Limestone Coast - The Natural Wonder of South Australia

The Limestone Coast runs along the very south east of South Australia. Sharing a border with Victoria and residing near the Fleurieu Peninsula and the Murraylands regions, this diverse area is home to an abundance of coastal and inland, picturesque towns. Discovering the Limestone Coast is an amazing driving experience, which takes you through ever-changing scenery, spectacular landscapes and mountainous terrain.

The Limestone Coast is one of Australia's naturally formed wonders. Carved over time by the strength and vigour of the ocean and the movement of tectonic plates, the result is an impressive coastline with magnificent cliffs that stretches from the banks of the Glenelg River to Port MacDonnell and Bordertown. The wonders continue inland, from Bordertown through to Tailem Bend, with volcanic craters, mountain lakes and historic caves capturing the essence of this magnificent area.

The area is rich in culture, heritage and tradition with the Indigenous people displaying strong connections with the land. This is evident in the traditional sites that articulate the creation of their customary lands where visitors to the area can gain an easy understanding of the history and culture through in-depth exploration.

Begin your driving journey on the coast, following the Princes Highway. The route will take you all the way through to Tailmen Bend, allowing you to stop and holiday at some or all of the coastal towns of this glorious region. Travelling from Victoria, the first major town you will come across is Mt Gambier. Although not directly on the coast, it still makes for an ideal holiday destination as it is known as the city of 'craters, lakes and caves'. Built on the slopes of an extinct volcano, this historical town is home to an abundance of heritage buildings, magnificent crater lakes and open caves. Enjoyable for the whole family and ideal for an exploration of nature, there is never a dull moment in Mt Gambier!

Just a short drive up the highway from Mt Gambier rests the coastal town of Beachport. Surrounded by ocean and home to Lake George, Beachport is the perfect destination for safe swimming, great surfing, fishing and windsurfing. It is also home to the Bowen Scenic Drive which allows you to explore the coastal dunes in the comfort of your own car.

Travel through the Coorong National Park and you will eventually come to Kingston S.E., a small fishing village which is an ideal seaside resort for visitors. This quaint seaside village is also home to Mana Creek Reserve which is a great picnic hot spot for the whole family to enjoy.

Following the Princes Highway directly from Kingston takes you right along the edge of the coastline. Experience the wonder and beauty of the Limestone coast, getting a bird's eye view as you drive the smooth and even roads. Marvel at the naturally sculpted cliffs while breathing in the fresh sea breeze. The beauty of this route is that it allows you to travel at your own pace which is made easy by the multitudes of towns around every twist and bend.

End your coastal venture as you reach the tiny town of Meningie, which is nestled on the banks of Lake Albert. Traditionally a farming area, the Indigenous culture of this town is eminent through the local museum and cultural centre which is open for the public at convenient times, year round. Following the Highway a little further will bring you to the slightly larger town, Tailem Bend. This town serves as a junction for three major Australian Highways and boasts excellent views of the Murray River. Although only a small town, this is a great place to base yourself for the night and prepare to explore the heartland of the Limestone Coast.

Venturing onto the Dukes Highway will take you into the hidden heartland of the Limestone Coast. The wonderful secrets of this inland oasis are unlocked in the native vegetation, crop fields and endless rows of vineyards that abound on this scenic drive. Pass through the historical towns that are speckled throughout your drive and enjoy the welcoming, friendly atmosphere that greets you. Be sure to stop in the farming town of Keith, which is home to Mt Monster Conservation Park. Encompassing scenic views and a diverse range of Australian wildlife, there is something here to please the entire family.

Endeavouring further along the highway will bring you to Bordertown. Here you can visit the white kangaroos or get a sense of the local history and explore the Historic Clayton Farm or the National Trust Museum. For some, the journey of the Limestone Coast will end here as this is, as the name suggests, the bordering town to Victoria (near where your journey began). However, to get a greater sense of what the heartland has to offer, venture south for just over an hour and you will come to the very heart of the coast, Naracoorte. Here you will find a world heritage listed fossil site, Bool Lagoon and an abundance of wetlands. The town is also surrounded by three premium wine growing regions, which makes it the ideal place for you to sit back, relax with a glass of wine and reflect on your exploration of this spectacular area.

The Limestone Coast region truly is the destination for an ideal driving holiday. The vibrant contrasts between the coast and the heartland offer a truly magnificent experience that you could simply spend weeks exploring. The Limestone Coast is beyond doubt, the coastal highlight of South Australia!

Christine Barton is a Content Writer for Discovery Car Rental Adelaide, Australia's travel focused online car hire company. She frequently writes information about Car Rental Adelaide and travel information relating to Australia.

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Rail Tales from South Australia

But, at that stage, the Australian states were, in effect, countries in their own right ... and growing children aren't noted for listening to Mother. That's where the Irishman came in, one F.W Shields, a railway engineer employed by the Government of New South Wales. He advised, probably correctly, that the 5'3" gauge, as used in Ireland, would be more serviceable for the loads and distances involved.

The Governments of South Australia and Victoria agreed, and followed suit by planning their railways to the 'Irish' gauge. However, Shields was replaced by a Scotsman named Wallace, and, following his advice, New South Wales adopted the 4'8½" gauge. The other two States, feeling that their plans were too advanced to change, retained the 5'3" gauge.

Meanwhile, South Australia was also building a network of 3'6" gauge 'country railways', intended mainly for carrying farm produce and other freight. The narrow gauge was chosen as being inexpensive to construct and to operate, thus keeping freight costs down ... passengers were carried, but their comfort wasn't really a high priority.

When the Australian States joined in 1901, to form the Commonwealth of Australia, Western Australia demanded a rail link with the other States as a condition of joining. Thus was born Commonwealth Railways, operating from Sydney to Perth on the New South Wales standard gauge metals ... giving South Australia separate systems in three gauges!

It's a complicated story, and, in summarising it here, I may well have sacrificed a little accuracy in the interests of conciseness. The place to find the whole story, graphically illustrated, is at the National Railway Museum, in Port Adelaide. The Museum is in Lipson Street, on the site of the former Port Dock Railway Station, to where it relocated from Mile End in 1988.

Locomotives and rolling stock from bygone days are displayed in three undercover locations. In the Goods Shed, a mainly volunteer work-force carries out restoration work on exhibits; the Main Pavilion incorporates a Break of Gauge platform, as well as several side exhibitions, such as Women in the Railways, Operations and Signals and Railway Development. Around all runs a 457mm (18 inch) gauge miniature railway, which is steam-hauled at week-ends and holiday times.

The Commonwealth Railway Museum is in a separate shed, and part of its display is devoted to the legendary Ghan railway. This was a 3'6" gauge steam-hauled line, built in 1929, originally intended to carry passengers from Adelaide to Darwin but which, in fact, terminated at Alice Springs, almost in the centre of the country.

The train took its strange name from the 'Afghan' (actually Pakistani) camel-drivers who pioneered the route. The two-day ride to 'Alice' in the wooden carriages, which usually had an open platform at each end, was always regarded as something of an adventure. The intense heat, flash flooding and termites eating the wooden sleepers (cross-ties) often delayed trains, sometimes for several days. By 1982, the track had deteriorated so badly that the trains, by now diesel-hauled, were discontinued. The track was abandoned, apart from the stretch between Port Augusta and Quorn, in the Flinders Ranges. This section has been restored, and operates as a tourist attraction by the Pichi Richi Railway company, to give a flavour of what rail travel was like in 'the good old days'.

But, that was by no means the end of the Ghan. Alice Springs is now served by a twice-weekly service over a standard-gauge track laid to the west of the old line. The New Ghan offers sleeper accommodation in two classes, 'Gold Kangaroo' and 'Red Kangaroo', as well as 'sit-up' accommodation for those on a budget.

The train also incorporates car transporters, so that passengers can take their cars with them; in the old narrow-gauge days, these, with any heavy baggage, would be brought on a second train called the Chaser, which followed some time later.

And, since 1st February, 2004, Alice Springs is no longer the end of the line. It's been continued northward to the northern port of Darwin, which was, up to now, isolated by rail from the rest of Australia. The new line offers the opportunity for passengers to take sight-seeing side trips at Katherine and Alice Springs; these will be free to Gold Kangaroo passengers, and available at extra cost to those in Red Kangaroo.

I was recently lucky enough to visit Adelaide's Keswick Rail Terminal, and be shown over the Ghan, which was being readied for departure. The station carried an air of excited anticipation, even among the staff, as the train prepared to leave on one of the world's great rail journeys - which, with the new extension to Darwin in service, promises to become even greater!

You will want a cell phone for use while your in Australia and with the local GSM service you'll be amazed at how much better the service is in Austtalia than back home. Virtually everywhere in Australia, yes even mountains and often deserts, is covered by superb GSM cell phone service. With a local service provider all your incoming calls are 100% free and calling the states is just $.27 / minute. Or, to be 100% sure, you can rent a satellite phone and as long as you can point it to the Nouthern Hemisphere you'll get service across the entire country. Free incoming calls day and night from every country on earth and only $1.99 to call any country, always.

For more information on renting/buying these type of phones and getting this type of super low cost service take a look at http://www.planetomni.com or call 800-514-2984 inside the States or 925-686-9945 from outside. They ship worldwide and are based in California.

Cell phone use overseas. In 99% of the world the local cellular service standard is called GSM. We use this in the states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD (which usually goes under the battery of the phone) the phone is able to communicate and the SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be extremely low using this system. For example in 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only pay for the calls made. You'll need an unlocked GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You can buy factory unlocked phones and sim cards for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth from http://www.planetomni.com

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South Australia - Outback Wilderness Travel

After several wilderness landscape photography trips to outback South Australia, Laurie McArthur writes of the preparation necessary to venture alone into an environment that will kill you, just for being there, if you don't look out.

Traveling on an ATV (quadbike or four wheel motorbike), Laurie has traveled hundreds of kilometres around the Arid Region, west of Lake Torrens, in South Australia, camping and photographing the harsh wilderness landscape as he goes.

Ownership of the Land

About 70% of South Australia is pastoral lease. The land is owned by the South Australian government and leased, long term, to pastoralists for sheep and cattle grazing, and to mining companies for exploration and mining operations.

If you look at a regular road map of outback South Australia, the roads marked are public roads and you are free to travel these outback roads through the arid wilderness country as you would any other country road. Exceptions are national parks and Aboriginal land. But they are another two stories.

However, the extra roads and tracks marked on a topographic map of outback South Australia, are station owned and maintained. Whether there is a gate or not, you must have permission from the station manager to travel on these outback roads and tracks.

Moreover, if you approach the outback station manager with appropriate courtesy, he'll more than likely give you invaluable local knowledge. You see, there are outback tracks marked on the best topographic maps that don't exist, and visa versa. There are outback tracks that are so washed out as to be impassable. Some lines on the topographic map, marked as outback station tracks, will be found to be just an old, tumbled down fence line that you might be able to follow on a horse. Still other outback tracks might cross a dry salt lake for say, 10 kilometres, with the mud being firm enough to hold a vehicle only after a dry spell of many years.

Permission to Travel on Pastoral Leases

1) Contact Mapland and purchase a large map of South Australia showing all the pastoral leases and their names. Then identify which pastoral leases you wish to travel on.

2) Contact Outback SA, Level 6, 101 Grenfell St., ADELAIDE SA 5000 or telephone 1 800 678 477 for a list of Pastoral Leases.

3) Contact the relevant pastoral lessee(s) by telephone or letter, well in advance of your proposed trip. They may refuse permission for a range of good reasons including stock management and road conditions.

You should make allowance for some of these folk not being highly oriented toward office work. But generally speaking, once you develop a rapport with them, they'll be most supportive.

It's important to keep in mind that the roll of the pastoralists on the outback land is to run stock. They are not there as an extension of the tourist industry and cannot be expected to bail you out should you get into difficulties on their station.

Navigation

The South Australian outback is vast and unforgiving, so be well prepared to navigate your way reliably through the Arid Region.

1) Maps You must have a paper road map and a paper topographic map of the outback area you will be traveling. Never rely entirely on a GPS, no matter how sophisticated a model it is.

2) Compass An inexpensive pocket compass will do to orientate the topographic map or the road map.

3) GPS With a hand held or vehicle mounted GPS you'll know where you are on the map to an accuracy of about five metres. An entry level GPS used in conjunction with a paper map will be quite adequate to find your way around the South Australian outback. More sophisticated models display a moving map on the screen.

4) Bush Sense Be aware of where the sun and the moon rise and set at the particular time of year and how far to the north the sun will be at noon. Both the sun and the moon move toward the north in winter. Take note of the prevailing winds and the direction of the parallel sand dunes.

5) Study the Maps Well before the trip, become familiar with the South Australian outback country you'll be traveling. Know the features such as hills, wells and dams, homesteads, lakes, creek beds and main roads as well as tracks. Google Earth is a great resource for getting to know the outback in advance.

Communication There's no reason for ill prepared outback travelers who become stranded, to die of dehydration, in these modern days of satellite communication. All South Australian outback travelers should have a satellite phone.

Would you like to read about Laurie's South Australian outback trip of August 2006? In his website, ATV Camping Trip, Laurie tells many stories, illustrated with his digital images, about his travels on Bosworth and Andamooka stations, west of Lake Torrens.

Many of the photos are Laurie's artistic landscapes and there is a section of ATV Camping Trip displaying the images and poetry from his one man art exhibition of Arid Region harsh, wilderness landscape photography.

Included also in the ATV Camping Trip website, are some great stories about the renowned explorer, John McDouall Stuart, who traveled this outback region of South Australia in 1858.

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South Australia - SA Great

South Australia is probably one of the lesser known tourist destinations in Australia, with many tourists preferring the east coast. South Australia sits in the middle of Australia, and is the only state to share a border with every other Australian state.

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is a relatively small city, but is of impeccable planning and design. Indeed an aerial view of the city, or from the peak of Mount Lofty, shows just how well set out Adelaide is with its straight roads and perfect squares. In Adelaide itself there are many tourist attractions such as the museum, the world renowned art gallery and boutique shopping on Rundle street. For summer there are many long, white sand, beaches such as Glenelg and West Beach. Adelaide is the perfect hub for many day trips to further parts of the state.

South Australia is a premium wine producing region. Areas such as the Barossa Valley, the Adelaide Hills and the Riverland are all world renowned, with some famous South Australian wine brands including Penfolds Grange, Peter Lehman and Banrock Station. All three of these regions are within 2 hours drive from Adelaide.

In the Adelaide hills, there are many small tourist towns, such as Hahndorf, a German themed village with all manner of foods and delicacies, and it is the home of Beerenberg, which is one of the largest private condiment makers within Australia.

South Australia comes to life during the warmer months with Adelaide playing host to many festivals and events such as the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars race, the Fringe festival, the Caberet Festival, various dance and rock music festivals, the Guitar Festival and many others.

South Australia is a great place to visit for those who do not want the 'standard' tourist places of Melbourne and Sydney and the East Coast. The best months to visit would depend on the climate visitors prefer, but the author suggests Feb through May.

Shaun Raymond writes for http://www.aussietravellersforum.com To find out more travel information about Australia and abroad feel free to visit and sign up for free at http://www.aussietravellersforum.com

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The First Ten of South Australia's Top 21 Hotspots

South Australia has so much to offer, here are just a few of the highlights. The capital Adelaide, the world Famous Barossa Valley, the unique town of Coober Pedy and Kangaroo Island, plus much more...

1. Adelaide

There is always something happening in this spacious city. With parks and gardens surrounding the CBD, you can picnic in the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Gardens, or stroll down to the River Torrens to watch the paddle boats and cyclists along the rivers edge. Not far away is the South Australian Museum. Adelaide Zoo is great for families, with over 1000 native animals to spot. The beach is also close by, with Brighton the perfect choice for a getaway, or Glenelg featuring the Rodney Fox Shark Museum.

2. Barossa Valley

Known as Adelaide's wine capital, this is where you get away from the fast paced city life and enjoy wandering around vineyards, cellars and cosy lanes with quaint shops filled with delicacies and fine art. Make sure you visit Lyndoch Lavender Farm which is well known throughout the area, as well as the Barossa Historical Museum and the famous Penfolds Barossa Valley Winery. Take a few days out to relax and do nothing (except sample the wines and great food) or hike in one of the national parks for incredible scenery. Barossa Valley is a must do experience.

3. Port Augusta

Known as the South Australian crossroad, you can travel across the Nullarbor from here, north to Alice Springs, south to Adelaide or east to New South Wales. There is so much to do here. The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens offers beautiful walks and the Outback Centre closer to the city offers plenty of historical displays. This is the perfect base for travel in any direction to see the outback at its best.

4. Fleurieu Peninsula

Known for its wines, beaches and fishing, this is the ultimate holiday destination, and great for all the family. Enjoy bushwalking in the national parks, or head to the coastline to see penguins at Granite Island or whales at Encounter Bay. The diving is incredible, with shipwrecks lining the coast, and it is just as enjoyable to soak up the sun on the mainland at one of the many camping grounds dotting the coast. Stay for a week or a few days, and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of South Australia's most beautiful peninsula.

5. Heysen Trail

This is one of South Australia's most well known walking trails, starting at Cape Jervis near Kangaroo Island, and ending in the Flinders Ranges, some 1200 kilometres away. Not for the fainthearted, you might prefer to start small and enjoy one of the two hour walks along the way. If you have the time, this is the ultimate walk for those who want to see South Australia in all its diversity. Experience the breathtaking Fleurieu coastline, plantations of the Kuitpo forest, the heights of Mount Lofty and the vineyards of the Barossa Valley, and then on to magnificent gorges in the Flinders desert.

6. Flinders Ranges

Accessible via Port Augusta, this region is remote, diverse and breathtaking. With so much to see you will need at least a few days set aside to enjoy the ranges and their natural beauty. Start at Wadlata Outback Centre, displaying the history and best attractions to visit in the area. Head to Quorn, not far from the lovely Warren Gorge and also the Kanyaka Ruins. One of the best towns to visit is Hawker, not far from Wilpena Pound which has plenty of wildlife and amazing scenery.

7. Coober Pedy

Known for its colourful opals, Coober Pedy is a unique and attractive place to visit, with its famousunderground accommodation to escape the heat. The unique shops and art galleries have to be seen to be believed, and you can't miss the underground mines. One of the most popular is the Old Timer's Mine which is one of the oldest and also displays some of the opals that were first discovered in the early 1900's.

8. Kangaroo Island

Australia's third largest island is only two hours from Adelaide and accessible via Cape Jarvis on the ferry. Not surprisingly you will find plenty of kangaroos on the island, plus penguins, seals, koalas and many more. There are lighthouses dotting the island as well a numerous walking trails that will take you through the uninhabited Flinders Chase National Park. At Kelly Hill you can visit the underground cave systems, and Kingscote is where you can best see the cute penguins at play. Murray Lagoon is also worth visiting for its prolific birdlife. Visit for the day or stay at one of the many campgrounds.

9. Yorke Peninsula

With wildlife in every direction and scenic national parks make you feel like you are the only person around. There are a number of fantastic walking trails such as the Standsbury Coastal Trail, Edithburgh, Port Vincent trails. Visit the lighthouse at Cape Spencer and on to the Samphire Coast which is popular for bird watching. There are a number of camping grounds to choose located close to pristine white beaches and lookouts.

10. Innes National Park

This is the perfect place to visit to get away from the city and get back to nature. With a great camping ground in the park, you can base yourself here for as long as you like and enjoy the carpet of wildflowers and walking trails which wind around the coastline. Visit Inneston Village which will take you back in time, or hop over Chinaman's Hat island to enjoy some more bushwalking and birdlife. The endless coastlines and abundant wildlife will keep you coming back.

Jenny Brewer is a travel agent whose passion is writing. After spending her leisure time writing time writing childrens stories, she now enjoys writing about travel destinations. For more of her articles visit Car Hire Australia

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South Australia's Magnificent Barossa Valley

Anyone travelling to Adelaide or touring South Australia should definitely consider a day trip to the magnificent Barossa Valley, just a short but scenic hour's drive from Adelaide through the beautiful Adelaide Hills. The Barossa Valley is home to the world-famous wines such as the Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling, in addition to a veritable cornucopia of unique regional produce, and of course many acclaimed restaurants.

The Barossa Valley is one of Australia's most significant wine regions. The Barossa's vineyards are tended by around 500 grape growing families, many sixth-generation. There are may small boutique wineries where exquisite wines are sold out within weeks of their launch, along with larger enterprises associated with household names such as Peter Lehmann, Henschke, Seppelt, Yaldara and Yalumba.

The Barossa Valley's thriving community retains strong links to its rich European heritage, now combined with the down-to-earth Australian spirit to create a rich and diverse lifestyle in a relaxed, rural setting close to Adelaide. European farmers (German in particular) and English migrants settled the Barossa Valley from the 1850s, and their rich cultural legacy is evident today in superb Barossa specialty foods and historic architecture. Historic churches, stone buildings and cottages abound, while walking trails, reserves and forests offer easily access to breathtaking landscapes and scenery.

Located only 70 kilometres North East of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is just over hour's drive from the South Australian capital. From Adelaide take Main North Road (A20) to Sturt Highway and enter via Gawler and the Barossa Valley Way. Or, from Adelaide take Lower North East Road (A10) out of Adelaide and travel through Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills to Williamstown in the southern Barossa. Adelaide is well serviced by domestic and international flights, and car hire is readily available at the airport. Self-drive tours to the Barossa Valley are popular. Road conditions are generally very good and distances between the region's towns are small.

Spring brings a refreshing vitality to the Barossa Valley, days are sunny with a crispness in the air and wildflowers abound. Summer brings an abundance of sunshine and warm days. The average temperature around 29 degrees celcius, but temperatures as high as 35 degrees are common. Autumn brings mild days, chilly evenings, and autumn leaves on the grape vines which are a sight to behold. Winter brings chilly days and cold nights when warm Barossa hospitality can be enjoyed around a cosy log fire.

The Barossa Valley was named in 1837 by South Australia's first Surveyor general, Colonel William Light, after Barrosa in Spain. It was first settled in 1842 by English and German settlers, the Germans having fled religious persecution in their homeland. Before long the Barossa developed its own unique culture and life style which has continued until today. Early gentlemen winemakers established the first Barossa Valley vineyards, but wealthier families with greater financial resources soon took over and developed the wine making industry we see today. Among the first was the Seppelt Family. Joseph Seppelt turned to wine making on a large scale when earlier attempts at tobacco growing failed. Other successful attempts were made by the Jacobs, Salters, Gramps, Penfolds and Tolleys, who soon dominated the industry while smaller growers supplied grapes grown on family holdings. In this way, the Barossa Valley's agricultural production slowly changed from wheat growing to grape growing.

For a comfortable day tour in a picturesque region of Australia steeped in history, fine wines, good food and great restaurants, South Australia's Barossa Valley is hard to beat!

Miguel Scaccialupo writes regularly on Australian tour [http://www.tour-bazaar.com] topics such as Great Ocean Road Tours [http://www.tour-bazaar.com/great-ocean-road-tour.php] and Barossa Valley Tours [http://www.tour-bazaar.com/barossa-valley-tour.php].

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The Next Eleven of South Australia's Top 21 Hotspots

11. Gawler Ranges

With magnificent ranges and vegetation, there is so much to see and do here. The national park is located approximately six hours drive north west from Adelaide. There are a number of incredible bushwalks to enjoy the wilderness known for its wildflowers and salt lakes. Lake Gairder is one of the most visited, with rare vegetation full of colour, so make sure you bring your camera. Pildappa Rock and Mount Wudinna are also well known attractions located on the tourist trail. Stay for a few days in one of the beautiful camping grounds, or nearby at Minnipa.

12. Adelaide Hills

This is often an artists retreat, with the rolling hills and peaceful country life a nice change from the fast pace of the city. Less than half an hour away, you can visit Lobethal, which offers great weekend markets and a costume museum, and Hahndorf, known for its German foods and famous Farm Barn. Not far away at Beerenberg you can also indulge in some strawberry picking. Set some time aside to drive through this area and if possible stay a few nights to take in the picturesque scenery and peaceful villages.

13. Mount Crawford Forest

Close to an hour from Adelaide, the Mount Crawford Forest is perfect for a getaway, with plenty of winding roads leading you to campgrounds and bushwalking tracks. One of the most popular past times is gem fossicking, with gold, opals and diamonds some of the hidden treasures. Horse riding and cycling enthusiasts will love this area, but its just as popular for locals and tourists with a number of excellent picnic spots.

14. Mount Gambier

Known for its brilliant blue lake, Mount Gambier is one of South Australia's most beautiful attractions. Located over 400 kilometres south from Adelaide, it is a great drive, and the best time to visit is between November and March when the water is bluer than usual. There are also a number of other lakes to visit, such as Little Blue Lake and Valley Lake, and another well known natural attraction is Cave Gardens. Climb Centenary Tower for the best view of the city and surrounding country. Head to the Mount Gambier Tourist Centre to take part in interactive displays and learn more about the region.

15. Birdsville Track

The Birdsville Track is an Aussie icon. From Birdsville, Queensland to Marree in South Australia, you can best attempt the track by 4WD, or travel in sections to enjoy scenery such as Sturts Stony Desert, Mungeranie Gap as well as sand hills, coolibah creeks and old homesteads scattered along the way. Marree is an excellent base to visit the surrounding area and experience a portion of the famous track.

16. Murray River

The Murray River has to be experienced. Stretching into South Australia via Renmark, it is fantastic for a day trip or a holiday destination with so much to see and do. Dotted along the river system are parks and picnic grounds to relax and enjoy the scenery and wildlife or relax for a spot of fishing. An easy drive from Adelaide, visit Murray Bridge and enjoy a local cruise on the MV Expedition or PS Murray Princess, or head to Mannum for some shopping. If you love bird watching head past Waikerie to Gluepot Reserve.

17. Clare Valley

With a rural flavour, visit the main heritage towns of Burra and Kapunda for some country experiences. This is the ideal

getaway retreat with plenty of local attractions for the whole family. For cute farm animals visit Geralka Rural Farm located near Spalding. Burra and Snowtown are home to a number of fantastic art galleries, unique pubs and cosy cafes. Spend a day or two visiting each town and enjoying the local shops and attractions.

18. Hahndorf

You can't visit South Australia without visiting Hahndorf, steeped in history and brimming with exciting attractions. Being Australia's oldest German village, you are guaranteed authentic German foods, beers and wines. Located close to Adelaide Hills, this is a fantastic base to explore the surrounding regions. Make sure you visit the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm, Hahndorf Farm Barn, especially fun for the kids, and German Model Train Land.

19. Naracoorte Caves National Park

Located south, not far from Coonawarra and Mount Gambier, Naracoorte Caves are worth visiting, with breathtaking caves including large fossils that will take you back in time. They are the only world heritage listed attraction in South Australia, and for a good reason. Take a guided tour or visit the Wonambi Fossil Centre. This is the home of the Southern Bentwing bat. Stay for a while in the campgrounds available or make use of the picnic grounds.

20. McLaren Vale

There is only one main reason to visit McLaren Vale, and that is for the wine. It is also a pretty town with a lot of history. A short drive from Adelaide, this township boasts over forty wineries, with plenty of vineyards to wander around and of course enjoy a sample or two of the premier wines available. Include this town on your driving itinerary, or better still stay for a few nights and enjoy the scenery and the produce.

21. Coorong National Park

Located south from Adelaide, Coorong National Park is just past Murray Bridge. This river town is also a great base to visit the park. Head to Pelican Point for some serious bird watching, or Long Point for some fishing. If you are after incredible views then Jacks Point is the place to be with an observatory and walking track. Camping is permitted here with permits available from nearby Salt Creek or Meningie. As it is close enough to the city for a day trip, make sure you include this natural attraction on your itinerary.

Jenny Brewer is a travel agent whose passion is writing. After spending her leisure time writing time writing childrens stories, she now enjoys writing about travel destinations. For more of her articles visit Car Hire Australia

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