National parks
The Naracoorte Cave Conservation Park in south-east South Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its impressive rock formations and fossils. Emus and kangaroos also live in the Coorong National Park with mighty sand dunes and crystal-clear lagoons with many birds. See other countries in Oceania on pharmacylib.
Andamooka
In the city of Andamooka, founded by opal hunters in the middle of the outback, the conditions for noodlers (“amateur gem hunters”) are ideal (Internet: andamooka.sa.au ). The first settlers lived in earth dwellings and houses, some of which can still be seen today. The famous Andamooka Opal was found here in the 1950s.
Aboriginal culture
A first-class exhibition of Aboriginal art and religious objects awaits the visitor at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide (website: www.samuseum.sa.gov.au ). The National Aboriginal Cultural Institute (Internet: www.tandanya.com.au ) offers further insight into the culture of the Australian Aborigines.
Adelaide
Sidewalk cafés, art galleries and antique shops add variety to a stroll through Adelaide. There is good shopping at Rundle Mall and at the Central Market on Victoria Square. An open-air amphitheater and numerous theaters and concert halls, including the Adelaide Festival Center (Internet: www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au ), offer a varied cultural programme. Also worth seeing are the Bicentannial Conservatory, which is the largest greenhouse in the southern hemisphere, and the Zoo (Internet: www.zoossa.com.au/adelaide-zoo ).
Murray River
A steamboat or houseboat cruise down the Murray River takes in lush pastures, limestone cliffs, and picturesque orchards and wineries. The shore is lined with red eucalyptus trees. The courses of the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee rivers together form one of the longest river networks in the world.
Eyre (Peninsula)
To the west of South Australia lies the Eyre Peninsula (Peninsula), which consists largely of nature reserves, parks and unspoilt wilderness. The Head of Bright offers whale watching and stunning views of the Nullabor Cliffs. In Baird Bay you can swim with dolphins and sea lions, the Cactus Beach is a well-known surfing area of world renown. Lake Gairdner is a salt lake 60 km long.
national parks
There are numerous national parks in South Australia that offer impressive landscapes and unique flora and fauna (Internet: www.parks.sa.gov.au ). The Naracoorte Cave Conservation Park in south-east South Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its impressive rock formations and fossils. The Coorong National Park offers mighty sand dunes and crystal clear lagoons with many birds, emus and kangaroos also live here.
bushwalk
A hike is a particularly good way to experience the impressive landscape of the state. Popular hiking areas include the Flinders Ranges with its ocher plains and Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. One of the most popular walks is the 1,200 km long-distance Heysen Trail, which runs from the Fleurieu Peninsula through the Barossa Valley wine region to the Flinders Range (website: www.heysentrail.asn.au ).
Flinders Ranges
The mountain range in the north of the state offers an impressive landscape of rugged granite cliffs and deep canyons where eucalyptus trees grow (website: www.flindersranges.com ). The area includes Mount Remarkable National Park, Vulkathunha Gammon Ranges National Park and Flinders Ranges National Park. The natural amphitheater of Wilpena Pound, with its exceptional wildlife, is a favorite among nature lovers.
Around Adelaide
Mount Lofty, to the east of the capital, offers the best views of Adelaide and the surrounding area. Next door is the Botanic Gardens and Cleland Wildlife Park (website: www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au ) where you can feed kangaroos and emus or have your photo taken with a koala.
cage diving
Thrill seekers can go cage diving and come face to face with great whites in Port Lincoln or on nearby Neptune Island. Less daring stay dry and watch the huge predatory fish from the ship. The curious animals are attracted with noises instead of bait, so that their natural behavior can be easily observed.
Kangaroo Island
Animal lovers flock to Kangoroo Island to see penguins, koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and seals in their natural habitat. There is also a large colony of sea lions in Seal Bay. Local delicacies such as marrons (freshwater crabs) or the world-famous Island Beehive honey (website: www.island-beehive.com.au ) are a must-try.
Mount Gambier
The town of Mount Gambier was built around an extinct volcano (website: www.mountgambiertourism.com.au ). Impressive are the numerous sink holes, the nearby limestone coast with the Canunda National Park and the Blue Lake with its crystal clear water, which shines in a different color in every season.
Wine tasting
South Australia is one of Australia’s top wine-growing regions. The Barossa Valley is particularly popular, known for its Lutheran churches and excellent wineries. The wines produced here are among the best in the world. Excellent wines can also be found in the Adelaide Hills and southern McLaren Vale. Penfolds Winery in Magill is Australia’s oldest winery.
Whale watching
Southern Right Right Whales can be seen from the area around Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula and along the Nullarbor Coast, where they breed from June to September. If you take the horse-drawn tram from Victor Harbor to Granite Island, you can see the resident little penguins as well as the whales.
Surfing
Surfers and those who want to surf will find excellent conditions in Victor Harbor, on Kangaroo Island and on the Yorke Peninsula. Cactus Beach on the Eyre Peninsula attracts surfers from all over the world. Moana Beach is a popular surfing beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula, while neighboring Maslin Beach was declared Australia’s first nude beach in 1975.
Treasure hunt
Hobby gemologists have a good chance of finding semi-precious stones in Coober Pedy. The area produces 90% of the world’s supply of opals. Many treasure hunters have found – or lost – their fortune in this extraordinary outback town, where most of the population lives underground to escape the extreme heat.
The Royal Adelaide Show
The Farmers’ Fair is held annually at the end of August and lasts 10 days celebrating the region’s farms (website: www.theshow.com.au ). There are fireworks, rides and numerous shows and entertainment programs for both children and adults.
Naracoorte Caves National Park
Naracoorte Caves National Park on the Victoria state border features stalagmites, stalactites, bats and fossils. See what the area looked like over 200,000 years ago at the Wonambi Fossil Center (website: www.environment.sa.gov.au/naracoorte/home ).
Festivals
Adelaide is always home to world-class festivals throughout the year, including the Adelaide Festival of Arts (web: www.adelaidefestival.com.au ), which offers everything from jazz music to classical theater and ballet performances. No less entertaining is the Edinburgh-style Fringe Festival (Internet: www.adelaidefringe.com.au ). The famous Womadelaide (website: www.womadelaide.com.au ) features artists from all over the world.
Nullarbor Plain
The treeless flat landscape stretches for hundreds of kilometers until it suddenly drops 90 m deep into the Indian Ocean at the Bunda Cliffs. At over 200,000 square meters, the Nullarbor Plain is the largest lump of limestone in the world. A dead-straight railway line runs straight across the plain, and in the southern part there is a paved road that also has no bends.
Shopping
Overview
Barossa’s excellent quality wines are among the bargains. 60% of Australia’s grape harvest comes from this valley. Adelaide is culture oriented, with antique shops and art galleries scattered throughout. Hours of operation are similar to other states. Shops in Adelaide are open all day on Saturdays.
Nightlife
Introduction
Housed in a magnificent Victorian train station building, the Adelaide Casino is a haven for baccarat and roulette players (open Mon-Fri 10am-4am and all weekends and bank holidays). Nightclubs and discos are concentrated around Hindley Street in the heart of the city. The pubs and cafes on Rundle Street are also popular.
Culinary
Overview
Local specialties include German dishes in the Barossa region and, in the coastal areas, crab, white ling and other fish and shellfish. South Australian wine and beer can be sampled especially during the Vintage Festival, which is reminiscent of Munich’s Oktoberfest. Australia’s largest wine-growing regions are located in this state. The wines on offer in Adelaide and the surrounding area are of excellent quality. The brewery in Adelaide produces excellent pilsner and dark beer.
