Around the World With Uncle Moose: Adelaide

The Indian Pacific arrived in Adelaide at about 8:00 AM and we were safely ensconsed in our hotel by 10:00. As soon as we checked in I realized that I had left my camera in the back seat of the taxi, which had long since departed. Fortunately, we remembered the name of the taxi company, and the receptionist at the hotel said he would contact the taxi company and see if it turned up.

Our hotel (the taller building)

After checking in, we went for a walk in central Adelaide. All Australian cities are required by law to have a pedestrian mall in the center of town, and Adelaide was no exception, so we began our walk on Rundle Mall.

Adelaide Arcade on Rundle Mall

Inside Adelaide Arcade

Rundle Mall


I believe that "All Action Cricket Game" is an oxymoron.

The Austral Hotel (where we did not stay)

We then went back to the hotel, where we discovered that the taxi driver had found my camera. However, he was at the airport and wanted us to pay cab fare from the airport ($25.00) for him to bring it back. Gladly.

After lunch we hopped on a free "circulator" bus which seems to be available in all Australian cities. So we relaxed and took a riding tour of central Adelaide.

Downtown Adelaide

Typical housing in North Adelaide

University of Adelaide

Adelaide Railway Station

Victoria Square

The next morning Brenda decided that she didn't want to walk to a restaurant and suggested we eat at the hotel. So, we went down to the hotel restaurant where they offered a continental buffet (breads and cereals) and a full buffet. We ordered the continental buffet and ate about $3.00 of food each. The bill was $22.00 a person! I shudder to think how much the full buffet was. So, a word to the wise from Uncle Moose--always get the price up front. You'd think I'd remember that by now.....

After we recovered from that shock, we went to the Adelaide zoo, which was actually within walking distance of our downtown hotel.

At the Adelaide Zoo

Flora at the zoo.


A meerkat

They have pandas at the zoo, and they actually come out!


A quokka

A moose and a quokka

Obligatory koala bear

Local emu

And, of course, a Kangaroo

After lunch Brenda decided to take a nap, so I went wandering about town. You can pretty much see everything in central Adelaide in about a 3 hour walk.

The East End, a trendy area of Adelaide, near our hotel

Another view of the East End

Back on Rundle Mall

Pigs running wild on Rundle Mall

Downtown Adelaide

Adelaide has about 1.2 million people, and although it's not New Orleans or San Francisco in terms of tourist attractions, it's a very walkable and livable city. Central Adelaide is completely surrounded by parkland, and there is a park between the river and downtown.