The 12 best places to visit in South Australia

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Adelaide is one of the most underrated cities in the country. South Australia’s capital punches well above its weight with its stunning walks, beautiful gardens, top-notch restaurants and unexpected water adventures. First-timers will need at least three days to tick off all the essentials: visiting Adelaide Central Market, hiking to Mount Lofty Summit, exploring the Art Gallery of SA and getting lost in the Botanic Gardens. Oh, and be sure to book a table at one of Adelaide’s best restaurants or rooftop bars.

Spend a wilderness-filled week on Australia’s third-largest island, which is home to many of its namesake animals, along with koalas, dolphins, sea lions and penguins. Despite its remote feel, Kangaroo Island is actually pretty easy to reach via a 40-minute flight from Adelaide or a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis. The latter is preferable as you can bring your car or campervan along for the journey. Given that the island is more than one third protected national park, you’ll want to pack hiking shoes for the trails, plus your bathers to enjoy its spectacularly secluded beaches. Stokes Bay is our personal favourite, and was also voted Australia’s best beach in 2023. 

With its lush rolling hills and charming stone churches, the compact Barossa Valley is home to many of Australia’s most renowned and historic wineries. Just under an hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide city, it’s an easy day trip from the capital – but trust us, you’ll want to stay at least a night or two. The Valley boasts more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, including the iconic Penfolds, Henschke and Seppeltsfield. When you’re not wining and dining, spend your time stopping at farm gates, hiking goldfield trails and staying in luxurious lodges (hello, Louise).

This beautiful outback region is full of geological wonders that have been millions of years in the making – 600 million years, to give you a rough idea. The best way to explore the Flinders Ranges is by hitting the open road and stopping at all of its charming small towns. Venture off the beaten track in the 95,000-hectare Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, learn about the rich Aboriginal culture on a guided walk at Wilpena Pound Resort, and marvel at the wonders of the cosmos at Arkaroola – Australia's first-ever internationally recognised dark sky sanctuary.

Best known as Australia’s opal capital, this remote mining settlement has served as a backdrop in countless films, like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. When it comes to unique stays, you can’t beat Coober Pedy’s underground cave motels, originally built by locals to escape the dry summer heat. Learn more about Coober Pedy’s fascinating past by going on a self-guided tour of its labyrinth of underground galleries, mines and museums, featuring the world’s largest display of opals. 

Soaking up the sun in a McLaren Vale vineyard on a balmy afternoon, gazing across the vines to the shimmering Gulf St Vincent, this place could easily be mistaken for Tuscany… but that’s just the wine speaking. Only 45 minutes south of Adelaide, this renowned South Australian wine region is one of the most easily accessible in the country. Shiraz grows ridiculously well in the vale’s deep terra rossa limestone soils – but with 80-plus cellar doors to visit, you’ll also find grenache, sangiovese, fiano, vermentino and other Med styles with which to blur your afternoon. For the ultimate McLaren Vale experience, pay a visit to Coriole, D’Arenberg or Hugh Hamilton Wines.

Mount Gambier sits perfectly between Adelaide and Melbourne, making it an easy addition to any Limestone Coast road trip. Despite being South Australia’s largest regional city and its second-most populous, this underrated gem often flies under the radar. However, it’s hiding a whole lot of natural geological wonders. Think gorgeous sunken gardens, secret underground caves and that famous blue crater lake.

Did you know that the Adelaide Hills is home to Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement? Now you do! Dating back to 1839, heritage-listed Hahndorf stands as Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement – and is the perfect day trip for those staying in Adelaide. Wander along the leafy main strip and discover local artisans selling everything from German cuckoo clocks and candlesticks to traditional sweets, cheeses and craft beers. It’s not a real trip to Deutschland without a frothy pint or two, and there are twelve on tap at local favourite, Haus Restaurant. Pair your pint with German specialties, like chunky wurst, juicy pork hock, real-deal Vienna schnitzel and fresh pretzels.

The Clare Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine-producing regions, and just like a fine wine, it only gets better with age. Located 90 minutes north of Adelaide, the picturesque valley is home to 50-plus wineries (around 35 cellar doors), bottling up mineral-rich reds, semillon and riesling to rival the world’s best. The good news is that you don’t need a deso driver to explore this fertile haven. Snaking through it all is the 33km Riesling Trail, a disused rail line that’s been converted into a bike/hiking path, taking you past some of the valley’s top cellar doors, including O’Leary Walker and Claymore Wines. Saddle up and get sipping. 

For the finest and freshest oysters in South Australia, look no further than the crystal-clear waters of Coffin Bay. Located in the pristine Eyre Peninsula – Australia’s major seafood hub – this beautiful bay is fully surrounded by ocean and nature reserves. Slurp up the little morsels straight from the source on a scenic cruise, spot native wildlife on a hike through Coffin Bay National Park, or hunt down one of the many secluded beaches. Our top pick is Almonta Beach, where you’ll find untouched wilderness, sparkling waters, and sand so white it almost blinds you.

Vines, views and village charm abound in the Adelaide Hills, arguably one of Australia's most underrated wine regions – just 20 minutes from the CBD. Each season presents a fresh reason to visit: you can pick sunflowers and strawberries in summer, wander through a canopy of bright red trees in Mount Lofty Botanic Garden during autumn, warm up in a fancy lodge during winter, and explore its verdant landscapes on a bike tour in spring.

You’ll want to bring a robe so you can relax to the max at this pretty Limestone Coast town, just 3.5 hours south of Adelaide CBD. You can dive into the town’s past as one of the state’s busiest international ports by following the Robe Coastal trail. It links the historic Robe Lighthouse, the ruins of Old Robe Gaol, and the Insta-famous Cape Dombey Obelisk to the town centre, before winding all the way to Long Beach. This is one of Australia’s few shores where you can drive onto the sand, offering plenty of secluded spots to go for a swim or set up a sunset picnic.