South Australia Top 10

South Australia is full of activities and things to do.  Here is our list of the top 10 things to do in South Australia.

1.  Shark Diving

Cruise out to any one of Port Lincoln’s outlying islands, get suited and booted then dive in a steel cage to meet Australia’s most notorious native: The Great White Shark.

2.  Kangaroo Island

KI, as the natives call it, is one of the most relaxing places in South Australia.  Often called “Australia’s Galapagos”, KI is one place where you can walk amongst the seals on Seal Bay, hike through the 15,000km of national and Conservation parklands ticking off the animals you see from your list of native wildlife, or maybe try your hand at deep sea fishing.  You can also enjoy the wineries, gourmet food, and lively little towns like Kingscote.

3.  Coober Pedy

A romping cowboy town that has been called wild, weird, and wonderful all in the same.  Coober Pedy is home to underground hostels, Martian landscapes, hippy cultures, and the world’s longest manmade structure: The Dog Fence.  A visit to Coober Pedy will allow you to try your hand at “noodling” for opals, and if you don’t strike it rich you can do what the other desert diggers do - go to the pub for rounds!

4.  Barossa

Known for its famous red wines, Barossa is the place to be for free wine tastings and romantic holidays.  If you get an urge to propose to your partner, a hot air balloon ride over the wine country will be certain to swoon your partner into saying “yes”!

5.  Aboriginal Heritage

South Australia Museum is home to the world’s largest Aboriginal Artefact collection.  Meet local Kaurna people in the nearby village of Tandanya, or take off to the “country” to immerse yourself in the many cultures of South Australia’s Aboriginal people.  Aboriginal guides in the Adelaide Hills, Coorong, and Flinders Ranges can help you go bush walking, find tucker, see rock art, and learn how the bond between the Aboriginal people, the land, and their ancestors has lead to their survival.

6.  Adventure Caving

Extremely safe public trails take visitors deep into the Naracoorte Caves, where they marvel at fossils of strange animals from days gone by.  For those who aren’t afraid of getting down and dirty in their travels, World-Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves offers a guide that will allow you to pull on a pair of trousers, grab a light and a helmet and go deep into the dark abyss of the cave crawling through tight spaces and experiencing the cave like no other.

7.  Road Trip!

Who doesn’t love a good road trip?  Jump in the car with your cooler packed full of drinks and sandwiches and take off on the open road!  Adelaide to Darwin is the mother of all road trips with 2900km of open road along the Explorer’s Highway.  Travel from the olive hues of South Australia, through the red centre of Alice Springs (don’t forget to stop and visit Uluru!), to the tropical greens of the Northern Territory.  Take the 2700km westward journey from Adelaide to Perth and marvel at the Nullarbor Plain that will keep you company for the first 2000km.  The Great Ocean Road is a shorter road trip at only 1000km, but absolutely magnificent in its own right.  Take this journey from Adelaide to Melbourne and visit the Coonawarra Winelands and the 12 Apostles.

8.  Swagging under the stars

Swagging is about rolling your bed out beside the campfire and looking up at the warm night sky.  After the usual rounds of jokes and animal noises, the crackle of the fire, and the mysteries of the Milky Way take over, lulling you into a deep slumber.

9.  Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaid

Adelaide Fringe is a two-week fun-fest when the city surrenders to an all-out offensive from the world’s comedians.  

WOMADelaide is a three-day festival in the world of music.  WOMAD is the World of Music, Arts, and Dance, and it takes over Adelaide’s Botanic Garden in the month of March.

10.  Central Markets

Let your senses run wild as you explore over 70 stalls peddling wares from South Australia.  Try before you buy and don’t forget to stop for a cup of coffee at any one of the many hip cafes throughout the market.