Adelaide, Australia

Feb. 15-16, 2023

Adelaide is the city and capital of the state of South Australia. At 705.37 sq miles, Adelaide is the state’s largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. Situated at the base of the Mount Lofty Range, 9 miles inland from the center of the eastern shore of the Gulf St. Vincent. It is located this far inland to protect it from enemy shelling during several wars. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers (February mean temperature 74 °F), mild winters (July mean 54 °F), and an average annual rainfall of 21 inches. The day we were there the temperature was 100 °F. The traditional owners of the Adelaide region are the Kaurna people. The area of the city center and surrounding parklands is called Tarndanya in the Kaurna language.

The fertility of the surrounding plains, easy access to the Murray lowlands to the east and southeast, and the presence of mineral deposits in the nearby hills all contributed to the city’s growth. As an early agricultural marketing center, it handled wheat, wool, fruits, and wine. This is the historic heart of Australian wine, home to some of the most famous regions, historic estates and the oldest vines in the country. Here one can find such wineries as Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Barossa Valley, and many more.

After an hour and 30-minute ride from the harbor we arrived at the summit of Mt. Lofty. Mount Lofty Sum­mit, the majes­tic peak of the Mount Lofty Range in the Ade­laide Hills, pro­vides spec­tac­u­lar panoram­ic views across Ade­laide’s city sky­line to the coast. Each year more than 350,000 peo­ple vis­it the peak which ris­es more than 2,329 feet above sea level.

Next, we headed for Hahndorf. Hahndorf’s claim to national significance is that it was the first settlement in Australia planned specifically for non-British immigrants and is the oldest German town in Australia. A heritage listed town, Hahndorf’s steep history and character lends itself to a picturesque and interesting village to discover. We strolled down the iconic main street and explored heritage German buildings, bakeries, pubs and cafes that line the bustling leafy street. We wandered through beautiful galleries and shops offering everything from traditional sweets and local produce to indigenous artwork and German cuckoo clocks.

It was a hard road to Hahndorf for the founding families having to walk to the hills from Port Adelaide carrying all their possessions. The first group arrived in 1839, clearing the bush and planting vegetables which the women carried in baskets attached to yokes across their shoulders to sell in Adelaide. In 1840 a Lutheran church was built of wattle and daub with a thatched kangaroo-grass roof – a spiritual and physical center of the village.

Soon, we boarded the bus for an hour and 30-minute ride back to our ship. Here are a few scenes along the way.

St Peter’s Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Adelaide. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Adelaide and Metropolitan of the Province of South Australia.

Adelaide Botanic Garden is a beautiful and diverse public garden in the north-east corner of the Adelaide city center, covering 126 acres of land. It is part of the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, along with Wittunga Botanic Garden and Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. No alcohol is allowed in the gardens.

The first surveyor-general of Adelaide, South Australia, Colonel William Light designed a layout and development program for the city. This plan is now known as “Light’s Vision”.

Shortly thereafter, the Port Adelaide Harbor came into view.

Tired and hungry, our ship was a welcome sight.

We boarded and set sail for Perth and the port of Freemantle.