Adelaide festival holidays: Why this is Australia’s coolest city

It’s the city that always has something going on. From winter wine celebrations to eccentric arts events, this Australian city doesn’t just live up to its reputation - it exceeds it.

Adelaide

With her relaxed mix of laneways, small bars, craft beer, good coffee, festivals, beaches and wineries, Adelaide exudes a confident, cultured kind of vibe. Over the past couple of years, the city has shaken off its provincial roots, attracting a diverse creative scene and comparisons to America's hipster city Portland. Without anyone taking much notice, Adelaide became decidedly cool.

But last year, Lonely Planet identified Adelaide’s unique charms, awarding the city as a top destination of 2017, as well as the West End one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Australia. The secret is well and truly out, people.

Adelaide is in.

If you love food, festivals and long balmy nights outdoors, you have to experience Adelaide’s elongated summer – from December through to May.

FOOD + WINE

Fresh Mediterranean-style dishes, washed down by a local Savvy B. It’s just another dinner (or lunch) in Adelaide. The city’s dining scene is greatly influenced by its proximity to wineries and beaches, the epitome of the farm-to-plate gastronomy.

Share a pitcher of sangria and graze on tapas with friends at La Rambla, a 150-year-old-warehouse converted into authentic Spanish digs. For a menu that’s as colourful as it’s setting, try Africola. Chefs take you on a culinary journey with fire cooking and a wine list that boasts some of South Australia’s finest boutique bottles (and some South African choices).

But it’s not just the restaurants that showcase the best of the state. The quality of South Australian food is a reason to festively celebrate, at Tasting Australia, the Barossa Vintage Festival, and the Barossa Gourmet Weekend. For seafood lovers, enjoy succulent prawns between sips of sweet white wines at the Cape Jaffa Seafood and Wine Festival. And if you simply can’t settle on a winery, why not tour them all, in your own time.

ARTS + MUSIC

A heads up about Adelaide and its eccentric events calendar wouldn’t be complete without the Adelaide Fringe, the world’s second largest arts festival.

The city flips into a cultural mecca with its three outdoor hubs – the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and the Royal Croquet Club. For one month, Adelaide is a playground for every type of artist. Comedians, magicians, singers, dancers, acrobats, actors and writers put on shows in every nook and cranny around the city. The Fringe runs in tandem with the Adelaide Festival, featuring a mix of theatre productions and striking art displays.

Also famous for its parklands, Adelaide has the largest urban park system in Australia. And they put it to good use during Mad March, for WOMADelaide, the city’s iconic open-air festival set in the Botanic Park oasis.

This four-day, award-winning celebration of the world’s best roots music, arts and dance attracts people of all walks of life. From the KidZone that offer free dress-ups, face painting and storytelling for families, through to Planet Talks – a series of live conversations about our planet, satisfying enviro-conscious 30 or 40 somethings. And in between, there’s the music that unifies. Shoes optional / barefeet encouraged.

AD-VENTURE-LAIDE

Bushwalking paths that lead to cascading waterfalls, surfing crystal clear water with dolphins, camping in national parks or waking up in the company of kangaroos – South Australia lets you choose what type of adventure you want to set out on. And the best part? All of these experiences are all within an hour of the city.

Hire bikes and follow the River Torrens Linear Park path. It’s a full day of fun that takes you from the foothills to the beach, via some of Adelaide’s most picturesque and popular sights. Stop off at Botanic Park, Adelaide Zoo, the new Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Gaol, and the Pirate Life Brewery. It’s a 35-kilometre ride that’s along reasonably flat terrain, so round up your family (or friends) and make a day of it.

If you want to kick your adventure up a gear, don’t miss the Adelaide 500. It’s Australia’s largest motor sport event and it’s hosted in Adelaide. But, just before you pigeon-hole it as only for rev heads, dig this. Robbie Williams will be headlining the event, in one of the three huge nights of live music, packed into the weekend.

While Adelaide is best known for its food and wine, it’s chilled and enticing bar culture is virtually neck and neck. Enjoy a Pimms along the riverfront at pop-up bars in summer. In winter, switch it for a full bodied red in a gorgeous, rustic winery. Or a cheeky G+T at a boutique gin distillery, hiding on the city’s fringe.

The city is springing out of its shell, with more niche events starting to emerge. No matter how you like to spend your time – eating, drinking, festival-ling, finding new music or completely losing yourself in the arts or in nature – you’ll love it that bit more, discovering it all in Adelaide.

One thing’s for sure: You’re going to need a holiday after this holiday.

Originally published as Adelaide festival holidays: Why this is Australia’s coolest city