We decided we would head to Adelaide via coffee at Hahndorf.

Hahndorf is a quaint little German village named after Dirk Meinerts Hahn,  the Danish captain of the Zebra, the ship from where many early settlers arrived in 1838. Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and hosts an annual Oktoberfest. 

Because of the First World War  in Europe in 1917, the South Australian Government changed a number of German place names, Hahndorf being one of them. Changed to  Ambleside after the nearby Ambleside railway station, it was reinstated as the towns name with the enactment of the South Australia Nomenclature Act 1935. Interesting given the Second World War commenced only 2 years later. 

German influence is apparent in Hahndorf and is seen in the traditional fachwerk architecture of the original surviving buildings. There are also many restaurants in the town serving German cuisine.

Naturally, we had breakfast in an Irish Restaurant. 

As Doug opened his mouth (that would be his first three words) to order, the waitress said ‘You’re from New Zealand! I’m sure she said it in a very delighted manner. MoD ordered next and she said ‘And you’re not’. I waited for her to mention my accent but clearly I still speak Australian and nothing was mentioned. I remained disappointed while I ate a delicious breakfast and pretty damn good coffee.

A wander around the town was in order and we weren’t disappointed. It really is a pretty place to visit.

By this time it was getting close to check in time of 2pm so we thought we would go to the RM Williams store on our way. 

In 1932 RM Williams opened its first store in Percy Street, Prospect. 

We were treated to true Aussie history with a walk through the museum.

I was particularly taken with their system of recording customers orders through a fairly ‘technical’ card system.

Doug bought a hat. Made in Vietnam. Seems much of their clothing may be made offshore. But not their boots!

Time to check in, deposit the bags and head for a little wander to the Botanic Gardens.

Turned out not such a little wander as I took us on a roundabout route to the gardens.

Having looked at the map, it seems Adelaide city is totally surrounded by parks and gardens, so I took us to the green bits. 

In my defence I WAS on the right side of the green bits AND I have always wanted to see Government House AND the Uni. Of course I have. 

The Botanic Gardens were pretty special, we had another coffee whilst watching the local wildlife wander around. Such as a nice little rat who scurried past far too quick for me to get a photo. And you know I love to take photos…..

To add weight to that comment here are photos of the Adelaide Botanic gardens and as an added bonus, our walk to said gardens PLUS Rundle Mall.

Everything you have always wanted.

City walk…….yes it isn’t in the right order but I’ve been trying to load these pages ALL day……

Rundle Mall including mandatory busker and Tik Tok K Pop performers…..

The evening was spent with a meal at the hotel we were staying in. 

The Franklin Boutique Hotel right in the heart of Adelaide. 

A Hotel.

Like they used to have. 

Rooms upstairs, restaurant and bar downstairs.

Still prominent in small towns but not so common in cities these days.

It was a lovely little quirky place with the added bonus of the ‘bar’ in our room being totally free. And replaced each day. Hic 🍾

Tomorrow we have organised to hire some mountain bikes from Escape Goats and will ride from Mount Lofty to Henley Beach.

Give me strength.