The 8 best day trips from Adelaide

Visible from the city centre, Adelaidians are blessed to be neighboured by the vast Adelaide Hills. In as little as a 20-minute drive from the CBD, you can splendour in the greenery of award-winning wineries and restaurants, get cuddly with native animals at Cleland Wildlife Park, frolick through Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Summit, wander townships like Hahndorf for artisan wares, pick your own strawberries at Beerenberg Farm, and even marvel in Gumeracha at the biggest rocking horse in the world. The region is brimming with picturesque sights and immersive activities – figuring out where to start is the toughest part.

How far? Between 10-40km

Get there by car. It’s within a 20-40 minute drive from Adelaide CBD. Public buses run to some destinations within the Adelaide Hills too.

If coastlines and beachside towns are right up your alley, pop Victor Harbor and Granite Island on your to-visit list indubitably. Located just a tad over an hour's drive south of Adelaide, you’ll be welcomed by sweeping marine views across the Southern Ocean – a prime spot for whale watching from late May to October. Once you’ve nabbed yourself a classic Aussie pie from one of the town’s bakeries, jump on Victor Harbor’s old-timey, horse-drawn tram that’ll pull you across the 632-metre jetty to Granite Island where wild penguins are aplenty. But if that’s not your thing, how about: riding on The Cockle Steam Train, trying your hand at The Dunes Mini Golf, browsing local produce at the Victor Harbor Farmers Market, or sussing out Urimbirra Wildlife Park. It’s a crowd-favourite day trip from Adelaide. 

How far? 84km

Get there by car. It’s about one hour and ten minutes away from Adelaide CBD.

Turn your compass north-eastward and set off to the world-renowned wine region that is the Barossa Valley. A mere 50 minutes in the car will get you between the seemingly endless meandering hills that are peppered with more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors waiting to tingle your taste buds. The Barossa is internationally acclaimed for its shiraz, grenache, mataro, cabernet sauvignon and semillon vines – they’re some of the world's oldest continuously producing vines. But hey, it’s not all about the boozy stuff. Go full birdseye with a hot air balloon tour, get your hands sticky at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, take things slow along the Barossa Goldfields Walking Trail, or enjoy the finer things at a top-tier restaurant – we can vouch for Fino Seppeltsfield, Harvest Kitchen, The Farm Eatery, and Appellation at The Louise – it’s a foodie’s haven out there.

How far? From 60km

Get there by car. Alternatively, book a private van with a designated driver or join a group bus tour.

When inland calls, it’s the peaceful town of Mannum that answers. Situated along the banks of Australia’s longest river, The Murray, Mannum is the place for soaking up all that rural bliss in just over an hour’s drive east of Adelaide. Float upstream and take in the wilderness aboard a river cruise or in the comfort of a kayak, unwind waterside and experience country hospitality at the Pretoria Hotel, gaze upon our feathery friends at the Hermann Gass Bird Sanctuary, or navigate your way down Reedy Creek’s walking trail to the scenic Mannum Waterfalls.

How far? 98km

Get there by car. It’s about one hour and ten minutes away from Adelaide CBD via the Murray Bridge.

We have to give an honourable mention to the heritage-listed town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. As Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, the influence of 19th-century Lutheran migrants is ever-present, with Hahndorf attracting visitors from far and wide to witness the charm of its original German-style architecture. The tree-lined main street is home to specialty stores like the famed German Village Shop with its year-long Bavarian Christmas wares, yesteryear pubs where lederhosens and accordions are the norm, traditional German bakeries and restaurants galore, as well as op shops, galleries, and gift stores of handmade goods. Pretzels should be a priority too, just sayin’.

How far? 26km

Get there by car – it’s a 20-minute drive from the city. Or catch the Adelaide Metro 864, 864F or T843 public buses from Adelaide CBD.

If hills of green and coastlines of blue are your thing, McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula in general is your Adelaide day trip destination. The southern region is championed for its internationally acclaimed wineries – more than 80 of them – and sensational eateries with a focus on local produce from around the Fleurieu. However, the immense Peninsula offers a whole heap more than just culinary delights. Explore the Mediterranean-like coves of Second Valley, lap up the rugged cliffs of Port Willunga, trail around Myponga Reservoir, or perhaps sneak down to Maslin Nudist Beach for a full-bore dose of Vitamin D. 

How far? From 40km

Get there by car. It’s within a 35-80 minute drive from Adelaide CBD

A day trip for some, and just down the road for others – it’s Port Adelaide. While the harbour town may be frequented on foot for its eccentric stores and museums, it’s less explored atop the water. Get your wet-wear on and join a kayak tour of Port Adelaide’s Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships’ Graveyard. Mosey through lush mangrove creeks while eyeing the brine for marine life and paddle within arms reach of up to 40 rusty ol’ shipwrecks.

How far? 14km

Get there by car – it’s a 20-minute drive from the city. Or catch the Adelaide Metro Outer Harbor train.

Add a splash of colour to your life at South Australia’s famed salt flat, Lake Bumbunga in the township of Lochiel. Depending on the time of the year, the lake works its saline magic and transforms from white to blue and pink – reeling in amateur and professional photographers for the perfect snap. Keep your eyes peeled for the Loch-Eel Monster, it’s said to keep to the surface and isn’t camera-shy. 

How far? 132km

Get there by car. It’s about one hour and 30 minutes away from Adelaide CBD.