To drown the craze of the city life and the stresses that come form an 8 to 5 lifestyle. The locals of Adelaide are lucky to have stunning scenery of a combination of bushland, vineyards and orchards only 20minutes drive from the city. This is where the Adelaide hills are situated. There are historic, and picturesque villages, wildlife, and conservation parks. We cannot leave out the lush gardens, walking trails, wineries, art galleries, and antique shops. One great thing about the Adelaide hills is the fact that they are reachable not only from the city of Adelaide but from other holiday destinations as well including the Barossa, Fleurieu Peninsula and Murray River.
This was initially a German settlement, and traces of their influence still runs thick through this region. One great example is the Hahndorf which is the oldest surviving German settlement which dates back to 1839. Majority of the buildings here were the initial buildings built by the Germans. The elm and plane trees that line the streets are a century old. There are shops selling German items such as cakes and wursts.
Another town in the Adelaide hills is the Macclesfield. It lies deep in the Hills and a bit further away from Adelaide than most other towns. It’s about an hours drive from the South Australian capital. This is a town that is donned with marvelous farmlands, vineyards, and natural bushes all around it. Macclesfiled is built in a village which was the center of a major transport route during the gold rush days, this was in the early 1900s. Today it is very laid back, not as busy as it was in those days. There is a market day in Sundays where the farmers from the surrounding regions set up stalls and sell off their produce to the public.
Besides the little beautiful towns in these hills, there is great natural beauty that adorns The Adelaide Hills. One such is the summit of Mount Lofty which is near Adelaide. Other great sites are of the valleys and the Adelaide plains, the Kangaroo Island, and the Yorke Peninsula. You get a perfect, magnificient view of all these from the summit of the mount lofty. The summit is locates in the Cleland National Park, home to the Water Gully. The water fall is a major tourist attraction site.
Besides the fauna and great scenery in the Adelaide hills there are also a couple of wildlife parks that you would enjoy. Cleland Wildlife Park is close to Mt Lofty, and visitors are able to walk through large enclosures and interact with Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas and echidnas.
Just 20 minutes out of Adelaide is the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary. This is much bigger than the Cleland Wildlife Park. There are over 100 species of bird and animals. This is a spectacular wildlife conservancy that will give you an opportunity to experience the bush and wildlife in the state of South Australia in a special way
There are other very intriguing aspects of the Adelaide hills. The German settlements, the art galleries and museums found in the different towns in these hills add a rich streak of history and culture to the hills. The museums have a lot to offer as well in terms of learning and conserving the history of this part of Australia.
On striking museum is the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. An intriguing place to visit. It is home to more than 300 vintage, and classic motor bikes and bicycles. This is the largest collection in the whole of the country.
The Cedars is a great place to visit if you are the kind that appreciate art. This was first the home and studio of the famed artist Sir Hans Heysen. There is a wide display of his paintings materials, tools, and sketch notes.
There is also another hideout in the Adelaide Hills that you may want to visit. A tour to the many cellar doors would be a great experience. You will get a chance to sample some of the local produce.
The valleys are also lined with spectacular vineyards. The purity of wines produced in this area in unmissable. There are great restaurants in this area too serving exotic and different indigenous cuisines.
The Adelaide Hills is a place you don’t want to miss when you are on tour to South Australia. There is plenty to see and do for you and your family when you are on holiday in Adelaide.
Tags: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Mt Lofty