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The city of Adelaide has been described in New Yorker magazine as "possibly the last well- planned and contented metropolis on Earth". It may well be true.
Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia, nestled between the River Torrens, the Adelaide Hills and the Gulf of St
Vincent. It's a beautifully planned city with wide streets surrounded by parks, old architecture, colonial churches and modern art galleries. The best way to see the sights is on foot, which is just as well really because you may need the exercise - the other thing Adelaide does better than anywhere is food and wine.
Entire streets are devoted to dining, with cafes, pubs and restaurants. Rundle St is home to alfresco dining. Gouger St specialises in seafood and Asian restaurants are everywhere. If you're looking for a people-watching spot, try the balcony of the Hotel Richmond overlooking Rundle Mall.
The colourful, busy Central Market houses tables groaning with fresh food and speciality stalls - it's said to have one of the largest ranges of fresh food in the Southern Hemisphere.
And if it's something sweet you're after, four generations of the Haigh family are responsible for one of the best taste trips in Adelaide. Haigh's chocolate has been manufactured since 1915 and its ever-popular chocolate frogs have been sold continuously for 67 years.
If frogs aren't your thing, there are hand-dipped truffles, fudge, chocolate fruit centres and chocolate macadamia nuts. Visitors can tour the chocolate factory to see how it's all made and, of course, sample the end result.
Outside the city, but no more than an hour's drive away, lies the famous Barossa Valley - home to some of Australia's best wine from renowned labels such as Jacob's Creek, Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Yalumba and Peter Lehmann. More than 20 per cent of Australian wine is grown in the valley with vineyards dating back over 160 years.
There are more than 60 cellar doors to visit in the Barossa so there are plenty of tasting opportunities. If you want to take your time try a long lazy lunch under the gum trees, with a bottle of chardonnay and a platter of delicious local food at Peter Lehmann.
In October, Adelaide's growing reputation as a food and wine destination will be celebrated with the bi-annual Tasting Australia Festival.
The eight-day festival celebrates the very best Australia has to offer in food, beer and wine plus tastings, cooking classes, debates, events and demonstrations by visiting chefs, authors and TV presenters. Top chefs participating include Rick Stein, Madhur Jaffrey and Antonio Carluccio.
And if that's not enough to get you to brilliant Adelaide I don't know what it will take.
- Detours, HoS