The latest news and calendar of events from South Australia - news includes a brand new five-star gourmet retreat in the McLaren Vale, new cookery schools, accommodation and other new tours.

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

NEW FIVE-STAR GOURMET RETREAT FOR McLAREN VALE WINERY

Connoisseurs of good food and wine and lovers of beautiful scenery will enjoy having the opportunity to stay close to one of South Australia�s leading wineries in the McLaren Vale at the recently opened, luxuriously appointed Chapel Hill Guest House. Surrounded by vineyards with distant ocean views and featuring seven guest rooms, the focal point is the impressive demonstration kitchen which seats more than 40 people theatre-style, and offers up to 20 visitors to chance to participate in hands-on gourmet cooking classes. www.chapelhillwine.com.au

HISTORIC CHAPEL ACCOMMODATION

Built in 1869, The Chapel has been beautifully converted into self-contained, romantic countryside accommodation at Ashton in the Adelaide Hills. Set in a private country garden, it features a two-person spa bath, queen size bedroom and fully fitted kitchen with all mod cons, and welcomes guests with fresh flowers, fruit, port, chocolates and provisions for a cooked breakfast. www.thechapel.com.au

CITY HOTEL CHANGES ITS NAME

Adelaide�s Parkside Hotel and Motel (formerly Holiday Inn, South Terrace) is now called Hotel 208. Overlooking the city�s southern parklands, this four-star hotel features accommodation for all budgets, with 133 hotel and 60 motel-style rooms. Guest parking, an � la carte restaurant, swimming pool and three function rooms are among its facilities. www.hotel208.com

STYLISH NEW RESTAURANT OPENS IN THE BAROSSA

Barr Vinum, a newly opened restaurant in Angaston on the beautiful east side of the Barossa Valley, is headed up by one of Australia�s finest chefs, Sandor Palmai. Offering a contemporary style menu based on fresh local produce accompanied by an impressive wine list, Barr Vinum focuses on high quality food and warm hospitality. Open from Tuesday to Saturday serving lunch and dinner, and for lunch on Sunday.

CULINARY PRODUCT NEWS JOIN HILTON CHEF FOR INSIGHT INTO HIS CULINARY EXPERTISE

Chef Cheong Liew of the Hilton Adelaide�s internationally acclaimed Grange Restaurant, has been described as an innovator, the founder of East meets West cuisine and one of the world's top ten contemporary chefs. By special arrangement, hotel guests can join Cheong Liew on a personalised tour of the city�s famous Central Markets, visiting his favourite stalls and shopping for fresh produce, whilst a limited number of visitors can also enjoy dinner in the hotel kitchen whilst watching the creative genius and his team at work, preparing the evening meal. www.hilton.com

LEARN TO COOK GOURMET MEALS IN ADELAIDE Visitors with a penchant for gourmet cooking will be interested in new cooking classes and demonstrations at Pete N Peppa, the modern kitchen and homewares shop centrally located in the Adelaide Central Plaza. Resident chef, Peter Milosevic, guides participants through the intricacies of preparing dishes using local produce such as South Australian King George whiting, west coast oysters, scallops and marron from the pristine waters of Kangaroo Island, and lamb, beef and poultry from selected areas. Cookery classes operate twice weekly and cost A$65 per person, including a three-course meal. www.southaustralia.com.

PUTTING ADELAIDE HILLS ON THE �FOODIE� MAP

Adelaide Hills Food has launched a new initiative to help raise the region�s profile as interest grows in the area�s cuisine. Local food producers, restaurants and cafes are joining forces in the Taste the Adelaide Hills project to showcase regional produce. Menus at participating establishments will all feature a Taste of the Adelaide Hills dish, each one comprising at least 75% ingredients from the local area. Mount Lofty House, Warrawong Sanctuary, Hahndorf Hill Winery and the Organic Market are among the participants.

FLEURIEU PENINSULA FOOD & WINE FIESTA!

Fiesta! is an October-long celebration of Fleurieu�s gourmet food and wine. Events focus on fresh produce such as the latest wines and the new season�s extra virgin olive oil. Highlights include the Chapel Hill Gourmet Retreat's Culinary Competition, whilst restaurants, cellar doors, retail outlets and groups will all celebrate with, among other things, tastings, cooking demonstrations and picnics. www.fleurieufood.com.au

TOURS & TOUR OPERATOR NEWS

2005 JACOB�S CREEK TOUR DOWN UNDER

Jacob�s Creek Tour Down Under (18-23 January 2005), Australia�s premier cycling event, comprises 728 kms. of cycling. About 100 of the world�s best road cyclists will be among the competitors to cycle through some of South Australia�s most beautiful countryside whilst attracting about 47,000 spectators.

Many cycling-based events will also be organised for the public including, on 19 January, the opportunity to ride all, or part, of the 150 kms. route from Salisbury to Tanunda. www.tourdownunder.com.au.

NEW FISHING TRAVEL COMPANY

Ultimate Fishing Australia, South Australia�s newest angling operator, the result of a collaboration between fishing guide and media personality, Shane Mensforth, and leading tour company, Outback Encounter, is set to make life easier for visitors keen to experience the State�s ample angling opportunities. Principal destinations include Kangaroo Island, Tumby Bay and Port Lincoln, where carefully tailored packages give clients the chance to fish for King George whiting, snapper, tuna and giant yellowtail kingfish. Non-fishing partners can choose from a number of alternative options such as a day�s pampering in a spa or an exclusive winery tour in Adelaide. www.ultimatefishing.com.au

CAMEL EXPEDITIONS FROM NEW TOUR OPERATOR

Blue Sky Camel Charters is offering a selection of excursions by one-humped dromedary camels �From the Bush to the Beach�. Itineraries include Victor Harbour and Goolwa Beach as coastal options with treks into the bush land of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Flinders Ranges. Accommodation ranges from shearers� quarters and lodges to sleeping bags by the side of a camp fire. www.blueskycamelcharters.com.au. NEW SCENIC FLIGHTS OVER KANGAROO ISLAND

Following delivery of a 14-seater Cessna Caravan, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Resort is now able to offer visitors scenic flights and transfers from Adelaide. Air Resort will initially operate three weekly flights with the intention of increasing frequency to two daily returns. Special introductory, one-day packages include return scenic flight, full day�s guided 4WD or self-drive tour, with major attractions Remarkable Rocks, Admiral�s Arch and Seal Bay highlighted, and a gourmet lunch at the Resort. www.austdreaming.com.au DESERT CAVE HOTEL GETS �DOWN & DIRTY� WITH NEW OPAL MINE TOUR

The Desert Cave Hotel, best known for its underground accommodation built within sandstone beneath the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, is now offering a new four hour �Down & Dirty� tour. Participants first watch an informative video, then visit a working minefield and enter an opal mine where, donning hard hat, torch and hand pick, they are challenged to �find their fortune�. The tour, for adults only, will operate on a request basis with 12 to 24 hours notice. www.desertcave.com.au

JOLLY GOOD BIRDING TOURS

New specialist tour operator, Jolly Goodfellows Birding, operated by expert ornithological guide, Bob Goodfellow, offers a range of two to nine-day itineraries for bird and wildlife enthusiasts to areas like the Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre for walks along the birdwatching boardwalk and into hides that allow excellent views of numerous water birds and waders inhabiting the locality. www.birding.com.au

TRAVEL NEWS

NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM ADELAIDE TO HOBART & ALICE SPRINGS

Virgin Blue will begin direct services between Adelaide and Alice Springs from 31 October 2004, and from Adelaide to Hobart on 2 November. The airline intends to eventually operate the Adelaide-Alice Springs route on a daily basis but is starting initially with four weekly services during the low season. The Adelaide to Hobart service will begin by operating three times a week. www.virginblue.com to book tickets.

OTHER NEWS

NEW VISITOR CENTRE IN BAROSSA

The internationally renowned Wolf Blass Winery is to open a new state of the art Visitor Centre on 12th October in the Barossa Valley. The ground breaking facility will feature a main public tasting room with 20 metres of tasting space spread across four bars, and private reserve tasting rooms for Wolf Blass super-premium wines. There is also a VIP entertaining area, function facilities for up to 400 people, a wine museum (to open in March 05) and display areas. The planned wine tasting experience is said to be the first of its kind in South Australia, with tastings broken down to different levels according to a participant�s knowledge and interest in wines. Tastings for beginners will be offered on a complimentary basis, whilst a charge will be applied to the premium black and grey labels and superior wines. www.wolfblass.com.au.

NEW WHALE WATCHING FACILITIES

The 600-800 southern right whales that migrate each winter to Head of Bight on the Eyre Peninsula annually attract around 20,000 visitors to the area, who themselves will have brand new facilities, following a A$1.1 million investment in an extension of the eastern walkway, a new viewing platform, education shelter, visitor centre, ranger station and environmentally sensitive dry composting toilets. www.southaustralia.com.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA HAS NEW DIVE WEBSITE

The new website, www.dive.southaustralia.com, designed to attract dedicated scuba divers to the region as well as their non-diving partners and families, and to showcase the diversity of the State�s marine environment, provides a wealth of information about dive operators, accommodation, events and tours.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2005/2006

18 � 23 January 2005

Jacob�s Creek Tour Down Under attracts the cream of international teams from the UK and Europe and is Australia�s most important cycling event. The Tour Down Under can be seen free of charge in and around Adelaide and neighbouring areas. Visitors can also participate in the 'be active tour', which allows recreational cyclists to ride a full stage before the professional riders undertake the same circuit. The next event is scheduled for 17 � 22 January 2005. www.tourdownunder.com.au

February/March 2005

Barossa Under the Stars annually features international artists performing in Australia�s most famous wine region. www.barossa-region.org

4 - 6 March 2005

Womadelaide Festival is held annually in Adelaide�s Botanic Park, this is renowned as Australia's top outdoor world music festival featuring over 40 bands and performers from across the globe, performing on seven stages, celebrating cultural diversity through the common language that music provides. The next event is scheduled for 10-12 March 2005. www.womadelaide.com.au

17 - 20 March 2005

Clipsal 500 Adelaide is Australia�s largest and most popular motor sport event provides non-stop V8 Supercar action, thrilling support race categories and plenty of excitement. The circuit is located right in the heart of Adelaide and travels on city streets and through the picturesque parklands. On-track demonstrations, sensational air displays, stunt riding and after race concerts all add to the atmosphere, and can be viewed on one of twelve super screens or in grandstand seating. www.clipsal500.com.au

26 March and 28 March (Easter Monday) 2005

Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival rivals the Melbourne Cup in size and colour and its 70,000 strong crown annually on Easter Monday makes it the biggest Picnic Race Meeting on Earth. It is held in the idyllic Adelaide Hills town of Oakbank, about 40 minutes from Adelaide by car. www.oakbankracingclub.com.au

28 March � 3 April 2005 Barossa Vintage Festival is a biennial event showcasing the rich diversity of The Barossa. With more than120 events during its week-long run, it provides an intimate experience of the Barossa Community, complete with its finest wines, regional foods, heritage displays, art, craft and music. www.barossa-region.org

30 April � 11 June 2005 The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive - Thousands of cattle were herded down the Birdsville Track in the legendary cattle drives of old. All the splendour and romance of these historic cattle drives will be recreated in 2005 as 600 head of cattle are herded 514 kilometres from Birdsville to Marree. This is an epic journey involving 120 horses, and visitors from across Australia and around the world. Visitors can be right there in the saddle alongside the drovers, discovering the secrets of horsemanship passed from generation to generation. This event provides tourists with the opportunity to follow a traditional cattle drive along the remote Birdsville Track. The duration of the event is 6 weeks but visitors do not need to stay for this period, as tour modules are available for three days or more. The drive is suitable for horse riders of all levels and participants are able to spend as much or as little time as they wish on a horse. For more information and a list of international wholesalers selling this event see visit the website. www.cattledrive.southaustralia.com

10 � 25 June 2005

Adelaide Cabaret Festival is an annual event of innovative international and Australian cabaret acts at the Adelaide Festival Centre.www.adelaidecabaret.com

21 � 30 October 2005

Tasting Australia is biennial festival that provides an opportunity for food and drink professionals, the world�s food, drink and travel media, and the public to enjoy the best that South Australia and the nation at large has to offer in produce, food products, wines and beers, hospitality and tourism. Held in Adelaide, Tasting Australia also provides a showcase for the world�s top culinary talents. www.tasting-australia.com.au

25 September � 2 October 2005

World Solar Challenge participants traverse over 3,000kms. of the Australian continent from tropical Darwin to balmy Adelaide, in cars powered by nothing more than then sun. The 'Challenge', to design and build a car capable of crossing Australia on the power of daylight, comprehends the most innovative research and development of alternative transport technologies. Attracting teams and individuals from corporations and universities all over the world, the World Solar Challenge is a celebration of achievement, of courage and the application of scientific knowledge in the field of solar technology. www.wsc.org.au

4 - 27 November 2005

Feast Festival is Adelaide�s annual lesbian and gay cultural festival, featuring theatre, concerts, film, exhibitions and, of course parties. Established in 1997, it has quickly become a major Australian festival and one of the top three gay and lesbian events in Australia. www.feast.org.au

November 2005 (exact dates TBC)

Mitsubishi Adelaide International Horse Trials (MAIHT). As well as being one of only four events of this standard held in the world, this is also the world�s only �inner city equestrian event� and the only permanent CCI**** competition held in the Southern Hemisphere. Hearts will race as the power of over 100 horses thunder through Adelaide's stunning East Park Lands � events include dressage, cross country and show jumping. www.adelaidehorsetrials.com.au

12 November 2005

Credit Union Christmas Pageant. First held in 1933, this Adelaide tradition is regarded as one of the world�s great pageants. Join the thousands of locals who line the 3.3 km. city street route to watch this famous parade involving festive and fairytale floats, marching banks and over 900 costumed characters. www.cupageant.com.au

24 February � 19 March 2006

Adelaide Fringe Festival is a biennially event widely seen as one of the best festival events of its kind in the world, rivalled in size only by Edinburgh Festival. Celebrating innovation in the arts through its hugely popular, open access program, it attracts to Adelaide many of the world�s finest independent artists. www.adelaidefringe.com.au

3 - 19 March 2006

Adelaide Festival of Arts is a biennial event which has an international reputation for innovation and is one of the world�s great art festivals. The programme includes music, theatre, dance, visual art, food and music plus much more. www.adelaidefestival.com.au

For further information about South Australia, log on to: www.southaustralia.com.

-ENDS-

For further media information contact Jovanka Ristich, Independent Public Relations, tel 01628 623003 or email: ristichj@aol.com