Things to do in Adelaide
Cycle The Coastline
Hire a bike for free (tel: +61 8 8168 9999; www.bikesa.asn.au/adelaidefreebikes) and cycle along Adelaide’s sun-splashed metropolitan coastline. Almost all of its 70km (43 miles) is flat, and follows timber boardwalks and dune-flanked shared paths. You are likely to see stumpy tail lizards, blue-tongued lizards and dragon lizards, along with pelicans, cormorants, honeyeaters and dune plants native only to Adelaide’s dunes.
Kayak Port Adelaide’s ship graveyards
Port Adelaide’s dolphin conservation zone is also home to the largest ship graveyards in the country. Hike a kayak from Adventure Kayaking SA (tel: +61 8 8295 8812; www.adventurekayak.com.au) and paddle freely around partially submerged scuttled steamships, ferries and traders that lay rusting in the salty ripples. Weave in and out of mangrove areas bordered by mudflats, and see Santiago, the oldest iron-hulled ship in Australia. This Scottish barque first arrived in Adelaide laden with coal.
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
Take to the sky over the Barossa Valley, just northeast of Adelaide, with Balloon Adventures (tel: +61 8 8562 3111; www.balloonadventures.com.au). Step into the basket before dawn to rise with the morning sun. When the fire switches off intermittently, embrace the silence and breathe in the hills as you float inline with the horizon. Enjoy a hot, post-flight breakfast with sparkling wine, orange juice and chocolates.
Swim with dolphins
Swim with wild common and bottlenose dolphins with Temptation Sailing (tel: +61 412 811 838; www.dolphinboat.com.au). From Marina Pier in Glenelg, board a state-of-the-art 17.5m (58 ft) catamaran to meet some of the 1,000 dolphins that frequent these sheltered waters. Hold onto the floatation line as they inquisitively frolic around you. A wetsuit, snorkel and mask are provided, and electronic Shark Shields are used during swims. An eco-friendly experience (the dolphins are not enticed), the company also monitors dolphin numbers and behaviour for research purposes.
Watch cricket at Adelaide Oval
Be one of the first to watch a cricket match at the newly-redeveloped Adelaide Oval (tel: +61 8 8211 1100; www.adelaideoval.com.au). Though modernised and expanded, it still features the iconic heritage scoreboard. Join one of the Summer Series tours to go behind the scenes of this world-famous cricket site, where the legendary Donald Bradman made his debut aged 19. Or brave the rough and tumble with the locals, by catching Aussie Rules Football here during the winter season.
