South Australia

We flew from Cairns in Queensland to Adelaide in South Australia on December 12th. The flight crosses over some remarkably red, vast and arid land on the trip down. Although we didn't get a chance to travel much into the Australian Outback on this trip, we were nevertheless eager to see it from the air.

Once we arrived in Adelaide, we went through the stress that is trying to get a rented car to take in one direction, a week before Christmas. Somehow we managed, and the four of us piled into a compact, bound for Adelaide Shores campervan park. At the park we rented a cabin- pretty snug, but comfortable enough for four adults. The park has access to a pretty nice beach- though the water was COLD... and instead of stingers, we now had sharks to contend with. But I'd take it all for a frontyard like this...

the beach at Adelaide Shores caravan park

Soaking up the sun in South Australia

very cool sunset over the great southern ocean- or indian ocean- depending who you ask

Megan decided to apply to grad school while in Adelaide, which was no easy feat given our general lack of a computer, local phone, fax machine, internet access, or printer. Several days spent at the Adelaide public library ensued- including some pretty frantic essay editing, as computers at the library are limited to a one hour only time limit. While taking care of this, Linda and Chuck saw the sights of downtown Adelaide... and Catt managed to catch some good boomerang pics at the South Australian Museum:

boomerangs galore!

While in Adelaide, we decided to hit up the Barossa Valley, a famous wine region known internationally for its shiraz- though packs a pretty good punch with its cabs, grenache and semillon, as well.

Wine tasting in Australia is awesome. I've tasted in Europe a bit, and several spots in the U.S. and I can say without reservation that the Australian experience is definitely superior. Sure, the wines elsewhere in the world are equally diverse, tasty, and surprising, but it's the laid-back friendliness and TOTAL lack of pretension that makes Aussie tasting rooms so pleasurable.

Catt navigating the vino trail

Yaldara Estates, Barossa Valley, South Australia

at Peter Lehmann's

some lunch with that wine?

Lunch in the Barossa Valley

After a few days in South Australia we were ready to move east- and on to the Grampians National Park!