South Australia is still a hidden gem that not many people know of, and there are so many epic things to see and do — minus the crowds!
Honestly, I don’t know much about South Australia besides Adelaide and the famous Kangaroo Island. But after having been there, I can confidently say it’s now my favourite Australian state!
I never thought I could do so many cool things like swimming with sea lions, skydiving over farmlands and sandboarding down sand dunes. The best part of it all was most of the places we visited were devoid of the usual tourist crowds so it was really peaceful and quiet.
That said, we want you to enjoy this hidden gem too so here are 15 epic things to do in South Australia! We’ve broken them down into three categories for different types of travellers: wildlife adventures, scenic landscapes, and thrilling activities. Or you could just try them all 😎
Read also: 11 Unique Things to Do in South Australia — Quirky Wineries, Epic Festivals and an Island Escape
Wildlife Adventures
1) Swim with rare Australian sea lions
Did you know that South Australia is home to more than 80% of Australian sea lions — one of the rarest species in the world?! Hop on a sea lion tour from Port Lincoln to get up close with these adorable puppies of the sea 🦭
We booked our trip with Calypso Star Charters, an eco-friendly tour. To minimise the disturbance to the sea lions’ habitat, each trip is limited to one of four locations: Hopkins, Kangton, Grindal and Blyth Islands.
Wetsuits and snorkelling gear are provided so all you need to bring is your swimsuit and a towel to dry off. Toilets and showers are also available on board to rinse off after.
We had a great time swimming with these curious creatures for about an hour and finally understood why they are called the ‘puppies of the sea’. It was a memorable experience for me as I didn’t expect them to get so close! They also kept playfully flipping in and out of the water, which was really cute. But be mindful not to touch them as they are wild animals after all.
*Pro-tip: Don’t swim in large groups as the sea lions might mistake you for a large predator and won’t go near. Plus, don’t forget to look down — they often swim right under your nose 😉
Tours run from the last weekend in September to mid-June and on the boat ride to the islands, you might just see other marine life too (we spotted wild dolphins on the way back to shore which was a bonus!)
Cost: AU$215/adult (~S$189) for 5hrs
Tour slots: Varies (check online for slots)
Tour timing: 8AM – 12PM
Meeting point: 10 S Quay Blvd, Port Lincoln SA 5606, Australia (Google Maps)
2) Dive in a cage with Great White sharks
South Australia is the only place in Australia (and one of the few places in the world) where you can swim with Great White sharks! While that might sound scary, it’s safe and makes for an unforgettable experience.
There are several tour operators in Port Lincoln but Calypso Star Charters is the only one with a one-day shark cage diving tour. It’s a 3-hour ride (one-way) to the Neptune Islands, where the sharks tend to feed as they are breeding grounds for fur seals.
You’ll have a quick briefing before splitting into smaller groups to take turns to see the shark. The crew will then throw berley (dead tuna guts) into the water and it’s a waiting game.
It took around 30 minutes before we saw a great white! And just like in Jaws, the shark will circle the boat, attempting to “stalk” and “ambush” the bait. It was surreal to see a 4m-long apex predator swim an arm’s length away from the tip of our nose.
Some disclaimers: It might get bumpy in the cage due to the currents but there are hand and footholds to hang onto. You’ll also need to brave the freezing waters for a glimpse of the shark or spot the fin from the surface instead!
There is no good or bad season to see the sharks but we’ve heard that there are higher chances during November to mid-February and April to June. We’d recommend checking online for historical and current sightings or spending a few days in Port Lincoln until you hear of shark sightings before making a last-minute booking!
Cost: AU$562.80/adult (~S$495) for 12hrs
Tour slots: Varies (check online for slots)
Tour timing: 6AM – 6PM
Meeting point: 10 S Quay Blvd, Port Lincoln SA 5606, Australia (Google Maps)
3) Kayak with dolphins on a mangrove tour
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary features a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest, more than 40 resident bottlenose dolphins and other marine life like sea turtles and sting rays — just under a 30-minute drive from Adelaide city!
Photo credit: Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours
Join a kayak tour to learn how the mangrove helps the intricate ecosystem thrive and see adorable dolphins swim right by you.
Don’t worry if you’ve never tried kayaking before, it was my first time too and I did just fine. The guides will teach you how to paddle properly before you set off and ensure the group stays safe throughout the 3-hour tour.
On the tour, we learnt how the roots of the mangrove provide a safe area for fishes which in turn act as food for the dolphins. While we unfortunately didn’t see any dolphins (wild animals are unpredictable after all), we encountered something equally fascinating and mysterious — abandoned shipwrecks from the 19th century!
Cost: AU$79/adult (~S$69) for 3hrs
Tour slots: Varies (check online for slots)
Tour timing: Varies
Meeting point: Angas Inlet Boat Club, Lot 204 Garden Island Rd, Port Adelaide SA 5015 (Google Maps)
4) Roam the largest safari park outside of Africa
Photo credit: Monarto Safari Park
Good news, you don’t have to fly all the way to Africa just to visit a safari park! Monarto Safari Park is the largest safari park outside of Africa with over 500 animals including giraffes, zebras, Tasmanian devils, cheetahs and lions.
Visitors can choose to explore the park via a 12km network of walking tracks or on the free Zu-loop bus, which is included in the entry ticket! The bus will take you through large open-range habitats where the animals roam freely.
Photo credit: Monarto Safari Park
While there, also check out cool animal experiences like the Lions 360 (from AU$75/adult), to get close to and even feed lions within the safety of a 360° cage. Or mingle with ring-tailed lemurs at the Land of the Lemurs (AU$75/adult) as these furry friends zip past your feet!
Entrance fee: AU$49/adult (~S$43)
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5PM
How to get there: 1hr drive from Adelaide City (Google Maps)
Scenic Landscapes
5) Stay in a tiny house across a pink lake
Located a 1.5-hour drive from Adelaide, Lake Bumbunga is a pretty pink lake that’s particularly interesting — it’s home to a “Loch-Eel monster” (aka the famed Nessie’s cousin).
Don’t panic. While it seems daunting from afar, the “monster” is actually a sculpture made of materials like fibreglass and stainless-steel rods. It’s built to attract tourists and revitalise the area (it’s definitely working for us).
And to make your experience even more unique, why not stay in tiny houses across the lake? These are the only tiny houses opposite a pink salt lake anywhere in the world, with three compact cabins to choose from 🏡
They are also eco-friendly, with electricity generated via solar panels and bio-composting toilets — except for one with a water-flushing toilet for those who prefer. Contrary to their name, the houses don’t feel that tiny too! We were impressed by their large beds and fully-equipped living room and kitchen, complete with a stove and fridge.
Besides the tiny houses, the accommodation also has two insta-camps similar to a Mongolian Ger, where you can camp under the stars. The friendly hosts, Michael and Christina even offer hosted packages inclusive of a guided tour of the lake, a Korean barbeque and an outdoor campfire!
*Pro-tip: The best time to visit the lake is during spring (September to November) but its Barbie pink colour still depends on the water’s salinity and weather. In the drier seasons (December to Februrary) when water levels are low, you can walk right up to the Loch-Eel for a selfie!
Lake Bumbunga
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 1.5hr drive from Adelaide (Google Maps)
Pink Lake Tiny Houses
Cost: From AU$320/night (~S$281) (up to 4 pax), min. 2-night stay
How to get there: 1min walk from Lake Bumbunga (Google Maps)
6) Hike a remarkable mountain
Mount Remarkable National Park spans 18,000 hectares of mountain ranges, deep gorges and red cliffs with plenty of flora and fauna. There are various trails for people with different hiking abilities ranging from 1 hour to 10 hours or more (return journey).
If you’re not super fit (like us), take the easy Daveys Gully Hike (2.4km return) which’ll bring you to the summit within 30 minutes!
At the top, we were treated to a beautiful bird’s eye view of the Alligator Basin and across the Spencer Gulf. What made it extra special was that there was no one else there so we could take our time relaxing and snapping photos.
For those who prefer a challenge, try the Hidden Gorge Hike (18km return). It’s a long 7-hour return trip but some highlights include narrow valleys, deep gorges and scenic views from the high Battery Ridge.
*Pro-tip: Download the free Avenza Map app before your hike to avoid getting lost as there might not be any signal in the national park. It’s an interactive park map which uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot real-time location so you won’t need a network connection.
Entrance fee: AU$13.50/vehicle (~S$12), fee to be paid online before entering the park
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 7min drive from Melrose (Google Maps)
7) Soak in views of green rolling hills
The hills are alive at Steingarten Lookout, where you can live out your dreams on green pastures — just like in The Sound of Music 🎶 Admire the panoramic views of green rolling hills while surrounded by nature, completely cut off from the city!
Take note that the smooth paved road ends when you hit the first unlocked fence. So we suggest parking your car here as the road beyond is rockier with gravel and can be harder to drive.
Then walk around 5 to 10 minutes to the proper lookout point overlooking the deep valleys. Along the way, you might see beautiful flowers and some animals too like sheep and kangaroos!
For such a nice vantage point, we were surprised that there weren’t any crowds and we had the whole place all to ourselves.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 16min drive from Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe (Google Maps)
8) Stroll through a tranquil lavender farm
Rather than visit a typical botanic garden, whisk away to a sea of purple at a lavender farm instead 🪻 P.S. The lavenders usually bloom from mid-spring to late summer (November to January) so plan your visit well!
We were there in October so the flowers were just beginning to bloom!
Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe is the largest lavender farm in South Australia and has more than 90 lavender varieties. Visitors can stroll around the farm on their own or opt for a tour to learn more about the process behind lavender farming.
Besides the farm, also check out the cafe with lavender-themed food items. The menu includes lavender scones (AU$8.50 for two), ice cream (AU$8.50 for two scoops) and even drinks like lavender hot chocolate (AU$7.50) and lavender lemonade (AU$6)! We tried the scones and ice cream, both were delicious with a strong lavender taste.
Before you leave, snag some souvenirs from the shop like lavender-scented moisturisers, soaps and even insect repellent!
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 4:30PM (farm and shop), cafe closes at 4PM
How to get there: 16min drive from Steingarten Lookout (Google Maps)
Thrilling Activities
9) Stargaze at an international dark sky reserve
One of the coolest things to do at night in South Australia is stargazing at the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve! It’s Australia’s first Dark Sky Reserve and one of 22 in the world.
So, what’s a Dark Sky Reserve? Good question. It’s an area that restricts or reduces light pollution and maintains naturally dark night skies. And the best way to learn about the galaxy is through an astronomy tour.
Local astronomers Joe and Lyn from Juggle House Experiences taught us many interesting facts like how the Milky Way is 27,000 lightyears away from Earth and how the colours of stars differ according to their surface temperature (red is ~2,000°C while golden yellow is ~50,000°C)!
Photo credit: River Murray International Dark Sky Tours
Our favourite part though was looking at the planets through a powerful telescope — if you’re wondering, Saturn looks like a literal emoji 🪐
While we only went for the night sky tour, those who wish to explore other areas of Murray River and Mannum can also opt for the Gold Stars Sunset Dinner Tour (AU$290/adult, ~S$255). It includes a visit to Ngaut Ngaut Archaeological Cultural Site, Murray River boat eco-cruise, and dinner on top of the astronomy session!
*Note: Stargazing is heavily dependent on weather so the tour operator will contact you a day before to update whether the skies are clear to go ahead or not.
Cost: AU$100/adult (~S$88) for Astronomy Session
Tour slots: Varies (check online for slots)
Tour timing: 9PM –11PM
Meeting point: Walker Flat Community Hall, SA 5238, Australia (Google Maps)
10) Climb the roof of an iconic oval stadium
See Adelaide’s city skyline from a different view by climbing the roof of the Adelaide Oval! It’s an iconic stadium used for sports like cricket and Australian rules football (played on an oval field), as well as a concert venue for big stars like Adele.
As someone afraid of heights, I’m proud to say that the roof climbing experience wasn’t intimidating at all (save for the number of stairs I had to climb 🥲). Just kidding.
It was a relatively easy climb and there’s even a lean-out point 50m above the ground which makes for a gorgeous pic of the Oval. Plus, there are a couple of seats at the top where people can watch ongoing games too!
There are various climb timings to catch the city in a different light — dawn (sunrise), day, twilight (sunset), and night. At the end, remember to grab your complimentary printed group photo too.
Cost: From AU$115/adult (~S$101) for 2hrs (depending on the package)
Tour timing: Varies (depending on the package)
How to get there: 5min walk from St Peter’s Cathedral (Google Maps)
11) Skydive over vast landscapes
South Australia has some pretty sick views — stunning lakes, mountain ranges and farmlands. Take all of it in its entire glory while freefalling from up to 15,000ft above!
Different skydiving operators fly over diverse landscapes and only on certain days, so choose one that suits your style and availability. We went with Adelaide Skydiving Centre and belted out to a Whole New World over a large farmland at 10,000ft in the air.
I’ve only ever skydived once in Sydney near the city so this was a refreshing view! The plane was also smaller than what I was used to (it could only fit two jumpers and their instructors), making it feel like a private scenic flight over the fields before jumping off the plane 🪂
Cost: From AU$329/adult (~S$290) for 10,000ft skydive, Additional AU$159/adult (~S$140) for video footage
Meeting point: 4158 Port Wakefield Hwy, Lower Light SA 5501, Australia (Google Maps)
12) Tour a national park on a 4-wheel drive
Port Lincoln National Park sits on the southeastern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, featuring pristine beaches, gorgeous cliffs and vast sand dunes — making it one of the must-visit spots in South Australia!
While some areas can be explored on paved roads via a two-wheel drive, the real fun is on a four-wheel drive with access to uneven sections (like the sand dunes)! But not everyone can drive a four-wheel so it’s better to take a tour with a local guide.
For those short on time, the half-day tour with Tour South will bring you to places like Stamford Beach, Wanna Lookout and Wanna Dunes. Our guide Ben was super knowledgeable and helpful, he told us the best spots to take photos and was also our personal photographer on the trip.
He even brought sandboards so we could sandboard down Wanna Dunes. FYI, it wasn’t as hard as it looked, and thankfully I managed to get back down in one piece.
A wild Emu appeared to say hi at Wanna Lookout!
All of the spots we visited were surprisingly empty and we took our sweet time just soaking in the atmosphere and taking IG photos 🤩 10/10 would recommend this tour.
Besides half-day tours, there are also full-day sightseeing tours, sunset/stargazing tours and more to suit your itinerary.
Cost: From AU$149/adult (~S$131) for 4hrs half-day tour
Tour timing: 8:30AM – 12:30PM
Tour slots: Varies (check online or email [email protected] for a special slot to fit your schedule)
Meeting point: Hotel pick-up in Port Lincoln
Culinary Delights
13) Shuck fresh oysters on an oyster tour
PSA to all oyster lovers, Coffin Bay is world-famous for its fresh and quality oysters due to its nutrient-rich waters from the Southern Ocean! In fact, oysters have been farmed here since 1840 so you know it’s good 🤌
Go for an oyster farm and tasting tour with Oyster HQ to learn more about the town’s history, as well as how to shuck your own oysters. At the start of the tour, we strapped on waterproof waders before heading to a semi-submerged pavilion in the middle of the sea.
Then our guide shared how oysters grow, as well as the farming process. Finally, we were given four large oysters to enjoy — the only catch was that we had to get it out of its shell 😭.
It was hard at first but once we got used to it, we were shucking them like a pro. After putting in all that effort, the oysters tasted especially delicious. They were fresh, salty, and squeezing lemon on them gave an extra kick!
If your bellies are still not satisfied after the tour, hop on over to the nearby Oyster HQ cafe to indulge in more flavourful oysters like jalapeno sorbet and sesame sensation (half dozen for AU$20) or seafood like prawn hotpot served in a creamy garlic sauce (AU$23).
Cost: AU$50/adult (~S$44) for 1.5hrs
Tour timing: 9AM – 2:30PM (various slots)
How to get there: 2min drive from Coffin Bay Hotel (Google Maps)
14) Sip on some of the world’s oldest wines
With more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, South Australia’s Barossa Valley is one of the world’s great wine-producing areas!
It’s also home to the world’s oldest surviving Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon vines — up to 180 years old 🤯 Even if you’re not a wine connoisseur, don’t miss this chance to taste history.
The wine tastings here are quite affordable, Rolf Binder Wines has an icon tasting and gourmet pizza package which lets you try six different types of wine and a pizza for only S$35/pax! Here’s what we had for wines: Eden Valley Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Heinrich SMG, Bulls Blood and Heysen Shiraz.
I prefer lighter flavours so I enjoyed the Eden Valley Riesling which was a smooth white wine. The strongest red wine was the Heysen Shiraz which was 100% shiraz and had a tinge of sour taste. Bulls Blood was flavourfully rich too, with a mix of shiraz and mataro grapes.
Fun fact: The grapes are all sourced from the Binder Family Estate, spanning 64 hectares across the Barossa and Eden Valley!
Cost: ~S$35/pax via Klook for icon tasting and gourmet pizza
Opening hours: 10AM – 4:30PM (Mon – Sat), 12PM – 4PM (Sun)
How to get there: 4min drive from Barossa Valley Chocolate Company (Google Maps)
15) Taste award-winning fish and chips
I’m not exaggerating when I say The Stunned Mullet serves the best fish and chips in South Australia, and it has a string of awards to prove it.
It was named South Australia’s Best Fish and Chips at the Seafood Industry Awards every time it’s presented since 2007 and also bagged the Australian Fish and Chips Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Despite that, the shop still retains its cosy family cafe vibe and it’s not expensive — starting from AU$6.80 for a battered fish!
There are different types of fish to choose from like Garfish (AU$8.90), Flake (AU$8.90) and King George Whiting (AU$13.20) but go straight for the signature — Blue Grenadier (AU$6.90). The meat was fresh and the batter was extra crispy, with a good crunch.
For those in a group, grab the seafood dish combo (AU$17.90) to share. It comes with Grenadier fish, calamari, prawns and chips (ask for chicken salt to give it more flavour)!
Cost: From AU$6.80 (~S$6) for a battered fish
Opening hours: 11:30AM – 8PM (Wed – Sun), closed on Mon and Tue
How to get there: 2min drive from Henley Beach (Google Maps)
Getting around South Australia
Needless to say, South Australia has captured my heart with these amazing experiences and sceneries, and I hope you’ll feel the same way too! So now that you know about these epic things to do in South Australia and have decided to visit, here are some options for getting around:
Public transport: In Adelaide, buses and trams operate every 10 to 15 minutes. There’s also a free tram zone within the CBD! However, in smaller towns like Port Lincoln, there aren’t really any public buses or trains as most of the locals self-drive.
Taxi or ride-hailing: Uber or Didi are easily available in Adelaide but in towns like Tanunda and Port Lincoln, you can only call for a local taxi to get around.
Car rental: Renting a car is the most convenient way to get around South Australia for those who want to travel out of the city. There’s more flexibility for your itinerary and you won’t need to worry about transport in smaller towns! It’s affordable too, with rates starting from ~S$60/day for a compact car (fits up to 4 pax).
Know of other incredible things to do in South Australia? Share with us in the comments below!
This post is brought to you by the South Australian Tourism Commission.
