“You’re off to Adelaide?”

My announcement had been met with a grimace.

“Why?”

“Rolling hills, wine valleys near by, beautiful beaches, you know, just like the ad,” I explained. “Erm, I’m not sure what ad you’ve seen, but Adelaide is a hole. There’s nothing to do. You’ll be bored.”

So, I set off to Adelaide not knowing what to expect. Would it be as the ad I’d seen promised, with beautiful wineries, beaches, and cafes? Or would I find myself agreeing with my Melbournian friends – that Adelaide is Australia’s forgotten city for a reason.

One of Adelaide’s founding fathers, Colonel William Light, designed the city named after a Queen with beauty, convenience, and plenty of space in mind. As the city grew it retained Light’s grid structure, beautiful churches, and open parks. Such a design led Adelaide to be named in the Top 10 of The Economist’s World’s Most Liveable Cities index in 2010. It was also ranked the most liveable city in Australia by the Property Council of Australia in 2011. But liveable doesn’t always mean fun, so my mum and I set off to find just what Adelaide was all about.

Our trip started with the Good Food and Wine Show. We attended the show on a Friday so the crowds were small and the area easy to navigate. For 20 dollars, the amount of good wine and food was nothing short of a bargain, and the sellers were informative without being pushy. We were about to find out that this is a trend in Adelaide – good wine and food always come with a smile.

The Adelaide Zoo was next on the list. The giant pandas are the zoo’s major attraction and they don’t disappoint. Yet it was the zoo’s sobering reminders of extinction and habitat destruction that left the biggest impact. The zoo goes to great lengths to remind its visitors that it exists to help and protect animals, and urges you to contribute in whatever way you can. Its conservation message is thoughtful and inspiring; something all zoos should aim for.

Themes of nature continued as we strolled through the beautiful botanic gardens and parks that are scattered on the perimeter of the city. From there it was onto the Central Markets for lunch, which teem with fresh bakeries, fruit, and cheese. Settling with cheese and crackers in yet another park outside the markets, I began to think my Melbourne friends might be wrong about Adelaide.

We travelled out to Glenelg for dinner via a short tram ride. Glenelg’s beaches are stunning and made for the perfect sunset stroll before dinner at a bustling Italian place called Capriccio. Once again, Adelaide showed off its fine cuisine and hospitality and we were even given a free drink for sitting by the door.

My final day was spent in the Barossa Valley. As I looked over rolling green hills, which sparkled in the sun like the wine in my glass, I began to wonder if my critical friends had even visited Adelaide. Prime Mini Tours had taken us through four wineries – one large (Wolf Bass) and three smaller – as well as some of the tourist sites. The wineries stocked a large range and one even gave me the opportunity to try something completely new: sparkling red. Pours were generous and the staff lovely. Our tour guide, Marc, was very knowledgeable of the area and peppered our tour with quirky tales and little known facts. The tour was a highlight of my trip and one no visitor should miss.

Adelaide proved to be a delightful city, with its own unique vibe and attractions. Those who write it off are certainly missing one of Australia’s gems. Without a doubt, I’ll be heading back again soon.

Kait visited:

Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, Adelaide SA 5000

(08) 8267 3255

Hours: Sun-Sat 9:30am-5pm

Central Markets, 45 Gouger Street, Adelaide SA 5000

(08) 8410 2222

Capriccio, 10 Sussex Street, Glenelg SA 5045

(08) 8376 1419

Prime Mini Tours, PO Box 37, Melrose Park, South Australia 5039

Kait travelled to Adelaide paying all her own expenses.