Headed to Adelaide on another business trip? Why not stay the night and see this city that is brimming with delicious food and culture, from somewhere other than a boardroom...
Adelaide is a city full of life and quaint, old-world charm that pokes its head out between the petite laneways and eclectic trendy bars. Then as you head out of the carefully planned city, crossing the threshold of encompassing parkland you’re met very quickly with the rolling Adelaide Hills and just a little farther is the fruit of the city’s Barossa and Clare Valley.
There’s plenty to see beyond the boardroom or shared working space, so here are a few places to go, things to see and meals to pour over as you transform the regular business trip into a mini getaway...
Wake up and walk/jog/bicycle along the Torrens River
Start the day off by shaking off the work stresses with a heady dose of nature. Walk, jog or bicycle along the lush Linear Park Trail towards Henley Beach which runs alongside the snaking Torrens River.
Thanks to the Adelaide City Council, you can pick up a bike from several different hire locations around the city for free. All you need is a driver’s licence, proof of age card or passport.
Breakfast and coffee at the Adelaide Central Market
This marketplace is Adelaide’s mecca if you want the best fresh food and produce from the surrounding region. Stop in at celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow’s Jamface for a cosy flat white and homemade pastry. Yum.
Haigh’s Chocolate Factory tour
Jump back on that bike and head over to the Haigh’s Chocolate Factory for a tour but make sure you book in advance as spots fill up quickly. The tour is available Monday to Friday only. Make sure you stock up on goodies for your colleagues too; this will award you big brownie points back in the office.
Taste your Birth Year at Seppeltsfield Winery
The first stop on any Barossa Valley winery tour would have to be the gorgeous Seppeltsfield Estate, where you can enjoy the rare opportunity of tasting your own birth year vintage Tawny straight from the barrel. This tasting experience takes place in the winery’s historic Centennial Cellar, a living museum of Australian winemaking history and undoubtedly the ‘ jewel in the crown’ of the Seppeltsfield estate.
There are so many world-class wineries in the Barossa, Clare and McLaren Vale regions - why not take a tour so you can take full advantage of the various tastings available at each.
Discover Little Germany aka Hahndorf
Hire a car and head to the historic German settlement of Hahndorf, just 30-minutes drive from the city and into the stunning Adelaide Hills. This little village is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, celebrating 178 years in 2017.
Hahndorf, with its elm tree-lined main street, quaint cottages, inns, cellar doors, craft shops and galleries, makes you feel as though you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and into a parallel universe.
Dinner at Africola
Absolutely do not miss experiencing the excitement that is dinner at Africola. From the second you walk beneath the blue and white candy-stripe awning, this restaurant appeals to all senses. Must-try items include the crispy eggplant, wood oven cauliflower, octopus salad and crispy-onion-topped baba ganoush that is accompanied by grilled fermented flatbread.
Adelaide at sunset, from the Adelaide Hills
Images courtesy of Getty & Instagram
