Adelaide Diaries (2)
Hi everyone,
This is just a little round up of some of my favourite Adelaide highlights so far!
The Botanical Gardens
This was the first place I visited when I arrived in the city and needed to feel grounded in nature. It is located to the north-eastern edge of the city and spans 50 hectares of landscaped ground. I absolutely love how close this is to the centre- one minute you’re in the chaos and the next, sat by a lake soaking up the sun surrounded by towering palms and tropical orchids. I loved wondering, sitting in the sun and enjoying some lunch and a cheeky stop at the national wine centre with my first travel buddy Eleanor.
Markets/ Museums/ Cafe culture
Whilst being here I’ve enjoyed having a mooch around the markets. Both Adelaide Central Market and a Sunday farmers market that I went to with the gang. If any plans involve a browse, food, drink and good company then I am all in! I have also been LOVING the cafe culture here. I was never really a fan of coffee at home but oh my word! The coffee here really is next level. I didn’t believe what everyone said about it being as good as it is until I tried it. It’s making me excited to visit Melbourne and spend an obscene amount of money trying out some of the top cafes in the world!
I’ve also enjoyed visits to the library- this place is beautiful and is a godsend for having a quiet space where i’ve managed to get admin done away from the noise of the hostel. I’ve also visited the art gallery and immigration museum. All great little pass times that don’t cost a dollar!
Hikes and Beaches
I visited the Cleveland Nature reserve during my first week here and it was where I saw my first Kangaroos in the wild. This was a proper ‘oh shit I’m actually in Australia right now’ moment. I can’t explain how excited I was. I think it was more special the fact they were in the wild and not in a zoo. I can’t wait to explore more of the Adelaide Hills while I’m here.
One of the days was spent walking the stretch of coastline from Glenelg to Henley Beach after a gorgeous lunch at the Marina Pier. I can’t wait for some proper beach days. The weather has been very hit and miss here in South Australia. There’s been a lot of thunderstorms and fluctuating temperatures so I am ready for some sun and to actually start getting that aussie tan!
My absolute highlight of the trip so far has been golden hour at Mount Osmond lookout. My friends and I packed bags full of food and made our way up in time to watch the sunset over the stretch of the city and the sea in the distance. We laughed, shared snacks, watched the sky turns shades of pink and orange until it finally faded to dusk and the lights of Adelaide started to twinkle in the distance. It was one of those simple evenings that turned out to be one of my favourite memories so far.
Other moments of happiness
I have been so lucky to have met an amazing group of people. The evenings out- the lantern festival near the Adelaide Oval, Halloween, pub nights, singing at the top of our lungs at the bar and quiet nights in bonding over games of shithead, cheat and uno have all been some of my favourite memories so far. I also experienced my first Aussie football game (had absolutely no idea what was going on but - GO CROWS!) and went and watched some Netball. Going anywhere solo can be daunting but it allows you to gravitate to the crowd of people you belong with. You can be completely yourself and your people will find you. They might even let you share a waterproof jacket when it’s pissing it down (I did not pack for that). I’m rounding this blog post off feeling grateful for everything I have experienced so far, the people I’ve met and everything to come. Please stay tuned for quite an honest chat about all things mental health very soon.
Rach x
