10 Reasons Why We Love Adelaide

There is a reason why Adelaide was ranked in the top ten of the "World's Most Liveable Cities" by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Lush, green public gardens, amazing golden beaches overlooking turquoise oceans and a Mediterranean climate that is the envy of millions are just a few of the reasons that my city rocks. Here are a few more (in no particular order);

1. WOMADelaide

WOMADelaide is Australia's premier global music festival, and with four days of world beats and amazing dance it's not hard to see why. A family-friendly event, both adults and children are invited to take part in music workshops, art and food from around the world. The main stages host world-acclaimed musicians in genres including soul, folk, indigenous, fusion, dub, reggae and everything in-between. The group ticket discount means that the festival is perfect for groups of friends wanting to experience amazing music in an electric atmosphere together. BYOH (Bring your own Hacky Sack).

2. Adelaide (and surrounding areas) Wine

In Adelaide, we take our wine seriously. Between The Hills, The Clare Valley and The Barossa (and a heap of places in- between), the countryside is littered with boutique wineries bursting with bulging grapes and incredible wine. We are the home of Penfolds, Henschke, d'Arenberg, Jacob's Creek, and Rockfords and South Australia alone manufactures over half of Australia's wine total wine production. From a young age, we learn the appreciation for a fine drop of red, or a crisp white - and with wine available in abundance everywhere we turn, it's not hard to see why.

3. Clipsal 500

Burning Rubber? Check. Live Music? Check. Coopers Beer? Double Check. V8 engines take over as the battle between Holden and Ford spills onto the Adelaide street circuit. For four testosterone driven days, words like "spoilers", "wings" and "rear suspension" enter the city's vernacular as Adelaide plays host to one the most challenging legs of the V8 Supercar Championship. The event is so popular that it has been inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame and has won the "Major festivals and Events" category at the Australian Tourism Awards four times. Now that's how you hold a car race people. Grand Prix, you say? Melbourne, you say? Never heard of it.

4. Our Accent

We may get mocked for our toffee-sounding dialect, but I kinda like it. The first time I really realised the difference was when I toured Europe with a group of mostly Australian tourists, and all the Queenslanders thought I was English. Yes, I Darnce, I Prance, I take photograrphs and after schooool I go in the pooool. You will hear theories that it is because we were settled by free-settlers rather than convicts, but whatever the reason – it makes us unique. I can be anywhere in the world, but as soon as I hear an Adelaide accent I immediately feel like I'm home. It's heaps good.

5. Tour Down Under

Adelaide in January is hot – and during the third week of January each year it gets that little bit hotter. If athletic, spandex-clad European men taking over the city is your idea of heaven, then we definitely have the event for you. Adelaide hosts a one-week leg of the UCI ProTour road bicycle race, an honour that no other city in the southern hemisphere can boast. Not just for cycling enthusiasts, you will find thousands of spectators lining the streets along each of stages as they admire the amazing physical endurance demonstrated by the competitors of this gruelling race. I'll show you my international cycling event, if you show me yours.

6. Adelaide Festival of Ideas

The Festival of Ideas is a forum for intelligent thought and debate, and is an opportunity to participate in creative think-tanks about a wide range of topics. With philosophical discussions about intelligence in robots and bees, debates about people smuggling and forums about alternative medicines, The Festival of Ideas brings together some of the most intelligent minds in the world with interested members of the public. Where else can you discuss why famous philosophers always have beards with a professor for Cambridge?

7. Festival of Arts

We aren't snobs here. Well, maybe we are – but with the best cultural festival in Australia (and arguably the world), we have every right to be. Every second year (and from 2012 annually) we are treated to the rich cultural feast that is the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Want outstanding operas, dazzling drama, fabulous films, cool cabaret and just about anything else arts-related you could ever dream of? Oh, it's brung. Heck, even our number plates (Adelaide – The Festival State) pay homage to this king of all festivals. Even the frontage of many of Adelaide's gorgeous heritage listed buildings along North Terrace are given the 'Festival Treatment' as they become canvases for an amazing light installation show called "The Northern Lights". The town comes alive during festival time, and the pulsating vibe can be felt throughout the many city-wide venues holding this amazing, enriching experience.

8. Amazing Design.

I don't know if it is because Adelaide was planned by Colonel Light who had an amazing vision for a perfectly planned city nestled between the sea and the hills, but Adelaide has always been at the forefront of design. From our gorgeous colonial-style homes and spectacular churches, to modern marvels like the Festival Centre, with its Lego-style structure Adelaide loves design and embraces new and cutting edge ideas. In keeping with this, in the last ten years Adelaide website design has also rocketed into the nation's consciousness, with our website design companies being among the most sought-after in the country. Oh, and we have a cycling velodrome that looks like a bike helmet. Winning.

9. Fringe

If the Adelaide Festival was a sophisticated and culturally aware lady, then the Fringe would be her alternative, burlesque-dancing, younger sister. The Fringe brings all the freaks to the yard, and with its colourful assortment of performers mobbing the streets, your parents may take your threats to run away and join the circus more seriously. The event has quickly become a high-point of Adelaide's social calendar as it provides the city with 24 days and nights of amazing performances. Whether it is fire-breathing contortionists in the Garden of Unearthly Delights, live music in the Spiegltent, or living art exhibitions in all sorts of venues hidden around the city, the Fringe has something for everyone. Where else can you find yourself "abducted", taken to a nearby car, and treated to a monologue about the state of religion by a street performer? Hmmm, actually – was this part of Fringe or was I taken hostage by an escaped mental patient? – and therein lies the beauty and wonder of this amusing spectacle.

10. Tasting Australia

In Adelaide, we love food. We have more restaurants and cafes per capita than any other capital city and for good reason – we love eating out and trying new dishes. Tasting Australia is a biennial food and wine event held along the banks of the River Torrens, and features some of the best chefs from both Australia and abroad. Home-grown foodies Poh Ling Yeow and Maggie Beer are just two of the famous cooks who have given food tutorials at recent events, and other celebrity guests have included famous authors and television presenters. Touted as a celebration of food and wine, Tasting Australia has cooking demonstrations, tastings, classes and debates as well as tours around the state to sample our world-class fare. Wine masterclasses and amazing food art demonstrations are just a few more of the fantastic experiences on offer during this week long feast for the senses. Our rich, multicultural society has borne many wonderous things for our city, but amazing food has to be at the pinnacle. Tasting Australia is a diet-destroying, foodgasmic wonderland and is a must when dining from the Adelaide Events Menu.