We Aussies love to travel - abroad, and across our own land. Touring another state is a bit like spending time in someone else's country, even if we speak the same language, and spend the same money. Australia's most beautiful places aren't reserved to just one region. Every state and territory has its fair share.
Here, we detail 15 South Australia landmarks. Some are natural and others, man-made; all are worth the trip, and then some. This table presents places to visit in South Australia, a preview to the exciting exposé to come.
| Attraction name | 📸Type of scene | 🧗♀️What to do there |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | urban | architecture, museums, restaurants, |
| Eyre Peninsula | water | dive with sharks |
| Big Lobster | sculpture | photograph |
| McLaren Vale | foodie experience | sample wines and unique dishes |
| Coober Pedy | remote | tour heritage sites |
| Umpherston Sinkhole | natural | swim, cave, hike |
| Arkaroola Sanctuary | celestial | monitor the heavens |
| Lake Eyre | water | swim, photograph |
| Torrens Linear Park | nature | walk, photograph |
| Kangaroo Island | wildlife, nature | photograph wildlife |
| The Flinders Ranges | nature | hike, climb, photograph |
| Port Lincoln | water | dive with sharks |
| Whyalla | water | swim with cuttlefish |
| Umpherston Sinkhole | nature | hike around volcanic craters |
| Murray River | water, nature | Enjoy everything Australia's longest river offers |
Adelaide
This city has so much for travellers to do and see, that we had to place it at the top of our list. Shoppers can ramble through Rundle Mall, and the Central Market, where they'll find everything artisan products and international foods.
Photographers will love the carefully curated Botanical Gardens, the zoo, and this city's many green spaces. For those who enjoy urban landscapes, Adelaide offers scenes that rival the best places in Queensland one might train their camera on.
How to Get Around Adelaide
This is a walkable city, with abundant bike paths and green spaces. Public transportation abounds, and makes its way to the suburbs. Adelaide is your starting point for discovering unique places to visit in sSouth Australia.
Best Time(s) to Go
Adelaide is great to visit year-round.
Torrens Linear Park
This is Australia's first linear park, and only the second such construct in the world. What began as a flood mitigation project has turned into a long stretch of outdoor delight.
Consider this park your starting point to explore Morialta Conservation Park's waterfalls. You can also access Belair Conservation Park by train, after a short ride.
A long green space, usually along a river or canal, to protect a city from flooding.
How to Get There
by car
beware of limited parking
by public transport
- access the trail from the Adelaide Railway Station
- city buses, including O-Bahn, stop along the park
walk/cycle
- park access points:
- Henley Beach (west),
- Adelaide CBD (midway),
- Athelstone (east)
- Paradise (northeastern)
Best Time(s) to Go
Early mornings and weekdays provide calmer experiences. Weekends and the summer months, the park is usually crowded and the temperatures can be uncomfortably warm.
Larry the Lobster
Kingston SE didn't have much going for it, until a lobster fisherman had the idea to put it on the map. Taking inspiration from America's penchant for oversized tourist markers, he and a partner designed the spiny creature, which took six months to build. Larry has been greeting visitors to the township since 1979.
How to Get There
From Adelaide, drive the A1 towards Murray Bridge, then south through Meningie to Kingston SE
Best Time(s) to Go
The site is open year-round. Monitor weather reports so your selfie with Larry won't get rained out.
Arkaroola Sanctuary
This official International Dark Sky sanctuary is one of only 18 around the world. During the day, conservationists work to preserve the area's ecology.
At night, the sky dazzles with its stellar landscape. Complete the experience with a personal guided daytime tour, and a ridgetop sleepout under the stars.
How to Get There
The sanctuary lies 700 kilometres (km) north of Adelaide; up to an eight-hour-drive. 4-wheel-drive (4WD) recommended, as some roads are not sealed.
Best Time(s) to Go
- For wildlife spotting: September to November, and March to May.
- For stargazing: December through February
Tours operate year-round, but times and duration may vary, depending on conditions. Monitor the sanctuary's website and social media to plan your excursion.
The Flinders Ranges
On its own, this mountain range is remarkable for its history, diversity and ecology. The Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is home to many natural landmarks in South Australia.
You might dawdle at Rawnsley Park Station for a walking tour, or head to Mount Remarkable National Park. There, you can discover the Pichi Richi diesel and steam railways.
How to Get There
The range lies roughly 200 km north of Adelaide, and stretches more than 430 km, giving explorers many access points. Which way you get there depends on which features you'd most like to see. Going in a 4WD is a good idea, as the Outback is close, compelling you to explore parts of it, too.
Best Time(s) to Go
April to October are best, thanks to lower temperatures and more rainfall, which promises blooming flowers and more visible wildlife.
Dive With Sharks
Rodney Fox pioneered cage diving, after he survived a Great White shark attack. Today, the Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions, in Port Lincoln, invites divers to get close to these massive beasts.
Of course, the Eyre Peninsula, where Port Lincoln is, boasts many other wildlife species, on land and in the water. You can watch for whales and bask with sea lions from the shore, and visit koala sanctuaries, too.
How to Get There
by car
- A1 motorway from Adelaide to Port Augusta
- Lincoln Highway to Whyalla
- alternate points: Cowell and Tumby Bay
by coach
ride the Stateliner from Adelaide Station
by air
fly from Adelaide to Port Lincoln
Best Time(s) to Go
Port Lincoln is always accessible. The best months for tourist activities are between September to November, and March to May.
Whyalla and Cuttlefish
Whyalla is one point in the Iron Triangle, which lies on the Eyre Peninsula's east coast. Each year, giant cuttlefish migrate through those coastal waters. This event compels hordes of visitors to this town, to see these 'chameleons of the sea' as they swim by.
Now that spectators can ride in glass-bottom boats over the migration path, the spectacle is even more amazing.
How to Get There
Drive Highway 1 north. At the Eyre Highway turnoff, take Alternative Highway 1 to Whyalla.
Best Time(s) to Go
May to August is the only time to witness this phenomenon.
Umpherston Sinkhole
The Limestone Coast describes the southeast region of South Australia. There, you'll find many attractions, including this massive drop-off. This sinkhole formed when a limestone cavern beneath it collapsed. Over time, all manner of plants took root, turning this geological anomaly into a Sunken Garden.
How to Get There
The quickest route to Mount Gambier is around 436 km long, and winds through several small outposts. The longer route combines coastal and inland scenes, and covers 549 km.
Most direct route via
- Tailem
- Bend
- Keith
- Naracoorte
- Coonawarra
- Penola
Scenic route via
- Tailem
- Bend
- Meningie
- Kingston
- Robe
- Naracoorte
- Coonawarra
- Penola
Best Time(s) to Go
Mid-day, when the sun is directly overhead, is the best time to be at the bottom of the sinkhole.
Coober Pedy
Locals sometimes tout this mining town as the Opal Capital of the World, thanks to all the gems it surfaces. We love it for its dugouts - homes built below-ground. The heat in this outpost is intense, so living underground helps keep residents cool.
Travellers may book a stay in an underground hotel, take in a service in an underground church, and visit Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest. Even in Western Australia, for all its arid and beautiful destinations, you'll find nothing that compares.
How to Get There
by car
drive A87 (Stuart Highway) into town
by coach
- book a tour in Adelaide
- ride the coach into Coober Pedy
Best Time(s) to Go
- December through February: peak tourist season (and the warmest temperatures)
- March to May and September to November: more agreeable temperatures; perhaps lower costs.
Katy Thanda - Lake Eyre
This natural formation is one of the most remarkable sites in Australia. When full, this body of water is our country's largest lake. As water evaporates, it become its most salty pool. Lake Eyre is also Australia's lowest natural point, as it sit around 15 metres below sea level.
All of this makes the long drive from Adelaide worth it. But then, you have the vast Outback scenery to feast on, with all its wildlife. And, an amazing secret, only seen fully from above. That's one reason why conservationists recommend flying over the site.
How to Get There
Travellers can only access this area by 4WD, via two tracks. The Oodnadatta Track, from William Creek, remains closed from December to mid-March. The Level Post Bay Track, out of Marree, provides year-round access.
Best Time(s) to Go
May through September is the best time to enjoy cooler temperatures and to stargaze. You also have a chance at rainfall, which might add to the lake's contents.
Murray River
This is Australia's longest river, which traces a 2,508 km path, but only partly through this state. That's a stretch long enough to house all the Tasmanian sites you should see, and then some. This river is a fisherman's paradise, as Murray cod, Macquarie perch and Australian smelt all make it their home.
The Murray harbours a lot of history, too, with its modern paddle steamboats recreating past exploits. You might plan a river cruise on such a boat, or a fishing expedition with an outdoors outfit. Should you prefer to enjoy activities along the river, hiking, camping, and wildlife photography are popular.
How to Get There
by car
- drive the A20 towards Berri
- look for directional signs
by public transport
- Adelaide metro buses
- regional buses (LinkSA and others)
- ride to Berri, Renmark, Murray Bridge, other towns along the river
Best Time(s) to Go
- September to November: ideal for boating, birdwatching, fishing, and hiking
- December to February: all water activities, including swimming
- March to May: hiking, camping, and other outdoor events, including festivals.
McLaren Vale
This town is just 38 km south of Adelaide, but it distinguishes itself as one of Australia's wine regions. Going there is a bit like hopping into New South Wales, to sample that state's unique places. It's not too far away, yet different from other South Australian experiences.
The d'Arenberg Cube must be this day-trip's highlight. This giant Rubik's Cube is all about wine: how vintners oversee its fermentation, and how it appeals to the senses.
You can also tour the facility's Alternate Realities Museum to capture unique selfies.
How to Get There
by car
- drive south on M2 (the Southern Expressway)
- exit on Main South Road look
- for McLaren Vale turnoff
by bus
- from Adelaide Central Bus Station, Stop 1
- from anywhere along the bus' route
Best Time(s) to Go
Travellers will find advantages year-round, but late March - early April is harvest time, a highlight to aim for.
Dark Sky Reserve
Australia has only one dark-sky reserve; it lies along the Murray River. A dark-sky reserve is like a national park, it's an area protected from light pollution, to permit the ultimate stargazing experience.
This park provides ample room to camp, or you might stay in nearby accommodations. As a bonus, you can join a guided tour of the heavens, rather like a planetarium experience, but with real stars.
A Reserve protects an area from encroaching population.
A Sanctuary is far from population centres, and often in a fragile state of conservation.
How to Get There
Drive the A20 (Stuart Highway) to Swan Reach, roughly 2.5 hours. Look for signs directing you to the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.
Best Time(s) to Go
Highly-anticipated celestial events will likely see crowds flock to the site, which might limit your plans. Otherwise, the area is open year-round. Contact the centre to book your guided tour.
Barossa Valley
Like McLaren Vale, this Valley is in wine country. However, we loved it for its Gourmet Weekend. Every year, during August's third weekend, local restaurants, merchants and wineries host events. Those range from wine tastings, to dining occasions, festivals and more.
How to Get There
by car A1 or M1 travelling north
Best Time(s) to Go
Gourmet Weekend is peak time, but this Valley has activities and attractions on offer year-round.
Kangaroo Island
We end our exposé with a genuine slice of Australiana. A quick ferry ride from the Fleurieu Peninsula's tip, Cape Jervis, will have you revelling in everything that's iconic about our land. You'll find roos, of course, along with many other beasties.
You can book an eco-cabin to overnight on the island. That way, you'll have time to picnic under the Enchanted Fig Tree and spot sea lions at your leisure. And then, rather than returning to Adelaide, you can skip to Victoria, to discover its most beautiful places.
How to Get There
by road
- drive or ride a coach to Cape Jervis
- ferry across the water
- hire a car or join a tour on the island
by air
from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport, on Kangaroo Island
Best Time(s) to Go
- December to February for optimal weather and scheduled events (festivals, contests, etc)
- March to May: best for birdwatching, hiking, fewer crowds
- September to November: tops for wildlife and nature photography
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