The New York Times has ranked Adelaide at number 24 on its top 52 worldwide destinations to visit in 2015 – making the South Australian capital the only Aussie city on the list.
Nominated for its vibrant cultural scene, with international favourites such as the WOMADelaide Festival, Adelaide Arts Festival and the Fringe and Film Festival, Adelaide has woken from its moniker as a ‘sleepy’ town and bloomed into a cultural capital with beautiful beaches and world-class wineries, all within easy reach of the city.
“Adelaide being recognised by The New York Times is a huge win for South Australia and we are very excited to be the only Australian state to have made the list”, said Rodney Harrex, chief executive of the South Australian Tourism Commission.
“Adelaide has certainly transformed itself into an energetic and vibrant hub of new and exciting experiences, including our premium food, wine and world-class events, and it is great to see it acknowledged and endorsed internationally.
“This win comes off the back of our listing as a top-10 city to visit in 2014 by Lonely Planet and is a great platform to showcase our state on a global stage.”
Here are some of the reasons why Adelaide is transforming into a popular cultural hub of Australia.
Located near Adelaide’s premier cultural district, the Samstag Museum of Art aims to stimulate, challenge and engage its audiences with its diverse and innovative program of exhibitions, publications and associated public activities.
At South Australia’s first certified organic and sustainable market you’ll find lots of affordable certified organic/biodynamic produce and groceries, as well as eco-friendly, handmade and sustainable gifts, personal care and household products, organic gardening seeds, seedlings and much more.
Wander around the shop and take the opportunity to taste all that the fabulous Maggie Beer has to offer – in fact, this is the only place in Australia where you have the chance to try almost every Maggie Beer product.
Cooking classes at the Food Luddite Kitchen Studio are all about food, obviously, but with an emphasis on how it is grown, where it comes from and how best to prepare it for the most delicious outcome. Classes are designed to make cooking enjoyable and are conducted by chef Mark McNamara and friends for intimate groups in a bright creative kitchen studio.
Which list would be complete without mentioning the Barossa Valley? One of Australia’s oldest and most respected food and wine regions, the Barossa is blessed with over 150 wineries, as well as a plethora of butcheries, bakeries, breweries, cider houses, creameries and cooking schools. And it also makes for a beautiful drive through breathtaking landscape.
The newest member of the Art Series of hotels, The Watson is set amongst the treetops of leafy Walkerville, overlooking the majestic Adelaide Hills. With Tommy Watson originals and prints spotted throughout the hotel, large communal spaces splashed with colour, art tours, art library, art journals and a dedicated art channel, this new addition to the distinctive Art Series hotel group will not disappoint.
For a comprehensive list of things to do in Adelaide, visit VirtualTourist.com or TripAdvisor.com.au.
