Adelaide is perfect for a long weekend of wine, shopping, eating, culture, fun and more wine.

Maths has never been my strong point. It may sound like a lame excuse for my merriment, but I'm sticking to it nevertheless.

Tasked with making my own wine blend, I had a glass of Penfolds bin 138 and three individual glasses of the grape varieties used to make it - grenache, shiraz and mourvedre (referred to as GSM). My challenge was to either recreate the popular drop or come up with my preferred tipple. I knew the combination I wanted - slightly heavy on the shiraz and light on the mourvedre - but each time I mucked up the sums, making more than the required 100ml, I chose to drink the tester rather than waste it.

It was 11am and I was GSMed (generously sizzled, mate).

If time allows on your sojourn to Adelaide, you'd be hard pushed to find a more enjoyable day than the Prime Mini Tour's ‘Barossa Valley Sensational' winery experience. We were picked up from our hotel at 8.30am, and within an hour we were wearing hard hats and fluorescent yellow safety jackets, taking a tour of Penfolds' extensive wine-making plant. Then we were led upstairs to have a go at making our own. Once I had found my perfect blend, 375ml was bottled and labelled, and I left with an incredibly unique souvenir of my trip through the Barossa Valley.

On an empty stomach my inhibitions were long gone and before long the once subdued bus group were best buddies, giggling and chatting away as we headed through scenic countryside to Saltrams Winery for a three-course lunch with more wine and a generous tasting menu.

Mid-afternoon and Wolf Blass beckoned. The state of the art venue had vintage collections lining the walls and our tasting selection included some very upmarket wines. Each was explained in layman's terms and nobody was expected to use the spittoon (again, why waste it?).

For me, the final stop on our tour, Seppelts, left a slightly sour taste. Sadly, staff attitudes can taint the experience, although you may be luckier than we were and have a different cellar team.

Our four-day weekend in South Australia was split into adult time, as above, and also allowed for time with the kids. For a children's equivalent of a fun day in Adelaide, head to Glenelg, a 20-minute tram ride to the coast. My daughters, 11 and 13, had already read up on the Beachouse, a massive complex with mini golf, water slides, arcade games, dodgems and more.

The shark museum was rushed so they could get to the hub of all the squeals we could hear from around the corner. At the Beachouse, kids manage their spending money via a pre-paid credit card that debits their kitty with each swipe. Prizes are earned in a token system that the kids can then claim back.

The main shopping strip, Jetty Road, runs right up to the beach and is home to a number of cheap and cheerful eateries. But save your appetite for one of the many delicious restaurants that can be found on Gouger Street in north Adelaide, or visit my personal favourite, the friendly, family-run Italian Parliamento, situated metres from our hotel, the Oaks Embassy.

If time is limited, you can enjoy the highlights of Adelaide in a weekend. Similar in size and population to Auckland, Adelaide is a laid-back city of 1.2 million people and, for me, much of it can be easily enjoyed on foot.

You can easily while away half a day at the Central Market on Gouger Street. On Saturday morning, up to 10,000 people from 60 nationalities jostle for fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and a host of gourmet specialties at affordable prices. Sit at one of the high quality coffee houses - or the tea salon - and critique the many trundles and trolleys used by the locals.

If you are culturally minded, North Terrace houses the South Australian Museum's Aboriginal Culture Gallery, with the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world, featuring 3000 items and interactive multimedia displays. The nearby Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is an award-winning multi-arts centre with regular exhibitions by Aboriginal artists from all over the country.

A personal favourite for my hubby was the Donald Bradman Collection, a homage to the great Australian cricketer, which can be found in Adelaide's State Library.
The cultural boulevard is also home to the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Migration Museum, Government House and Parliament House, and at the eastern end of North Terrace are the Adelaide Botanic Garden and the National Wine Centre of Australia. The Bicentennial Conservatory in the botanic garden houses a complete tropical rainforest and is the largest glasshouse in the southern hemisphere.

Shopping won out over Adelaide Zoo but we worked on the theory that we would indeed be back and should therefore save something for the return visit. Instead, we went on some intensive retail therapy at Rundle Mall, the shopping heart of Adelaide offering more than 600 shops, including David Jones, Myer and 160 speciality fashion stores.

I am not sure we got through all 14 arcades because we were lured to the Harbour Town complex near the airport, where big brand items sell at discount prices. I bagged seven pairs of shoes. And did I mention that I bought myself a bit of that wine on the day tour?

I also tasted my own blend a few days on... hmm, not my finest work. Maybe I need another go.

GETTING THERE

• Air New Zealand flies direct to Adelaide three times a week, or fly via Sydney or Melbourne.
• Prime Mini Tours offers a range of winery trips starting from AUD$70. For details, visit www.primeminitours.com.
• For central accommodation at affordable prices, try Oaks Embassy or its sister complex Oaks Horizons, at www.theoaksgroup.com.au.

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