Is bigger always better?
Someone forgot to tell Adelaide, if so, because the South Australian capital might well be the country’s worst-kept secret.
Next time you plan an Aussie holiday, don’t worry about the bright lights of Sydney and Melbourne, the sunny days of Brisbane and Gold Coast, or the natural beauty of Far North Queensland — because you can get all that and more in the one place.
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Everything on your doorstep
What you might think is Adelaide’s weakness is actually one of its greatest strengths.
Adelaide rappers Hilltops Hoods said “time moves a little slower here”, and that the locals are on “first-name basis in the bank, the post-office, the bar”.
In their smash hit ‘1955’ they actually lament the small size of their hometown, especially compared with the other major cities of the country.
But where else in the country can you stroll from a city’s beating heart of nightlife, over to its sporting mecca, and back again for its fine dining, all in under half an hour?
The beautiful Adelaide Oval is barely a stone’s throw away from the energy of Peel Street and Hindley Street.
Over on the other side of the city — all of 900 metres away — on Rundle St, you will find some of the best fine dining the city has to offer. Italian, Thai, Greek, Mexican, Indian, Japanese and even Argentinian is on the menu.
If you’re a runner, hit the stunning trails around the river, do a scenic loop of the city, or head to the beach for a perfect out-and-back course.
Norwood and North Adelaide are just on the outskirts of the city, not to mention the beautiful beaches of Glenelg and Brighton, which are just a short drive away.
And speaking of short drives away, don’t go anywhere else if wine is on your wish list.
The country’s best wine regions
Heathcote, Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula and and Beechworth are all great wine regions in Victoria. No one is disputing that.
But set aside at least a day or two if you plan on spending more time at the wineries themselves than in the car from Melbourne and back.
McLaren Vale is barely 45 minutes from Adelaide.
Powered by the all-new Toyota RAV4, I made the short road trip to Down The Rabbit Hole Wines in McLaren Vale in the afternoon — and could have stayed there all day — but still made it back in time for the early Friday game during the AFL’s Gather Round.
Adelaide Hills is even closer to the CBD, and who could forget the famous Barossa Valley?
But McLaren Vale was my weapon of choice, and it’s hard to imagine how it Adelaide could outdo itself from there.
If I could live off Down The Rabbit Hole’s grenache and rosé, I would.
But don’t just take my word for it; get there yourself to experience their tasting service.
You’ll be welcomed into owners Elise and Dom’s famously converted double-decker bus.
That’s right, a bus.
Their unique cellar door is like nothing you’ve ever seen before, with beautifully cushioned and spacious spots on both levels to enjoy the immersive and peerless tasting experience.
Outside the stunning blue bus, find a spot under some shade, on the couches, at an old oak table, or simply in the comfort of the grass to tuck into Sicilian style pizzas, a chef selection cheeseboard with house made goodies, or their signature sides of crispy spuds.
Those cheeseboards looked so good, I felt bad ruining the piece of art that they were… but they tasted too good not to.
Be careful not to fill yourself up on the potatoes though — and it’s not easy, I’ll give you the tip.
Sport descending on Adelaide
There’s a reason the AFL picked Adelaide for Gather Round, and a reason it’s there to stay.
It is picture perfect — the city turned it on for a special few days.
I went to games at all three venues; the behemoth that is Adelaide Oval, Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, and Norwood Oval.
Norwood and Mount Barker — possibly to be joined by the addition of a venue in the Barossa Valley next year — are tailormade for the smaller-drawing games of the round that welcomes all 18 teams into the one city.
But there’s no beating the thrill of the Adelaide Oval, where every seat is a good one.
Adelaide Crows forward Elliott Himmelberg said Gather Round, since its inception in 2023, has given the city a huge shot in the arm.
“It’s changed the city a lot, and for the better,” he said.
“I think people are just starting to get an actual look at it. It got a bad rap, and even I was pretty sceptical when (Gather Round) was first announced here, but it’s actually become really cool.
“Adelaide’s just such a better rap now because people are actually coming to have a look and realising how good it is here.”
Coming from Wagga Wagga in country New South Wales, Himmelberg had to adjust moving to a capital city, but says he instantly felt right at home.
“I go into bat for Adelaide a bit, because I’m from Wagga (and) I actually like living in Adelaide,” he said.
“I think you’ll find most people who don’t like Adelaide have never been here.
“When they come here and they get a look at it, it’s a lot more beautiful than you think. Everything flows, it’s just a really nice place to live and visit.”
And it’s fair to say Adelaide was a slight upgrade of Wagga Wagga.
“I always say it’s a bigger Wagga, but that’s probably selling it short a bit,” Himmelberg joked.
“Obviously with beaches, it way better. Wineries as well, if you’re into that — when I got here and was a bit younger, I wasn’t too interested, but they’re a lot of fun. Breweries too.
“I think Gather Round coming here is bringing a lot more as well; a lot more multicultural events and things like that.”
With LIV Golf on in Adelaide this weekend — having also had the Australian national athletics championships last weekend, and the Santos Tour Down Under earlier in the year — it completes a golden time of the year for the City of Churches.
“Last year was the most Adelaide has ever pumped,” Himmelberg said of this time of year.
“The cricket is always really good, that rolls into Adelaide Fringe, which rolls into Round 1 for the AFL, Gather Round, and then LIV Golf is here now as well.
“This period is just a really cool time to be in Adelaide. It’s a little bit cooler too, so it’s a really nice time to be here.
“You definitely notice it, because parking and traffic is never an issue in Adelaide until about now.”
The verdict
Fair to say I’m crossing out a few of my Australian holiday destinations — at least until I’ve been back to Adelaide again.
I feel like I had two trips worth of fun, and yet I barely scratched the surface.
I didn’t meet a single person who didn’t have a beaming smile across their face, and I’m not surprised.
For those clever enough to frequent Adelaide for little getaways, they hold the keys to the country’s worst-kept secret.
And of the locals who get the luxury of living there all year round, I am envious.
The writer travelled as a guest of Toyota Australia.