Get Up Close and Personal with Authentic South Australia
Boasting a world- renowned food and wine culture, South Australia is home to a range of cultural delights and natural wonders that inspire all who visit. Ancient mountain landscapes, sheltered gorges, and a seasonal wealth of wildlife provide visitors with a real taste of outback Australia. The internationally acclaimed wine region of Barossa Valley promises the ultimate foodie adventure. Here are our top picks for exploring the best of this diverse Australian gem.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre
Lake Eyre, also called Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is Australia’s biggest salt lake. Witness the mesmerising pink hues, dazzling bright whites and blues of the massive salt lake from the air on a scenic flight. Walk across shimmering salty claypan flats and through blankets of golden wildflowers.
See the spectacular array of bird species and other wildlife drawn to the basin, creating a true explosion of beauty you won’t soon forget. Whether you see the lake brimming with water or bone dry, both are equally spectacular.
Flinders Ranges & Outback
The most accessible Outback in Australia, The Flinders Ranges is one of South Australia’s iconic destinations. Experience the ancient landscapes of the Gammon Ranges National Park which is a haven for many rare and endangered plants and animals.
Marvel at the ancient wonder of Wilpena Pound, an 800 million year old natural amphitheatre of mountains and sleep under the stars with a glamping experience at Ikara Safari Camp. Visit the geological sites of Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges and spot endangered wildlife.
Wineries
Boasting some of the world’s great wine producing areas, these are truly magical places to explore. Nestled in a valley about one hour north of Adelaide is the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s high achieving haven for foodies.
Experience a food and wine pairing at iconic wineries including St Hugos and Seppeltfield and take in the lush green rolling hillsides. Have lunch at Skillogalee Winery Clare Valley, one of South Australia’s oldest and most respected wine regions.
Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track is 620 kilometres of legendary outback track that takes travellers on a journey of discovery. The track follows an ancient trail used by Aboriginal people for ochre trading for thousands of years.
Keep an eye out for the 5,614km dog fence, a pest-exclusion fence that was built in Australia during the 1880s and finished in 1885, to keep dingoes out of the relatively fertile south-east part of the continent (where they had largely been exterminated) and protect the sheep flocks of southern Queensland.
Images in this article are courtesy of South Australia Tourism, Ben Goode, Grant Hunt, John Montesi, Julie Fletcher, Meaghan Coles