There’s more to South Australia than amazing wine...
But we must admit, cycling through three wine regions is one of our favourite ways to explore. With ancient peaks, blissful beaches, unique outback towns and some of the country’s best wildlife encounters, South Australia offers a little bit of everything. Head west for an outback-meets-ocean adventure along the Eyre Peninsula. Uncover thousands of years of Adnyamathanhan history in Ikara (Wilpena Pound), a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Or hop over the pond to Kangaroo Island to hang out with a colony of 10,000 fur seals.
Popular regions
Our South Australia tours
11 Days
From
2414
Take an Aussie road trip from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road, Ballarat, Apollo Bay,...
5 Days
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1305
Explore the famous wine region of South Australia including Barossa Valley and Clare...
6 Days
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1236
Explore South Australia’s famed wine regions the best way – on a 6-day cycling...
10 Days
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2091
Explore the South Australian outback on a 10-day small group tour which includes Coober...
5 Days
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1206
Spend five incredible days discovering the natural and cultural wonders of South...
9 Days
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1796
Spend nine days exploring South Australia’s stunning Eyre Peninsula, from Adelaide to...
6 Days
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1284
Follow much of the Great Southern Touring Route on this 6-day road trip that explores...
2 Days
From
865
Enjoy a Short Break Adventure from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and see fur seals, birds...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
5 Days
From
1735
Explore Kangaroo Island on a scenic 5-day adventure that follows the Kangaroo Island...
7 Days
From
1305
Get a taste of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges on a 7-day adventure, including...
7 Days
From
2104
Set off on a six-day adventure through the Flinders Ranges, joining a local leader and...
Highlights of South Australia

Cycle through wine country
Experience South Australia’s iconic wine country on a cycling adventure through Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. Cruising along (mostly) traffic-free trails, you’ll breeze past rolling vineyards and heritage towns, stopping off to visit some of Australia’s biggest wine and foodie legends, including Penfolds, Maggie Beers and Seppeltsfield.

Learn about Adnyamathanha culture
Enjoy a special private tour of the ancient Sacred Canyon with a First Nations guide. Learn about the cultural significance of the site, see ancient rock engravings in the smooth sandstone walls and discover traditional bush medicine used by the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years.

Explore pristine beaches
From the secluded bays of Kangaroo Island to the sweeping golden shorelines of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia is chock-full of beautiful beaches. Watch locals riding waves at the surf mecca of Cactus Beach, pluck and shuck oysters straight out of the water at Coffin Bay, or swim in the turquoise waters of Stokes Bay (voted Australia's most beautiful beach in 2023).

Discover native wildlife
Koalas, bearded dragon lizards, southern hairy-nosed wombats, glossy black cockatoos... South Australia is one of the best states for native Australian wildlife encounters. See the world's smallest penguin species at Penneshaw Penguin Centre, visit a kangaroo and wombat orphanage in Coober Pedy, or watch playful sea lion pups learning how to swim at Point Labatt.

Hike the Ikara-Flinders Ranges
Journey into the heart of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park on a hiking adventure. Unearth 800 million years of geological history as you weave through sugar gum forests, explore the remarkable natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound and climb steep peaks where you'll be rewarded with epic views of the surrounding plains.

Marvel at Lake Macdonnell
It's no surprise Lake Macdonnell is one of the most photographed places in South Australia. With a dusty road cutting straight through the centre, the water on one side is (sometimes) a cotton candy colour, while the other side (can be) a deep blue. This natural phenomenon is all thanks to algae that feed off the salt and secrete red pigments into the water.
Our South Australia tour reviews
South Australia FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
South Australia has diverse landscapes and weather patterns. Southern regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale have a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. As you go further north, the weather generally gets hotter and drier. But remember, even in the outback, the temperature can drop considerably at night.
Down south and along the coast, summer (December-February) is the busiest time of year thanks to warm, sunny weather and a busy festival calendar. Autumn (March-May) is probably the best time of year for foodies and wine lovers with all the harvest and Vintage celebrations in wine country.
Winter (June-August) is a fab time to see wildlife, with the opportunity to see humpback and southern right whales off the coast, and wallabies, kangaroos and other native critters making the most of abundant vegetation in Flinders Ranges National Park.
Spring is a particularly good season for hiking and bushwalking as temperatures are pleasant and native wildflowers are in bloom.
Bring a trusted pair of walking shoes and a pair of thongs to wear around your accommodation. Layered clothing is best, including a fleece or jumper to pop on in the evening and a rain jacket in case the weather turns. One or two smart casual outfits should be more than enough for dining out unless you plan on visiting many high-end restaurants or wineries.
Travelling around South Australia often involves a lot of time on the road. Services/amenities can be limited, so bring ample snacks and be sure to download a few podcasts for the journey.
Most people have heard about Bondi, Byron Bay and Whitehaven Beach, but South Australia's beaches are super low on the tourist radar (for now!). Some of our favourite spots include:
- Maslin Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula
- Glenelg Beach, Adelaide
- Port Willunga, Fleurieu Peninsula
- Crackalinga Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula
- Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island
- Almonta Beach, Eyre Peninsula
- Cactus Beach, Penong
- Perlubie Beach, Streaky Bay
- Memory Cove, Eyre Peninsula
- Emu Bay Beach, Kangaroo Island
Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
Read more about South Australia
Nov 09, 2021
Raise a toast: 11 of the best Barossa...
Feel on cloud wine at these Barossa Valley wineries.
Feb 16, 2022
12 things to add to your Eyre...
The Eyre Peninsula ticks all the boxes for an ocean-meets-outback adventure.
Nov 16, 2017
7 wildlife experiences you can only...
Camping with koalas and cosying up to kangaroos? Only in South Australia.
Nov 06, 2023
10 must-visit beaches in South Australia
Grab a pen, because these beaches are about to be scribbled on your bucket list.
Nov 21, 2021
A foodie’s guide to Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is a paradise for foodies, wine lovers and craft beer connoisseurs...
Apr 14, 2022
6 of the best things to do in the...
Surround yourself with scenic beauty and rich First Nations culture with these...
Nov 28, 2021
5 of the best Clare Valley restaurants
Pull up a chair at some of the best Clare Valley restaurants where great food and...
Jan 05, 2022
5 things to do when you travel from...
Don’t make the mistake of rushing to your destination if you’re driving from...
Nov 11, 2019
9 things you probably didn’t know you...
Did you know that Kangaroo Island is seven times the size of Singapore?
Feb 19, 2018
Why all animal lovers should visit...
Apart from incredible beaches, killer coffee, world-class pubs and an enviable...