Glenelg
Outside the city centre, the best known
area is Glenelg, to which the one remaining city tram
service operates. Glenelg has its own history, and
was the first place in the Adelaide area to be settled.
The Pioneer Memorial was erected in 1936 to mark the
centenary of the town. It is fourteen metres high and
commemorates the founding of Glenelg and the pioneers
of the early settlement. The names of the founders
of South Australia are engraved on the stone and there
is a model of the H.M.S. Buffalo which brought them
to this state. Further ahead is the Glenelg Jetty,
originally built in 1859. A wooden lighthouse at the
end was burnt down, and then, in 1948, a storm destroyed
the jetty. Eventually it was rebuilt in 1969. Click here for more information about Glenelg
Barossa Valley
The most popular destination for a
one-day trip from Adelaide is the Barossa Valley. The
Barossa Valley is the most famous place in Australia
for wine. The valley was first settled by Europeans
in 1842, most of the settlers arriving from Prussia
and Silesia to escape religious persecution. They
brought with them a love of wine and a knowledge of
how to grow vines and produce their favourite beverages,
so the Barossa Valley became one of the first wine-growing
areas in the country, and the most successful. It
is only in recent years that the supremacy of the region
has experienced any serious challenge, but it remains
the most popular tourist destination with those seeking
alcoholic refreshment. Click here for more information about the Barossa
Valley
Victor Harbor and Goolwa
Victor Harbor and Goolwa lie approximately two hours
south of Adelaide and one of the great attractions
of the towns is the Cockle Train which runs between
them, one of the very first railways to be constructed
in Australia. Victor Harbor has an old double-decker
horse-drawn tram across to Granite Island, where
there is a good lookout and the Penguin Centre providing
information on the Fairy Penguins which live on the
island. In the sea just off the island is the Below
Decks Aquarium and in the town of Victor Harbor is
the Encounter Coast Discovery Centre. Since Victor
Harbor is a former whaling town, it is appropriate
that the South Australian Whale Centre should be
here, offering relics of whaling times. In the bay
outside, Southern Right Whales can often be seen
in winter resting on their long migratory journey. Click here for more information
about Victor Harbor & Goolwa
Kangaroo Island
In reality, Kangaroo Island is too large and too far
from Adelaide for a one-day trip to be ideal. However,
several companies do offer this as a one-day tour,
and it is certainly better to see the island in one
day than not to see it at all. Kangaroo Island is
the third largest off-shore island in Australia and
is noted for its flora and fauna. The island covers
an area of 4,500 square kilometres, measuring 155 kilometres
by 55 kilometres. Approximately a third of the island
consists of National Parks and Conservation Parks.
It lies south-west of Adelaide, a journey of 110 kilometres
by bus, taking a little over two hours, followed by
a ferry ride of sixteen kilometres taking a little
under an hour. Click here for more information about Kangaroo Island
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