← Kangaroo Island Marathon·3 nights

Adelaide: Markets, Galleries and a Flat City

Three nights in a flat, walkable city after the island, with a free gallery, a botanic garden and a central market.

Duration3 nights
TransitSeaLink ferry from Penneshaw to Cape Jervis, about 45 min, then coach or car, about 90 min to Adelaide
DepartsPenneshaw

After the Kangaroo Island Marathon: Adelaide

The Route: Kingscote → Penneshaw → Cape Jervis → Adelaide → Adelaide Airport Logistics: Drive to Penneshaw, take the SeaLink ferry to Cape Jervis, then a coach or car to Adelaide. Packages from Marathon Tours & Travel include the transfers, and independent travellers should reserve vehicle space and coach seats early. Marathon Month: August Duration: 3 nights

Kingscote ──(about 45 mins by road)──> Penneshaw ──(about 45 mins ferry)──> Cape Jervis ──(about 90 mins)──> Adelaide
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Adelaide Airport (ADL) <──(about 20 to 30 mins by taxi or bus)─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Kangaroo Island Marathon is on a Sunday in August, and Adelaide is the natural finish to the trip. The city centre is flat and laid out on a grid, and most of what it offers can be reached on foot with no serious hill.

August in Adelaide: winter, though mild by British standards. Days are typically in the mid teens Celsius, with cool mornings and regular rain. The Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale wine regions are green in winter, and cellar doors offer warm seated tastings, which suits stiff legs. Do not plan a beach day.

Nights One to Three: Adelaide

The Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace has free general entry, and it is an easy indoor option with seating. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is next door and is free to enter, with level paths through the grounds. Rain is likely, so keep the gallery as the fallback.

Adelaide Central Market is a covered market with food stalls, and it is close to the centre, so it is a good lunch stop. Opening days vary, and it is not open every day, so check the current schedule before you go.

For a bed, the Pullman Adelaide is the organiser's package hotel, and The Playford Adelaide is a central hotel near North Terrace. Both are within walking distance of the main sights, and rates change with events.

For a meal, Osteria Oggi on Currie Street serves Italian food and is close to the city centre. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings. If you want wine, a half-day trip to McLaren Vale or the Adelaide Hills with a booked driver or a tour is easy from the city.

Day Two: McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale wine region is about 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, roughly 35 to 40 minutes by road. A hire car, a booked driver or a small-group tour from the city works, and a tour is the easiest way to avoid driving after tastings. d'Arenberg's cellar door, with its glass Cube building, is one of the best-known, and many estates in the region offer seated tastings and lunches. August is winter, so the vines are bare but the cellar doors are warm. Check hours, because some producers close on certain weekdays.

Day Three: Hahndorf and the Hills

Hahndorf is a German settlement in the Adelaide Hills, about 30 minutes east of the city by road. The main street is about a kilometre long, gently sloped, with German-style bakeries and pubs. Beerenberg Farm nearby is known for its jam and its pick-your-own fruit in season. Winter is cool and often wet in the hills, so bring an extra layer. Check the operating hours on the day.

Getting Home

Adelaide Airport (ADL) is about 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre by taxi or bus. If you are returning a hire car, allow time to refuel and drop it off. The ferry and coach connections from the island run to fixed timetables, so leave a buffer before an international departure.