House of travel Rest of Australia | Page 6

6 TIPS for your Australian Holiday Mindarie Beach, Western Australia South Australia - The Festival State Local Flavours Follow your Taste Buds If you thought Adelaide was all about the fine wine, moreish food and top notch restaurants, well, it is. But as well as eating, drinking and feeling full, South Australia is also known to put on quite a show. South Australia is home to several well-known wine regions, including the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley; cultivating a good grape is something they do extremely well down here. Better still, these regions are all a 90 minute drive from Adelaide. The roads in South Australia are all easy to navigate and very well signposted, so a self-drive road trip makes a lot of sense. Because everything is so close to Adelaide, the city is the perfect place to base yourself, taking day trips to and from, as and when you like. As well as a decent tipple, the South Australians are well respected for their excellent food. Locally sought produce is an important aspect of their famed food scene, with Adelaide’s premier bars, restaurants and eateries all putting an emphasis on produce that’s made by artisans in the region. The Adelaide Central Market in the CBD is a must, if not for the gooey cheese stalls, then definitely the molten fountain of chocolate. Market Shed on Holland is a superb organic market open on Sundays and the Willunga Farmers Market (also on a Sunday) is equally fabulous. The Southern Ocean Drive delivers an addictive combination of coastline, vineyards, caves and foodie stop-offs, while Kangaroo Island, with its 1,600 kilometres of roads, never fails to impress. Well regarded as ‘The Festival State’, major events include the Santos Tour Down Under, which is Adelaide’s famed cycling race and attracts riders from around the world. Petrol heads go for the supercars at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, while those with a penchant for the arts, soak up the creativity at the annual Fringe Festival (the world’s second largest and the biggest in the southern hemisphere). If you’re still after some top nosh, the Barossa Gourmet Weekend showcases the best of South Australia’s produce, including its world-class wines. Go with a big appetite and an empty stomach. 2 Saturated in beaches, wildlife and beautiful vistas, grab a self-drive audio guide from Island Intrigue and you’ll learn all sorts of insider’s knowledge. Narrated by a fifth- generation islander, it’s like having your very own guide in the car.