Exploring Adelaide and the Barossa wine valley

The middle week of our journey focused on South Australia, balanced between the excursion to Kangaroo Island and exploring Adelaide and the Barossa wine valley.

Day 1

We begin with the wine tour - one day and a guided voyage through four wineries in the Barossa Valley. The region is famous for shiraz, although it was a little hot for the heavy red wines, we indulged anyway.

Day 2

Adelaide is home to an amazing botanical garden. We completely lucked out because as we visited, there was a Chihuly exhibit. We had the chance to see a Chihuly exhibit in the past at the botanical gardens near Phoenix, so we knew we were in for a treat. Dale Chihuly has a studio in the Seattle area and has been launching large scale blown glass exhibits since the late 1970s.

While the exhibits highlighted the botanical gardens, there was an abundance of natural beauty that we enjoyed.

There was a flock pf parrots in the gardens that were camouflaged and hid well in the trees. But once the parrots took flight, their brightly colored wings gave them away.

Day 3

On day 3, we took a cruise of the Torrens river. This river is primarily fresh water but is home to many sea animals. On our cruise we were on a mission to see dolphins as they proved to be very difficult to spot from the ship when we were in Patagonia.

Jellyfish drifting in the Torrens River

Incoming! Four dolphins approach the boat on our tour along the Torrens River

And now the other side of the boat!

Day 4

This day was filled with leisurely strolls through the North Terrace area of Adelaide. We scoped out the campus of the University of Adelaide as well as the Art Gallery of South Australia.

One of many loaded walls at the - Art Gallery of Southern Australia

This painting is called Antarctica. I'd say it's spot on.

Hello Donald Judd! From Marfa, TX to Adelaide, South Australia - Donald Judd made quite the impact on our sabbatical!

And...

Not a museum piece, I just couldn't resist snapping a shot of an infinite hallway effect in the lobby of our Adelaide hotel. I'm grateful we had some waiting time for the Uber before heading for our flight to Perth.

South Australia treated us well between the excursions on Kangaroo Island and the diverse experiences in Adelaide. Now it was time for the third week of our Australian Odyssey to Western Australia.