South Australia - Where to go and what to do

From the haunting expanse of the Nullarbor Plain to swimming with tuna - SA has something for everyone

Nullarbor Plain

The vast, treeless expanse of earth that is the Nullarbor Plain is every adventurer's dream. This stunning desert area covers a huge 200,000 square kilometres and to cross it has long been seen as one of the world's greatest drives. Not to be taken lightly, you'll need a decent 4WD, plenty of preparation, supplies and common sense to make the journey a memorable one, for all the right reasons.

Flinders Ranges

This iconic mountain range just north of Adelaide holds many curious sights. The enormous natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound (or 'place of bent fingers') is justly one of the area's biggest attractions, along with the underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy. Also see wildlife found nowhere else in Australia and enjoy excellent hiking and horse riding.

Flinders Chase National Park

Located at the western side of Kangaroo Island this national park is famous for its geological oddities and rugged coastal scenery. Explore the eerie granite boulders of the aptly named Remarkable Rocks, hike through woodland and swamp and keep a look out for the abundant wildlife, including a resident colony of seals.

Remarkable Rocks

A trip to the best know feature of Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island won't disappoint. 500 million years of wind, rain and the Southern Ocean have created some of the weirdest shaped rocks and boulders you'll likely ever see. Climb their smooth orange hued surface and explore inside deep black caves while listening to the pounding waves that helped create them.

Port Lincoln

If you're a fan of fresh seafood and people watching, of the multi-millionaire kind, then Port Lincoln is the place to head. With more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in Australia, this small town on the shores of Boston Bay is predictably very easy on the eye. An excellent shopping, dining and cultural scene draws most visitors, alongside natural attractions such as shark cage diving and the chance to swim with Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Port Augusta

This small city nestled in a natural bay at the head of the Spencer Gulf makes for a fun day trip or weekend break. The myriad waterways provide a haven for birdlife, with other attractions including gorgeous botanic gardens and a quirky water tower lookout giving excellent views of the surrounding scenery. The city is a good base for trips into the Flinders Ranges close by.

Eyre Peninsula

The rugged Eyre Peninsula is one of the few places where you can snorkel alongside bottlenose dolphins and sea lions in the morning, before hopping on a boat to go searching for whales and great white sharks in the afternoon. If you prefer sea life of the edible kind, the area is well known for its excellent seafood including pacific oysters and abalone. On dry land explore the weird and wonderful rocks of Murphy's Haystacks or the even stranger red earth rock formations of the Gawler Ranges.

Adelaide

Gone is the old reputation of a stuffy city with too many churches and a lack of character, these days Adelaide is packed full of hip bars, a thriving live music scene and a plethora of festivals to keep you entertained all through the year. Excellent multi cultural eateries with locally produced wines are found on every street, along with great shopping and an enviable location close to some of South Australia's most beautiful natural attractions.