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Adelaide

Australia
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"Whatever you do, don't call us the city of churches," implores a local gay business operator, "we're over that."
South Australia's capital, Adelaide, has indeed laboured under the "city of churches" stereotype for far too long, giving the city an image of staidness. It's more accurate to think of Adelaide as a wine capital, placed as it is near two premier wine regions: the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.
Adelaide is a well-planned, well-maintained city, with many fine examples of Victorian civic architecture. The city has a lively cafe culture along the east end of Rundle Street, and a well-deserved reputation for staging some of the best cultural festivals in the country.
Late spring is an ideal time to visit: the weather is mild and the city's queer content is peaking thanks to the annual gay and lesbian festival, Feast.

What to do
Where to stay
Nightlife

What to do
Time your arrival to coincide with Adelaide's annual gay and lesbian festival, Feast, and you'll find plenty of activities on offer. Otherwise, you'll have to content yourself with the standard indulgences: good food, great wine, and amazing wildlife. The top five things to do here are:
1. Feast your senses
From dance parties to picnics, film nights, history walks, book launches, literary dinners, theatre, cabaret ... the annual gay and lesbian festival, called Feast, packs a hell of a lot of punch. The fun begins each year in mid-October, running through to early November. Email feast@bigpond.com for more information.
2. Drink
Some of the best wine made in Australia comes from the picturesque Barossa Valley, about an hour drive from Adelaide. Hire a car, choose a designated driver, and start tasting some of Australia's finest shiraz. Alternatively, have yourself chauffeur driven in a 1950s Chevrolet, booked through Mirror Image Touring (ph:61-8-8362 1400). Another option is the Barossa Wine Train (Ph:61-8-8212 7888, email: info@barossawinetrain.com.au), running between Adelaide and the Barossa Valley every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
3. See the wildlife
Kangaroo Island, a 20-minute flight from Adelaide, offers wonderful opportunities to see Australian wildlife up-close and personal. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, sea lions and fairy penguins abound on this island, referred to by South Australians as the jewel in Adelaide's crown. Definitelyworth a visit if you love wildlife, and peace and quiet.Adventure Charters of Kangaroo Island(ph:61-8-8553 9119)offers small group tours with excellent guides. Flights to the island are offered by Emu Airlines and Kendell Airlines; while Sealink Kangaroo Island offers a less expensive ferry service.
4. Cafe culture
Enjoy the outdoor cafes and restaurants along the east end of Rundle Street (try Alfrescos for coffee and gelato). Sit back, relax, and watch the Adelaideans strut their stuff.
5. Bike along the Torrens
Once you've sampled Adelaide's wine and coffee, jump on a bike and take an easy one hour scenic ride along the bike path tracking the Torrens River, winding through the city and on to the beach. Bikes can be hired in the riverside park adjacent to the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Where to stay

Adelaide's up-market establishments line the North Terrace, while the gay-owned properties are away from the city centre. Here's the top five:

1. Rochdale 349 Glen Osmond Road, Glen Osmond.
Ph: 61-8-8379 7948. email: rochdale@camtech.net.au
This gay-owned bed and breakast caters exclusively for gay and lesbian guests. It's a large, art-deco property about 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Warm and friendly, well-maintained, and spacious rooms with en-suite.

2. Greenways Apartments. 45 King William Road, North Adelaide.
Ph: 61-8-8267 5903. email: info@greenways.auz.net
www.greenways.auz.net
About 10 minutes walk from the city centre, the owner/manager describes the property as "gay-owned, straight-friendly". This property offers three-star self-contained apartments, modestly-appointed and reasonably priced.

3. Saville Park Suites. 255 Hindley Street, Adelaide.
Ph: 61-8-8217 2500. email: adelaide@shg.com.au
Located one block from Adelaide's gay and lesbian hotel, close to queer-friendly cafes, and in the "colourful" end of town, the Saville offers self-contained studios and apartments, with balconies, serviced daily. Rooms are on the small side, but staff are friendly and welcoming.

4. East End Astoria. 33 Vardon Avenue, Adelaide.
Ph: 61-8-8224 2400. email: stay@eastendastoria.com.au
Well-located next to Rundle Street's cafe and restaurant scene, the East End Astoria also offers self-contained one and two-bedroom apartments, with balcony. Well-maintained, and friendly.

5. Radisson Playford Hotel. 120 North Terrace, Adelaide.
Ph: 61-8-8213 8888
One of several luxury choices along Adelaide's up-market North Terrace, the Radisson offers guests a choice of hotel rooms or self-contained suites. Well-located in the city centre, with an easy walk to the Festival Centre, Art Gallery and Museum. Nearby properties include the Hyatt Regency and Stamford Apartments.

Nightlife

Adelaide's gay and lesbian nightlife revolves around a couple of commercial venues in the city, and a well-devleoped dinner party circuit. The former is easy to access, the latter takes a bit more work. Grab a copy of local gay and lesbian newspaper, Blaze for more information.

1. The Edinburgh Castle
233 Currie Street, Adelaide.
The Edinburgh is Adelaide's sole gay and lesbian pub. As such, most roads lead there at some stage of the night. The venue has a couple of bars and a dance floor, and is open seven days till late. It gets busy on the weekends, and attracts a good mix of locals; young and old, male and female.

2. The Mars Bar
120 Gouger Street, Adelaide.
Allegedly Adelaide's gay dance club, with two dance floors and weekend drag shows. Not surprisingly in a city this size, the club in reality caters for all markets, predominantly young and often straight. Open Wednesday till Saturday from 10.30pm till late.

3. Leather up
The Cougar Leather Club meets at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in George Street on the first and third Tuesday of the month. It's mostly male, but women are welcome.

4. Meet up
Adelaide's lesbians meet at Syrup, held on the last Saturday of each month at Enigma Bar, 173 Hindley Street, Adelaide. It's chic, groovy, and occasionally cruisy.
On the first friday of every month, a women's social dinner is held at Caos Cafe at 188 Hindley Street, Adelaide, from 7pm. Ph:61-8-8346 8577.

The Long Yang Club - Adelaide is a not-for-profit social club for Asian guys and their friends. Meet every Sunday 4pm-7pm at The Bath Hotel function room, corner of The Parade & Queen street in Norwood. Other functions include karaoke and 'pot luck' house parties. Phone 61-8-8387 1237.

5. Pick up ...
For body contact, try the gay sauna at 431 Pulteney Street, Adelaide, open seven days from noon.

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