South Australia
South Australia has some of the best known wine growing regions in Australia. South Australia’s capital is Adelaide which is situated on the Torrens River on the Eastern side of St. Vincent Gulf, and it is surrounded by the Adelaide Hills. Adelaide is a beautifully planned city, surrounded by parklands, historic buildings, wide streets, cafés and restaurants and is alive with culture. In the nearby Adelaide hills there are many interesting drives and the keen explorer will find lots of local villages like Stirling, Woodside, Bridgewater, Gumeracha, Macclesfield and Birdwood to explore and enjoy. There are many interesting craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and there are spectacular views over Adelaide from Mt Lofty. The Cleland wildlife park is also worth visiting and you can cuddle a Koala or feed the Kangaroos.
The South Australian wine growing industry is Australia’s oldest and best known. The Barossa Valley is the oldest and also possibly the most famous wine growing district in Australia. There are over 60 producers and cellar doors in the region and some of them are household names. Names like Yalumba, Yaldara, Peter Lehmann, Wolf Blass, Henscke and Seppelt and many others produce many of Australia’s most famous vintages. Close to the Barossa Valley you will find the Clare Valley and once again the region is alive with vineyards. The Fleurieu Peninsula, Mclaren Vale and Langhornes Creek areas also have a landscape dominated by the wine industry and many of the best known vintages in the country are grown here, many of which are world famous. This area is heaven for the wine lover and there are few places in the world that can compete with its quality, charm and magnificent beauty. The town of Strathalbyn with it many historic buildings and homes is also well worth a visit.
A little further to the south lies the limestone coastal area that includes Mt Gambier with its volcanic lakes, the Coorong National Park, Naracoorte Caves, and the limestone coast wine trail which will, once again, reward the ardent wine buff with many fabulous vintages. A little further south and a short ferry ride across Backstairs Passage lies the beauty of Kangaroo Island. Here colonies of Seals, Koalas, Echidnas, Kangaroos, Goannas, Penguins and Wallabies abound in the islands protected environment. This is a bushwalkers paradise with around 480 kilometers of coastline and over half of the island has never been cleared.
West from the capital of Adelaide, lies the Eyre and Yorke Peninsula's. Here the tourist will be able to sample some of the best seafood in the world. You can handpick your own crayfish or try the magnificent Coffin Bay oysters. This area is also famous for its whale watching. During the late winter and early spring Southern Right Whales bring their newborn calves close to the cliffs where they are suckled prior to there arduous journey back to Antarctica. There are also some magnificent caves in the area and the Gawler Ranges offer some magnificent scenery as well as the possibility of seeing the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat. The Flinders Ranges also lie nearby and then on to the Simpson Desert, Wilpena Pound and then a little further to the great outback including interesting mining towns like Coober Pedy. Lake Eyre is also another icon attraction in the area and should not be missed.
The River Murray, which is Australia’s largest, forms the boundary between Victoria and South Australia. The Riverlands and Murraylands districts areas in this region should not be missed. Again the area is alive with wine making and some of Australia’s best vintages are produced here. A cruise on the Murray River on an old paddle steamer will create a feeling of living in a bygone era and you will live the history of the river. In this website you will find information on South Australian tours, accommodation, vacation rentals and details on motor homes and campervans as well as hotels, motels and apartments. This link to www.satravel.net.au will take you to our specialist South Australian website.
