Things to do in South Australia
The best things to do in South Australia include Coorong cruises, McLaren Vale wineries, pink lakes, shark cage dives and cycling trails.
South Australia is perhaps Australia’s most underrated state. The huge size of South Australia means it covers a wide range of landscapes. There’s room for idyllic beaches, vine-covered hills, sprawling lagoon systems and stark outback.
State capital Adelaide is a laid-back kind of place, but there are plenty of things to do in Adelaide. But leave the city behind, and there is a state full of surprises, quirky tours and activities. Best of all, hardly anywhere feels crowded. South Australia is Australia without the herds.
On this page, you’ll find dozens of things to do in South Australia beyond Adelaide. Take a look through and see which ones you want to add to your South Australian holiday itinerary.
Things to do on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island
- Hand-feed kangaroos at Urimbirra Wildlife Park in Hindmarsh Valley.
- Swim, surf and sunbathe on the Fleurieu Peninsula beaches such as Carrickalinga on the way from Adelaide to Cape Jervis.
- Drive along Sellicks Beach in a 4WD vehicle.
- Go horse-riding on Normanville Beach.
- Sea kayak around caves from Rapid Bay.
- See kangaroos on Blowhole Beach in Deep Creek National Park.
- Jaunt around the Langhorne Creek wineries from Strathalbyn.
- Take the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island in Victor Harbor.
- Go wine tasting in the McLaren Vale at wineries such as Mitolo Wines, Inkwell, Hugh Hamilton Wines, Serafino and Maxwell Wines.
- Feed kangaroos at the Woodstock winery.
- Enjoy a top quality meat pie at the Port Elliot Bakery in Port Elliot.
- Get utterly befuddled by the d’Arenberg Cube in the McLaren Vale.
- Walk into Onkaparinga Gorge in the Onkaparinga River National Park.
- Do a Flinders Chase National Park tour on Kangaroo Island.
- Fat bike across the Little Sahara dunes by Vivonne Bay.
Things to do on the Coorong and Limestone Coast
- Take a cruise of the Coorong National Park from Goolwa and visit the longest beach in Australia.
- Go on a Coorong kayaking tour from Hindmarsh Island.
- See the Mouth of the Murray, the longest river in Australia, empty into Encounter Bay.
- Snorkel in the Kilsby Sinkhole near Mount Gambier, South Australia’s second largest city.
- See stalagmites and stalactites in the Tantanoola Caves.
- Venture into strange Sunken Garden inside the Umpherston Sinkhole.
- Discover the fossils of long-extinct megafauna in the Naracoorte Caves near Naracoorte.
- Swim at Little Blue Lake in Mount Shanck.
- See the Hell’s Hole sinkhole in Caveton.
Things to do around the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley
- Combine art, wine and Hahndorf Inn oompah bands in strangely German Hahndorf.
- Try wines and craft beers at the Crafers Hotel.
- Sample wine, cider, spirits and Mismatch Brewing beers at Lot 100 near Nairne.
- Drink gins infused with native ingredients at the Applewood Distillery in Gumerucha. It’s also home to Unico Zelo wines.
- Try Adelaide Hills wines at Golding Wines, the Lane Vineyard and the Howard Vineyard.
- Taste chocolates in the Barossa chocolate factory.
- Play dinosaur mini golf at Barossa Bowland in Tanunda.
- Cycle the Barossa Trail, stopping at a few wineries on the way.
- Go on a Barossa Valley hot air balloon ride.
- Blend wines at Penfold’s in Nuriootpa, the main town of the Barossa Valley.
- Go wine-tasting in the Barossa Valley at Rockford Wines.
- Get lost in the Mintaro Maze.
8 unusual Barossa Valley experiences to book in advance
- Half day Mustang convertible tour.
- Two hour kayaking experience.
- Half day trike tour with commentary via headsets.
- Wine-tasting tour in a bright red London cab.
- Winery hopping by e-bike.
- Gin-making workshop with lunch.
- Behind the scenes VIP tour at Seppeltsfield.
- Learn about barrel-making at the Yalumba Cooperage.
Things to do around the Murray River
- Take a kayaking tour on Loch Luna near Berri.
- Hire a houseboat in Mannum.
- Tackle the Murray River Walk near Renmark.
Things to do on the Eyre Peninsula
- Do a Whyalla Steelworks tour in Whyalla.
- See silo art at Tumby Bay.
- Go cage diving with great white sharks around the Neptune Islands.
- See koalas at eye level at the Mikkira Station.
- Explore the coastal cliffs of Whalers Way.
- Go camping at Yangie Bay
- Fish from the beaches of the Coffin Bay National Park near Port Lincoln.
- Buy Coffin Bay oysters direct from the oyster sheds.
- Swim in the rockpools at Greenly Beach or calm waters of Sheringa Beach.
- Take a Segway tour at the Glen-Forest Tourist Park.
- Get photos of the Big Galah and Halfway Across Australia sign in Kimba.
- Swim with Australian sea lions at Baird Bay.
- Visit the mysterious Murphy’s Haystacks near Streaky Bay.
Things to do on the Yorke Peninsula
- Swim at glorious Wauraltee Beach.
- Go on a snapper fishing charter from Port Broughton.
Things to do on the Nullarbor crossing
- Visit the Penong Windmill Museum.
- Drive across the Lake MacDonnell Pink Lake.
- Go surfing at Cactus Beach.
- Tee off on the Nullarbor Links golf course from Ceduna.
- Watch whales from the Head of Bight Lookout.
Things to do in the South Australian outback
- See native wildlife in the Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra.
- Take a 4WD tour of the Flinders Ranges from Rawnsley Park Station.
- Learn about Aboriginal culture at the Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta.
- Pay a visit to weird military town Woomera.
- Go for a walk on the Lake Hart salt lake.
- Go on a Lake Eyre scenic flight from William Creek.
- Drive to Lake Eyre in a 4WD vehicle.
- Tour an underground show home in Coober Pedy.
