Adelaide – South Australia’s capital
|

Adelaide city. Photo: Tourism Australia
|
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and has been listed as one of the world’s most liveable cities. This charming and charismatic city and is home to world famous Australian wineries, festivals, parklands, art galleries and museums.
Within easy reach of Adelaide you'll find stunning coastlines, beaches, rugged outbacks, and more wineries to explore.
|
|
Wine regions – just outside of Adelaide
|
Taste South Australia which is Australia's largest wine producer. There are more 16 wine regions and over 200 cellar doors to choose from.
Each region produces its own unique and notable winesthat you can discover on your own, or book a winery tour. Most wine regions are not far from Adelaide including Barossa, Claire Valley and Adelaide Hills, making this a truly delicious place to visit.
|

Sample over 200 wineries. Photo: Tourism Australia
|

Visit Maggie Beer's Farm in the Barossa.
Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
|
South Australia is also renowned for its home-grown produce, cheeses, premium jams and preserves, and traditional delicacies like wood-oven breads, smoked wursts and olive oils. If you’re a foodie, visit one of the farmers markets dotted all over the state where you can eat the freshest and most delicious produce straight from the vines and trees.
While you’re in the Barossa you must visit Maggie Beer’s farm. Maggie is one of Australia’s favourite cooks and her store will pack a mouth-watering picnic for you to enjoy while you explore the farm.
|
|
The Barossa has been producing wine since 1842, and today many vineyards continue to be run by (up to) sixth generation winegrowers. The area is best known for its Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling, however a small amount of ‘liquid sunshine’ aka fortified wine, is sure to please the tastebuds.
 |
Recommended: Henschke 2009 Hill of Grace (Eden Valley) |
|
One of the many wineries in the Barossa.
Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
|

Enjoy the Adelaide Hills wineries.
Photo: Adelaide Photographers
|
Adelaide Hills has over 40 wineries that are open to the public. The region produces a range of classic whites that pair perfectly with award-winning cheeses from Udder Delights.
|

|
Recommended: 2012 Amadio Reserve Christian’s Chardonnay. |
Clare Valley is famous for boutique wines, notably Rieslings, and is one of the oldest wine areas in Australia. There's a large selection of cellar doors to choose from.
|
 |
Recommended: Taylors Estate Riesling 2104.
|
|
South of Adelaide - Kangaroo Island and Fleurieu Peninsula
|
Kangaroo Island is off the mainland and is a nature lovers paradise with amazing cliffs, bushland, sand dunes and beaches. It’s also home to native wildlife including colonies of penguins, fur seals, black swans, pelicans, koalas, kangaroos and wallabies.
Experience swimming alongside the sea lions (that are also known as the "puppies of the sea".) Cruise out to the crystal-clear waters of Seal Cover where the sea lions live and enjoy a snorkelling adventure with these inquisitive and very social animals.
|
Swim with sea lions. Photo: Tourism Australia
|

Photo: Tourism Australia
|
You can do a day trip to Kangaroo Island but I recommend spending a couple of days there.
Distance: A flight to Kangaroo Island takes around 30 minutes, or drive 2.5 hours followed by a ferry crossing.
Kangaroo Island is one of South Australia’s youngest wine regions. The island has 200 hectares of vineyards. A must do is the ‘Kangaroo Island Farm Gate and Cellar Door Trail’, which unlocks some of the island’s best food and wine highlights.
|
|
 |
Recommended: Sunset Kangaroo Island Sauvignon Blanc 2011. |
|
Fleurieu Peninsula is a one-hour drive south of Adelaide. This holiday spot has beaches, coastal towns, vineyards and farms. Go surfing, sailing or snorkelling, and be sure to be sure to check out the local kangaroos, dolphins, seals, pelicans, sea lions and whales. Your tastebuds will also be dancing with its vast selection of foods and wine.
Fleurieu Peninsula has over 100 cellar doors including McLaren Vale, Langhome Creek, Currency Creek, and the Southern Fleurieu.
 |
Recommended: Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2005 (McLaren Vale).
|
|
Fleurieu Peninsula wineries. Photo: Tourism Australia
|
East of Adelaide - Limestone Coast, Murray River, Riverlands
|

Cycle through the vineyards.
Photo: Tourism Australia |
Head South East from Adelaide to the Limestone Coast, Murray River and Riverlands. Enjoy beaches, caves, cliffs and irresistible local food and wine on the Limestone Coast. Visit nearby Mount Gambier for the unique volcanic blue lake.
Cruise down the Murray River on a classic paddle steamer, houseboat, or for the more traveler, paddle a kayak or canoe. This is your time to explore the wetlands, river towns and wineries along the mighty Murray River.
|
Limestone Coast wines includes Padthaway, Coonawarra, Mount Benson, Wrattonbully, Mount Gambier and Robe. It is where some of Australia’s best wines are produced due to it plentiful water supply and climate.
|
 |
Recommended: Brand’s Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. |
|
Take a paddlesteamer up the Murray River.
Photo: Tourism Australia
|
West of Adelaide - Eyre Peninsula & West Coast
|

Photo: Seppeltsfield Wines
Be sure to visit the nearby town of Port Lincoln and if you feel brave enough, you can go swimming with Great White Sharks. You take a cruise to the Neptune Islands, usually with a pod of dolphins swimming beside the boat. Before long the Great Whites will begin circling. For the brave (or crazy), you can come face to face with the Great Whites from the safety of your viewing cage.
|
The Eyre Peninsula has 2,000 km of coastline for you to explore, swim, or to snorkel with the giant cuttlefish. Do some whale watching from May to October in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park.
|
Swim with sharks. Photo: Rodney Fox Expeditions
|
North of Adelaide - Yorke Peninsula, Flinders Ranges and the outback
|
The Yorke Peninsula is blessed with historic mining towns, national parks, pristine beaches and coastal towns. This is a popular holiday destination and has an abundance of delicious locally grown foods and freshly caught seafood to enjoy.
Further north is the South Australian outback, including the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy (which is the opal capital of the world).
|

Go four wheel-driving in South Australia's outback.
Photo: Tourism Australia
|

Visit the Remarkable Rocks. Photo: Tourism Australia |
The Finders Ranges is more than 540 million years old. It has stony creeks, old mining towns and country pubs and abandoned farms left by pioneers who escaped a harsh landscape.
Visit the opal mining town of Coober Pedy in the outback. Head for an extended driving trip from Adelaide to Perth across the iconic Nullarbor Plain. |
|
- The “adventurous you” can trek, mountain bike, ride a camel, four wheel drive.
- The “intrigued you” can meet the local Indigenous tribe and learn about their culture and enjoy some bush tucker.
- The “nature-loving you” can explore the endless caves, gorges and forests, and the native wildlife including the rare yellow-footed rock wallabies and echidnas.
|
Enjoy a camel experience.
Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
|
|
|
|
|