South Australia

[Iain]

SWMBO has been annoying me for some time now about going to SA, soooooo after finally caving in we have decided to take a stroll across in about 3-4 weeks.
Looking for places of interest, reasonable accommodation in Adelaide or just outside,which wineries to visit etc etc.
Probably leave on a Thursday and spend one night at Port Fairy or Portland then drive to Adelaide sometime Friday, need to be home the following Tuesday.
Will also have Miss 12 in tow.
Any suggestions.
I have not been to Adelaide (but used to travel to Mt Gambier on a monthly basis) since I was incarcerated at Edinburgh (left right left right....you orrible little man) in 1967, has anything changed since then???

[Christopha]

I have not been to Adelaide (but used to travel to Mt Gambier on a monthly basis) since I was incarcerated at Edinburgh (left right left right....you orrible little man) in 1967, has anything changed since then???

Big changes Iain, we got a traffic light in the main street and real running water at the horse trough!

[Harry72]

If your going to the Barossa, book in with a wine tour mob... save drink driving!
Go here plenty of info, http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/

[graemet]

Barossa is over rated (IMHO) McLaren Vale for reds, particularly the little wineries up the dirt tracks, Clare Valley for everything.
Must go again soon!
Cheers
Graeme

[Christopha]

Graeme.... you don't know spit mate, COONAWARRA is the very best..... Australias' other Red Centre. Them square heads in the Beerossa shoulda stuck to beer and them Clare clots and Mclaren Vale mugs are just beginners.....

[Iain]

Yes, we have some excellent reds in the nearby Koonwarra district;)
Methinks they may be trying to cash in on the name:rolleyes:

[Carry Pine]

We had a good time at the Penfolds winery at Magill. i know they charged $8 at the time to go around and see where they used to hide the grange but at the end you were allowed to taste some real wines. When i said i wasn't fussed about St Henri claret, they said but here's one you will like and they opened a bottle of 1988 St henri!! That doesn't happen in other places.
Robe is also a good place to go.

[oges]

I was there last week, one of the places I stayed was the Adelaide International at Glenelg North, tram reasonably close if you dont feel like driving into town or Glenelg. Was about $75 a night I think
http://www.internationalmotel.com/welcome.html

Make sure you head into the hills and check whats there aswell, Hahndorf is a good area to look around, looks like the wineries are covered already.

[silkwood]

Iain, if wines are your main interest here perhaps you might want to start with a visit to the National Wine Centre on North Terrace. It has some great information and can give you some clues for finding your preferred styles.

You'll find excellent wines in all districts, as well as some shockers (like everywhere). I'd have to say my favourite area for generally tasting a number of styles would be McLaren Vale, though a trip to Clare is hard to beat for the wine and the ambience. If you have any particular preferences (as opposed to general interest) give me a pm & I'll try to point you in the right direction. You'll also find that Edinburgh Cellars and Melbourne St. have regular tastings, a great way to try new stuff. Good, inexpensive dining can be found around the Central Markets (I can highly recommend T-Chow for value and taste).

Coonawarra, didn't that used to be a wine region (as opposed to a quarter of the state)?:p

And how can you take wine advice from someone called Brett?;)

Cheers,

Mark

[Gumby]

Hey big fella :D

I don't know about SA but this is where we stayed a couple of nights at Port Fairy. Right on the river, stroll up to the old pub for dinner (absolutely beautiful) and stagger home again. That pub is the first in Victoria apparently.

http://www.shearwaterhouse.com.au/

[Iain]

Thanks for the replies to date, I am compiling and will refer for notes before we leave (no date yet, just having a swipe at my super, small slice, and waiting for it to turn up).
I intended stopping in at Coonawarra (district) and showing SWMBO Christopha:D
I have been through there while on business but never had time to stop.

[echnidna]

naa, i think thres a pub in Casterton

[Gumby]

naa, i think thres a pub in Casterton

The pub IS Casterton :D

[jow104]

Iain,
I can tell you that the hill down into Adelaide is a real S O D, possibly 1 in 4 with a sharp rh. bend. So make sure your brakes are cool for the decent and no wine on board. Also the road signs in A need a travellers point of view because I think they were designed for residents with local knowledge. ;)

[Christopha]

Iain,
I can tell you that the hill down into Adelaide is a real S O D, possibly 1 in 4 with a sharp rh. bend. So make sure your brakes are cool for the decent and no wine on board. Also the road signs in A need a travellers point of view because I think they were designed for residents with local knowledge. ;)

And I can tell that you haven't been to Adelaide for quite a while..... no bends to speak of, a tunnel about 16 feet long and "WHOOOOSH!" ypur brakes fail and you end up at Glenelg with wet feet!

[silkwood]

Iain, just had a thought, McLaren Vale is nearby some excellent flyfishing. Don't know if that's still your line:rolleyes: . The rivers are open but you'd be chasing spawners. However there are some VERY impressive fish in the local dams. I can give you the names of some club members who cwould arrange access. then again, you probably know Brownie!

Cheers,

[oges]

And how can you take wine advice from someone called Brett?;)

me? I wasnt giving any wine advice .. i know even less about that than i do about woodwork :rolleyes:

[Iain]

The only character building hill I have travelled was Brown Mountain with an 18' caravan, no problem for me with the Diesel Landcruiser in 2nd but saw a few dickheads with smoking wheels at the bottom.
Never have really associated SA with Fly Fishing, don't know Brownie, who is he, I know a few from Vic and NSW from my competition days.
I still fly fish but not as much as I used to (every night after work).

[silkwood]

Brett, my apologies, it was a lame attempt at a joke:o . "Brett" in wine is short for Brettanomyces, a fungus evident in some wines and producing characteristics which are usually seen as a fault.

Iain, Ray Brown is a local flyfisher who is nationally known for his tying (in particular the "Kosciousko Dun"). I didn't know you competed. You'll possibly know John Rumph? He's living over here now (or at least was, last time I saw him late last year).

Cheers,

[Iain]

You'll possibly know John Rumph?
Yes, although I haven't seen him for a long time, also Mick Hall (pompous little ######), John Waters, Ted Whitham and a few others.
Spent a lot of time up at Eucumbene and surrounds with quite a few of them although I haven't competed since about 93, lost interest in all the self basting cretins with the holier than thou attitude.
I used to import fly gear from the USA and upset a few people along the way who thought it was their exclusive domain, I would undercut on a lot of gear that the local importers refused to supply by bringing it in direct from the USA and selling direct, so much for refusing to supply me, they thought I would just go away:D

[ernknot]

But isn't the holier than thou attitude rife in any competition or even amongs people who jog, ride road bikes, tennins whatever. Must have the gear to give the impression they just got back from the olympics or some other world event. Why even in my sport of pocket billiards we have these richard craniums.

[oges]

Brett, my apologies, it was a lame attempt at a joke:o . "Brett" in wine is short for Brettanomyces, a fungus evident in some wines and producing characteristics which are usually seen as a fault.

aah okay then .. im a wine fungus :eek: :D

[zenwood]

I can recommend a little-known restaurant on the esplanade at brighton beach. Not sure what it's called, but it's on the South side of the roundabout, on the corner of the esplanade and Jetty Road, Brighton. I take the kids there for an actual *real* hamburger with the lot, and SWMBO and I went there for lunch last week, and it was one of the nicest meals I've had (chicken caesar, with a creme-brule type thing to follow). You can take a very pleasant constitutional along the beach afterwards.

Would agree that McLaren vale is at least as good as the Barossa for wine touring/tasting.

I'm sure the family would appreciate a visit to MIK at Norwood;)

[John Saxton]

Iain after the sojourn of imbibing and tantalising tastbuds forget the wineries,head off to MIK INTERNATIONAL and really drool.

Cheers:)

[javali]

I can recommend a little-known restaurant on the esplanade at brighton beach. Not sure what it's called, but it's on the South side of the roundabout, on the corner of the esplanade and Jetty Road, Brighton.
I checked it today, and join the recommendation. It's called Jetty Cafe. A very nice place, reasonable prices and good food.

[zenwood]

Good, isn't it Javal?:) What did you have? Just don't tell anyone else about it. Don't want it getting too crowded or yuppish or anything.

[javali]

It is good. I had a burger and the cheese cake - both are the best I had since coming to Australia. The missus had the chicken salad and some other cake.