Adelaide has the second largest performing arts festival in the world after Edinburgh. And like Edinburgh, the Fringe Festival 'on the side' is as big if not bigger than the main event. I've been to the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of times, but not for many years.
A couple of friends from the UK, Anthony and Dan, have recently moved to Adelaide and as regulars of the Edinburgh Fringe were keen to see what Adelaide has to offer. So I flew to Adelaide last Saturday for a one week break. Sadly Wiwat is back in Sydney - he is off to Thailand in April for his niece's graduation and couldn't take more time off work.
Here is Ant and Dan's place in Eastwood, just outside Adelaide's city centre.
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| Anthony and Dan |
Over the weekend when I arrived they have the
WOMADelaide music festival - styled after the World of Music and Dance (
WOMAD) festival in the UK, it is one of several international spin-offs.
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| WOMADelaide |
It is held in the Adelaide botanical gardens, so fortunately there were plenty of trees to shade under as the temperature climbed to 37C (99F) on a hot and cloudless day. We saw several acts including
The Herd (top left),
Seth Lakeman a folk singer from Devon (next picture right) and
The Soweto Gospel Choir (bottom right).
And what else would you do during a visit to South Australia, but visit some of the best wineries in the country. An hour south of Adelaide, following the coast, but a few miles inland, is the McLaren Vale. Famous for its Shiraz (the main grape used in Cote du Rhone) but also diversifying into Mediterranean grapes like Tempranillo (the main Rioja grape) and Sangiovese (the main grape in Chianti).
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| McLaren Vale - Samuel's Gorge Winery |
We managed to fit in 5 wineries whilst we were there - the wines all start to taste the same if you overdo it!
And finally, down the beach for a fish and chips supper.
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| Seaford Beach |
The Adelaide Hills are another wine-growing area. Ideal for cool climate grapes it is famous for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir - pretty much the same varieties as New Zealand. Hahndorf is in the middle of the region and, as the name suggests, was settled by German migrants from Prussia as long ago as 1838. The town is a fun little tourist trap offering German food, crafts, souvenirs and even Cuckoo Clocks.
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| Hahndorf |
In case you are wondering, we have been to see some shows. For some reason Dan keeps getting dragged up on stage to perrform!
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| Showtime |
Another day, another winery - this time in the Barossa Valley.
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| Barossa Valley Winery |
Saturday is my last day here, so we decided to drive up to Lofty Mountain in the Adelaide Hills and visit Cleland Wildlife Park.
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| Cleland Park |
