The Best of Adelaide in January
So, you’ve booked your flights, locked in your accommodation and now you want to learn about the wonderful City of Adelaide before you arrive for the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under?
Look no further!
Here is your guide to the very best that Adelaide has to offer in January (on top of Australia’s Greatest Cycling Race, of course).
Bars & Restaurants
Adelaide is a culinary playground with a smorgasbord of cuisines on offer. Our capital city is the proud home of world-famous chefs, serving game-changing dishes in stunning Adelaide restaurants and beyond including Africola, Restaurant Botanic, Fino Vino, Shobosho, Aurora, Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant, Osteria Oggi and Golden Boy.
Steeped in history and drenched in class, wash it all down in Adelaide’s booming bar scene. Leigh Street and Peel Street are packed with fantastic small bars; you’ll find some of our coolest spots in basements, behind secret doors and down unmarked alleyways. We recommend a visit to Leigh Street Wine Room, Paloma Bar and Pantry and Pink Moon Saloon.
Of course, you can’t forget a visit to the famous Adelaide Central Market, especially when it is so close to the City of Adelaide Tour Village!
Wineries
Mere minutes from the city lie some of the world's most renowned wine regions, from the cool climate Adelaide Hills to the bold reds of the Barossa – it is no wonder South Australia is the wine capital of Australia.
Only a 40 minute drive from Adelaide, tucked between the hills and the coast is McLaren Vale – a wine lover and foodies paradise. Set yourself up on the Main Rd to watch the THINK! Road Safety Men's Stage 4 and finish the day with a visit to Chalk Hill Wines, d’Arenberg Cube, Coriole Winery and Mitolo Wines or any of the 80 wineries this iconic region has to offer.
Tanunda, in South Australia’s beautiful Barossa region – will host both the start and finish of Men’s Ziptrak® Stage One – be sure to venture out before or after the race and enjoy some of the best drinking and dining experiences in the world. A good start is Rockford Wines before moving on to Seppeltsfield, Hentley Farm, Yalumba, Kellermeister Wines … the list goes on.
Beaches
It would be remiss of us not to point out the picturesque coastline of South Australia while you’re Down Under. From Henley Beach to Glenelg, all the way to Port Willunga and Aldinga Beach, a day of fun in the sun is always a good idea. Grab your swimmers, pack your towels and sunscreen, and throw in some tasty local treats to snack on after you’ve played a few rounds of beach cricket… a great combination for a perfect day.
Oh, and did we mention Oakley's Men's Stage 2 finishes in popular Victor Harbor. You can also watch Ziptrak® Women's Stage 1 and THINK! Road Safety Men's Stage 4 from parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s Aldinga Beach, Snapper Point and Port Willunga.
Get Wild
A visit to Adelaide isn’t complete without a stop off at the Adelaide Zoo to see over 2,500 animals and 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. You can also visit the only Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere – Wang Wang and Fu Ni!
While you’re thinking of animals, a koala cuddle at Cleland Wildlife Park is a must for that coveted Instagram photo – and an easy detour from the Schwalbe Men's Stage 5 Finish line.
We also recommend a visit to Monarto Safari Park – the largest open-range zoo in the world (The Lions 360 experience is unmissable) as well as a trip to Granite Island to explore the home of a small colony of magical Little Penguins.
Take a trip to the Adelaide Hills to experience Gorge Wildlife Park in Cuddlee Creek. Throughout the park you can find some of your favourite Australian animals and a variety of exotic creatures. It’s also an ideal location for a picnic.
Adventures
You can officially reach new heights on your visit to Adelaide!
See the city from atop the state of the art Adelaide Oval with RoofClimb – an exhilarating experience that will have you climbing along the curved roofline of the Oval’s Western Stand before sitting on one of the rooftop seats to take in the views.
Another great option for the adventurous is the city’s first inner-city, nature-based aerial adventure park –TreeClimb. Here you will tackle over 70 obstacles on 8 elevated treetop courses. While you’re doing it, you can also learn about Adelaide and the history of our surrounding parklands – a great one for the kids too.
Top it off with a visit to West Beach Adventure. The aerial SkyMate structure is the ultimate challenge, offering the chance to take a leap of faith on the ParaJump or climb to the crow’s nest viewpoint at 30m high. Or, to take in some of the best views of the Adelaide Hills and Western Shorelines make sure you explore the SkyWalk on the very top viewing platform.
Natural Wonders
There are so many spectacular sights to explore across South Australia it can be hard to simply pick just one.
We love taking the time out to explore the Adelaide Botanic Garden in the heart of the city. Here you’ll find 50 hectares of landscaped gardens, stunning architecture and important pieces of history for our state. Entry is free and the gardens are open every day! You can also wine and dine at the fabulous Restaurant Botanic, lead by chef Justin James and recently named Australia's restaurant of the year by Gourmet Traveller.
Close by is the Bicentennial Conservatory – which is the largest single span glasshouse in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. The Conservatory is home to an incredible array of tropical trees and plants, as well as some spectacular creatures you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
There is so much to see and do while you’re here; we hope this has left you inspired to get out and explore all that we have to offer.
For more information, head to southaustralia.com today.
The Santos Tour Down Under runs from 13-22 January 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia.
