Things to do in Port Augusta, South Australia

The best things to do in Port Augusta are the Wadlata Outback Centre, Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden and Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout. Realistically, though, you’re passing through as you drive across the Nullarbor or take on a Stuart Highway road trip.

Nobody really wants to be in Port Augusta, South Australia. It’s a pretty grotty place, almost entirely devoid of charm. No traveller is really looking for attractions, activities and things to do in Port Augusta. They’re just passing through this crossroads town of just under 14,000 people.

Eyre Highway and Stuart Highway sign in Port Augusta, South Australia — There aren’t many things to do in Port Augusta, but it’s the crossroads of Australia. The Eyre Highway and Stuart Highway start at the top of the Spencer Gulf.

But a lot of people pass through. Port Augusta has the best claim to being the crossroads of Australia. Right at the northern tip of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, Port Augusta’s geographic location sees several highways meet there. Most arrivals are on a big journey to somewhere else.

Eyre Highway from Port Augusta

The Eyre Highway, crossing the Nullarbor Plain towards Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, starts in Port Augusta. Anyone driving from Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney to Perth will pass along the Eyre Highway. Half-decent stops along the way on that journey include the Big Galah at Kimba, the beaches around Ceduna, the windmills of Penong, bright pink Lake MacDonnell and surfer favourite Cactus Beach. Further along come whale-watching from the cliffs at Head of Bight near the Nullarbor Roadhouse, the Big Kangaroo at Border Village, the old telegraph station at Eucla and the Skylab Museum at the Balladonia roadhouse. You can play the world’s longest golf course on the way.

Anyone driving from Adelaide to Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula will also pass through Port Augusta. The Lincoln Highway branches off the Eyre Highway, passing by the giant steelworks at Whyalla towards Port Lincoln. This prosperous South Australian town is home to the only shark cage diving tours in Australia. The Coffin Bay oyster sheds and koalas at Mikkira Station are worth a visit, too.

Stuart Highway from Port Augusta

The other major highway that starts in Port Augusta is the Stuart Highway, the spine of Australia. Anyone driving from Adelaide to Alice Springs, then on to Darwin in the Northern Territory, will spend most of their time of the Stuart Highway after the initial Adelaide to Port Augusta drive. The same applies to anyone coming from other major cities. Drive from Sydney to Alice Springs or Adelaide to Coober Pedy, for example, and you’ll swing through dismal old Port Augusta.

On the way up the Stuart Highway, you can check out the once-secret military town of Woomera and salt lakes such as Lake Hart. Then move on to the underground town Coober Pedy and some seriously strange Stuart Highway roadhouses.

Things to do in Port Augusta: Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout

If you’re taking on a Stuart Highway road trip, or driving across the Nullarbor, it’s conceivable that you might want to stretch your legs in Port Augusta. OK, fine. Drive to the Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout and gaze along the Spencer Gulf.

If you’re allocating a bit longer, then rifle through some slim pickings. The best things to do in Port Augusta are the Wadlata Outback Centre and the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.

Things to do in Port Augusta, SA: Wadlata Outback Centre

The Wadlata Outback Centre covers early outback exploration, the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. But a major focus is on Aboriginal interpretations of the South Australian landscapes, and Dreaming stories. There’s plenty of interactivity, and the entrance via a giant lizard head is a fun gimmick.

On the Stuart Highway north of Port Augusta, the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden is all about desert plants. The plants, specialists in arid conditions, are divided into sections based on the regions they come from.

Port Augusta accommodation picks

Port Augusta accommodation tends towards the functional. Few people stay here more than one night. Booking site Wotif lists options for from $89, if you’d like to check what’s available.

However, these Port Augusta accommodation choices are particularly worth looking at: