For travellers using Adelaide as a base, this section helps you choose between city sights, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa or Clare valleys. Adelaide is South Australia’s main city and a practical starting point for trips to the hills, coast and wine regions.
Adelaide city
Adelaide Oval is a major city landmark. Nearby, the Adelaide Botanic Garden has the restored 1877 Palm House, the water-lily pavilion, the Museum of Economic Botany and the Bicentennial Conservatory, which houses tropical rainforest plants.
Adelaide Hills
Close to the city, the Adelaide Hills have cooler weather, greener countryside and historic villages and artisan producers. Cool-climate cellar doors, local food and small-town stops suit a day trip or short stay.
Barossa and Clare valleys
The Barossa Valley, north-east of Adelaide, is known for Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. Shiraz makes up half of the region’s vineyard plantings, and some Barossa vines date back to 1843, Wine Australia reports.
The Clare Valley combines Riesling trails with stone cottages and rolling farmland. Choose between the Barossa and Clare based on the wine styles, landscape and pace you prefer.
Flinders Ranges and outback
Flinders Ranges
North of Adelaide, mountain ranges, gorges, desert landscapes and remote towns replace the city and wine regions. The Flinders Ranges and Outback includes Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Wilpena Pound/Ikara, Bunyeroo Valley, Nilpena Ediacara National Park and Arkaroola, along with outback towns such as Coober Pedy.
Port Augusta is at least 3.5 hours’ drive from Adelaide, while Wilpena and destinations farther into the outback take longer. Allow several days for the southern Flinders Ranges and a week or more for routes that include Coober Pedy, Arkaroola or both.
Major highways provide the main access, but many roads beyond them are unsealed. Plan fuel stops, carry enough water and supplies for the route, and check road conditions before leaving the last major town. Cooler months are better for driving and walking. Some attractions close during extreme heat from mid-December to mid-February. Check Traffic SA before departure.
Peninsulas and islands
The Fleurieu Peninsula pairs beaches with wine country, while Eyre Peninsula centres on seafood and rugged shorelines. Yorke Peninsula has fishing towns, coastal walks and Aboriginal cultural sites; Kangaroo Island is known for wildlife and coastal rock formations.
Fleurieu Peninsula
South of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula combines beaches, vineyards and small towns. Port Willunga Beach has pale sand, cliffs, clear water and the remains of a jetty. Walk the coast or dive near the Star of Greece wreck. Tourism SA’s Fleurieu Peninsula page has regional planning information and tourism figures for the year ending December 2024.
Eyre Peninsula
Port Lincoln is a base for exploring Eyre Peninsula’s seafood towns and coastal scenery. The Eyre Peninsula travel guide places Whalers Way 32 km from Port Lincoln, with cliffs, blowholes, caves and beaches along the coast.
Farther north, the 1.2 km Arno Bay Estuary Interpretive Boardwalk passes through mangroves, mudflats and samphire. Together, these stops show the peninsula’s coastal landscapes and its working fishing and seafood industries.
Yorke Peninsula
Yorke Peninsula has small fishing hamlets, coastal escapes and walking trails. The peninsula is Narungga Country, and the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation provides information about Country and culture. The region suits travellers looking for quieter coastal towns and time outdoors.
Kangaroo Island
At Kangaroo Island’s western end, Flinders Chase National Park includes Admirals Arch, a coastal rock arch, and Remarkable Rocks, a group of weathered granite formations. Both are major attractions in the park.
South-east and river country
South Australia’s south-east and Murray country combine limestone caves, vineyards, wetlands, river towns and coastline. The landscapes span the Limestone Coast, Murray, Lakes and Coorong, and Riverland regions.
Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast combines caves and other limestone formations with vineyards, local produce and a varied coastline. Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as Balumbul, is one example of the region’s sinkhole landscape.
Murray, Lakes and Coorong
The Murray, Lakes and Coorong region follows the river through lakes and wetlands to the coast. Wetlands and coastal habitats attract birdlife, while river scenery, open water and shoreline shape the journey. Houseboat travel offers a way to spend time directly on the river.
Riverland
The Riverland follows the Murray through riverfront towns and productive farmland. Its riverside setting suits slow travel by boat or along the riverbank, with local produce and river towns forming the focus of a stay.