Top 5 Winter Getaways in South Australia

If you’re looking for an adventurous way to explore Australia during the cooler months, why not consider a trip to South Australia? Offering a diverse range of activities like fishing, whale watching, stargazing, and more, you'll have plenty to do here. And while some areas can be a bit rainy during this season, this just gives you an opportunity to stay indoors to sample local specialties and wines from the wine capital of Australia.

Read on below for our top 5 picks for a winter holiday in South Australia:

1. Adelaide

Let’s start off with Adelaide, South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. As the weather is mostly dry in the wintertime, this makes it easy to get out and explore everything it has to offer, making it one of the best places to visit in South Australia in winter. Spend your days at one of the many picture perfect beaches like Glenelg and Henley Beach, before you dine at world-famous restaurants to enjoy some of Australia's finest wines.

Highlights in Adelaide:

• Cycle the vineyards to sample local wine and food while meeting the people who produce it
• Go houseboating on the Murray River Lunch Cruise
• Take a day trip to the Barossa Valley to experience the region's best wine
• Book the Adelaide Central Markets Tour to try delicious tastings that represent the best foods grown and produced in South Australia

Where to stay in Adelaide: Data from our analysis of the short-term rental market in Adelaide shows that popular locations include properties in central areas, well-connected outer suburbs, or close to the coast perform well. This includes Glenelg, Henley, Adelaide CBD, and more.

2. Fleurieu Peninsula

Offering a diverse range of activities and attractions, the Fleurieu Peninsula has something for everyone year-round. Though winter in this area is an opportunity for a quiet and laid-back holiday, there's still plenty of options if you want something a bit more adventurous.

Highlights on the Fleurieu Peninsula:

• Whale watching from Victor Harbor and along the route towards Cape Jervis
• Walking and biking through Deep Creek National Park
• Staying the night at a local bed and breakfast
• Stargazing and camping at Newland Head Conservation Park

3. Port Augusta

Port Augusta is a natural harbour that was established back in 1852. It is a roughly 3.5 hours drive north of Adelaide at the top of the Spencer Gulf. It’s a popular stopover for anyone traveling north-south (from Adelaide to Darwin, for example) or east-west (between Sydney and Perth). It is also home to one of the most popular tourist attractions of the area, the Wadlata Outback Centre.

Highlights in Port Augusta:

• The Arid Lands Botanic Garden showcases the flora that grows in the driest of conditions
• The Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout for beautiful views and natural attractions
• Wadlata Outback Centre to learn about the history of the outback - the vast areas that makeup Australia’s interior and remote and unpopulated coasts.

4. Coober Pedy

Next up? We suggest visiting the Opal mining town, Coober Pedy. Located just 540km from Port Augusta, 'Coober Pedy’ is an English adaptation of the local Aboriginal (Dieri) words ‘kupa piti’, which means whiteman’s holes. The town is known for its underground houses and opal mines, making it truly one of the strangest and most alluring places to visit. And while you'll probably spending most of your time underground, there's much more to see

Highlights in Coober Pedy:

• Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park boasts a spectacular variety of nature's best colours and textures
• Serbian Orthodox Church, which was carved in sandstone underground in 1993
• Josephine's Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage rescues and raises orphaned baby kangaroos

5. Streaky Bay

One of South Australia's newer must-visit destinations, Streaky Bay is the perfect destination if you're in search of a more relaxed beachside holiday. Spend your days driving along the coast, fishing off the jetty, or watch sea lions and whales.

Highlights in Streaky Bay:

• The dramatic scenery of the Cape Bauer Loop Coastal Scenic Drive
• Fishing along the Streaky Bay Jetty
• Local museums like the Streaky Bay National Trust Museum and Powerhouse Museum