With the news South Australian borders have opened to Aussie travellers from select states, comes fresh excitement to explore this stunning and diverse part of our country.
South Australia, with pristine coastline, mountain ranges, and rugged outback, presents an endless opportunity for exploration, with a guarantee no two days on the road will ever look the same.
So now, as you plan what could very well be your first interstate trip since the world was sent home in March, we want to help you make the very most of it, with a trip to South Australia — one that’s impossible to forget and will have you returning in no time at all.
Visit Adelaide Hills
The stunning wine region brings a blissful escape from the city and makes for the perfect weekender being that it’s only a 30-minute drive from Adelaide.
With rolling hills, stunning scenery, and some of South Australia’s best produce, the region is a quiet reprieve for any food and wine lover looking for a good dose of luxury. No matter your accommodation style, there’s a getaway for everyone here — although you will find us hanging out at the newly opened Sequoia Luxury Lodge.
Positioned just near the Mount Lofty House estate — which is home to the three-hatted Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant— the luxury accommodation includes a private club lounge area with sundeck and plunge pool and offers its guests luxe extras like a welcome drink, breakfast, daily drinks and a tasting plate.
Get our full luxury guide to the Adelaide Hills region here.
Explore Kangaroo Island
The bushfire events of 2020 devastated the nature sanctuary that is Kangaroo Island, with fires burning across almost half the island. Though the area was severely impacted by the fires, the beautiful refuge of Kangaroo Island is open for business and is ready and waiting to welcome guests.
With a raw and rugged coastline, pristine waters, natural wonders, and an abundance of unique wildlife, there’s so much to love about the relaxing sanctuary. With wineries and great cafes, the food and wine scene is thriving on Kangaroo Island, with KI Spirits drawing in a number of gin-lovers for a taste of its award-winning formula.
Carve out a whole day for a visit to the Flinders Chase National Park to view the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, which at certain times in the year, is teeming with New Zealand fur seals. Hoping to spot some sea lions? Pop on over to Seal Bay.
Go underground in Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is a one-of-a-kind opal town in the outback of South Australia. Its position in the desert means its climate is near-unlivable, with very little opportunities for shade. As such, the town lives underground. Homes, hotels, shops, bars and even a church; it’s all hidden beneath the sun-baked lunar landscape.
One of the best experiences to be had here is to emerge late in the day to catch the sunset. You’ll watch the town change colour as the last of the day’s light burns into the terrain. When the day is done, you can retire to your underground haven.
Our pick? This modern three-bedroom dugout.
Shuck and eat fresh oysters
Seafood lovers, this one’s for you. Everyone knows oysters are best enjoyed fresh, although, it’s not always so easy to get your hands on the freshest produce when you’re living and shopping in a major city. But for those who want to taste the surf on their seafood, then an oyster-shucking experience in Coffin Bay is an absolute must.
The Eyre Peninsula coast has some of Australia’s freshest seafood and nowhere can you get fresher oysters like the ones in Coffin Bay. Should you wish to learn more about how oysters are farmed fresh, you can take a tour, wading into the sea with a guide who will shuck oysters for you to sample right there in the water.
