South Australia

South Australia is one of the antipodean continent’s least hyped but most rewarding regions. Its sparsely populated landscape is dominated in the south by the country’s longest watercourse, the Murray, and the rolling pastures this river feeds, while in the north lies the formidably dry Australian outback. Most visitors begin their explorations in the state capital, Adelaide, a city that adores fine foods and international arts, and is embellished with beautiful 19th-century architecture. A short drive from Adelaide are the world-famous, palate-pleasing vineyards of the Barossa and Clare valleys, while floating offshore is Kangaroo Island, a ...

South Australia is one of the antipodean continent’s least hyped but most rewarding regions. Its sparsely populated landscape is dominated in the south by the country’s longest watercourse, the Murray, and the rolling pastures this river feeds, while in the north lies the formidably dry Australian outback. Most visitors begin their explorations in the state capital, Adelaide, a city that adores fine foods and international arts, and is embellished with beautiful 19th-century architecture. A short drive from Adelaide are the world-famous, palate-pleasing vineyards of the Barossa and Clare valleys, while floating offshore is Kangaroo Island, a rugged ecological gem brimming with wildlife. In the state’s north is the grand sweep of the Flinders Ranges, loved by rock climbers and bushwalkers. Beyond its red-hued ridges stretches the outback, the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy adrift in its vast, dusty expanse. The state’s west flattens out to become the mesmerizingly empty Nullarbor Plain – you haven’t really experienced Australia until you’ve driven across it, shadowing the immense cliffs of the Great Australian Bight along the way.

About the Expert

Paul Smitz has coauthored a dozen guidebooks for Lonely Planet on places such as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysian Borneo, Brunei, various Pacific Islands, Prague, and Brussels.