No matter how you look at it, through the window of a car or from the top of a massive coastal sand dune, South Australia is a patchwork of starkly contrasting landscapes. There are dusky wine regions with cellar doors, coastal roads winding by impossibly white sandy beaches, and red outback tracks heading into the sky itself.
Adelaide's always on
There's always something happening in Adelaide, whether you want to party or relax.Choose from festivals and food, arts and culture, shopping and sports - all against a backdrop of spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts bounded by generous public gardens.
Head for the hills
The Adelaide Hills are on the doorstep of the city but a world away in ambience.These picturesque farmlands and charming villages have inspired generations of artists, including Sir Hans Heysen who once lived here. His former home called the Cedars is now open to the public. Browse among local craft shops and tuck into sweet and savoury delights in the bakeries of villages like Hahndorf and Lobethal.
Maggie Beer is one of Australia's favourite cooks and writers, and a pioneering champion of Barossa's regional cuisine. In her Farm Shop, you'll find her gourmet products and award-winning books. Food Barossa includes superior quality olive oil, goats cheese, mustards, fruit and wine vinegars, as well as relishes, chutneys and sauces to add even more zest to find foods.
Clare the country lass
The Clare Valley has a genuine rural community feel, with sweeping farmland, premium wines and historic towns.Experience country traditions, passed down over generations, in elegantly restored heritage towns like Burra and Kapunda by chatting with locals in farm shops and cellar doors. Listen to stories about life on the land over a drink in the pub. It's that easy in Clare.
Clare's most renowned wine variety is Riesling, and the disused railway line running between Auburn and Clare, now used for bike touring trails, is known as the Riesling Trail. Over about 27km, a smooth, flat cycling path takes you past most of the Valley's wineries.
Fresh Eyre
The Eyre Peninsula is your ultimate beach holiday without the crowds.Choose your kilometre or two of beach and chances are you won't have to share it with a soul. With more than 2,000km of coastline, getting more space than you need is nothing rare. The Eyre isn't short on nature. There are national parks and ancient caves to explore, plus the ultimate amount of personal space on the Nullabor. This massive treeless plain is fascinating and overwhelming at the same time.
Flourishing Fleurieu
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a paradise for divers and snorkelers interested in exploring dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the exotic looking Leafy Sea Dragon.Along the southern tip of the Fleurieu you can find the Leafy Sea Dragon, a curious, frilly cousin to the seahorse. They err a little on the weedy side, but that's just camouflage for them. You might find one in a rock pool, but not only are they dangerous, they're very fragile and a protected species.
It's also home to some amazing produce and vineyards. The Fleurieu is equally famous for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels and top fishing spots.
You'll love Yorke
Swim, surf, fish or picnic with the family.The Yorke Peninsula is an ideal holiday destination. Innes National Park at its heart is a rewarding place to explore, with surfing, fishing, bushwalking and whale watching just a handful of the outdoor activities on offer. It's somehow serene despite its dense bush and rugged cliffs that skirt deserted ocean beaches.
River reflections
Cruise the wide waters of the Murray River, walk along willow fringed banks and linger over lazy barbeques beneath the shade of houseboat awnings.The meanderings of this mighty river encompass an extensive area of South Australia, all with aquatic playgrounds and relaxed riverside towns to explore. Nothing quite compares to a holiday on a houseboat, cruising up and down the river at your leisure in your own floating hotel. Of course there are plenty of onshore options too, like bushwalking, camping, fishing and golf.
Nature's sculpture park
Secrets 'hidden' in the Limestone Coast include an inland lake that turns the deepest, most brilliant blue for months at a time, a cave system that was once home to Australia's ‘megafauna', and the Pool of Siloam, a naturally occurring salt water lake seven times saltier than the sea.
Fabulous Flinders
Experiencing the Flinders Ranges National Park is all about contrasts.These contrasts include the striking red rocks of the mountains and the sleek-sided white bark of the gum trees that line the surrounding sandy creek beds. In an air-conditioned vehicle, you'll notice the tranquil beauty of the landscape. Stepping out, the unforgiving reality of the heat will hit as you toil up St Mary's Peak for a view of Wilpena Pound and the inclining ranges to the north. This outback region takes in pioneer towns, rugged gorges, rich Indigenous heritage and the spectacular Wilpena Pound.
Hop on over
Seven times the size of Singapore, Kangaroo Island is crammed with different landscapes and environments – desert dunes, stunning beaches, forests and farmland – and more local wildlife than people.That said, the locals are impressively industrious, turning out luscious wine, sheep's milk cheese and the best Liguran honey this side of Italy.
Kangaroo Island © Tourism Australia
Editor's Pick
Visit handorfA visit to South Australia isn't complete without visiting the oldest surviving German Settlement - Handorf. Immerse yourself in the numerous small good outlets and bakeries in the main street and ensure you take a guided tour of Sir Hans Heysen's former home which houses a collection of his drawings, paintings and also his working studio.
