Help!adelaide Mums

[Manxie]

Hi girls

I need some help. My best buddy & her DH are visiting next week from the UK and I'm after some suggestions for day trips/meals out etc. My bubs is 5months old so dont want to do huge trips, an hour & half from the city at the most.

I would like to take them out to lunch next Saturday and I was thinking maybe a winery in the Adelaide Hills/McLaren Vale? Can anyone recommend anywhere. Has anyone eaten at Chain of Ponds?

Also any other suggestions for things to do. They are going off to the Clare Valley for a few days. I've thought of Hahndof, Mt Lofty, Botanical gardens...but what else:rolleyes:

Hope you girls can come up with lots of good suggestions I want to make it a really fun trip for them as they are comming all that way just to meet my DD:D Now thats what true friends are.

[Manxie]

Thanks Mandy

What sort of food is Oscars? Havent heard of Pennys hill where is it? Do they have a restaurant?

Typical I'll be going to wineries when I cant drink (B/F!) :D

[willsmum]

If you want something yummy, then I highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's factory on Greenhill Rd (ring ahead and book a factory tour so you don't miss out).

If they want something a bit different to do that doesn't involve food, try either the maritime museum or the train museum (big boys just love jumping on & off the trains). These are both at Pt Adelaide and onlyabout $10 to get into.

Other than that, you could do a trip up to Mannum and have a trip (and lunch) on one of those paddle steamers up the Murray. Nice scenery.

Or what about good old Victor Harbor and the horse drawn tram to Granite Island with lunch at the restaurant there. Or even just fish & chips on the beach front (being pommies they could probably relate to that).

[caz]

You could also try some wineries in Tanunda, Nuriootpa or Angaston

Or even a Dolphin Tour in Port Adelaide, you get on a boat and they show you the Port River Dolphins.

If you do the Fish and Chips on the beach, I personally recommend taking them down to semaphore. They make the nicest fish and chips and the scenery is beautiful

[Manxie]

Thanks so much for the info girls. I knew there would be lots of great things to do that I wouldnt think of!

Willsmum - yep some non food related ideas are great! My friend has asked me to find out where the local weight watchers is so she can get weighed in while she is here:eek: Mannum is a great idea I will look into that

Love the idea of going to see the Port River Dolphins we all scuba dive (or used to pre baby) so I know we are all into that sort of thing & its something we would all enjoy thanks for that Caz.

Excellent, Excellent and thanks Mandy will check out those restuarants if we go to Maclaren Vale.

Any more ideas welcome

[Mummabear]

Hi Manxie,

Just a quick one - I'll call you later (Oscar needs dinner :) ). You can book tours of the Central Market which are quite good. Can't remember where to book them but call centre management and if they can't help you call centre management of China Town.

There are the ghost tours through the old Adelaide buildings in the city too, which is a good night time one (I can watch Lucy for you if you like).

Gotta go, chat soon

[3TinLids]

You could also try out Cleland National Park (or other National Parks). Your friends may like to see all the native animals. Most overseas visitors like seeing "the bush" and our animals. Otherwise alot of our beaches are beautiful. Plenty of sand and sun. I personally love going to Pt Elliot (near Victor Harbor). It has a beautiful bay called Horseshoe Bay and lovely little shops you can browse in or have lunch at.

Hope you and your friends have a great time.

Rebecca:)

[Manxie]

Thanks Prom Queen & 3boysmums more great suggestions.

Most overseas visitors like seeing "the bush" and our animals. This brought a smile to my face. Last time they were here we took them off to Innes Nt Park and stayed in the Shepherds Cottage (a hut with a roof and open fireplace and thats about it). I love that sort of thing but unfortunately my pal is a bit more of a five star hotel sorta chick, she nearly died!! She did say afterwards though that when she got back to the UK and reflected it was one of the highlights of their trip, LOL:D

I reckon I've seen a few Poms who've enjoyed the beach recently burnt to b****y. They dont realise that its not quite the same as lying on the beach in Spain:eek:

[willsmum]

You could also do a spot of shopping at Harbour Town - with all those lovely pounds sterling I'm sure they'll have buckets of cash.

And what about Monarto?

[Manxie]

Willsmum-Yep I remember those wonderful days of comming out here with pounds in my pocket to burn. I'm sure we could do some damage at Harbour town:D I had to convert the amount I recently spent on photographs of DD back into £ so that I didnt feel so bad about all the money I spent - LOL!

Shame it dosent work the other way, we are going to be a poor as poor when we visit the UK in April:(

[carls]

I highly recommend D'arrys Verandah Restaurant at D'arenberg Winery at Mclaren Vale. The food and wines are sensational.

Gorge Wildlife Park on Gorge Road is fantastic for wildlife, especially kangaroo feeding.

[Lisa C]

I know someone else has mentioned it, but i highly recommend Cleland - whenever we have o/s visitiors they simply love Cleland! They love how tame the animals are up there - even tho they are running about "wild" in their natural habitat ... the kangaroos come up to you (to see if you have any food for them) and you are even able to pat the koalas if you go at the right time (phone to find out...)

Just make sure it isn't too hot ... the last time i went up there it was on a 39/40 degree day, and while it is quite shady, it would have been sooo much more enjoyable if it had been a bit cooler!!

A trip (over-night) to KI would also be recommended, depending on the time they have.

Lisa :)

[angelwinks]

I dont know if its too late but Coriole in McLaren Vale is a nice spot for a family to enjoy lunch or a coffee and cake it has a nice outlook on the vineyards and its just a lovely atmosphere (big ambassodor as DH worked there) now he's down the road at Chappel Hill its nice but no coffee and cake served there.
Hmmm no wouldnt go past that.:)

[Manxie]

Hi guys

Thanks for all the hot tips.

Well best laid plans and all that....what about the heat! In the end we didnt do too much as it was just too hot for them!

We went to Unley pool which they loved. We also did some of the hills wineries and had lunch at Chain of Ponds. It was stinking hot up there (we were the only ones eating LOL). Lucy looked a sight sitting in just her nappy with a flannel on her head but I have to say they were great, nice staff, excellent food, good view so I'd definately recommend it but just not on a 40+ day.

They went off to Maclaren Vale which they really enjoyed and took in some of the beaches on the way.

Yesterday we had lunch at the Hyde Park Tavern and took advantage of their lovely air con.

Oh well at least I've still got lots of things I can do with them next time they are out.

Thanks once again. Now feeling all sad and teary that they have gone:(

[willsmum]

Never mind Manxie - you are off to see them soon in the UK aren't you? And you'll probably get sleet and hail to make up for all the heat.

[Manxie]

Willsmum-Off to UK in April so not long now at all:D , although probably wont be able to see these friends as we will be tucked away in the Isle of Man but at least we can chat.

Sleet and Hail:eek: I have only been back to the UK in summer since I left fourish years ago. I hope its not too grotty. Still I am looking forward to that long awaited M&S prawn and mayo sarnie and a packet of crisps, its amazing what I get excited about these days:D

[willsmum]

Tragic! Mind you I could go a packet of smokey bacon crisps or maybe pickled onion. Walkers of course. We just don't get the flavours right here, do we.

[Manxie]

ooh pickled onion yumm. Tell you what I'll bring you a bag back thats if the sniffer dogs let me:D . I'll try not to get them too crushed LOL.