Summer certainly is the time to be in South Australia. It is truly a time when Adelaide comes Alive! The Tour Down Under, Adelaide Fringe Festival and Clipsal 500 are just three of the highlights, reports The South Australian Tourism Commission.
Tour Down Under
The first stop on the world cycling calendar, the Santos Tour Down Under, kicks off the cycling year in exhilarating style. The world’s cycling elite will contest an exciting 51km circuit race, the Down Under Classic, followed by the six-stage Santos Tour Down Under.
The Santos Tour Down Under was first held in 1999 and has grown year on year to become the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere.
The week long event brings the top WorldTour professional cycling teams to race on the streets of Adelaide and regional South Australia each January. Up for grabs are important UCI WorldTour points and the Santos Ochre Leaders Jersey.
Events South Australia General Manager Hitaf Rasheed said the festival of cycling would celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2013 and had plenty to offer locals and visitors alike. It will be staged around the Adelaide streets, in South Australia from 20 – 27 January 2013.
Recently the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under was named Best Sporting Event and Best Tourism Event at the Australian Event Awards in Sydney. It was the fourth year running the event had been honoured at the awards.
More than 760,000 people enjoyed the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under, which was won for a second time by Australian rider Simon Gerrans.
“This figure includes more than 36,000 cycling fans from interstate and overseas who arrived specifically for the event,” Ms Rasheed said. “The Santos Tour Down Under injected $42 million into the state’s economy and continues to reinforce South Australia’s reputation for hosting world-class events and festivals.”
The Bupa Challenge Tour will return during the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under and next year features a 20-kilometre option ideal for families and those new to a bike. “This is a great way to experience a slice of cycling action on the same day as the professionals,” Ms Rasheed said.
In 2008, the Santos Tour Down Under joined the prestigious UCI WorldTour; the first event outside cycling’s traditional home of Europe to do so. The UCI WorldTour brings together the most prestigious teams and the best riders in the world to compete in the best races.
Tour de France winners Lance Armstrong, Oscar Pereiro, Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre have all raced in Adelaide, alongside Aussie legends Stuart O’Grady, Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans and Allan Davis.
Not just a bike race, the Santos Tour Down Under is a festival of cycling, with a range of associated events and festivals that create a massive party atmosphere across South Australia.
The Santos Tour Down Under invites the whole state to the party, by taking the race through South Australian regions. The race typically starts and concludes with exciting Adelaide city street circuits, with Stage 1-5 being held in regional South Australia.
The Santos Tour Down Under is owned and managed by Events South Australia, a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission on behalf of the South Australian Government.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Australia’s largest arts festival, Adelaide Fringe, is an annual open-access arts festival run during February and March, and is set to continue its massive growth by extending for another week from 2013.
Adelaide Fringe will now officially commence on Friday 15 February 2013, a week earlier than previous years and will run for a full four-week period.
Unlike a curated festival, the open-access nature of Adelaide Fringe means that anyone with a show, exhibition or cultural event is able to register and be part of Australia’s largest arts event. The result is one of the most diverse arts festivals in the world, renowned for fresh ideas, spontaneity and fun.
Artists from around Australia and across the globe participate alongside home-grown talent, in art forms spanning cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design.
Adelaide Fringe literally takes over the entire city with 900 events staged in pop up venues in parks, warehouses, lane-ways and empty buildings as well as established venues such as theatres, hotels, art galleries, cafes and town halls.
Aside from the Fringe Club, Adelaide Fringe does not run venues itself. However, what it does do is advise, encourage and assist venues to be as successful as possible, both artistically and financially. This includes facilitating the matching of artists with venues and providing scheduling, programming, funding, marketing and publicity advice.
Key to the operation of Adelaide Fringe is its role to support, encourage and facilitate registered artists, presenters and venues. It works to ensure that artists and presenters have the best possible experience, right through from the registration process to their performances and exhibitions.
What differentiates Adelaide Fringe from many other Fringe Festivals in the world is that alongside the ticketed open access program are the Fringe produced and/or supported special free events, which run throughout the program. These events add to the carnival atmosphere that engulfs the entire city and include the Fringe Parade, Adelaide Fringe Street Theatre Festival and Fringe in the Mall.
For independent artists, Adelaide Fringe is an inspirational environment to showcase their work. For audiences, it’s an opportunity to see exciting and entertaining contemporary work in an atmosphere that encourages taking a chance and seeing and discovering something new.
Adelaide Fringe Chair Judy Potter said, “this is fantastic news and we are so grateful for the Government’s support in helping us to achieve our goal of extending this much loved event to four weeks.” Adelaide Fringe Director, Greg Clarke said the announcement was testament to the incredible growth the Fringe had experienced over the past three years.
Adelaide Fringe attracted more than 1.5 million people in 2012 contributing an economic benefit of $48.2 million to the State of South Australia. Fringe venues, both ‘pop-up’ and established will have an extra week to bring a return on their investment providing more jobs for South Australians.
Adelaide Fringe Director Greg Clarke claims, “Adelaide Fringe is by far the largest arts festival in Australia with the number of events greater that any mainstream arts festival in any of the capital cities.”
Tickets sales and attendances support his claim, as does the record number of 4,000 artists who participated in the festival in over 6,532 performances at 923 events, an increase of 20% on 2011.
The Adelaide Fringe Opening Night Parade, themed “Inside Out” will be held on Friday 15 February 2013.
Adelaide Fringe Program:
The full Adelaide Fringe program is first released online in early December with tickets available for purchase through FringeTIX. The printed guide is released in the first week of January.
The program includes, but is not limited to, a variety of art forms including cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design.
In 2012 there were over 4000 artists in 923 events and 6532 performances.
Free Events:
Alongside the open access program, Adelaide Fringe produces or supports a number of free celebratory events and activities that enliven the city with a festive atmosphere. They include:
Fringe Parade – a hugely popular iconic event that is the hallmark celebration heralding the start of Adelaide Fringe.
Spirit Festival – produced by Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and held over the opening weekend, Spirit Festival celebrates Australia’s indigenous culture.
Adelaide Fringe Street Theatre Festival – a curated ‘mini-festival within a festival’, held over the third weekend of Adelaide Fringe.
Fringe in the Mall – Staged in a 1960‘s Caravan, Fringe in the Mall is the central place where Adelaide Fringe artists publicly showcase and promote their events.
Adelaide Fringe Office
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday.
64 Fullarton Rd Norwood, SA 5067
Email: buzz@adelaidefringe.com.au
Phone: +61 8 8100 2000 | Fax+61 8 8100 2020
Clipsal 500
The history of the Australian Touring Car Championship dates back to 1960. From that inaugural year up to 1968 the Championship was decided by a single race and from 1969 onwards by a Series.
Since 1995 it has been solely the domain of Ford and Holden. Nissan has had previous successful forays into Australian Touring Car racing, notably winning the title in 1991 (Jim Richards) and 1992 (Mark Skaife) with its formidable GT-R “Godzilla” models.
Mercedes Benz has also been represented in years gone by with Bob Jane and Harry Firth winning the 1961 Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island in a 220SE, two Mercedes Benz 190E models running at Bathurst in 1986, and Phil Ward (the founder of Aussie Racing Cars) also campaigning various configurations of the Mercedes Benz marque in the period 1987- 1994.
Four Nissan V8 Supercars and three privately entered AMG Mercedes Benz E-Class machines will join new model Holden and Ford race cars in the 28 car grid for the first time at the 2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
The 2013 four-day Clipsal 500 Adelaide motorsport festival will be held from 28 February to 3 March. With the Clipsal 500 being Australia’s largest domestic motorsport event, it is entirely appropriate that a new era of V8 Supercar competition should be launched on Adelaide’s famous city street circuit. Adelaide brought Formula 1 to Australia, and now it is introducing a new form of V8 Supercars.
Clipsal 500 Adelaide Chief Executive Mark Warren said, the “2013 Championship will be among the most significant ever in the long history of Australian motorsport with the introduction of the ‘new breed’ Car of the Future specification V8 Supercars racing for the first time, with Nissan and a private team running AMG -Mercedes Benz E class models joining long- time rivals Holden and Ford”.
Mr Warren said the level of interest in the event would be at an all-time high;
“You simply can’t overstate the importance of the 2013 event and the fact that Adelaide and South Australia has been selected to host the launch of this landmark progression in the sport.”
It is a bonus for fans from around the nation who will flock to the Adelaide circuit and with the V8 Supercars Championship extending to the USA for the first time next year the international interest in our event will also reach a new level.
The 2013 Clipsal 500 will be the 15th V8 Supercar event to be held on the Adelaide circuit. Tickets to the event are on sale at Ticketek – phone 132 849 or online at
www.ticketek.com.au – with new exciting options for fans.
In 2013 a number of ‘al fresco’ facilities combining dedicated food and bar outlets, TV monitors, bleacher seating and café areas will be built. Two such facilities are planned for the Turn 8 (Wakefield Road/DeQuetteville Tce) and Turn 1 (Senna Chicane), replacing traditional grandstand style seating. Direct customer feedback, plus extensive post event research indicates that many fans desire new ways to enjoy the live race experience in a casual and more flexible mode.
The new facilities mean patrons will be able to sit in bleachers, move to café umbrella covered tables, and utilise the food and beverage outlets that will be provided exclusively for each new facility and of course have brilliant viewing on the track action.
Mr Warren said he was confident that such facilities represented the future, not just for the Clipsal 500 Adelaide but for many other events. “Attending major events is all about the atmosphere, the ability relax, and to enjoy the experience in a variety of ways.
“In 2013 we will have a complete range of viewing and ticketing options. Exclusive and shared (corporate) facilities, grandstand seating, the new flexible ‘al fresco’ alternative, and Trackside passes.”
Tickets to the 2013 event are now available at Ticketek on phone 132 849 or online at www.ticketek.com.au For more event information visit www.clipsal500.com.au
Be Sun Smart
Average daily summer (December-February) temperatures, Adelaide – Max 28.3°C, Min 16.5°C
Northern parts of the state (such as the Flinders Ranges and outback of South Australia) experience very hot conditions during summer. Many of these areas are desert, so the days can be hot, while the nights are often cold.
The sun can be extremely intense in South Australia. To avoid skin burn, seek shade whenever possible, particularly between the hours of 11am and 3pm. When out in the sun, wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your face, ears and neck. Use a maximum protection, broad based spectrum sun screen of at least SPF 30+.
Getting Around
South Australia is a big state and we love to get out and about, so travel options are numerous. City travel is by car, train, bicycle, bus and tram. Country travel is by car, coach and train. See as much of the state as you can while you are here.
Air travel around South Australia
Within South Australia, Regional Express, QANTASLink and Sharp Airlines offer daily services to some regional centres.
Coach travel
The main coach terminal in Adelaide is the Adelaide Central Bus Station on Franklin Street. All coaches depart from and arrive at this terminal.
A number of coach companies have connections within South Australia. Look at Greyhound Australia, Premier Stateliner or Firefly Express for available services.
You can travel to the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Eyre Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Murray River, Mount Gambier and Yorke Peninsula from Adelaide.
Some regional centres in South Australia manage their own town bus services. You can also find coach route information on the BusSA website.
Public transport
Adelaide Metro is the city’s transport system. It services the greater metropolitan area with trains, buses and trams. Visit the Adelaide Metro website for details of routes and fares. A Metro Ticket can help you travel on most transport systems. You can find information about the Metro Ticket, available in several languages, on the Adelaide Metro website’s ticket section.
Trams
The famed Glenelg tramline extends from the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Port Road, Hindmarsh, via the city centre and all the way through to beachside Glenelg. Travel free within the city centre (anywhere between North Terrace and the South Terrace stop). Outside of this zone, you’ll need to purchase a ticket. You can find all route and timetable information on the Adelaide Metro website.
Free travel
You can travel around the Adelaide city centre for FREE when you hop on board the tram between North Terrace and South Terrace, or the 99C bus. You’ll find route information on the Adelaide Metro website.
The Adelaide Connector
This bus service is a convenient link between the major facilities within North Adelaide and Adelaide city centre. Facilities such as universities, schools, community services and shopping precincts are now linked and accessible via the Adelaide Connector free bus service.
The service operates seven days a week (except public holidays). Mondays to Thursdays it operates from 8am to 6pm, on Fridays from 8am to 9.30pm, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. For more information, see the Adelaide City Council website.
Tindo – the world’s first solar-powered electric bus
The world’s first solar-powered electric bus is a new addition to the Adelaide Connector Bus service. The bus is carbon neutral. The air-conditioned solar electric bus can carry up to 42 passengers. Tindo travels through the Adelaide city centre and North Adelaide. For more information, see the Adelaide City Council website.
Hire car
There are numerous hire car companies that can help get you on the road. Budget Rent a Car, Europcar, Access Rent-a-Car, Avis, Excel network Rent a Car, Hertz, Smile Rent a Car and Thrifty Car Rental are just some of the companies in and around Adelaide.
Taxis
All taxis in Adelaide accept major credit cards and Cabcharge. There are several companies that offer an alternative to taxis, providing luxury vehicles and uniformed drivers for transfers and touring.
South Australian Tourism Commission
Phone the South Australian Tourism Commission for more information on 1300 764 227. Located on Adelaide’s cultural boulevard, North Terrace, the South Australian Visitor Information Centre is a great place to get information for your holiday.
108 North Terrace, Adelaide?(Opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre)
Telephone: + 61 8 8463 4694
Email: enquiries@southaustralia.com
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday – 9am to 5pm
Saturday – 9am to 2pm
Sunday and public holidays – 10am to 3pm
Closed – Christmas Day and Good Friday
Or visit online at www.southaustralia.com
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