Adelaide Cruises

Overview

Adelaide is located on the eastern shore of Gulf St. Vincent of South Australia. It has a 30km (18.6-mile) stretch of attractive coastline with excellent white sandy beaches. The best view of Adelaide and the surrounding countryside can be had from Mount Lofty, to the east of the city. Unlike many of Australia's other cities Adelaide was settled by "free people" and without any help from the British government.  Adelaide was a choice place for civilization because of its fertile soil, drainage and steady water flow from the Torrens River.  People settled here based on the concept of civil and religious liberties.  Adelaide was known for its number of churches but now nightly entertainment clubs outnumber the churches. Now Adelaide is home to more than two-thirds of the State�s population.  Adelaide is a spacious city surrounded by parkland, golf courses and the botanical and zoological gardens. The city itself has a European atmosphere, primarily because of the large German and southern European minorities.

Things to Do

The streets are filled with cafes (especially lively Rundle Street), European-style churches, art galleries and antique shops. Adelaide also has a vibrant nightlife along Rundle and Gouger Streets.

One of the key attractions in the city is the Festival Centrecomplex in the parkland overlooking the Torrens River. It houses an excellent theatre company, and boasts a concert hall, two theatres, a restaurant and an amphitheatre.

In March of even-numbered years, the world-renowned Telstra Adelaide Festivalis held, featuring everything from jazz to classical theatre and ballet, along with a diverse Edinburgh-style Fringe Festival.

The South Australian Museumhas the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world as well as a huge exhibition of Melanesian art and New Guinean wildlife. There is also a new permanent exhibition on the Antarctic Explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson.

Bushwalking is always fun. The remote Flinders Ranges, a vast area of plains, gorges and desert, located some 450km (280 miles) north of Adelaide, provides one of Australia�s best gateways to the outback. The well-known Heysen Trail, which begins at Cape Jervis, winds its way north through scenic coastal areas to the Flinders Ranges. Bushwalkers can also head to the Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre 16km (10 miles) long and 6km (3.7 miles) wide, with a possible two-day itinerary along well-marked tracks; or on a one-day climbing expedition to St Mary�s Peak, a trek best tackled between May and October, when temperatures are milder and water more readily available (permits can be obtained from the ranger on site). More experienced walkers can embark on longer walks to the Gammon Ranges National Park, further north; the Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island; or the Deep Creek Conservation Park south of Adelaide.

River Murray is the third largest river in the world. The coast offers good diving facilities, with the best sites located near Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula and several offshore islands and reefs. The best time for diving is between December and May. Whale watching is possible on the Fleurieu Peninsula around Victor Harbor and on the Nullarbor coast, where large colonies of Southern Right whales breed from June to October. Fishing is also good, and South Australia has a particularly abundant population of large snapper (with Whyalla, 397km/247 miles northwest of Adelaide, being the best region). Freshwater fishing can be undertaken on the Murray and Wakefield rivers. Game fishing is best around Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, the latter being known for its large concentration of giant great white pointer sharks. For surfing enthusiasts, South Australia offers uncrowded beaches and excellent waves, particularly at Victor Harbor, Kangaroo Island and the more remote Yorke and Eyre peninsulas (with Eyre�s Cactus Beach attracting surfers from all over the world). The many deserted islands and beaches throughout the Spencer Gulf offer plenty of opportunities for sailing cruises.

Driving Directions

66 Commercial Road
Port Adelaide, Australia

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