While the draw of Sydney and Melbourne is not something to scoff at, there’s charm and elegance beyond the borders of these two notable metropolitan cities. In truth, Australia is home to many other fantastic cities beyond the top two, with one notable one being Adelaide, located in South Australia.
From scenic heights to a wide range of cultural events, Australia’s southern state holds a lot of appeal that’s wholly Australian yet unique enough to make it stand out against its more popular counterparts.
In fact, many of the quirks found in this region can’t be found anywhere else in the entire continent, making exploring the region by car a true one-of-a-kind experience that you should see to believe.
If you want to get to know South Australia more intimately, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll break down the allure of this often overlooked Australian region and give you some notable highlights and stops to prepare you for an upcoming trip.
Begin Your Journey in Adelaide CBD
Known to have endearing nicknames like the City of Churches and the City of Festivals, Adelaide is a city brimming with character and charm. It’s also the state’s biggest city by a long shot, making it a standard jump-off point for any adventurer looking to start their South Australia road trip.
That said, travellers don’t have to hop into the rental car straight from the airport and drive to greener pastures on day one. The city itself has many notable highlights and landmarks that are worth a day or two to explore—or even more if you happen to arrive during festival season, like early March.
For one, Adelaide is home to a range of art and science museums and places of learning in its central district. It’s also home to a well-maintained botanical garden that houses thousands of different plant species that rotate depending on the season.
The best part? These sights are all located within the same block and are even connected via a tram line, making it very convenient for you to park your rental car and just explore the city on foot.
Beyond the main block of tourist attractions, Adelaide also has a few notable spots that are well worth your time.
The Central Market, for instance, is a gastronomic paradise, featuring a delectable array of meats, cheese, wine, and produce locally grown in the region. There’s also the picturesque church a few blocks north of the museum block that can be nice to wander through. The Adelaide Goal is a former prison complex that has turned into a museum and is just a few minutes away from the city centre by car. If you are looking for a way to easily zip around the city, you can find excellent Adelaide car hire options with Redspot and their expansive fleet of available vehicles. Having the perks of your own car lets you drive your holiday in the direction that you would like.
In any case, Adelaide is packed with culture and sights to pique your interest and keep you occupied. It’s a beautiful city to explore, and it’s the most economically developed city in the region, making it a good stopover if you want to explore the more luxurious and commercial sights the Southern region has to offer.
Glenelg Beach
About an hour or less away by car is one of Adelaide’s most developed and accessible beaches—Glenelg. It’s the premier hangout spot for locals to take it easy and just hang around in a picture-perfect beach setting.
It features a nice sandy shore, perfect for sunbathing and holding a weekend picnic. It also has a pier where locals can fish or use as a diving board for their merriment. There are also dolphin tours where customers can ride a boat and get up close to these beautiful and smart creatures who frequent the beach periodically.
By the seashore, there’s a generous sprinkling of restaurants and rooftop bars that can help you and your companions get into the indulgent mood. And, of course, there are ample parking spaces within the area as well.
If you want to stay by the beach overnight, various upscale beachfront rentals can serve as your temporary haven before moving on to the next stop in your itinerary. In any case, Glenelg Beach is the best beach in the southern state if you want to maximise comfort, convenience, and upscale pleasures.
Adelaide Hills
Adelaide isn’t just a stone's throw away from beaches; it’s also quite close to the hills and mountains.
If you’re into hiking, many trails along the hills can serve as the backdrop for your physical excursion. During the right season, you can even join cooking tours that allow you to harvest truffles growing in the area and transform them into something palatable.
However, if you’re in the mood for more indoor experiences, the Adelaide Hills don’t cut corners with that either. There’s a range of boutique wineries in the region where you can sample different locally-grown wines and learn more about the history of winemaking and wines in the region.
Besides that, there are also charming towns in the hills like Hahndorf—a quaint Germanic town that looks especially beautiful during the autumn months. This town has restaurants that offer upscale dining options that allude to their history, making it a good cultural and gastronomic experience that’s wholly unique to the town and the region at large.
In any case, Adelaide Hills has a diverse range of premium options that can help you learn about the region and keep you entertained. Just be sure to time your visit appropriately to be able to access these experiences and enjoy them at their peak.
Barossa Wine Region
One frequent experience that lots of visitors have when they arrive in South Australia is exploring the local wine regions in the area. The wines from the area are truly one-of-a-kind, and because of the soil conditions and type of seeds grown, the flavour profile can be strikingly different from one wine to the next.
Because of the region’s diverse soil conditions and carefully cultivated grape varieties, each vineyard produces wines with strikingly different flavour profiles—ranging from rich, full-bodied reds to crisp and aromatic whites.
Beyond the wines themselves, the Barossa wine region offers a wide array of private cellars that house various wines and artisanal food. A quick drive around also lets you witness sweeping vineyard views as far as the eye can see. Many private tours are also available and can teach you about local winemaking techniques or bring you around the best viewpoints in the area.
In any case, this region offers an immersive experience that balances indulgence with cultural importance. For tourists looking for a touch of luxury, this wine region offers that generously with its wide array of tours and fancy wines that you can indulge in and bring back home with you.
Kangaroo Island
This memorable island is a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw, and it’s home to a plethora of exotic wildlife and natural landmarks that can cap off your South Australian trip spectacularly.
The animals that roam this island are some of Australia’s most famous and beloved—think kangaroos, koalas, and sea lions. Moreover, the landmarks you can visit here are also nothing short of mesmerising—Flinders Chase National Park’s Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks are somewhat remote yet utterly fascinating and unique.
If you want your experience to be augmented with touches of luxury, you’re in luck. There are a variety of beachfront rental accommodations that you can stay in for your next holiday. These accommodations are equipped with everything you need to have a good and indulgent time on the island, all while still keeping you within arm’s reach of all the beautiful spots nearby.
We hope these tips will serve you well in planning your next South Australian trip. All the best!
No comments