom have weekenders there. It is located on the shores of Encounter Bay that got its name from a meeting between Flinders and Baudin back in 1802. The town has a notorious past as a whaling town, first established in 1837. Whaling operations lasted until 1864. Victor Harbour is a great place to spend a few days. While you’re there check out the Bluff, Granite Island, which is connected by a causeway. You can get to the top by chairlift or walk. There’s also whale watching during winter months and cable hang-gliding. For more info contact the Visitors Centre (08) 8552 4255 or Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism on Ph (08) 8323 9944.
The Barossa Valley is about an hour and a half drive north of Adelaide. The Barossa Valley is one of the best wine producing districts in Oz. The Valley has a distinct German feel to it, as the early settlers were, surprisingly, Germans. Prior to WW1 many of the original German names were changed to Anglo names to chill out the locals. After the war some were changed back, but most remained Anglicized. Whether you’re into wine or not, check out the Barossa Valley as the scenery and the culture is seriously outstanding.
Things to do: Barossa Valley
• Wine tastings at over 40 wineries (you may never leave the Barossa!)
• Barossa Valley and Wine Centre in Tanunda. Visitor information and wine interpretation centre.
• Whispering wall in Cockatoo Valley. An acoustic curiosity, the large water reservoir wall is curved in such a way that when two people stand on either end of the wall (approximately 140 metres apart) and whisper to each other, the voice can be heard all the way on the other side! • Bushwalking in four different Conservation Parks - Sandy Creek, Hale, Warren, or Kaiser Stuhl.
• Mengler Hill Lookout. Approximately 8km from Tanaunda you will find one of the most magnificent views of the Barossa. Take a balloon ride over the area followed by a champagne breakfast, with Balloon Adventures.
• Visit art and craft galleries, bookshops, museums, or try some of the local German heritage at one of the numerous bakers, butchers and small goods producers.
• For a faster pace, Barossa Helicopters provide 30 minute joy rides for four people.
• Fancy a round of golf? Tee off on the 18 hole Barossa Valley Golf Club in Nurioopta.
• Visit art and craft galleries, bookshops, museums or try some of the local German heritage at one of the numerous bakers, butchers and small goods producers.
