South Australian Regions Guide
The B&B and Accommodation Guide for South Australia contains
around 600 listings of special places for you to stay - bed and breakfasts,
self-contained cottages, renovated churches, farm visits, guesthouses, holiday
units, paddlesteamers and more! South Australia has 11 major tourist regions,
each with it's own special character.
Adelaide Metropolitan
Region
The capital city of South Australia, Adelaide is much more than
just the seat of state government; it is a green and pleasant oasis of
cosmopolitan living, a city with heart and soul. Visitors find a modern city
which values its heritage past, set in park-like surroundings, with many
attractions and a Mediterranean climate. Locals half-wish that the outside world
won't discover its 'secret' good life of gourmet food and wine, festivals, music
and culture, city beaches and leisurely lifestyle.
Try an al fresco
coffee on buzzing Rundle Street, visit a city beach on the
historic Glenelg tram, stroll past museums &
galleries down North Terrace, cycle along the Torrens linear
park, visit the Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural
Institute, try your luck at the gracious Adelaide
Casino, discuss world events with locals over a locally brewed Coopers
beer, visit the cavernous & eclectic Central
Markets, even try a pie floater as a midnight street
snack!
Adelaide Hills
The
Adelaide Hills delineate the city on the west, and continue rolling out for some
30km, providing Adelaide with not only a huge English-landscape picnic ground,
but a larder for fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wines, even smoked salmon! As well
as the 20 or so wineries, the Hills are a haven for craftspeople: spend a day
browsing through galleries and craft shops in quaint villages. Take in the
breathtaking view from the Scenic Hotel at Norton Summit. Visit
enchanting gardens which are beautiful at any time of the year.
Go bushwalking, perhaps along the famous Heysen Trail. Don't
forget to visit Cleland Conservation Park to pat a koala or
feed a kangaroo. Warrawong Sanctuary gives you the chance to
greet rare and endangered native wildlife. Stroll down the main street of
Hahndorf, Australia's oldest German town. Or just down the road
is the delightful village of Nairne.
Barossa Valley
World-famous for its wines, the Barossa Valley area
contains a collection of 50 or so wineries, ranging from the very large to
boutique-sized ventures run by husband and wife. But the Barossa Valley offers
more than just wine; the area is a harmonious blend of hospitality, culture and
food. Hire a bicycle, load up with fresh bread from a local
specialty baker, some continental meats from a local
smokehouse, and cruise along the Mawson Cycling
Trail. Or visit five or six nearby wineries,
discussing vintages in front of the open fire with the winemaker. Have a look at
the simply amazing Kev Rohrlach Collection, a multi-award
winning private museum of memorabilia and other items. Become absorbed in the
pioneer heritage of Tanunda and Lyndoch. Try a hot-air
balloon ride at dawn, and sail across the misty vines. Scour the
antique shops for bargains. Visit the Angas Park dried
fruit factory or Story Book Cottage.
Clare Valley and the Mid-North
The Clare Valley region is a peaceful place of sweeping grain fields and
rolling hills which has its roots in the soil. Traditionally, its strength lay
in agriculture, grazing and mining, particularly the Monster Mine at Burra. But
these days, many come to Clare for the fine wines. Have a look
at the collection of early winemaking equipment at Eaglehawk Winery, or visit
the Jesuits at Sevenhill Winery. Participate in Burra's novel
passport system of learning about local historic sites, including
Redruth Gaol (filmed in 'Breaker Morant'). Another famous film
scene was shot at Martindale Hall just outside Mintaro for
'Picnic at Hanging Rock'. Stroll around Auburn, the home town of
C.J.Dennis.
Fleurieu Peninsula
The
Fleurieu Peninsula encompasses the gulf beaches south of Adelaide, around Cape
Jervis to the ocean coastline proper, then to the western side of the Coorong
wetlands. The coastal towns offer jetties and reefs and beaches, not to mention
traditional country pubs, and fish and chip shops. The Fleurieu area also
includes another famous South Australian wine district: the McLaren Vale. Time
your visit for any of the annual 'Sea and Vines', 'Bushing' or 'Continuous
Picnic' Food and Wine Festivals. Watch for
whales at Encounter Bay. Enjoy the company of Clydesdale horses
as they pull your tram along The Causeway from Victor Harbor to
Granite Island. Go back in time with a steam-train journey on
the Cockle Train or Southern Encounter. Visit the Signal Point River Murray
interpretive centre at Goolwa.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo
Island, a large landmass just 13km from the Fleurieu Peninsula, is one of
Australia's last unspoilt wilderness areas. Transport is by ferry from Adelaide
or Cape Jervis, or by air from Adelaide. The island is a patchwork of rugged
coastline, farmland, national parks and little towns with big welcomes. Guided
tours by park rangers will show you the savage beauty of windswept rocky cliffs,
and seals, sea lions and penguins basking on pristine beaches.
Visit dramatic caves, sleepy villages, Flinders Chase National Park, and the
Hope Cottage Folk Museum. Feast on fresh local gourmet produce
such as cheese, honey, sheeps milk yoghurt, crayfish and grain-fed chicken.
Paddle in the island's protected coves, even try your hand at
fishing.
The Riverland and Murraylands
The Riverland and Murraylands border the great river Murray as it winds it's way through South Australia to empty in Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong and finally the Southern Ocean. Paddlesteamer trade figured importantly in the prosperity of the fledgling state, and today offer relaxing lazy days cruising the Murray simply for pleasure. Murray Bridge is a regional centre and is full of tourist attractions: the Puzzle Park, the Captains Cottage Museum, and the Bunyip at Sturt Reserve. Monarto Zoological Park is a grassland refuge for bison, deer, zebra and giraffe. Elsewhere, visit the Talyala Emu Farm and Dundees Wildlife with a childrens zoo and reptile display. This region is also South Australia's orchard, with huge citrus plantations and vineyards; learn more at the Big Orange at Berri. The more daring may like to soar like an eagle at the Waikerie Gliding Club.
The South-East Region
(Limestone Coast)
The South East region consists of both ancient
volcanic areas and limestone bedrock, which explains the basis of its unique
beauty. The weathered limestone has produced underground rivers, spectacular
caves and sinkholes at Naracoorte and elsewhere, and underlies
the tiny strip of 'terra rossa' soil at Coonawarra, so prized
for the production of world-class wines. The ancient volcanoes have given us the
marvellous Blue Lake at Mount Gambier. Enjoy a freshly-caught
lobster at a Robe restaurant. Explore the Coorong at your
leisure, paddling in a secluded spot, or fishing some quiet waters. Take the
Mary MacKillop heritage trail around Penola,
and see the schoolhouse she established. Don't forget to stroll along the raised
boardwalk at Bool Lagoon, the wetlands home to over 100 species
of bird.
Yorke Peninsula
The Yorke
Peninsula has a delightful sense of isolation, while being only a couple of
hours drive from Adelaide. It boasts 600km of coastline, with some of the best,
cleanest and emptiest beaches in South Australia, and you're never more than
30km from the sea. Inland are rolling pastures and fields of golden barley and
wheat. Cornish copper miners of old left a strong presence in
the towns of Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo. Eat a true-blue Cornish
pasty for lunch at Moonta, then tour the Moonta Mines Museum. Try
scuba diving the eight shipwrecks of the Wardang Island
maritime heritage trail. There's more to learn about wrecks and relics at the
Port Victoria Maritime Museum. Time your visit to coincide with a local
country festival, such as Port Pirie's Blessing of the Fleet,
the Marrabel Rodeo, or the Crystal Brook Show.
Eyre Peninsula
The Eyre
Peninsula occupies an area larger than Tasmania, and boasts some of the best
aquaculture produce in Australia. The natural harvest of the clean waters are
despatched regularly to top-class restaurants and retailers nationally, and to
Japan. Coffin Bay is famous for its oysters, but there's much
more! Try the local abalone, scallops, rock lobster, bluefin tune, gar, snapper
and whiting from a seaside village shop, maybe with a glass of local wine. At
Port Lincoln, visit the marina and see the country's largest commercial fishing
fleet, cruise to a tuna farm, or visit a working sheep station.
Explore the hinterland and the regions abundant native flora &
flora in one of the many national parks. Try the surf
down at Cactus beach, or hire a boat to cruise around the Sir
Joseph Banks group of islands, with its sea lions and bird colonies.
Flinders Ranges and The
Outback
The Flinders Ranges are an easy way to experience the spectacular
Outback, since the heart of the Flinders at Wilpena Pound is only four or five
hours drive north of Adelaide. Get a taste for the vastness of the Australian
continent and the rugged beauty of the ancient mountain ranges, set in all
possible shades of red, orange and brown. Despite the harsh climate, springtime
produces a spectacular show of native flowers. Camp in a gorge,
marvel at the sunsets, then watch in awe at the blazing stars in the night sky.
Don't forget the Pichi Richi steam train for the ride of a
lifetime. Try a cold beer from a pub in an isolated country town, or take a
4WD eco-tour throught the southern Flinders Ranges. Noodle for
opals amongst the diggings at Coober Pedy, then sleep
peacefully underground. Look for Aboriginal paintings or carvings at Arkaroo
Rock, Yourambulla Cave or Sacred Canyon.
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