Rosie Johns

I have a running joke with my friends that I’m South Australia's unofficial tourism ambassador. Being born and raised in Sydney to Adelaidean parents, I'm convinced my genetic makeup is at least 50 per cent SA shiraz. So, with that obvious bias in mind, I'm here to tell you that Adelaide – Australia's Festival State – really does have it all.  When the chance came to swap Sydney's winter blues for Illuminate Adelaide – the citywide light festival celebrating art, technology, culture and science – I dove in, beanie first. And after finally experiencing it for myself, I can confidently say it deserves a top spot on your winter travel list too. Here's why: The entire city comes alive As soon as the sun sets, Adelaide comes out of hibernation. With bars and restaurants heaving, free public art around almost every corner and a genuine sense of excitement in the air, you don’t even need to try to find the good bits – it’s all there to stumble upon. Book a ticket to Night Visions in the Botanic Garden, where projections transform the trees into faces that genuinely feel alive. Other recommendations include Miguel Chevalier’s Digital Abyss at ILA and the moving Rarrirarri installation at the Art Gallery of South Australia. If you're travelling with a competitive bunch, don't miss Augmented Games at the Adelaide Showground, where you'll go head to head on interactive 'courts' in a series of adrenaline-inducing challenges, officiated by a Courtmaster so there are no arguments on the wa