Travel > Travel Guides > South Australia

South Australia

Australia is such a large country with so much to do that many areas are sometimes forgotten and bypassed for the more mainstream touristy routes. Some of these places are however worth considering as a uniquely Australian visit.

The capital of South Australia is Adelaide which is in the south east of the state. Adelaide is one of the smaller capital cities of Australia, but it does not lack any modern conveniences.

Places to visit

Barossa Valley
One of the most popular places amongst tourists in South Australia is the Barossa Valley which is just a short trip away from Adelaide. The Barossa Valley is the wine region of SA, wines from this region are renown all over Australia and the world. The Barossa Valley is a beautiful and romantic place to visit year round with mild weather in Winter and warm to hot weather in Summer. The Barossa Valley is very accessible, and is the perfect place to take a long bike ride or walk. Most of the local wineries are open year round for tourists and welcome wine tasting, however if you don't want to tour the valley by yourself there are plenty of tours that experienced operators run.

Kangaroo Island
Another popular tourist attraction that is close to Adelaide itself is Kangaroo Island. The island is accessible by ferry or plane, and you are able to take across your car. Kangaroo Island is pretty much a wildlife refuge, the island is set apart from the mainland leaving them without predators that are found on the mainland. Much of the island is National Park, and although the island has many roads, visitors may want to try walking around the island to get a lot closer to the wildlife. The wildlife that can be found on the island includes sea lions, ospreys, sea eagles, Cape Barren Geese, kangaroos, koalas, brush tailed possums, echidna and even the platypus. The tourist bureau of South Australia suggests that it is best to spend a few days on the island, but day trips are available.

Fleurieu Peninsula
One of the most popular place for local South Australian's who wish to have a vacation is the Fleurieu Peninsula. The area is surrounded by water, the River Murray, the Goolwa lake system, the Southern Ocean and Gulf St Vincent, thus water tends to dominate the activities that are available, fishing, swimming, diving, surfing and wind surfing, and sailing are all popular. Besides the water sports there are several National Parks, so hiking, camping etc can all enjoyed. This area is a country area with a prolific amount of wildlife or if a country way of living is more your style there are plenty of activities that you can try, ie. horse riding.

Riverland Region
Further to the north east of Adelaide is the Riverland region. A popular attraction of the region is fishing, the most famous, most illusive and the most sought after of the fishes is the Murray Cod; this fish certainly rivals the famous Barramundi of the Northern Territory, (which reaches 180cm in length and up to 60 kg in weight), the Murray Cod can reach 180cm in length and up to 113kg in weight, that is well over 50 pounds. If you are not lucky enough to catch a Murray Cod there are plenty of other fish to be caught, catfish, silver perch, European perch, golden perch and yabbies are all popular. However if you wish to fish in this area certain rules must be taken into account: freshwater crayfish are protected, European Carp cannot be returned to the water alive after being caught- these fish are pest, and unfortunately infest a majority of Australian water systems. These fish make the water uninhabitable for native fishes. There are also laws about what gear can be used and where amateur fishing can be done, so if you wish to try your luck in this region you should find out from local sources what exactly can and can't be done.

Murraylands
Just south of the Riverland region is the Murraylands, another region of SA that the Murray winds through. The water can be enjoyed in a number of ways, but one of the more interesting is by hiring a river boat for a few days, this gives you the opportunity to see the river up close. Again the fishing in this region is quite good and very popular with mullet, salmon, trout and flounder to caught in the Coorong National Park water system, and the aforementioned fish from the Murray. This region is also a historic area, so there are plenty of things to do for those who shy away from the water or bait as the case may be.

South East Region
If you head south again you will hit the South East region of SA, this area is certainly for nature lovers. The coast holds an important fishing industry, mainly crustaceans, especially crayfish. The area also has many National Parks so those interested in wildlife or hiking will not be disappointed. The region also has many historically significant sights, restored buildings etc. Other interesting places to visit in the area are the Narcoorte Caves and the Coonawarra wine district.

Mid North Region
Travelling north from the South East region of SA is the Mid North region. This region is very much a historic region, with a rich past in maritime affairs, colonialism and mining. This area is also very famous for it's wines which are as the Barossa Valley, recognised all over the world. This district is very much a farming region with the wines, market gardens and sheep farms. Mining in the region is copper mining, and helped to make Australia one of the largest copper producers in the world. Historical aspects of the old mining days early in the settlement era are shown on tourist maps and by sign so anyone can discover the history of the region. To top this all of the region also has a very beautiful country side and wilderness area.

Flinders Ranges
Travelling north again from the Mid North region is the Flinders Ranges. The Flinders Ranges is very much a nature area. Rolling plains, grasslands, bush, hills mountains and gorges cover the Flinders Ranges. The wildlife in this area is again spectacular for viewing wildlife. This area is some what unique with regular sightings of rare endangered animals like the yellow-footed rock wallaby. Other animals of interest are the wedge tailed eagle, parrots and emus, and of course the ever popular kangaroo. This region also has many Aboriginal sight of importance, some are very accessible to visitors, and often these sight can be toured with rangers or local Aborigines who have a great deal of knowledge about the area and its importance.

Eyre Peninsular
From the Flinders Ranges the Eyre Peninsular is west. The Eyre Peninsula has one of the most spectacular coast line in the world. The Coast is dotted with rugged cliffs, tranquil bays and sandy beaches, something for everyone swimmers, sailors and sightseers alike. SA is also famous for whale watching, shark cage diving and for those who want to try their luck at fishing, the King George whiting is a prize well sought after. In land on the Eyre Peninsula is the desert and eventually the outback. The largest in land cave system in world also resides in this region of SA. This region offers a range of activities for all visitors whether on land or on sea.

Yorke Peninsula
South east of the Eyre Peninsula is Yorke Peninsula. The Yorke Peninsula has variety of interesting places to visit. The peninsula itself is surrounded by water so diving, fishing and swimming are popular activities. Because of the lack of roads in the early days of settlement there are also a great many ports around the coast line so sailing is also a popular option for travellers. The peninsula itself is very much a mining/farming region, so if you have any interest in the history or current practices of these fields the region might be worth a visit. One of the best aspects of this region is that it is very much secluded from much of the rest of the mainland, yet is still very close to Adelaide.

Outback
Lastly the Outback is always a very interesting place for visitors to see. You could visit Coober Pedy and try your luck with opal mining or go to Lake Eyre, the large salt pan named after the explorer John Eyre. The Outback of SA is a region of great diversity and challenge, from the oasis-like year round water holes to the true desert. There are a range of activities that can be enjoyed in the outback, from amateur mining to camel riding.

South Australia is an incredibly diverse state with a lot to offer the international and domestic traveller. There is something for everyone from history buffs to sailors, cavers to camel riders, hikers, campers and wine buffs. South Australia has incredible landscapes from peaceful country scenes to cruel sea cliffs. South Australia has to be seen to be believed and even then you may find yourself in a state of absolute awe.