Destination South Australia
Far from madding crowds, out on wide-open spaces, close to unique wild life

South Australia offers a wide variety of fascinating experiences and exciting activities. A journey across South Australia is an escape from the crowded cites and busy resorts. It will also be a revealing discovery of a destination with unique wildlife, stunning landscapes and wide-open spaces. It's a region that one likes to explore on one's own. If you dare to desire something different, visit this fourth largest state Down Under and take your pick of experiences: food and wine, heritage and culture, festivals and events, nature and wildlife. In South Australia you can sample world-class wines overlooking the vineyards in some of the most picturesque wine regions in the world and enjoy fabulous meals made using only the freshest local produce, or enjoy relaxing with a picnic on a secluded beach.

ADELAIDE CITY & HILLS
Adelaide, South Australia's capital city, is renowned for its compact size and accessibility. Colonel William Light's vision in 1836 saw the city streets designed in a grid pattern surrounded by parklands. This safe and clean city is only one square mile, yet boasts many distinctive attractions:

North Terrace is the main boulevard and home to the major hotels, the Adelaide Casino, the Railway Station, Old Parliament House, the Convention Center and Adelaide Festival Center. A short stroll eastwards is the South Australian Museum, which contains the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world. The eastern end is home to the Botanical Gardens and the National Wine Center. The Center offers wine tastings, classes, temporary exhibitions, and information on all wine regions in Australia.

The majority of Adelaide's shops are situated in Rundle Mall which is open to walking traffic only, and Rundle Street (known to locals as the 'East End'). Here you will find an array of boutiques, department stores, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. Beyond the shopping in the east end is the Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute with exhibits, activities and performance by Indigenous artists.

For food lovers, a visit to the Adelaide Central Market cannot be missed! It is where you will find the freshest fruit and vegetables, the tastiest meats and most delicious nuts and candy. It is the perfect place to buy a picnic lunch to enjoy on the banks of the River Torrens or at the Botanic Gardens.

Adelaide has more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia and a strong café culture. Visit Melbourne Street in the leafy suburb of North Adelaide for breakfast or a relaxed brunch, Rundle Street for an alfresco lunch and Hutt Street for an elegant dinner. Also, Gouger Street (which is adjacent the Adelaide Central Market) is excellent for Asian cuisine.

Glenelg is Adelaide's most popular beach destination and easily accessible from the city. Moseley Square is the terminus for the City-to-Bay Tram, synonymous with Glenelg for 70 years and used and adored by residents, commuters, shoppers and visitors everyday.

The Adelaide Hills are a 20-minute drive from Adelaide's city center and contain a variety of walking trails, wineries, historic townships, wildlife sanctuaries, and inviting coffee shops and traditional pubs. Pass apple orchards, sheep grazing, locals playing Aussie rules football and more. The highest peak, Mt Lofty Summit, rises 2385 feet, which provides a glorious view of the city and the ocean. Not to be missed is Cleland Wildlife Park, where you can see many native animals, in their natural habitat. You can even have your photo taken with one of the resident koalas!

KANGAROO ISLAND

Kangaroo Island is the third largest island in Australia and is approximately 90 miles by 37 miles. Acknowledged as the best place in Australia to view native wildlife, it also boasts a wide variety of native flora, unpolluted beaches and magnificent coastal scenery. Access to the island is via a 30-minute flight from Adelaide, or a 45-minute ferry crossing from Cape Jervis. Coaches from Adelaide travel to Cape Jervis daily.

Seal Bay Conservation Park, located on the south Coast of Kangaroo Island, is a breeding colony of about 600 rare Australian sea lions, estimated to be more than 10 percent of the world's entire population. Visitors can walk within 20 feet of the endangered species, while accompanied by a qualified park ranger or approved guide.

Flinders Chase National Park lies on the western end of the island, and is one of South Australia's largest conservation parks, covering over 180,000 acres. The rugged coastline is spectacular and provides a haven for many fur seals, sea lions, sea eagles, osprey and numerous other species of wildlife. The interior of the park is predominantly eucalyptus woodland, which is home to an array of animals, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, brush tailed possums, echidnas, goannas and platypus.

Cape du Couedic is located on the southwest tip of the island, within Flinders Chase National Park. The lighthouse here was constructed in 1909, and the nearby keeper's cottages are available as rustic accommodation, as the lighthouse is now fully automated. A short walk away is Admirals Arch, which is home to a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. The arch itself is a spectacular rock formation as a result of years of erosion by the sea. Remarkable Rocks is another amazing geological feature within the park. It is a cluster of huge granite boulders that have been sculpted by over 500 million years of wind, water and sea spray erosion.

WINE REGIONS, BAROSSA, CLARE, McLAREN VALE

The Barossa is South Australia's best-known and most important wine region. Located just one hour north of Adelaide, the picturesque region contains over 50 wineries, many of which are renowned throughout the world such as Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Jacob's Creek. The region is renowned for producing excellent red wines such as Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon and also white varieties such as Semillon, Riesling and Chardonnay.

The Barossa stages Australia's biggest wine celebration every two years, the week-long Barossa Vintage Festival. Local families, winemakers, grape growers and the entire community present more than 100 events, attracting thousands of visitors from Australia and around the world.

The Clare Valley is located approximately two hours drive from Adelaide. The region consists of seven small valleys, which are the northern section of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Named after the most popular wine in the region, the Riesling trail is a walking and cycling trail that runs for 17 miles from Clare to Auburn. This picturesque trail has very gentle slopes, which makes it an ideal way to discover the region. It passes through many of the Clare Valley's 30 wineries including Sevenhill Cellars, Taylors and Mount Horrocks Wines.

The McLaren Vale wine region is located south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula. John Reynell is credited with establishing the region's first vineyard in 1838 in the area now know as Reynella. There are around 50 cellar doors in the region renowned for its range of aromatic whites such as Semillon and Chenin Blanc and rich robust reds such as Shiraz and spicy Grenache. The region also produces some of South Australia's finest produce including berries, olives, orchards and game.

THE OUTBACK, FLINDERS RANGES & COOBER PEDY

The Flinders Ranges and Outback region is a magical experience no visitor should miss. Each step through this ancient, untamed land will show you a different landscape and share a different story. From the tree-lined gorges of the southern Flinders Ranges, to the rugged spectacular views in the north, to the barren plains beyond, discover the plight of struggling farmers, and hear the aboriginal dreamtime stories, which explain the creation of such a mystical land.

The Flinders Ranges is the most extensive mountain chain in South Australia, stretching some 300 miles. It features many peaceful gorges and valleys such as Brachnia Gorge, Aroona and Bunyerroo, which have an abundance of wildlife and vegetation. There are many walking trails, from short strolls to extensive hikes, as part of the last section of the Heysen Trail. The wildlife, which can often be spotted in the ranges, includes wedge tail eagles, western gray kangaroos, yellow-footed rock wallabies, galahs and more. It is also home to aboriginal rock art, some known to be more than 12,000 years old.

Wilpena Pound is based within the ranges and appears to be a crater like formation. It is the premier exploration point for the Flinders Ranges, and many activities, such as 4WDriving, scenic flights, walking trails and more originate from here.

The Gammon Ranges, just north are believed to be 1,600,000,000 years old. The main town just west, Arkaroola is renowned to be one of the best places in Australia to view the stars, aided by its astronomical observatory. It is also the base for many exciting adventures into the rugged Gammon Ranges.

Coober Pedy is the opal mining capital of the world. The name is derived from the Aboriginal phrase "kupa piti" meaning white man's hole. The barren landscape is noted for its piles of rubble, created by the miners digging into the ground. There are just over 4000 residents, which comprise of over 50 different nationalities. The idea of Underground homes was adopted as a solution to escape the hot desert sun, and the cold desert nights. Created by the same machinery they use to create mines, these homes maintain a stable temperature throughout the day and night. Coober Pedy has become renowned for it's underground living, and underground tourist accommodation. 20 miles north of this outback town is the Breakaway Reserve, which is low range of sandstone, which continually changes color throughout the day and evening.

MELBOURNE TO ADELAIDE THROUGH THE LIMESTONE COAST

The Limestone Coast, located in the south east of South Australia, is one of the main stops on a driving journey from Melbourne to Adelaide. Home to beautiful beaches, spectacular bird life, fabulous seafood, and the Coonawarra wine region, it is approximately four hours drive from Adelaide. Famed for its red wines, red soils and red rock lobster, the Limestone Coast is perfectly located in the middle of the Adelaide to Melbourne touring route.

There are a variety of attractions in the region; sample the rich red wines of Coonawarra; visit the spectacular, World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves, or take a hike around Mt Gambier's Blue Lake, renowned for mysteriously turning turquoise blue every summer.

The western edge of the region is the Coorong, a series of lagoons and beaches separated from the ocean by a thin peninsula. It is one of the most spectacular national parks in Australia, and is renowned for it's significant bird life. A year round breeding ground for pelicans, wild ducks, swans, ibis and more, it is also home to thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, Japan and China.

During the warmer winter months, birds such as sandpipers, stilts and stints, flock to the Coorong. Home to the Ngarrindjeri people, the Coorong is also noted for it's aboriginal history and archaeological sites.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

The Murray River rises beneath the snowy alps of Mt Kosciusko in New South Wales, and meanders it's way across the border to South Australia. It is the second longest river in Australia, and is steeped in aboriginal and colonial history.

The river is lined with river red gums, has an abundant amount of native wildlife, and boasts spectacular views of ochre red cliffs. A large section of this region is referred to as the Mallee. More than 1.7 million acres are protected by conservation parks, which are famous for their wildflowers, wilderness and wildlife.

Native fauna such as wombats, western gray kangaroos, emus, eagles, rare mallee fowl and small marsupials can be found. Houseboats, complete with beds and kitchens, can be rented in various towns, and you can explore the river at your own pace. While cruising you can go fishing, water skiing, bird watching or simply relax in a shady billabong.

The Eyre Peninsula covers a vast area of South Australia with over 1200 miles of spectacular coastline. It is noted for it's marine activities, including whale watching, fishing and surfing; it's native wildlife such as kangaroos and sea lions, and fresh seafood, the highlights being rock lobster and oysters.

The small coastal towns have a charm and tranquility, which is unique to the region. Renowned for excellent seafood, Eyre Peninsula boasts some of the best fish in the world, exporting millions of dollars worth every year to all over the world, including North America.

Whilst in the region a tour of the Gawler Ranges is not to be missed. They are renowned for their glorious wildflower season in spring and are also home to an abundance of wildlife, which includes Red and Western Grey kangaroos, Euros, Pygmy Possums, the Southern Hairy Nose wombat and many others.

An array of bird life can also be observed such as Emus, Wedge-tail eagles, Major Mitchell Cockatoo and more.