2023/24 - 7 days: Adelaide

Festivals, food, art and culture are all part of this fascinating South Australian State Capital. With its spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts, Adelaide is a city that has the balance just about right. Sophisticated architecture, like the beautifully preserved public buildings along North Terrace, mix well with a modern city skyline. Within the city are the Adelaide Central Markets, which are 140 years old and still operate from just near Victoria Square. At the Adelaide Zoo, adjacent to the Botanic Gardens, we meet – Wang Wang and Funi – giant Pandas who arrived in December 2009 direct from China which now call Adelaide home. We will find out what all the fuss is about during our time here.

Day 1 (D): Arrive Adelaide (Sunday)

Let’s have a week in Adelaide! Sit back and enjoy the view as we travel via Western Victoria and onto Australia’s most liveable city. We plan to stay in the city centre, at the Adelaide Rockford Hotel - a delightful venue close to all the main attractions. The rooms are large and the bathrooms have walk in showers. We have arranged cooked breakfasts and 2 course dinners for all but one night which we have left free for you to enjoy one of the many local restaurants. Tonight on arrival we check in and gather for a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant. (Meal inclusions: Welcome dinner)

Adelaide Rockford Hotel 08 8211 8255 (6 nights)

Day 2 (BLD): Exploring Adelaide’s Gardens (Monday)

This morning we will be introduced to the city’s famous gardens. The Parklands or the Green Belt as its known, surrounds the entire city. The beautiful, formal Botanic Gardens have 16 hectares of Australian and imported plants and manmade lakes. In the north east corner of the gardens is the Bicentennial Conservatory. It is the largest in the southern hemisphere, housing exotic tropical plants from all over the world. This morning we will enjoy a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens and visit the Bicentennial Conservatory before heading to Carrick Hill.

Carrick Hill was a creation from the imagination of a man and his wife who decided to bring to their home city some of the magic that they had been so captivated by when honeymooning in England. Sir Edward Hayward created a tudor manor house set in almost 100 acres of scenic bushland. Carrick Hill was bequeathed to the people of South Australia by Sir Edward and Lady Hayward and is now maintained by the State Government.

We will explore the vast grounds and the extraordinary house with its Australian, English and French paintings and collection of silver and porcelain. We will enjoy a guided tour and lunch here before calling at The Monastery. Its “Sacred Garden" features 14 marble Stations of the Cross - originally commissioned in the 1950's and located at Mary's Mount in Goulburn. When the Sisters of Mercy moved from Goulburn the statues were given to the Passionist Community at Glen Osmond in Adelaide. These are significant works of art from the workshop of Franco Miozza of Tuscany. This afternoon we head to the Adelaide Zoo to view the two Giant Pandas – Wang Wang and Funi who arrived in Adelaide in December 2009 direct from China. We will spend about an hour wandering their multi-million dollar enclosure for a close up and personal experience before the short transfer back to North Adelaide. (Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the hotel/Light lunch at Carrick Hill)

Day 3 (BLD): The Barossa Valley (Tuesday)

The Barossa Valley is one of the world’s best known wine valleys located just 60kms north of Adelaide. It derives its name from the Barossa Ranges, which were named by Colonel William Light in 1837. Light chose the name in memory of the British victory over the French in the Battle of Barossa, in which he fought in 1811. The name "Barossa" was registered in error, due to a clerical error in transcribing the name "Barossa". The area is approximately 13 km long by 14 km wide.

Travelling north along the Northern Expressway we exit to Nuriootpa on our way to the Barossa Chateau – a stunning building that sits in one of Australia’s most important rose gardens of international significance. Combined with Lyndoch Hill, the overall estate covers an impressive 25 acres, 30,000 roses and 5kms of walkways. We have arranged a guided tour of the Chateau and a light lunch. The Chateau is home to one of the largest collections of porcelain in Australia. Hermann Thumm’s extensive collection of porcelain is from the early 18th and 19th centuries and has been collected from all over the world and come from the great porcelain houses of Meissen, Sevres, Worchester, Chelsea and Stinton. Our afternoon appointment is to the Visitors Centre at Jacobs Creek. Way back in 1847, a young Bavarian immigrant by the name of Johann Gramp planted the Barossa Valley’s first commercial vineyard on the banks of Jacob’s Creek.

Today, Johann’s original cellar is still standing at the site. After a great day we return to Adelaide. (Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the hotel/Light lunch)

Day 4 (B): Exploring Adelaide (Wednesday)

This morning we drive to Glenelg. Locally referred to as “the Bay” Glenelg, on the Gulf St Vincent, is historically where Adelaide really started. This was the place where, on 28 December 1836, Governor Hindmarsh proclaimed South Australia a British Province. It was originally named Holdfast Bay (apparently because some ships successfully rode out a gale) but this was changed to Glenelg, after Lord Glenelg, the Secretary of State for Colonies, in 1837. A replica of the HMS Buffalo, the ship in which Governor Hindmarsh arrived, is located north of the centre of Glenelg.

We then head into the city to visit The Adelaide Central Market which has over 80 stalls and is South Australia's most visited tourist attraction. It trades largely in fruit, vegetables, small goods, and café food and is divided into a colourful array of lanes and broadways. The Central Markets remain “the Heart of Adelaide!” This afternoon we make a stop at Montifore Hill we can see the spot from where Colonel Light planned a great city of the future in the sweeping valley below. Nearby is one of Adelaide most prominent landmarks - St Peters Cathedral, which overlooks the city from North Adelaide. We have arranged an inspection of the fascinating stain glass within the Cathedral before returning to our hotel. (Meal inclusions: Breakfast in the hotel)

Day 5 (BD): The Adelaide Hills (Thursday)

Following a hearty breakfast, we head to the hills – literally! Driving up the South Eastern Freeway we head to Mount Lofty Summit for some stunning views over the city and the Gulf St Vincent.

From here we make our way to Hahndorf - Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and a superb “flashback” to the nineteenth century with its shops, eating houses and attractions housed in authentic surroundings. World renowned artist, Hans Heysen, settled in Hahndorf in 1908 and built his studio, “The Cedars” in the style of a Bavarian Chalet. We will enjoy a guided tour of the house, the studio (which has been kept just the way Hans Heysen left it, including some unfinished sketches) and the extensive gardens. This was his base as he painted extensively onsite in the hills around Hahndorf and in the Flinders Ranges. There is now plenty of time to explore the many shops and galleries during our lunch break. Mid afternoon we make our way back to the city in time to freshen up before dinner. (Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the hotel)

Day 6 (BD): The Adelaide Oval (Friday)

This morning we have organised a visit to Adelaide Oval. The redeveloped oval offers a unique blend of new and old – from the latest in stadium design to the famous features such as the heritage listed scoreboard, the century-old Moreton Bay Fig trees and the grassed northern mound. Our Adelaide Oval Tour will take us behind the scenes to the inner workings of this iconic ground. We may want to take a stroll across the new bridge in the footsteps of our football and cricketing heroes.

Late morning we head over to Haigh’s Chocolate Factory where we have the chance to taste the delights of this very tasty South Australian icon. After time for lunch (own expense) we head west to Port Adelaide. Here we take a tour of the City of Adelaide Clipper Ship. Recently returned to Adelaide in February 2014, this composite clipper ship (wooden hull over iron frames) was constructed in 1864 to carry passengers to Adelaide from the UK. Having served as various roles in her time, including that of an Isolation Hospital in Southampton, the ship was finally returned to Adelaide for restoration.

Renamed by the Duke of Edinburgh as the “City of Adelaide” prior to her return, the vessel is one of only two surviving composite clippers in the world. Finishing our tour we drive back to the city for some free time. Perhaps some shopping or a visit to the nearby Adelaide Casino on North terrace? (Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in hotel).

Day 7 (B): Heading Home (Saturday)

It’s been a great few days. This morning after we farewell our hosts we return to Melbourne after a week of fun exploration and good company! (Breakfast in the hotel/Lunch own arrangements)

Tour Cost

From $1,590 per person sharing a twin/double room

Fares subject to change and availability of services. Includes most meals, local guides and entry fees.

Add $440 for a guaranteed single room

Departure

Any Sunday (subject to availability)

Tour Inclusions

Tour Price includes accommodation as per the itinerary, meals as indicated (B= Cooked breakfast, L= Light or packed lunch, D = Buffet or limited choice dinner), deluxe touring coach with seatbelts, attractions/entries as noted. The tour price ($1,590 per person sharing a twin/double room) is dependent on a minimum of 30 paying customers (Departure dates subject to availability/add 5% for departures after 31 March 2023) Should the number of bookings not reach the minimum of 20 the following rates apply –

Minimum 25 people - $1,665 per person

Minimum 20 people - $1,780 per person

Personal Travel Insurance is strongly recommended

Terms and Conditions

To arrange a tour for your club simply call Cesare Cataldo at Australian Road Journeys on 0477 640 527 with your preferred date of travel – he will do the rest! When everything is confirmed he will provide 50 colour “flyers” for distribution to interested club members. Simply collect a $100.00 fully refundable deposit from each person who wishes to travel. The final balance is due six weeks before departure. No cancellation fees apply prior to the final payment date. A cancellation fee of $200.00 per person applies if cancelled after final payment has been made – no refund if cancelled within 7 days.

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc.